Korkers began more than six decades ago in the rivers and logging country of the Pacific Northwest. Founder Sherman Smith developed one of the brand’s earliest innovations after seeing loggers struggle for traction on slick timber. Using old tires, straps, and carbide studs, he created a rugged overshoe designed to help workers keep their footing in dangerous conditions.

The idea quickly found another audience among steelhead anglers navigating the slippery rocks of Oregon’s North Umpqua River. River guide Frank Moore helped introduce the footwear to fishermen, and his Steamboat Inn became Korkers’ first dealer in 1959. From those beginnings, the brand established a legacy centered on traction, adaptability, and problem-solving.

Today, Korkers continues that approach with technologies such as its OmniTrax® Interchangeable Sole System, BOA® lacing, and quick-drying hydrophobic materials. Its footwear now spans fishing, outdoor, winter, and work applications, while maintaining the same core mission: creating dependable traction systems that help people move confidently across changing terrain.