Wading boots are not designed to be waterproof. Instead, they're designed to allow water to freely pass through their structure, while your stockingfoot waders or wading socks keep your feet dry.

What are stocking foot waders for?

Stockingfoot waders and rubber-sole wading boots are more comfortable and offer better support for those times when you need to hike in to the fishing spot. Stockingfoot waders also pack down relatively small, which—when coupled with a lightweight wading boot—makes them an ideal choice for the traveling angler.

Do you wear boots with stocking foot waders?

You wear wading boots. That's right specialized boots made specifically for use with stocking foot waders. The vast majority of fly anglers choose stocking foot waders over boot foot waders because any pair of wading boots can be worn with any pair of waders.