Foul weather boots

[PalmettoSailor]

Does anyone have experience with some of the lower cost deck boots?

The commonly available brands seem to be:

Gill Short - seems everyone carries them and reasonable at $50 or less
Gill Tall -- same availablity a bit more expensive with a seal at the calf
Sperry Figawi's - Similar to Gill Short
Rugged Shark - white fisherman type boot available from Defender around $60
Aigle -- Several models from around $100-$150

I don't sail enough in cold foul weather to warrant a $300+ pair of Goretex deck boots but would like something for the few times a year when my deck shoes leave something to be desired. Comfort and grip would be my highest priorities and I don't mind paying a bit more for a better product, I just can't justify the high end Goretex stuff like Dubarry's.

[sailingdog]

I have the older version of these:



They work fairly well...not as warm as I'd like...but get the job done.


Of course, you're further south than me... so they should be fine for ya.

[dvpamenter]

I have a pair of the Gill tall. As SD says, not really for cold weather but fine otherwise.

[Faster]

Is dry and cold better than wet and cold? I think so. Generally we buy the "inexpensive" ones in large enough size to comfortably accomodate some extra thick thermal socks.

[jrd22]

Xtratuf - the insulated ones. Can't wear them out, excellent grip. Very comfortable.

Northerner Products

Not fancy, just like me.

John

[JohnRPollard]

I'll just add that I have a pair of "tall" boots that I rarely wear. They just feel too clunky. Buying again, I'd go for a mid-height. But mine will never wear out, so I'm stuck with them.

[catamount]

I have an older pair of the Gill tall boots, and the rubber has finally broken down where it flexes at the front just above the ankle. They were fine, unless it was cold, and then they were cold, even with extra wool socks.

I just replaced them with Puma's new Luff gore-tex boots, which I found on sale for about 25% off at Zappos.com. Still a lot more expensive than a basic rubber yachting boot, but I wore these on a cold delivery this past weekend and they were great!

[hellosailor]

Try going to any scuba shop (or the ones on the web) and getting some ankle+plus height neoprene divers booties. The better ones have a zipper up the side for easy entry, range from 8-12" tall, and have some tread on the bottom. The neoprene keeps your feet warm even when they are wet. They stow very nicely, they're inexpensive, they grip well.

You can upsize them to make room for socks but they are normally worn barefoot. If you just want something for occassional use, not chucking around in the ice fields, they're what inspired all those fancy schmancy neoprene yacht boots that are on the market in the last 20 years.

In diving locals, even WalMart carries them, $20-50.

I love my old Vredsteins with the "octopus sucker" soles. But my feet spread, the boots are too tight for me now, and rumour is Vredstein stopped making their wonderful waterproof polyurethane boots because they couldn't address some environmental issues with the production process.

[Hesper]

I've got a 12-year old pair of High Seas tall boots (<$50) that suit me just fine. I wear them with heavy wool socks when it's really cold, otherwise just standard gym socks.

[sailingdog]

The Neoprene booties work pretty well too...

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Try going to any scuba shop (or the ones on the web) and getting some ankle+plus height neoprene divers booties. The better ones have a zipper up the side for easy entry, range from 8-12" tall, and have some tread on the bottom. The neoprene keeps your feet warm even when they are wet. They stow very nicely, they're inexpensive, they grip well.

You can upsize them to make room for socks but they are normally worn barefoot. If you just want something for occassional use, not chucking around in the ice fields, they're what inspired all those fancy schmancy neoprene yacht boots that are on the market in the last 20 years.

In diving locals, even WalMart carries them, $20-50.

I think that is a euphemism for he got fatter...

I love my old Vredsteins with the "octopus sucker" soles. But my feet spread, the boots are too tight for me now, and rumour is Vredstein stopped making their wonderful waterproof polyurethane boots because they couldn't address some environmental issues with the production process.