Worth it to Splash Out on Offshore Boots ?

[TheCruisinKitty]

Is it worth it to spend a lot for the premium offshore boots (Dubarry et al)?
I have only been able to find posts saying that it wasn't really worth it and that the soles degrade too quickly (or are already slippery to begin with).

Is there any reason in favour of investing in top o the line boots?
I am happy to spend less, but just wondered if there's something I've missed.

[S/V Alchemy]

I read this as "offshore boats". Oh, dear.

I've seen them at boat shows, and I thought "OK, maybe for Captain Blood, but I'll take Gills, Topsiders or the sort of Crocs with a sticky sole.

Or barefoot. Barefoot's good on your own boat, because you are supposed to know where the cleats are.

[Boulter]

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Or barefoot. Barefoot's good on your own boat, because you are supposed to know where the cleats are.

Good to know. With size 14 feet, bare foot is likely the only boat shoe made in my size. Probably doesn't work well in colder weather. It took me 5 years to find cycle shoes. Not as bad now with cycling shoes, but I imagine the boating shoe market is 2 or 3 orders of magnitude smaller.

Boulter

[s/v Moondancer]

For 5 yrs sailing in England in winter and spring I thought my Dubarry's were the best money I had ever spent...In Florida and the Caribbean I wear sandals but the Dubarry's will certainly come out for the Atlantic...

Having warm dry feet when the air temp is less than 40 deg F is essential.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Boulter

Good to know. With size 14 feet, bare foot is likely the only boat shoe made in my size. Probably doesn't work well in colder weather. It took me 5 years to find cycle shoes. Not as bad now with cycling shoes, but I imagine the boating shoe market is 2 or 3 orders of magnitude smaller.

Boulter

You must be one of the Toronto Raptors I meet in the "giant shoe" section of New Balance. I frequently have to get 14 because the 13 that fits me is so rarely found in 6E widths.

So I'm forced to be picky about my footwear, and usually say "just give me your largest pair of Sperry sandals".

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Boulter

Good to know. With size 14 feet, bare foot is likely the only boat shoe made in my size. Probably doesn't work well in colder weather. It took me 5 years to find cycle shoes. Not as bad now with cycling shoes, but I imagine the boating shoe market is 2 or 3 orders of magnitude smaller.

Boulter

LOL...I just get a kick out of people with tiny feet... size 14... meh!

OK, I actually emphasis a lot, because I have size 15-16 depending on the shoe or boot.

I think I have come up with a solution.

Being an avid outdoors man, I'm aware of one of the tricks anglers have done is glue felt to the bottom of their waders. In fact, you can buy them that way, although there are issues with disease transfer between water bodies.

Regardless, the principle is the felt prevents slipping on slippery rocks.

I can't see why the same principle would not work on a sailboat.

Any comments or thoughts?

[Paul Elliott]

For what it's worth, Duberry has a "wide" style available that actually fits my size 14 feet (Dubarry - Dubarry Ultima ExtraFit™ Boot (Donkey Brn/Brn Leather)). Many boots just aren't available in a usable size for me. The Dubarrys are very nice, and very expensive. I've spent much less on Sperry boots (an older version of these), and they performed well -- they were just a bit too narrow for my foot.

You want a boot that's comfortable, and well-fitted. Too big is almost as bad as too small. If you're going to be living in your foulies and boots for days at a time then it's probably worth the money to get something you really like.

[boatman61]

Stick to decent mid range non trendy deck shoes... good grip and lasy longer...
As for cold feet in the N.Atalantic... don't worry about it...
You don't feel a thing after the first half hour...

[zeehag]

barefeet no cold water.....nothing else works...crocs in a lightning storm.....and only in a lightning storm.

[nigel1]

Just found out I'm being forced in to a set of yottie boots.
Phone home the other night, and was gob smacked to find out that the GF had made her first visit to the boat alone, just to check all was OK after the recent storms on the west coast of the UK.
I was dead pleased, until she mentioned that she had taken the opportunity to hunt out my 6 yr old rig boots and consigned them to the skip, apparently she reckons she has seen better dressed mattresses on the local tip compared to me on the boat.
Next she is going on about getting Barry's boots, I have no idea idea who Barry is, (its a poor Sat phone connection). Eventually it clicks that its Dubarry, and that I have to look after them.
So now I'll have to take home my rig boots from work, and remember to put on Barrys boots when the GF is onboard.

[Katiusha]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

For 5 yrs sailing in England in winter and spring I thought my Dubarry's were the best money I had ever spent...In Florida and the Caribbean I wear sandals but the Dubarry's will certainly come out for the Atlantic...

Having warm dry feet when the air temp is less than 40 deg F is essential.

+1 to Dubarry's and having warm dry feet.

When we were autumn cruising in Atlantic Eastern Canada we started with cheap work rubber boots found in a local store. Feet stop feeling anything after 1 hour. Then upgraded to work rubber boots with woolen inserts. Feet don't lose the feeling, but the feet are always COLD and WET. And in stronger winds it gets even worse. And the cold sips up through the soles from the deck and from the top of the boots. When the decks are slippery with frost or chilled water, these boots have no grip.

Dubarry's was the answer for both comfort and safety.

[goboatingnow]

+1 on the Dubes, used to able to get great bargains at their factory shop in Ireland. Great seconds at half price. Now all made in China I think. Mine are 15 years on the go and still do the job


Dave

[Geoduck]

I wear Muck boots when its cold, Crocks when its not. Barefeet most of the time. West marine leather topsiders when I want to look respectable. Cowboy boots the rest of the time.