XTRATUF 6" Ankle Deck Boot Review

We enjoy wearing our XTRATUF Legacy Series 15" boots, so we had high hopes for the Ankle Deck Boot, but we came away pretty unimpressed. These boots are lightweight, easy to slip on, and have a fun chunky aesthetic, but they're held back by their poor traction and extremely flexible sole. They are adequate for errands and dog-walking, but they won't be kind to your feet if you try them out in more difficult terrain.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

With a flood height of 6", the XTRATUF Ankle Deck fits right into the low boot category. We spent some time soaking the ankle-side neoprene underwater, and it was reliably waterproof. These boots, and others of similar height, are great for splashing through shallow puddles without worrying, but they're not secure enough for any deep wading.

Comfort

While the XTRATUF Ankle Deck is nice and lightweight — only 3 pounds per pair, putting them well below average — we felt they lacked structurally. More than almost any other boot in our test, we found that we could feel exactly what we were stepping on, thanks to their flexible midsoles. This was acceptable, if not ideal, on concrete, but on rocks, pebbles, or any complex surface, the bottom of our feet got beat up quickly. We found that we could easily taco the boots with one hand. To us, this means they're way too flexible.

Their comfort wasn't improved by their extremely thin insole, which added almost nothing underfoot.

And not to keep beating up on these boots, but the loose fit in the heels also didn't help them in this category.

Traction

The Ankle Deck, similar to the Legacy 15", has a unique inverted outsole that's optimized for fishing decks. However, the Ankle Deck boots aren't intended for heavy use and have shallower grooves. We also think they feature a different rubber on the outsole, as they're noticeably more slippery than the Legacy boots, despite their "non-stick" website claims.

We didn't feel confident in these boots on most surfaces and even found ourselves skidding around a bit on wet asphalt after a storm. We were also unimpressed on wet rock and damp wood — it felt like we were going to slip and fall over with every step. Other boots don't feel this insecure.

Warmth

The Ankle Deck is marketed as having "XPRESSCOOL" technology. There's not much online about what this means, so we were eager to test them out, as sweaty boots are always uncomfortable. Once we received the boots and realized that they were entirely rubber with a neoprene lining, we were dubious about whether the XPRESSCOOL would do anything — it's tough for feet to breathe through rubber.

We wore the Ankle Deck on a crisp fall day (maybe 45 degrees), and we sweated. Over the fall, we kept trying them out and ultimately decided that the XPRESSCOOL does not make much of a difference compared to other similarly thick boots in our test. We can say that their neoprene lining does make them warmer than the unlined Legacy 15" boots, but they weren't standouts in our ice-bath test, lasting only 5 minutes before we started getting pretty cold.

Style

Featuring chunky, almost Tonka-inspired stylings, the Ankle Deck Boot isn't subtle. The front and back loops tend to catch pantlegs, so the "XTRATUF" logo on the front stands out quite clearly. Our testers ended up liking their looks, but we know they represent a certain style sense.

Fit

These size 13 boots didn't fit our size 12 feet very well, mainly due to their extremely loose heels. We had just over a 1/2" of forward and back wiggle room, which could be compensated for by wearing a thicker sock. As a result, we felt like we were swimming around in them. However, they're the right width for us, with just enough room for our D-width feet, so it doesn't feel like we could have sized them down much.

Value

These aren't boots for heavy-duty use, but if you like their styling and want to stick with the XTRATUF brand, you'd probably be fine. That said, there are better boots in this test for less money and that we expect would last longer.

Conclusion

We appreciate the XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boot for its fun aesthetic and for how easy they are to slip on. However, when all the boots in our test are next to the door, we'll be honest — we're not going to choose to wear these. They ranked pretty low in almost every category, and we were particularly frustrated by their thin midsoles and slippery outsoles. Ultimately, we just didn't feel confident in these boots, so if you're in the market for a low boot, we'd recommend something else from our lineup.