The XTRATUF Legacy Series 15" belong to Alaska, and we were excited to see how they'd do in Pacific Northwest conditions. We have several friends who regularly wear XTRATUFs - all from Alaska or with Alaskan relatives - and they are zealots about the brand. They will strike up conversations with other people just because they're wearing XTRATUF's, and they'll often discover that they've got mutual friends as a result. But beyond the social benefits of these boots, we found that our tests didn't give these boots the highest marks. They're comfortable, but their heels are a bit high for our taste (they feel a bit wobbly on rough terrain), and their thin rubber was completely uninsulated and barely kept out the cold. We're certain these would be better than almost any of the other boots in our test on a boat, but we're primarily dry-land people. So while we liked these well enough, we gave other boots awards.
XTRATUF Legacy Series 15" Review
Cons: Heel made us worried about our ankles, no insulation
Manufacturer: Xtratuf Boots
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
With good water resistance, traction on wet surfaces, and comfort underfoot, these boots are a good option for those who will be spending a lot of time in the water. The more time we spent in sloppy conditions, the more the grooves in the inverted outsole picked up rocks or got filled with material. And while the soft latex on the top could be rolled down to help the boots dry (and to ventilate our feet), we found the rubber often bent in and jabbed at our shins.
Performance Comparison
Water Resistance
With a 15.1" shaft height, this model is the fourth highest boots in the review, and are tall enough for most applications. We felt very confident in these, even in deeper water with small waves.
Comfort
The Legacy boots have the second thickest insole, and their tall heel also provided an impressive amount of support and cushioning. Ultimately, these boots were workable for over 8 hours at a time with the stock insole. We didn't like the feel as much when we added our insoles - it was too much with the heel plus the insole - but these are comfortable enough. We wish there were a little less heel though, to let our feet stay a bit lower to the ground. It almost felt like we could roll our ankles in these, as the heel was a little bit narrower than the other boots.
We also had some issues with the softer latex neoprene folding in and pressing against our shins and the tops of our feet, though the soft latex did allow us to roll them down and vent our feet when they got hot.
Traction
XTRATUFs go a completely different direction with traction - their outsoles are inverted, so the traction instead of studs, there are only grooves. As XTRATUF boots are primarily fishing boots, we assume this design is intended for slick boat decks, but we were impressed by how well they held onto other surfaces. We found that they did not do very well on wet grass or ice, but they gripped mud and snow adequately.
Over time though, the grooves tended to fill up with mud and ice and didn't seem to hold as well as boots with studded outsoles.
Warmth
The Legacy boots we tested are uninsulated and are only 1/16th" thick. Without thick socks, we were quite cold in these boots, and during the ice-water test, they let our bare feet get uncomfortably cold almost immediately (within 30 seconds). Do keep in mind that these boots come in an insulated version (down to -10 degrees F), so if you like the rest of the features, this shouldn't be a dealbreaker.
Style
The Legacy model is almost actively anti-fashionable, with their unique rubbery brown aesthetic. However, our style consultants liked the look, and in Seattle, we see people wearing these all winter with a wide variety of clothes. Don't expect to get away with wearing these without commentary, but they can look good when paired with the right outfit!
Ease of Use
Due to the snug fit in the ankle, and the extreme flexibility of the neoprene shaft, these are impossible to step into (as they'd collapse). Instead, you just have to pull them on, and they often get stuck on our heels. They're also finicky to get off and require you to grab them by the heel and twist them off. Larger circumference, stiffer boots are easier to get on.
We're also a bit frustrated by the inverted outsole, in which rocks and grit get stuck for days, making gentle clicking sounds with every step until we pried the rocks out with pliers.
Fit
There's a ½ inch of room forward and back, and very little play left and right for our size 12 D width fit, so they probably measure in at a D width. And due to the snug fit in the ankle, even when you lift your foot, your feet are still touching the bottom of the boot. That being said, there's not a lot of room in these boots for larger volume feet.
Value
As landlubbers, we think other boots are better for the price, but we don't have any clue what sort of conditions anglers are facing up on the Alaskan seas. We did read some reports that quality had fallen off in 2012 when manufacturing moved to China, but through all our testing we saw no evidence that these boots would wear out quickly. Our friends who have them all get at least two or three years of heavy use out of them (though they do occasionally have to be aqua-sealed in the heels, which rip through after a lot of use).
Conclusion
From what we understand, XTRATUFs are the unofficial fishing footwear of Alaska, and as such, they're designed for a wholly different set of conditions than we were testing for. We preferred other boots for our primary use on land, but these boots are a good option, so long as long as you're not looking for warmth or ease of use. They're a good height and feature out-of-the-box comfort, with solid traction, and our fashion consultants thought they looked good too. And if you get these boots, you'll get lots of friendly Alaskans saying hi!
— Richard Forbes