![]() Kamic Ranger Price (approx.): $27 Style: Calf-high rubber Comfort Level: Medium The Kamic Ranger is your standard, run-of-the-mill rubber boot, and its strongest quality is its price. Save these for summer-wear, but plan to wear them a lot. One potential low point: like the Crocs, the liner isn't incredibly warm. ![]() Other high points: they’re easy to get on and off, molded-in air channels help your feet breathe, these boots were the most grippy on wet fiberglass non-skid, they weigh just eight ounces, and the one-piece design means they’re waterproof right up to the cuff and will remain so for good. Within half an hour of wearing them I could feel the difference in my legs and back, and I’ll be wearing the Shimano Evairs quite a bit in the future. The Evair is made with a one-piece EVA molded sole which absorbs shock and supports the arch, and when I tried to bend this boot, it was like trying to bend steel. The harder it is to bend the sole, the better the arch support is likely to be. Evair Marine/Fishing Boots (by Shimano) Price (approx.): $70 Style: Over-the-ankle-high EVA copolymer Comfort Level: Extremely High A tip from my physical therapist: grab your footwear with one hand on the toe and the other on the heel, and try to bend them towards each other. The Shimano Evair boots will prove themselves when the fish slime starts flying. Consider these best used when you plan on being spritzed, not swamped, in relatively mild weather. With most boots of this nature the stitching line usually leaks after a few years of use, so I’d expect that with the Crocs this will be true as well. My feet never got wet although Crocs only claims this model is waterproof to the stitching, which isn’t much higher than your foot. I love how these boots seem to mold themselves to fit your feet, and how easily they come on and off thanks to the pull-on tab on the back and the relatively low cut. Days two and three were much warmer, and with temperatures in the 50’s or above they provide plenty of warmth. These boots have a comfy fuzzy lining, but it’s really not heavy enough to rely on in the middle of winter. Crocs AllCast Slip-on Duck Boot Price (approx.): $50 Style: Ankle-high Croslite (closed cell foam resin)/rubber/leather combo Comfort Level: High Wearing the Allcast Slip-on Duck Boots while oyster tonging, I was wishing for another pair of socks. ![]() Standard-issue Crocs have become a common form of unisex footwear, but boaters who need more protection for their feet should be looking at a different sort of Croc: the Allcast Slip-On Duck Boot. Here’s what I discovered during those three days of sole searching. And day three’s testing took place during a day of waterfowl hunting on a leaky old 16’ skiff. ![]() Day two was spent fishing on the same boat, in moderately rough conditions. Test day one was spent oyster tonging on a 22’ center console, with the air and water temperatures below 40 degrees. Each pair of boots was tested in a men’s size 12, and was worn for an equal amount of time during each day on the water. ![]() So which ones should you choose? To find out, I took some top brands and put them through their pediatric paces during a series of diverse and vigorous winter boating activities. In fact, for many of us it means finding several pairs of boots to use in different conditions. And since you’re a boater, that means finding a pair of boots that keeps those feet happy, warm, and dry. You do your best to make sure they’re comfortable and safe, so you can go back to ignoring them again. Similarly, after you have a memorable experience or two with your tootsies (think: stepping on a nail) you tend to pay more attention to them. Of course, Rodney was eventually recognized for his comedic genius. Whether those feet are subjected to salt spray, fish blood, bright sunlight, or all of the above, show them some respect by wearing the best boots for your type of boating. ![]()
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