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Complete Review of
The 5 Best Sailing Boots
When the sun’s shining and the sea’s calm you can get away with wearing normal trainers or casual sailing shoes onboard. But when the sea state starts to build up or the heavens open up, you’re going to want a good pair of sailing boots. A good pair of sailing boots will keep your feet warm and dry while providing excellent grip on the deck surface even in wet conditions. They’re one of the best gear investments you can make as with a little care they can last for 5-10 years or more.
Are you in a hurry? Check our Comparison Table
| Product Image | Product Name | Key Features | Star Rating | Buy Now |
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Dubarry Ultima |
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Check Price & Reviews | |
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The XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boots |
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Check Price & Reviews | |
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Gill Cruising Boots |
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Check Price & Reviews | |
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Dubarry Fastnet |
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Check Price & Reviews |
Table of Contents
What makes a good sailing boot?
To be clear in this article we’re going to go through sailing boots for keelboat / yacht sailing where you won’t (hopefully) get wet. If you’re dinghy sailing then you’d want to look at neoprene booties.
So, what do you need to look for in a sailing boot? There’s three big factors that you should look out for:
Sole: Proper sailing boots should have flat, non slip soles (usually soft rubber with small thread patterns). They should not have a heel. If the boot you’re looking at has a heel then it’s probably designed for fishing or commercial use. This flat rubber sole provides excellent grip against the surface of the deck.
Waterproof: Maybe this should go without saying but sailing boots should have superb waterproof properties. They need to keep your feet dry even when hit with waves and driving rain.
Breathable: This is where the higher spec boots really come into their own. A good boot should allow your foot to breathe so that it doesn’t end up soaked from the inside with sweat.
Who makes the best sailing boots?
So we’re going to go through boots from three manufacturers, Gill, Musto and Dubarry.
Gill is a well known sailing brand that produces a whole range of gear. When it comes to boots it mainly produces entry level, affordable models. Their boots are a great choice for weekend sailors or sailors buying their first pair of boots.
Musto is a top notch English sailing brand that’s been around since 1964. Their boots are really high performance and technical. They look modern and the design underneath reflects that also. They’re a great choice for serious sailors who want both an excellent, technical boot and a modern look.
Dubarry is an Irish footwear brand that was founded in 1937 in Ballinasloe, Ireland. It wasn’t until the 70’s that they started producing sailing boots. Since then they’ve quickly established themselves as the market leader in leather sailing boots. Their boots are great looking and offer the very best in performance, with a focus on breathability. I really like their classic styling and they’re my personal go-to brand for sailing boots.
This is one of our absolute favourite boots, the Dubarry Ultima. This is the ultimate blend of performance and looks. It’s the only boot on the list that’s made with leather. Leather is a brilliant (albeit a bit pricey) material for sailing boots as it’s waterproof and breathable while being known for its durability.
The high quality leather outer is lined with GORE-TEX on the inside, water doesn’t stand a chance.
They have an expandable Lycra section to allow for a great fit and a classic rubber sole for great grip. Thanks to the leather material, they have the best breathability going. If you have a wider foot they have an ExtraFit option to suit you.
Ideal for: Sailors who want the ultimate all rounder; great classic styling and superb performance. This is the boot for the sailor who’s going on a leisurely cruise one week and crossing seas or racing competitively the next, it’s a unique boot in that it’s perfectly suitable for both.
Check them out on your local Amazon here.
I love the look of these performance boots from Dubarry, they have a really slick, modern style. But on to the more important stuff, how do they perform?
To start with they’re lined with GORE-TEX, probably the most well known premium waterproofing material. They’re also lightweight and have a unique ‘D-Chassis’ system that provides extra support for heels and toes. A removable insole provides extra shock absorption, being removable is a great perk as it allows for easy washing / drying of the insole.
An important and often underrated factor in sailing boots and all waterproof gear is breathability, if a piece of gear is waterproof but not breathable you’ll simply be soaked from the inside with sweat and condensation. That’s where the Fastnet and other Dubarry boots come into their own, they have excellent breathbility thanks to their use of advanced breathable membranes.
The Fastnet’s sole even has dispersion channels to drain water away and prevent aquaplaning.
Ideal for: Intermediate to Expert Sailors looking for the best blend of performance, style and value. If I had to pick the performance sailing boot with the best value for money, this would be it.
Check them out on dubarry.com here
The XTRATUF Ankle Deck Boots come in a durable design together with waterproof construction that is perfect for handling serious tasks. Apart from ensuring your feet remain dry, the shoes have a breathable lining to provide ventilation and prevent bad odors. The pull-on shoes also include loops located at the front and the back to help the user wear them easily.
Your ankles remain protected because the height of the boots is not too low. You can forget about losing footing on slippery surfaces because the shoes possess non-marking Chevron outsoles that provide excellent traction. On top of that, you can select your favorite color and size from the multiple options available. Please note that the manufacturer recommends ordering half a size up.
Pros
- Offers a 100% waterproof design.
- Comes with Chevron outsoles (non-marking) for excellent traction.
- Features pull loops for easy wear.
- Available in various colors.
- Durable.
Cons
- Offers a narrow fit for people with wide feet.
Check price & reviews on your local Amazon here.
Our favourite entry level sailing boot
These are the workhorses of the sailing boot world. They’re simple, solid and great value. They’re made from a natural rubber compound with a polyester lining. The sole is a non-slip, non-marking razor cut pattern which is designed to provide exceptional grip on deck surfaces. They have a really simple classic look to them that I really like.
They’re available in two variations; tall and short. If you’re going to be sailing in rougher conditions where waves / spray will come over the deck then I’d go for the tall version. Apart from that, I’d make the choice between them based on personal preference for comfort / style.
Ideal for: Sailors undertaking coastal day trips or buying their first pair of sailing boots.
Check out the short version on your local Amazon here. And the tall version on your local Amazon here.
Our favourite high-tech performance boots
If you’re looking for a heavy duty boot that can handle the harshest of conditions then this is it. The Ocean Racer looks completely different to other sailing boots, it reminds me more of a rugged snowboarding boot with it’s modern lace-up system.
There’s an internal layer where you lace up the boot and an external layer or ‘gaiter’ which fastens on top. This provides two levels of protection and prevents water from entering the top of the boot. Like the Southern Ocean Boot, it has an ‘XPL’ drain in the gaiter to prevent water from building up, very clever!
As you’d expect, it has an excellent grip tread on the sole providing multi directional grip. It also has midsole, ankle and toe protectors to provide impact protection and comfort when you knock into things onboard.
Ideal for: This is the boot for serious offshore sailors and as the name suggests, ocean sailors. It’s the most heavy-duty and rugged of the boots on our list. If you expect to face harsh offshore conditions then this boot is your best bet.
Check the price & reviews at musto.com here
These boots offer excellent value for their performance level in our opinion. They’re made from a 60% natural rubber compound with a 3mm neoprene internal lining providing super insulation in cold conditions.
One of their unique features is an internal adjustable fabric ‘gaiter’ at the top of the boot, this is essentially a seal that prevents any water from entering from the top of the boot. The gaiter even has a ‘drain’ to allow water to flow out and not build up. An excellent feature to have in wild conditions.
It also has an excellent thread pattern and a thick, insulating sole, allowing for top class grip and protection.
The Southern Ocean Boot was developed and tested on the Volvo Ocean Race in the Southern Ocean. You can’t get a better testing ground than that for a high performance offshore boot!
Ideal for: Serious sailors who want the best in performance and a modern look at a reasonable price. Perfect for sailors who race in challenging conditions.
Check out the price & reviews at musto.com here
Conclusion
What’s my favourite boot?
If I had to pick one I’d go with the Dubarry Ultima. I really like the leather style combined with it’s excellent performance and durability. This is a boot that will last for years to come without losing it’s edge. If you want the very best performance, blended with style and durability then this is the boot for you.
If I had a budget to stick to and wanted more of a blend of value and performance, I’d go with the XTRATUF Deck Boots.
I hope this article helped you in making your choice on sailing boots. I encourage you to choose a boot that’s suitable to your needs. If you’re just getting started, trainers will probably do just fine until you get into more challenging weather and wave conditions.
If you’re a more experienced sailor then it’s worth thinking of boots as an investment, some of them are pricey but they really are made to last and built by reputable manufacturers.
Thanks for taking the time to read this far! If you have any questions about sailing boots or any feedback on this article, please let me know in the comments below.
Great article thanks for sharing!