I see a lot of Alaskans wear these Xtratuf rubber boots. I love using rubber boots in the Northeast and am looking to buy a pair. Unfortunately, I can't find any places where i can try them on and will have to buy them online.
I usually wear 10 1/2 shoes and sneakers and wear 11 Lacrosse Grange and Burly boots. Any suggestions on what size I should buy? Also, heard the quality went down after moving production to China. Are they still worth buying?

11's and they are more comfortable than my grundens deckboss boots, but I have wide feet.

Buy an 11.
Quality did lapse, but it is better now.
Also look at the Grunden deck boss. Probably best to try those on though, as they have a little different fit. Lots of folks really liking them up here.

And get a set of wool insoles out of the gate

We have about 10 pair here,,wear almost daily!

My early history with them was fantastic. Since the change every pair has failed fast. I have two virtually new pairs that are falling apart.

I just bought new Mucks to try.

Quality is... pretty much junk now, but they still have a better sole than most any other boot when it comes to standing on slippery surfaces. Although I've never tried the Grunden deck boss. I'll have to do that.

For anything not on a boat deck, I'd rather have the lacrosse.

I have gone through 5 pairs of boots in about 6 years. The tuffs have de-laminated at the seams and joints. I did try a pair of Grundens this year and they got a hole, without any outrageous cause, in the toe during the first day that I fished in them. They fit a lot tighter and are more slippery than tuffs on my nonskid deck and diamond plate. I will be trying tuffs again next year as I hear their quality has improved...I hope.

The two pair of mucks I know of failed to impress. Tore easily.

I have some older ‘tuffs that are kept going with judicious applications of shoegoo.

Mucks fail fast, but maybe new Xtratuffs suck too.

Lacrosse makes some good boots, just picked up another pair of the Alpha Burly Pro's from Cabela's after putting 3 hard seasons worth of use on my original pair. Went with the 800 gram instead of the 1200 this time as those 1200's were too hot for my feet.

It rarely rains here but we flood irrigate a few acres and I wear rubber boots maybe 50-60 times a summer. Muck boots for spring weather.

Hands down favorite is the Lacrosse Grange which the OP already has on hand. Or in this case on foot.


I don't like the Xtratuff's for a couple reasons.

They are too short.

The tops are too floppy. The Grange will stand up straight and are easier to put on and pull off which is nice when you're switching boots 3-4 times a day. Not a big deal for prolonged use such as hunting.

The bottoms hold mud and make a mess when you get home. But then again we have sticky gumbo whereas sandy dirt and a little water would clean them right out.

Grange clean up super easy. 3 big lugs versus 150 tiny little sections.....


But for steel or concrete I bet the ETuffs would shine.

Lacrosse here too

Xtra-tuffs are only good if you are walking on super slippery flat surfaces. I buy them because I have to work on boats and the alpha burly's don't grab the surface like tuffs do. I don't recommend goat hunting in them though, ask me how I know.

They are great for SE AK.

Love them. I buy a half size smaller than my usual size.

They had a run where they fell apart quickly, but my last few pair seem GTG.

Interesting on boot size, I wear a 10.5, but run 11 in insulated Xtuffs.

But when I buy non insulated I go back to 10.5 or even 10 depending on how snug I want summer boots.

Have not bought in a number of years, sure hope when we do they last as long.

Carolyn got a pair or so of mucks, come apart at the sole already, tuffs still going so far.. comparatively speaking. Just that store in Delta didn't have right size tuffs last trip

How do you know?

Just got a new pair fromamazon. Same price here at fred meyer i noticed. Fit is true to size. Quality has dlipped i feel less support and break down quicker but still feel they are best option.

Has anyone tried these Shimano boots?

https://www.tackledirect.com/shimano-evair-rubber-boots-12in.html

They are called "Juneau tennis shoes" around here. Always have a pair in the truck. They were doggschitt for a few years after they moved production to vaChina, but have gotten better. I'm on year 2 of a new pair.

My last pair of xtra tuffs have been amazing. 3 years and counting, fishing in them 150 days a year. Still waiting for them to fall apart. China model. Must have got lucky!!

Are they the non-insulated, non-steel toe Joel?

Yes. Bought them in Ktown when we were waiting for our 2nd to arrive. She turns four in a few weeks. Tread is getting low in a few spots, but I'll get one more season out of them.

Barnacle encrusted beaches are extratuff on 'em

I've had better luck with the non-steel, non insulated. I guess I wore the lining off the inside of the heel on my last pair, so they are not falling apart as quick.

I took a slide down a hill because of them. It was a miracle I wasn't seriously injured.

West Marine here in Anchorage seems to have them for sale too.

I bought a pair this summer, and I've worn them for about two months now.

My observations:
They fit differently than the Xtra-Tuffs, a little tighter across the top of the foot. It took a couple of outings for them to break-in and feel right. I wear a size 10 Xtra-Tuff and I bought size 11 Deck Boss boots.

They don't grip the deck as well as the Xtra-Tuffs, but they are a close second, and MUCH better than Mucks or Alpha Burleys on the boat deck.

The Deck Boss's have a spongy sole (more cushion) than the Xtra-Tuffs. They are more comfortable after a long day on my feet, after I got them broken-in, that is. I had my doubts after the first couple of days wearing them, though, but now they are comfy.

I like the stiffer side walls on the Deck Boss boots. They stand upright and dry better overnight.

I have an easier time getting the Deck Boss boots on and off, versus the Xtra-Tuffs.

Fish blood and herring scales don't seem to stick at easy to the Deck Boss boots; they either clean-up better or the darker color does a better job of hiding the mess and gore.

They are holding up really well, can't hardly tell they've been worn.

Interesting....

I think I've got almost all the miles out of these that I can.....

I think you got all the miles and also all the "feet" possible out of that pair.

Some 5200 on those cracks and rips and they’ll be good as new.

Way to get your money's worth!

I noticed you still hadn't thrown them out yet. It's hard to say goodbye to old friends, isn't it?

I'm shopping for 5200 in brown.

I’ve been running a pair of those rugged shark great white boots on deck for 2 years now. They have a lot of cushion in the sole which I like as my shins and knees used to kill me after a 12 hour day on the water. Easy on easy off and a stiff upper. Excellent traction on the fiberglass non skid and on the bonar hatches and diamond plate on my buddies down east boat. Usually do about 300 hours a season on the motors so I’ve got some time in these. From the looks of them now they will be around for a couple more years. Think I paid about 90 bucks for them.

Xtra Tuffs is all I use for hunting, hiking or really anything. They did have quality control issues a few years ago and I even had a pair that lasted just one week. So I did try and find a replacement with no luck - Lacrosse way too heavy and stiff, Muck boots too hot etc. There really is no substitute for a good pair of Xtra Tuffs. I also like to get a 1/2 size too small so that I don't float around in them and can go down steep hills etc. I also put in a pair of super feet insoles. And I use hiking poles.

I have climbed the highest volcano in the Aleutians, the highest peak on Kodiak in Xtra Tuffs. I have also done 2 week sheep hunts in the Brooks Range in Xtra tuffs. On our annual Afognak Elk hunt I always laugh at the people who don't use xtra tuffs and have wet feet the whole time. Xtra tuffs are the best. I also use micro spikes and crampons on mine. And it must be remembered that they are not a hiking boot with a sole that you can dig into the slope. You have to bend at the ankles and keep the whole sole on the slope (smear in climbers terms).

They are light weight, dry quick, supple when frozen. what's not to like?
Patrick