Xtratuf Legacy 15" - Women's Review

The XTRATUF Legacy is a practical, hardworking rain boot that can withstand some of the most extreme of environments, but is comfortable to wear for casual beach combing or birding. While these boots do come with a hefty price tag, their quality craftsmanship justify the cost in our opinion. Constructed with a chemical resistant triple dipped latex neoprene rubber, they will protect your feet and calves from snow, water, mud, as well as various chemicals. They also excel when it comes to comfort. The rubber is incredibly flexible, which provides the wearer with great comfort and ease of movement for everything from driving to crouching down to take a look at what's in that tide pool.

Weather Protection

The shaft of these boots is 15 inches high, which reaches just below the knee on our lead tester. This seems to be the sweet spot where you get as much weather protection as possible, without restricting your knee mobility. If you need more than what these boots provide, you'll want to invest in some rain pants. While hiking in the rain, tromping through muddy creeks, and just walking around a rainy city, we felt like these boots provided us the perfect amount of weather protection. The shaft of these boots doesn't feel bulky or restrictive around your knees or calves, yet it's plenty tall enough to keep water out.

The circumference at the top of the shaft of the boot is about 14.75 inches. For most of our testers, this leaves a slight gap between calf and boot, but doesn't feel so loose that it would cause rubbing or discomfort. When we tucked in our pants, it closed the gap completely. We have been using this boot for well over a year and have yet to notice any leaks in the material.

Comfort

This is the category that really cinched the Editor's Choice award for the XTRATUF Legacy. These boots are comfortable, no ifs, ands, or buts. The thick sole and women's-specific design feel supportive without being overly bulky or heavy. The rubber is flexible and moves with your body, rather than against it. Our feet stayed surprisingly happy even after long days in these boots. They are built to be worn on commercial fishing boats in Alaska, which often involves around-the-clock work for multiple days in a row, so comfort had to be a top priority in the design process, and we think they nailed it.

The toe box is roomy enough that we could wear thick socks, and while our heel wasn't completely locked in, the soft neoprene lining prevents any rubbing or discomfort. We wore these boots on long trudges through marshy fields while birding, and didn't get a single hot spot - which is pretty rare for rain boots! They have an open-cell foam insert which keeps your feet happy, no matter the type of ground you are covering.

Some users have complained of an oily substance on the boots when they first take them out of the box, and we noticed this on our pair as well. So we looked into it. Turns out, XTRATUF intentionally applies an oil to their boots before sending them out. The oil helps to keep the rubber flexible, which is one of the main reasons this boot is more comfortable than others. We didn't find the oil to be problematic and found that it went away after a few days of wear. If it bothers you, simply take a towel and wipe it off.

The neoprene shaft deserves a special mention because it is easily the most flexible shaft out of all the boots we tested, without sacrificing any weather protection. It allows near-full ankle flexion and doesn't dig into the shin bone or calf at all. This is most noticeable when driving; it is truly remarkable how comfortable the upper portion of this boot is, especially given its height. We also found them easy to slip on and off hands-free, which is a coveted feature when your boots are wet and covered in mud.

The one drawback of this boot is its lack of arch support. Unfortunately, this is quite common in rain boots, so keep that in mind if you have high arches. You may want to BYO footbed if you need the added support.

Traction

If you're going to be on your feet, moving around on variable terrain, the Legacy won't let you down. The outsoles have a rugged tread that consistently outperforms other rain boots in this category.

Designed specifically for gripping the slippery decks of fishing boats in Alaska, the Legacy boots also handled wet grass, muddy trails, loose dirt, and smooth surfaces really well. Where they excelled was while walking around on slick river rocks. While tromping around in rivers, no footwear is going to be foolproof, but the Legacy boots did as good a job of keeping us upright as we could reasonably expect.

That said, the traction on these boots doesn't perform as well on ice and in snow as some of the more winter-focused boots we tested. This all makes sense and is expected, given the Legacy wasn't built with snow and ice in mind. But if you're looking for something to keep your feet dry and stable while shuffling through rivers or working on boats, the Legacy is a great choice.

Wearability

Wearability is subjective to each person's individual fashion sense and lifestyle. Some people absolutely love the look of the Legacy, while others think it has too much of a work boot look to be worn in an everyday setting.

A tall rain boot, in general, might be hard to pair with a cute or professional outfit, which is why some of the shorter rain boots scored higher in this category. That said, the ability to fold down the upper shaft of the Legacy to reveal the fun patterned lining is a huge plus for some people, and makes it more fun and versatile to wear in casual settings. The earthy color options of the Legacy make them appealing to outdoorsy and working folk. These boots are practical and don't have any fancy bells and whistles. They are easy to slip on and off, and while they can't beat the comfort of short deck boots, they come close thanks to the roll top.

Durability

The word “Legacy” is in this boot's name for a reason! These boots are super dependable, and incredibly durable. We've been using them for well over a year, and have yet to see any wear and tear on them. The rubber is still 100% waterproof, the traction is still grippy, and the lining is still perfectly intact.

The only gripe we have, is the outer color has started to fade. We began with a nice grey color, and now portions of the boot have turned into a yellow-ish tan. We aren't that upset about this, as we know this boot is meant to be a work boot, so color isn't one of the biggest factors the design team considers. But we still thought it was worth a mention.

We have tested other models of XTRATUF boots, and we would say that the Legacy is more durable than their other options. The majority of online reviews that we researched rave about these boots and tell stories of long-lasting, dependable performance. A handful cite leaks fairly early on after purchase, but with XTRATUF's one-year limited warranty against manufacturing flaws, we like to hope they were replaced.

Should You Buy the XTRATUF Legacy?

The XTRATUF Legacy boots are practical and will keep your feet dry in pretty much any conditions. They stay comfortable during long walks, and are durable enough to last for years, but they lack insulation so they are better for summer or shoulder season use before rain turns to snow. They are perfect if you spend time walking around on slippery river rocks or working long hours on fishing boats. They could be considered stylish for a workboot, but if you are looking for a casual, waterproof, replacement for your favorite pair of sneakers, this might not be the right boot for you.

What Other Rain Boots Should You Consider?