Commercial Fishing Boots for Men & Women

Frequently Asked Questions

Rubber pull-ons with neoprene linings, in ankle deck boot height for deck and dock work and 12 to 17 inches for standing in water and working fish holds. XTRATUF built its reputation on exactly this and remains the reference in Alaskan fisheries, with Muck and others covering similar ground. Leather is not a serious option in this work. See our XTRATUF range.

A self-cleaning tread pattern that channels liquid and slime out from under the boot rather than trapping it. Wet fiberglass coated in fish slime is one of the most slippery working surfaces there is, and a conventional lug tread packs and glazes over on it within minutes. Chevron and similar directional patterns are the standard answer, and they are the feature crews name most often.

Buy for where the water reaches. Ankle and 6-inch deck boots suit working a dry-ish deck where you need grip and easy movement. Twelve to fifteen inches covers standing in water, hosing down, and working in the hold. Seventeen-inch boots exist for the wettest work. A taller boot than you need is heavier and hotter for no benefit, and harder to get out of quickly.

Some do, and steel toe versions of the tall Legacy boots and the ankle deck boots are available and meet ASTM F2413 for impact and compression. Most of the category is plain toe, because the dominant hazards on a deck are slips and immersion rather than crush. If your vessel or processing plant requires a rated toe, filter to those models specifically.

Neoprene insulates on its own, which is why uninsulated neoprene-lined boots handle cold water work better than a plain rubber boot would. Added insulation is for genuinely cold-water fisheries and winter work. Match it to how much you move, since a boot that feels right standing on a winter deck runs hot when you are hauling gear.

Rinse the salt and slime off at the end of a shift, dry them out of direct sun, and store them upright rather than folded at the ankle. UV and ozone degrade rubber faster than the work does, and repeated folding at one point creates the cracks most people eventually see. Leaving boots on a sunny deck or beside a running engine shortens their life considerably.

Yes, and the requirements overlap almost entirely: constant water, slippery floors, and chemical washdown. Rubber hoses clean and resists the cleaning agents that would destroy leather. A steel toe version is worth considering in a plant, since there is more equipment and material handling than on a deck. See our rubber boots range.

Most run about a half size large and many people size down, though it varies by brand and it is worth checking the specific guidance. The neoprene lining also takes up volume, so the fit tightens once the boot is on. With no lacing to take up slack, the fit you get is the fit you keep, so length matters more here than on a laced boot.

Yes, built on women's lasts rather than sized down from men's boots, which matters more on a pull-on because there is no lacing to compensate for a heel that is too wide. XTRATUF's women's Legacy and Salmon Sisters models cover this. See our women's rubber boots range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What boots do commercial fishermen wear?

What makes an outsole work on a slimy deck?

How tall should deck boots be?

Do commercial fishing boots have safety toes?

Do you need insulated boots for fishing?

How do you make deck boots last?

Are fishing boots good for processing plants?

Do deck boots run big or small?

Are there deck boots built for women?