Whether you’re crossing the ice-laden waters of Svalbard, doing some hard labour on the foredeck or putting the boat in the water in Poole Harbour, boots that remain impregnable to the sea are crucial. The Dubarry Crosshaven is as rugged and tough as a sailing boot gets.
Whether you’re crossing the ice-laden waters of Svalbard, doing some hard labour on the foredeck or putting the boat in the water in Poole Harbour, boots that remain impregnable to the sea are crucial. The Dubarry Crosshaven is as rugged and tough as a sailing boot gets.
Typically you need three things from your boots; to stay dry whatever the weather throws at you, to keep your feet warm if things turn chilly and to provide breathability to maximise comfort and minimise the pong when you lever them off after a tough day on board.
Developed in association with a Volvo Ocean Race team, the Crosshaven came out top of the crop on test and performs excellently in all weather.
Gore-Tex lining keeps the inside of the boot waterproof and fairly free from sweat and condensation while the upper section of the boot is protected with a mixture of leather and Cordura, an uber-tough, canvas-like fabric.
The boots have a good non-slip sole and also feature a reinforced toe and heel, which adds extra support and protection and two reflective strips run around the shaft of the boot.
Inside there’s lots of thermal insulation and the really good-sized gaitor has an adjustable draw-cord collar that secures foul weather gear and prevents wash back. The gaitor section gets double thumbs up thanks to its drainage mesh at the bottom of the leg.
But why did these boots kick the others to the curb to make it on to the MBY Cool 50? Traditionally the weak spot on sailing boots is the seams – lateral wear and tear causing them to fail. The Crosshaven sports minimal seams and by reducing the potential weak spots Dubarry has produced a tougher, stronger and more hardwearing boot.
You could spend your life (and a lot of cash) replacing your boots every season or invest in a tough pair that will last for years and not let you down. We know where our money would go.
And not that we like to admit that looks matter, but the Crosshavens do look the part on shore as well as on deck.
Price: £349
