Well, that’s what I think, anyway. I have owned a pair of DuBarry “Shamrock” boots since 1997, and this afternoon I had occassion to use them again. Man, this is shweeeet footware, I tell ya! I’ve used them offshore, I’ve used them for year-round racing in Puget Sound, and today I wore them while unblocking a clogged gutter downspout!

I know, it’s not really very glamorous. But these boots were the obvious choice for heading out to climb a ladder in the rain; they’re waterproof and breathable, they have a non-marking, non-skid sole with enough structure to allow you to stand on a ladder rung for an extended period, they’re lightweight, and they’ve just so comfy! This is not a paid advertisement, I assure you. I just love these boots. Can you tell?

I bought my pair when I was living in Dublin, Ireland. I crewed on various racing boats sailing out of Dún Laoghaire and Howth. I’d never seen these funny blue boots everyone seemed to wear aboard, but virtually all the racing sailors I encountered swore by them. They sure looked nice, so I figured that despite the high price, I would buy a pair to bring home as useful gear AND a unique souvenir. Back in Seattle, I was certain to be the only one at the yacht club with a pair!

Which I was for a little while, but that didn’t last long. DuBarry started exporting to the United States within a couple years. Nobody bought them at first, because nobody had heard of them, and they were so expensive. But word got around, and now you can find them lots of places. If you spend lots of hours sailing in crappy weather, you owe it to yourself to find a dealer and at least try on a pair.