The X-tra Tuffs are THE boots to wear if you want to blend in in southern or southeast Alaska. Wearing those and Helly Hansen heavy duty rain gear, you can pass as a fisherman/woman in almost any situation, until someone gots close to you and notices you don't smell of dead fish or diesel (or, in Sarah Roeske's case, notices you're clueless when it comes to fishing).

The pair here is fairly new, because it's Sarah's second set. They DO last practically forever, but after 5 field seasons of barnacles and mussels her first pair developed a small leak, and there's nothing worse than 45° sea water trickling in, especially on a 50° rainy day. It is critical to wear your pant legs tucked IN (not the rain gear, just the Carharts (heavy duty canvas pants), the other De Rigeur attire in SE AK). If tucked properly snug, you can take a small wave over the boot top and not have water get in. Plus you look REALLY COOL walking around in tight, knee high rubber boots.

photo: Don't you hate it when you can't remember which box you've packed your X-tra tuffs in?