58 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2018
XTRATUF
BLUEFIN
Available in medium widths,
this shoe still felt comfortably
wider when compared to other
medium-width boat shoes. The
upper’s construction is forgiving
in shape, and the fabric offers
a protective feel to the shoe
without binding the foot
uncomfortably.
This shoe’s regatta styling in-
cludes red, white and blue tones.
The uppers are synthetic-
leather-trimmed mesh fabric
with round-the-ankle moccasin-
style laces. Stainless-steel weep
holes are mesh-covered to keep
out debris. They feature Xtratuf’s
go-to chevron nonmarring
soles. They have great traction
but didn’t pick up debris in our
experience.
DRAINAGE: They wouldn’t
drain but were among the
fastest to dry.
TRACTION DRY: 45 degrees
TRACTION WET: 35 degrees
DUNK AND DRY, 1 HOUR:
29%
DUNK AND DRY, 2 HOURS:
24%
SIZES: Half-sizes from 7 to 11,
plus 12, 13 and 14
COST: $64.99; xtratuff.com
OLUKAI
PUHALU
Like the Brewsters in fi ne
leather, with a dressier and more
substantial feel on the foot, the
Puhalu is comfortable out of
the box, thanks to the buttery
softness of the leather and the
dual-density rubber insole with
canvas surface. The insole is
removable and washable, an
important feature if you’re a
no-socks-in-the-boat-shoe type
of guy.
The nonmarking rubber is
molded with traction pods that
worked well in our tests. The
heel is designed to be mashable
to offer a handy slide-in style for
more casual wear around the
house or beach. The shoes are
available in dark wood brown
and toffee brown.
DRAINAGE: They didn’t drain,
but the oiled leather didn’t ab-
sorb water, so they dried quickly
like a boat shoe should.
TRACTION DRY: 30 degrees
TRACTION WET: 30 degrees
DUNK AND DRY, 1 HOUR: 13%
DUNK AND DRY, 2 HOURS:
0%
SIZES: Half-sizes 8 through 11,
plus 7, 12, 13 and 14
COST: $125; olukai.comOLUKAI
HAMAKUA POKO
This rugged boat shoe seems
more like a boating, hiking and
driving SUV. The soft glove fi t is
thanks to supple oiled leather
and foam-and-fabric lining. The
shoe rolls nicely from heel to
toe for a comfortable stride.
The natural and synthetic rub-
ber sole won’t leave marks. The
tread “pads” like a bear’s paw,
giving it hiking appeal. Its driving
style comes from the leather
wrapped around the pods and
sewn to the uppers. All in all, it’s
a good walker that won’t get you
kicked off the boat for picking up
rocks in the treads. It comes in
dark wood, ray (lighter brown)
and storm gray.
DRAINAGE: Zero drainage
doesn’t deter purchase be-
cause the Oxford height makes
water intrusion less likely, and
the shoe dried quickly.
TRACTION DRY: 30 degrees
TRACTION WET: 28 degrees
DUNK AND DRY, 1 HOUR:
7%
DUNK AND DRY, 2 HOURS:
2%
SIZES: Half-sizes 8 through 11,
plus 7, 12, 13 and 14
COST: $130; olukai.comCOLUMBIA
MAGAVENT II
They wear like a cross-trainer
and are extremely comfortable.
The elastic laces are a bit tricky
to lace, but there’s no pinch
or bind as the elastic fl exes
around the tongue. You could
run comfortably in this shoe if
you didn’t pack your runners.
The mesh breathes and lets
water squish out as you walk.
Drain holes in the outsole chan-
nel water from the drain holes
inside. The foot is protected
from sucking in debris by mesh
screens over the drains in both
the outsole and the insole.
A polyurethane exoskeleton
adds body and support to the
sides, increasing arch support.
They’re available in only one
color combination called
splash/white.
DRAINAGE: It drained in
under 30 seconds.
TRACTION DRY: 35 degrees
TRACTION WET: 32 degrees
DUNK AND DRY, 1 HOUR:
22%
DUNK AND DRY, 2 HOURS:
16%
SIZES: Half-sizes from 8 to 11,
plus 7, 12, 13, 14 and 15
COST: $110; columbia.comPHOTOS: (FROM TOP) JON WHITTLE (4), RANDY VANCE (4)CHECK OUT MORE BOATINGLAB TESTS AT BOATINGMAG.COM.