XTRATUF is a brand of neoprene boots manufactured by Rocky Brands. First made in Rock Island, Illinois, they are popular throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest in general, especially in coastal areas and among fishermen.
XTRATUF is a brand of neoprene boots manufactured by Rocky Brands. First made in Rock Island, Illinois, they are popular throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest in general, especially in coastal areas and among fishermen.
BF Goodrich first commissioned Norcross Safety Products to manufacture XTRATUF boots in Rock Island, Illinois in the 1950s. The boot was originally designed for commercial fisherman: the chevron outsole is slip-resistant on boat decks, and the neoprene lining keeps fish oils from penetrating through the rubber. Norcross bought the brand from Goodrich in 1985. In May 2008, Honeywell Safety Products acquired Norcross and the brand. The "Made in USA" on the boots was significant: Norcross was the last remaining rubber footwear manufacturer in North America. [1]
At the end of 2011, Honeywell—the corporate conglomerate who purchased the Xtratuf brand in 2008—closed its Rock Island plant and moved production to an existing Honeywell facility in China. [2] Reportedly, 250 to 300 people lost their jobs. [3] Since the move, many users have complained of a dramatic fall in quality. [4] The company responded to initial concerns in quality by offering to replace defective pairs of boots, and by stating that quality issues in initial production runs have been addressed. [5]
In response to public outcry, Alaska Senator Mark Begich even wrote a letter to Honeywell Safety Products asking they bring manufacture of its storied boot back to the US. [6] A Honeywell spokesman remarked at the time production moved to China to keep the company competitive in the global marketplace. [7] In late 2013 the company engaged in a public relations campaign to reassure consumers that product quality production issues had been addressed. [8] Honeywell has invested in a training program to bolster the Chinese workforce's knowhow. [9] As of March 2018, the return rate on the US boot had been 2 percent, the boot made in China had a return rate of less than half a percent. [9]
Honeywell sold Xtratuf to Rocky Brands in 2021. [10]
In 2011, XTRATUF introduced a line of casual footwear in both men's and women's sizes: the Sharkbyte, a leather slip-on; the Chumrunner, a leather sneaker; [11] and the Finatic, a classic-style leather boat shoe.[ citation needed ]
Beginning in 2016, XTRATUF has worked with the Salmon Sisters, an Alaska-based seafood and design company who provide artwork to XTRATUF's footwear.
After the devastating 2018 earthquake in Alaska, XTRATUF partnered with Bean's Cafe, an Anchorage soup kitchen and shelter, to make a limited edition t-shirt whose proceeds went towards relief efforts. [12]
Footwear refers to garments worn on the feet, which typically serve the purpose of protection against adversities of the environment such as wear from rough ground; stability on slippery ground; and temperature.
The Wellington boot, often shortened to welly and also known as the gumboot, is a type of waterproof boot.
Dr. Martens also known as Doc Martens, Docs, or DMs, is a footwear and clothing brand, headquartered in Wollaston, Northamptonshire. Although famous for its footwear, the company also makes a range of accessories including clothing and bags. The footwear is distinguished by its air-cushioned sole, upper shape, welted construction, and yellow stitching. The Dr Martens' design studio is in Camden Town, London England. The company manufactures in the UK, China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
Ugg boots are a unisex style of sheepskin boot originating in Australia. The boots are typically made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside, a tanned outer surface and a synthetic sole. The term "ugg boots" originated in Australia, initially for utilitarian footwear worn for warmth, and which were often worn by surfers during the 1960s. In the 1970s, the boots were introduced to the surf culture of the United Kingdom and the United States. Sheepskin boots became a fashion trend in the U.S. in the late 1990s and a worldwide trend in the mid-2000s. In Australia, they are worn predominantly as slippers and often associated with daggy fashion sense and bogan culture.
Clarks, the trade name of C. & J. Clark International Limited, is a British international shoe manufacturer and retailer majority owned by Viva Goods, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1825 by Cyrus Clark in the village of Street, Somerset, England, where the company's headquarters remain. The company has 1,400 branded stores and franchises around the world and also sells through third-party distribution. Clarks also operated concessions in Mothercare stores. Clarks had been owned by the Clark family and employees, but taken over via a £100 million investment by the Hong Kong-based private equity firm LionRock Capital, after which the Clarks family lost overall control of the company. In January 2021, Viva China Holdings agreed to acquire 51% of LionRock Capital, so has a substantial stake in the Clarks brand. Viva China was later renamed to be Viva Goods Co. Ltd.
Timberland LLC is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoor footwear and apparel owned by VF Corporation. The company also sells accessories including watches, eyewear, and leather goods. Timberland's corporate headquarters are located in Stratham, New Hampshire.
An Australian work boot is a style of work shoe, typically constructed with a leather upper bound together with elastic sides and pull tabs on the front and back of the boot. The shoe lacks a tongue, and laces, and often contains a steel toe cap for occupational health and safety reasons. When the shoe contains a steel cap they are often known as "safety boots" or "steel toe boots". The boots generally lack an inner lining. The sole is generally polyurethane and the leather uppers are treated to be resistant to hot water, fats and mild alkaline and acid solutions.
Shoe polish, also known as boot polish and shoeshine, is a waxy paste, cream, or liquid that is used to polish, shine, and waterproof leather shoes or boots to extend the footwear's life and restore its appearance. Shoe polishes are distinguished by their textures, which range from liquids to hard waxes. Solvent, waxes, and colorants comprise most shoe polishes.
Dubarry of Ireland is an Irish-owned company producing footwear, clothing, leather goods and accessories. Established in 1937, Dubarry markets a range of sailing and country footwear and clothing for both women and men. This includes waterproof, Gore-Tex-lined performance sailing boots and leather deck shoes. In addition to its range of country lifestyle boots, Dubarry also has an extensive range of outerwear, knits and shirting in a wide variety of materials from tweed to Alpaca wool. The headquarters of the company is at Ballinasloe, County Galway, Ireland. Over the years Dubarry has expanded its international sourcing network and now works closely with a select group of specialised production partners worldwide.
Double-H Boots manufactures western footwear. It is owned by H.H. Brown, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
Merrell is an American manufacturing company of footwear products. It was founded by Clark Matis, Randy Merrell, and John Schweizer in 1981 as a maker of high-performance hiking boots. Since 1997, the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolverine World Wide. Products currently commercialized by Merrell include hiking boots, athletic shoes, sandals, jackets, knit caps, gloves, t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and socks. Other accessories include backpacks, stuff sacks, and bags.
Solovair is a brand of British-made boots and footwear, produced by NPS Shoes Ltd., which was established in 1881. The NPS factory is based in Wollaston, Northamptonshire, an area known for its shoe industry. NPS shoes are known for their Goodyear welt technology which is used in all their shoe production. This particular technique is needed to fix the Solovair sole onto "Soft Sole Suspension" boots and shoes.
Rocky Brands, Inc., formerly known as Rocky Shoes & Boots, Inc., is a company which designs, develops, manufactures, and markets outdoor, work, western and military footwear, and other outdoor and work apparel and accessories. The company was founded in 1932 in Nelsonville, Ohio and still maintains its corporate headquarters there.
Hunter Boot Limited is a British footwear manufacturer that is known for its rubber Wellington boots. Originally established in 1856 as the North British Rubber Company, the firm is headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. It also has offices in London, New York and Düsseldorf. In addition to rubber boots and other footwear, Hunter sells products such as bags, socks and accessories. It previously made tyres, conveyor belts, combs, golf balls, hot water bottles and rubber flooring. Hunter holds several Royal Warrants as suppliers of waterproof footwear. Green Wellington boots, now manufactured in China, are its best known product.
Larry Persily is a newspaper publisher and former Federal Coordinator of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects 2010–2015. The office was charged with coordinating federal agency responses to private-sector efforts to develop a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope to supply the North American market. The Federal Coordinator is nominated with advice and consent of the Senate by the President of the United States. He was nominated by Barack Obama on December 9, 2009, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 10, 2010. The office closed down in 2015 as the private companies turned their attention to a gas export project instead.
Nocona Boots is a western boot brand and a division of Justin Brands, a Berkshire Hathaway corporation.
Helm Boots is a brand of boots in the U.S. The company was founded in 2009 by Joshua Bingaman, an Oklahoma native. The company's boots were manufactured in Turkey before production was relocated to Maine. The boots are designed in Austin and then manufactured in Maine using leather materials from American companies like Horween Leather Company and S. B. Foot Tanning Company.
Sorel is a subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear based in Portland, Oregon that manufactures and distributes shoes.
The Hood Rubber Company was a rubber and shoes manufacturing company based in Watertown, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1896 by Frederic C. Hood and Arthur N. Hood. It merged with the B. F. Goodrich Company in 1929 to become a solely owned subsidiary of The B. F. Goodrich Company and continued to manufacture Hood and B. F. Goodrich footwear brands until the plant closing in 1969.
Oliver Footwear is an Australian footwear manufacturing company, but their boots are made off shore. Oliver specialises in lightweight work boots. Oliver Work Boots originated in Ballarat Vic Australia in 1887 originally supplying boots for gold miners in the area.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)