Rating as a portage boot -   Excellent    a "10"  well worth the $115 price.

I used the Abyss model boot (similar in looks to a light hiking boot) for my 11 day trip this year, and they were everything I wanted in a portage boot.   Comfortable to wear, relatively light weight, easy draining, great traction on both mud and rock, and well made and durable.

OTB stands for Over The Beach - these boots were designed by a company that makes boots for the Navy Seals, and they use the same materials and technology.

When I put my boot on a rock or log and expected it to stay put, it stayed.  No slipping when I wasn't expecting to slip.  The boots have a great traction sole.  There are "nubbins" on the sole that are 1/4" high - in the mud of the portage trails, you could see that track, and see how much deeper the pattern was biting than other footprints on the same trail.

I bought these boots to replace a pair of Chota Quetico Trekkers I'd bought two years ago, which I was sadly disappointed in for performance and durability issues (there is a review thread I wrote on the QTs on here).  I had zero issues with the OTB boots, and would highly recommend them.

The only bit of wear I see on the new boots is where the heel and toe caps (rubber, wrapped around a long way to protect the toe and heel areas) rubbed against rocks on the portages.  Some of the threads (the rubber caps are both glued and sewn) show sighns of wear - I will coat them with a bit of epoxy, just to keep that to a minimum.

When I lifted my boot out of the water, there was a fountain of water pumping out from the drain holes in the top of the shoe, as well as from the holes in the bottom of the sole.  That was one question I had before using the boots.  With the large drain holes on the bottom, would the boot keep out the mud and grit?  It did, and grit or mud in the boot was never an issue.  There are two removeable foot beds (which I never bothered to take out - I just wore the boots till they were mostly dry) which keep the mud and grit from entering the boot, and the design of the sole keeps the mud from caking up in the cleates.

Since everything I like seems to disappear from the market, I will probably go ahead and buy a second pair to stash in my closet for the future.


otbboots.com, if you want to check them out.

They are well made. I didn't use mine this spring, used the old high rubber boots. But I will be taking them to the Back next week.
I got them for when I expected to be wet footing it.
Sizing works great. With both insoles in, they fit with wool socks. Remove insoles, 1 or both, and they fit with neoprene wet socks.

M_M, thanks

I use a 10 in Chota footwear and a 10 OTB was just right.

M_M gave me some sizing info last fall.

S_T Removable insoles would give you a lot of sizing adjustment for a wide foot. One is thin and kind of a stiffener, acts like a steel shank??? But it's not metal, it has some flex. It would keep you from feeling sharp rocks underfoot.
The other is like a regular insole, the one I'd remove to use them with my neoprene wet socks.

Mine did NOT have the little pocket in the tongue to tuck the laces in. I don't know if it still looks that way on the website??

A similar boot to the OTB Abyss:

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I have a pair of these, and i love them for anything i do on the water.

JJS,
When you say discontinued Chota knee high socks/with fleece liner, are you referring too the Brookie Knee Highs? If so I didn't realize they've been discontinued?
Also, did you buy the OTB's the same size as the Chota's ?
I've always bought the water shoe a size bigger than the Chota, for a proper fit.
Sometimes this can be a problem depending on how the water shoe is sized.
If I understand you correctly, the dual insoles allows a more precise fit without sizing up from your normal size? Is this right?

JJS,
Thanks, I can't believe the Chota Brookies are history
I have 2 pair, I liked the first pair, I bought a second for back-up.
I get the NRS catalog, and so when Chotas are history, I'll give the wet sock a try.
I've gotten wet even with the knee highs, the main thing as you mentioned is that whatever system you use, it has too keep your feet warm in cold water.
Paddling all day with cold feet is a miserable experience!

Change into camp shoes at camp. Then turn neoprene booties inside out and let the sun's UVs break down nasty stuff. I was worried about that problem too. Anybody got a better idea. I washed them after afew days too.

jdrocks, I like mine as you can read. Like to hear how NRS thinks they compare to what you had.

Maverick,

Check out this discussion: Re: Portage Boot Recommendations
Reply #86 - 11/02/08 at 19:40:58

I'd work on the strengthening part. A wobble board or just the one legged balancing work-out will do wonders for you.
I've never worn real high boots either paddling or construction, higher than 6" at the most.
My portages shoes are all tennis shoe height, with Teva Water shoes being a big favorite.
Next shoe I need the OT's look like the right choice, but in the shorter height.
I like the interchangeable insoles for different foot volumes. I wear a 10 1/2 EE, and if I get to much length to get more volume, then my feet slide back and forth too much.

Thanks for the info. 

I received my Abyss boots a couple days ago and today I took them out in the rain to see how they handled.  I was just walking around my neighborhood, but I will say that I am impressed right away.

Regarding the sizing, they were just a bit roomy with my smartwool hikers, however, I have a thicker pair of smartwools that will fill them out.  I think I am happy that I went to the 12's.

Ankle support was good.  These boots get great traction on a slippery driveway, which is the primary reason I purchased the boots.  They were also very comfy.  I think I could go run a 10k in them, not kidding.  Much more comfortable and lighter than my hikers. 

I can't wait to try them out in Quetico in two weeks.

Just got back from 8 days in the Q with the OTB Abyss boots (paired with smartwool socks) and was very impressed.  They dry quickly and have great traction.  Honestly they may not provide as much ankle support as standard hunting boots, but I would clasify their ankle support as more than sufficient.  I was most impressed with the strength in the toe area.  Very durable.  As with all shoes, I would highly recommend breaking them in ahead of time.

I ordered a pair