On The Fly Gear
August 2026
It’s a situation that never feels good. You are on the casting deck, eyes glued to the water in front of you. You may be looking for a redfish tail suddenly poking up through the surface, or it could be trying to detect the shadow of a bonefish cruising along the bottom. Then you move your feet ever so slowly to adjust your stance.
In the process your foot hits a wet spot, or even worse, the residual of having made the mistake of letting a hooked ladyfish land on the deck. Either way, that slippery spot sends your foot sliding, trying to toss you overboard. Suddenly your focus on the fishing and quarry are both lost. All of which points to the need to have some good footwear wrapped around those feet of yours!
Columbia Sportswear’s PFG Dry Tortugas Collection of deck boots can make such problems a moot point in your future. This versatile footwear is designed for comfort, durable traction, cushioning and waterproof protection.
These boots are not just built for comfort, although they do offer great padding and support from the Techlite+ midsole. That midsole cradles the heel, while offering elevated cushioning, stability and energy return from extra-light responsive foam. Coupling those factors with the reduced stress from deflection domes in the forefoot and heel produces all-day footwear comfort. Also, the forefoot offers deep flex groves that enhance motion for the most efficient stride. The protective upper portion make them ideal for wear on the boat, the shore or even wading.
The boots have a non-marking Omni-Grip outsole that grips any surface. The tread pattern and all-terrain stability are adaptive for wet or dry conditions. Other features are a stretch collar with ergonomic pull loops front and back to make pulling them on and off easier. Additionally, the rear portion of the sole has grooves called heel kicks designed to provide leverage when removing the boots.
The PFG Dry Tortugas boots come in both men’s and women’s sizes. For men the range is size 7 up to 15, while the lady’s versions span sizes 5 to 12. Additionally, the boots come in seven sole-and-upper color combinations. The MSRP on the Dry Tortugas is $110.00. For more information on the boots, click here.
