A buddy of mine used to fish in Alaska every year and always came back wearing these obnoxious rubber boots for a week or so until he realized it was nearly 90 degrees here. He always said they just felt right to him. Proving you can take the boy out of Alaska but can't take the Alaska out of the boy. There was certainly an "Alaska-ish" smell to go along with the boots. Upon further investigation, it seems many folks up there just can't get enough of their XTRATUF boots.
XTRATUF boots in Alaska have a following that goes beyond their obvious practicality in a sloppy, muddy, rain drenched climate. Sitka, Alaska even has an event dedicated to these brown beauties called the "Running of the Boots". First started by a lone Sitka streaker wearing nothing BUT his boots, it has become a community tradition for over 10 years now encouraging not speed, but creativity in a Pamplona type run through the streets in costumes as well as their boots.
NPR has a great little piece you can listen to HERE all about the 4 distinct "ages" of an XTRATUF boot.
I hear there is even a girls soccer team in Juneau that is called the "XTRATUFS" (3 time state champs no less!). So as far as regional footwear goes I think the brown bombers of Bethel take the cake, XTRATUF boots.
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