Louisiana’s Iconic White Boots – Delcambre Reeboks Explained

If you ever spend time along the Louisiana coast near cities like New Iberia, Erath, Abbeville, and Delcambre, you’ll hear the term “Delcambre Reeboks”. No, this footwear has nothing to do with the athletic shoe brand you might see professional athletes wearing.  

I guess we should clear up what Delcambre Reeboks are before we get too deep into this. The footwear in question are the iconic white boots that many of Louisiana's shrimpers and fishermen wear.  

In other parts of the state, they are known as Cajun Reeboks, Cocodrie Converse, Swamp Nikes, and other wrong names. I am sure over in Mobile, Alabama where they hold on to the myth that they invented Mardi Gras they call them something even more wrong. But to answer what you’ve suspected. Yes, we are partial to our own part of the state. 

But, why are these boots white? 

The answers really do vary depending on who you ask. It has nothing to do with Labor Day or any of those other nonsensical fashion rules that are in place to make women buy more clothes. Y’all do know that’s the only reason the “don’t wear white after Labor Day tradition got started, right? 

There are many who suggest the color white is cooler in the warm weather months. Around here that's known as those two weeks in January when you might need a jacket. Although this year the way things are going winter might be suspended and we may never cool off.  

Another reason given is the white boots don't leave scuff marks on the boat deck. After all, a shrimp boat deck must be pristinely clean at all times. Except when people are working on the boat, or the boat is in the dock or if the boat is above water. We keep the boat clean enough, okay? You're not our mother so be quiet. 

Another fact is that unless your name is Biff or Navin or Geoff, pronounced "goff" like golf without the "L" you're going to wear boat shoes. Here in South Louisiana, we like to keep our man card intact and leave the fancy boat shoes for you plaid short wearing pretty boys. If I offended, you just go have a latte and have a seat on the shut-up stool. 

The white boots also have a wider mouth than their darker cousins. The shaft that the foot goes into at the top of the boot is also a little shorter. That makes slipping them on and off and tucking pants legs into them a lot easier. 

By the way, that's a safety feature of the boots. Should one find oneself on the outside of the boat, aka the water. The ability to kick off those boots and swim to safety is a very nice feature. 

Speaking of safety, white boots are easier to spot on the open ocean or bodies of water. Also, if you hunt at night being able to distinguish where your foot ends is paramount to keeping all of your toes out of the blast area of the gun. 

However, besides being cooler the one response we got more than most is the white boots just look darn good. They are a true fashion statement. That's why you see "wanna be types" wearing them at outdoor events and shopping malls. Fashionable, functional, and a solid safety requirement. That's why your Delcambre Reeboks are white.