Words by Peter Boyer
The cool air and hearing the sounds of nature are always a great feeling while off-roading in an open Jeep. This is afforded to many wheeling enthusiasts with soft tops, but one impracticality I always experienced with my JK was keeping the window zippers of the top, especially the one at the rear, free from damage due to the build-up of grit, dust, and other unwanted grime when rolled up unprotected in the back.
Damaged zippers not only cause frustration while attempting to put the top back up properly, but they can lead to further damage by a) somehow breaking the zipper altogether or b) damaging other sections of the top, leading to further anguish. With summer currently in full swing, I decided to plan ahead late spring and find an aftermarket solution to resolve this issue.
After reading reviews about several brands of soft top boots on the market, which generally weren’t stellar with reports about flimsy construction, too tight of fitment, and the inevitable premature failure, the one exception was JTOPSUSA and its Soft Top Storage Boot. I am happy to report that they got it right.
Peter Boyer
The Soft Top Boot on my project Jeep JK.
As JTOPSUSA doesn’t have a Canadian distributor, I ordered mine directly from its facility in Abilene, TX. Upon its arrival and taking it out of the package, it felt like a winner. Made of premium nylon that’s reinforced with Herculite (a commercial-grade vinyl that resists extreme outdoor elements), the boot had a nice, heavy feel. After lowering my JK’s top and putting it to the test, the boot with its neoprene nylon-faced end-caps and full envelope vinyl enclosures securely wrapped my soft top and all of the metal frame components into one clean, protective package.
There are also a few heavy-duty straps with quick release/compression buckles to ensure it’s secured in place. It even looks really good, which is an added bonus. Another Soft Top Boot is available for the JL (both are offered for the 2- or 4-door models) and while I ordered mine in black, it comes in six other colours.
After my experience with this boot, I won’t hesitate to order other JTOPSUSA’s wheeling accessories for my JK. The company obviously understands the demands of the wheeling environment and the toll that it takes on exposed gear.