No more games, no more pretense — this is our list of the top 25 Zelda items of all-time. Whether they were weapons or shields or utility items, these are the panel’s selections for the coolest or most useful inventory slots in the series. We’ll be counting down one by one until we reach the #1 pick on Jan. 31.
21) Iron Boots – 6 votes, 109 points
Chris: So for me, this item will always be linked to the Ocarina of Time Water Temple. That’s not a good thing, and it’s a bit unfair to the Iron Boots.
Conceptually, these boots are interesting. The ability to sink to the ocean’s depths and start trudging around slowly just sounds fun, especially if you have the 22nd-place finisher to make sure you can breathe down there. That’s all well and good. Unfortunately, teenage me spent his time putting on and removing the Iron Boots 623,091 times in just one dungeon, so I have some residual bitterness left over.
Alternative thought: Wouldn’t it be fun for a darker version of Link to use these to murder his enemies in gruesome fashion? It’s sorta like the mafia and cement shoes, only these can be reused and look much more stylish.
Shaun: Unlike Chris, the only reason the Iron Boots made my list is for every game they are featured in BESIDES Ocarina of Time. Yeah, they’re cool there because you can sink like a stone, but in Wind Waker, the boots allow for some cool puzzles with varying weights, enabling Link to get catapulted straight up into the air. And in Twilight Princess, there are magnetized surfaces, enabling our hero to walk up walls and even upside down. The Iron Boots have probably run their course now as far as unique abilities, but they’ll always stand out to me as one of Link’s more defining armor choices.
Joseph: Why are these on the list? They let you walk slowly, whether on land or underwater. Even the basic Kokiri Boots outshine these clunky fashion nightmares.
Cary: Do you need to brace yourself against high winds on an icy plateau? Maybe you need to search for treasure hidden at the bottom of the lake? (Watch your oxygen meter!) Or maybe you just want to look as fashionable as can be while going nowhere fast? Then get yourself a pair of Iron Boots! This useful and attractive footwear can assist in any of the aforementioned situations, and can be used to trip old, rusty switches as well! What a deal for a steal! Iron Boots are welcome additions to the endless and overloaded inventory of any arrow-slinging, sword-wielding, world-saving elf, so don’t leave your hut without them!
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Gray Areas 
The use of the Iron Boots on Wind Waker and Twilight Princess is brilliant!