Boots That Are Made For Mucky Weather

© By Othmar Vohringer

Turkey hunting season, especially the early part, is notorious for constantly changing weather conditions, rain, snow and cold temperatures mixed with warm and sunny days are not uncommon. Quit often weather conditions can change during a single day from nice spring to cold winter conditions.

Because of that the avid turkey hunter has to be prepared for everything mother nature can dish out. For me this means, among other things, having a good pair of boots that can put up with the worst weather and still provide protection and comfort.

Is there such a thing? Yes there is! A year ago I purchased a pair of Muck boots and have grown so fond of them that I now own several pairs. I use to hate putting on rubber boots in wet weather because they made my feet sweat and cold. Another problem I encountered with rubber boots was that either they provided no ankle support or they when they did they were so tight that you needed Vaseline to in and out of them.

Muck boots are a very different story. These boots are made of Neoprene, of various thicknesses depending on the model, this fabric has a natural stretch that permits easy on and off despite the snug fit around the ankle. Neoprene also makes the boot much lighter than its rubber relative which in turn makes for less tiresome walking. This is especially important for turkey hunters as a lot of the hunting success depends on walking quickly from one to the next setup. For me a big plus of the Muck Boots is the fact that they a 100% waterproof and yet still breathable, which means, no more sweaty feet. Depending on the model the boots come insulated to keep your feet warm from departures as low as minus 60 degrees. While several features in the foot part of the boot make sure that your feet are comfortable. The aggressive sole of the boots lets you walk on just about any surface from a frozen lake to swamp without worries of losing traction.

Here I introduce you to the two models that I might use on any of my turkey hunts.

In cold weather with snow still on the ground, which happens often around here in early spring, I chose to wear Artic-Pro Muck boots (the brown pair in the image)

• Fully insulated with 8mm Neoprene. This provides the optimal warmth, comfort, and waterproofing that you expect from a Muck Boot.
• A fleece liner is added to keep your feet warm in down to -60 degrees
• We wanted to make sure your feet were warm so we added an extra 2mm of thermal foam in the foot area.
• The stretch-fit topline binding is snug around the calf to keep warm air in and cold air out
• The seamless construction allows for easy cleaning with the simple spray of the hose
• Double reinforcement in the instep, heel and achilles area where you need it most.
• EVA midsole cushions with every step
• Our specially designed Bob-Tracker outsole is molded to be rugged, aggressive and durable.

In warmer but wet weather I might wear my all-purpose knee high boots the Elite Stealth Muck Boots (camouflaged boots in the image)

• Anti-microbial treatment prevents growth of odor causing bacteria
• Inscentible® scent masking for improved concealment when hunting
• 5mm NEOPRENE bootie with four-way stretch nylon, 100% waterproof, lightweight and flexible
• Fleece lined
• Additional Achilles overlay for added protection
• 2mm thermal foam underlay added to the instep area for additional warmth
• EVA molded midsole with contoured footbed
• Reinforced toe
• MS-1 molded outsole is rugged, aggressive and durable for maximum protection and stability.

To find out more about Muck Boots visit their website.