74 March/April 202111
Outdoor
Stuff
// BY ADRIENNE DONICA //PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR RAABMud Boots
for Winter’s
Last Throes
and Spring’s
Showers
W
HEN WINTER BEGINS TO THAW AS
warmer weather arrives, you can
count on terra firma feeling less
than firm. Mud puddles engulf
trails and fields, and even rain-
slicked sidewalks can threaten to
douse your socks. Now’s the time
to arm your dogs with a pair of mud boots.
The features vary from pair to pair, but mud
boots share two main elements: impenetrable
rubber (or a similar material) to block water and
high-traction soles to keep you on your feet. The
most utilitarian models have a molded one-piece
rubber upper that’s bonded to the midsole and out-
sole. For insulation and a second barrier against
water and oils, heavy-duty offerings incorporate
a f lexible neoprene bootie within and extending
beyond a rubber shell, making them appropriate
for job sites and other construction and project set-
tings. There’s also the classic duck boot, which is
typically lighter and has an upper of rubber and
full-grain leather, more suitable if you plan to wear
them primarily for tracking across slushy side-
walks or muddy paths. Whatever you need them
for—whether it’s working in the garden, doing
chores on the farm, or cleaning up a f looded base-
ment—we’re confident one of these pairs of boots
will serve you well. We tested them ourselves.MOST COMFORTABLE
MUCK ARCTIC SPORT
II MIDPrice: $160 | Height: Mid |
Weight per boot: 1 lb. 8.8 oz. |
Upper: Neoprene and rubberFor a cold, wet day outdoors,
we reach for the Arctic Sport.
The 5mm-thick neoprene
bootie offers much-needed
insulation, but we found a
standout feature in the fleece
lining. This cozy interior could
pass for our favorite pair of
winter socks were it not for allthe rubber. But once we head
into a muddy mess, we’re glad
for that rubber layer. Water
and dirt fall away from the boot
easily, even on the lugged out-
sole, which gripped on a variety
of surfaces without issue. The
slightly springy EVA midsole
is supportive like your favor-
ite sneaker, so full days of use
passed by without any fatigue
in our feet. One minor annoy-
ance: Our sock slipped a bit as
we slid the Sport off. But on
the whole, we found the boot
is equal parts comfort- and
performance-oriented, well
worth the hefty investment.