Woody EX Pro flanked by my Irish Setter hunting boots (L) and LaCrosse Insul-Pac (R)
For sporting men and women everywhere, boots are arguably the most important piece of gear we rely on. As a North Dakotan who may encounter wetlands, snow, mud, rocks, and generally unforgiving conditions in the outdoors as the temperatures might range from 100 degrees to 60 below, I willingly admit that I don’t spend enough on footwear. On a recent trip to the Boundary Waters, I very unwisely did not pack hiking boots in an area that turned out to have very unforgiving rocky terrain. I lived through the trip and didn’t turn an ankle, but it was summertime and the stakes were not as high as they are on some of my trips.
In the wintertime, my footwear has to keep my feet dry and warm. Period. I have been known to wear Sorels rated to -60 for ice fishing, LaCrosse Insul-Pacs in wet snow and for hunting when covering scent is an issue, and my favorite pair of Irish Setter hunting boots for late fall and winter conditions when the snow isn’t too terrible. For any pair of boots, the maximum amount of money I have spent has been probably 60 bucks.
Enter the Muck Boot Woody EX Pro. When I got the opportunity to do this gear review from my association with the Outdoor Blogger Network, I told my wife, “Well, my Insul-Pacs are getting a little bit long in the tooth, so it can’t hurt to try them.” I was a little bit skeptical about the street price at close to $200, thinking “How can a rubber boot cost that much?” Keep in mind, I grew up in Montana wearing four buckle overshoes that retailed at probably $5.99.
Although it is spring in many places, it is still basically the end of winter in North Dakota. Since obtaining the Woody EX Pros, I have used them for chore duty, blowing snow, extended plowing sessions on the four wheeler, and shoveling snow. When the mud appears, I am sure I will post another account of how they work in the spring. And if they work the way they have so far, I’m sure it will be a positive account.
Over the last few weeks, I have worn these boots in 20 below weather all the way up to about 35 above. The first thing that struck me was how easy they go on and off. I am used to practically prying off my boots, but the designers of the Muck Boot deserve a lot of credit for shaping the ankle area perfectly for easy-on, easy-off. I have not had to enlist my wife once for a tug of war session, or had evil thoughts about removing the boots with my pocketknife.
The insulation in the boots is rather brilliant, combining a breathable mesh with arctic fleece for a comfort range of -40 to 60 degrees F, according to the manufacturer. Not once have I felt my feet get cold, even when outside for extended periods of time. My feet sweat less than with traditional rubber boots such as the Insul-Pac, which I have always regarded as a good boot, but does fall short at the lower temperature ranges I experienced with the Muck Boots.
In addition to the most important features of waterproofing and insulation, I like many of the other design features of the boot. It is a nice length, a couple of inches taller than my old Insul-Pacs. That certainly doesn’t hurt in the winter time, and a couple extra inches doesn’t hurt when one steps through ice into a slough or puddle. The soles have an excellent lug pattern which seems to self-clean (this will be a feature I will have an eye on when the mud comes this spring). In addition, there is reinforcement at the heel, toe, and even the shin area on this top-end model.
Finally, the comfort level in the boots is unmatched in any of my other boots, including my favorite pair of Irish Setters. They have an insole that has me feeling springy even after shoveling snow for over an hour.
Insul-Pac sole (L) and Woody EX Pro sole (R)
I have found nothing to complain about with these boots, and can unreservedly recommend them for everything from turkey hunting to chore duty. My biggest question for the Muck Boot company is if they are going to enter the wader market. I’d like to see something that feels this good on the bottom of a pair of hip boots or chest waders, and I would gladly pay the price.
Disclaimer: I received the Muck Boot Woody EX Pro boots mentioned in this post free of charge for review. No other compensation was paid in exchange for the review. The opinions expressed in this post are my honest, independent thoughts and experiences.
One doesn’t normally associate a company like Frabill, famous for its nets and ice fishing shacks, with clothing, but I think after this year things may change. The Frabill FXE Stormsuit looks like one heck of a piece of raingear and has been promoted heavily in commercials by the likes of Al Lindner, so I’m guessing it will take off. The object of my discussion here, though, is the Frabill hooded sweatshirt.
