5 Best Rubber Boots in 2022 Tested and Reviewed

This is a boot that’s been around for a long, long time. I bought a set of Alphaburlys when I first started hunting. I first got a job and was able to buy my own stuff probably 15 years ago and wore the tar out of those things. Now, these Alphaburly Pros have had some improvements to them, so we’ll just run through some features of these and talk to you a little bit about my experience testing these things out.

The LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro Boot comes in four different colors, two woodland and another set of solid greens. It’s a boot that one could use for nearly any outdoor event, included activities that don’t involve hunting.

These are an 18 inch rubber boot and I have a rubber boot on the bottom and they have neoprene on the top now with a rubber boot, the nice thing about rubber is it is scent free. This has a thick cushion EVA mid sole, which is going to be right in here, and it is soft and it’s not spongy soft, but it is pretty nice mid sole and pretty comfortable as well.

It has an adjustable rear gusset on it. This is now neoprene as well, so it gives you a little bit better fit back there and you just pull this thing over. When you get it where you want it, snap it closed and it’s locked into position. You got a hook right here to hook your tailing. So you’ve got that to adjust the different size back for your calf and get a little bit better fit than in what you would without it.

I love the Alphaburly sole. These things have just really rugged, really good traction to them. They’re going to grip really well and the nice thing about these is when you go through a field, say in mud, where you get out in the mud and stuff like that, these are non-loading. It means they’re not going to pick up big chunks of mud, we’ve all been there where you step in some mud and you end up bringing out something that looks like a pancake, just a big chunk of mud with it and you have a really hard time getting at the getting that off there.

The other thing that this thing has is a fiberglass shank. I’ve had a lot of boots in my life, that’s pretty much all I wear and the shank is what runs down the foot of this thing and the fiberglass shank’s going to be a little bit more forgiving as far as versus a metal shank. I’ve had some boots that have had the shank breaking in them. The fiberglass is going to have a little bit more flex into it and going to be a little bit more comfortable.

Now, this is a non-insulated pair here and that’s the specs that I’ve got is for this pair here. This is an early-season Realtree Green, Realtree Xtra Green and about 4.8 pounds per pair. I’m not sure if that’s going to hold true on the ones that have a little bit more insulation in them.

Keeping them in Shape

As for improvements, there’s really little to complain about with the LaCrosse. If you’re not careful, the neoprene at the top will degrade rather fast. You won’t want to leave these shoes standing outside for a long time.

And while the footbed can be taken out as mentioned, wide footed individuals may still find the fit a little too tight, particularly close to the ankle area. But the primary nuisance deals with knowing which size is the best for you. Sizing runs either too small or large, and it’s possible to end up with the wrong fit if you’re not careful with ordering. Users with wide feet will probably need a half-size higher than what they would normally wear, whereas anyone with smaller feet might be okay with their normal size, or possibly even a 1/2 size smaller.

My personal experience

I put a lot of miles on these things. I wore them out this morning, we had a lot of rain last night, I wore them out this morning mouth this morning and put some miles on them and put some miles on them over the last couple of weeks and really tested them out. The things about my old Alphaburlys that I didn’t like was I had a little bit of ankle rub in them. I had a little bit of issue with them trying to slip on me, on my ankles. With these, I don’t notice that. I haven’t seen any ankle rub to them, I haven’t had any looseness to them. Once you get these on, these really stay put and they really do fit very, very nice. For rubber boot, they fit a whole lot better than what I have had experience in the past with rubber boots has been.

So they’ve made some really good improvements to these Alphaburlys, which is already a fantastic boot anyway, pretty tough, pretty durable. I’ve had them out in mud, in rocks, in gravel, in just pretty much any kind of terrain that you can think of and we’ve got a little bit of scuffing on one side and that’s just about it as far as wear and tear on these things and I’ve put quite a few miles on them in my testing procedure.

Conclusion

Overall, the LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro is definitely a top contender and will get you through lots of outdoor events with no pain in your feet. It’s suitable for both casual and serious hunters but can double its use for landscaping or farm work. The level of comfort given to the inside will make your feet feel as if you’re walking on a plush carpet floor.

A lot of things about these boots that I really, really like and I haven’t found anything on these boots that I don’t like. I like the gusset on the top, being able to suck those things down and get them tight. On my old Alphaburlys, we just slipped them on and that’s probably where the looseness came from, was up on the calf cause I’ve got a smaller calf, I’m a smaller guy and I had a little bit of slippage there. With these new Alphaburly Pros, I don’t get that at all. These are really a big improvement on an already fantastic boot. My old Alphaburlys were tough, I wore those things for a long, long, long time. I think I had those things for around 10 years. I’m pretty sure I bought them when I was 17 or 18, I was still in high school and I threw them away right before I got married, which I got married when I was 28, so I had them around 10 or 11 years and I wore the tar out of those things.

Pros

Multiple layers of rubber added to minimize discomfort in areas of high stress
Neoprene lining in the inside helps keep the feet insulated and free from odor
Gussets on the top can be adjusted to fit the user’s calf size
The footbed can be removed if needed (if the fit is too tight)

Cons

The neoprene lining at the top of the boot may wear away quickly
Wide-footed users may find the boot very tight, especially near the arches
Difficult to size (fit could be either slightly too tight or loose)

2Muck Boot Adult MuckMaster – Best rubber hunting boots for wide feet

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The Muck Boot MuckMaster is a high-top boot that’s engineered to get you through the toughest terrain, all even if you’re hiking through the dense canopy or rocky surfaces that are wet. It’s clearly designed for people with large and wide feet. Of course, this doesn’t totally rule out people with smaller feet at all. But the interior support and padding are manufactured in a way to give people a more ergonomic fit than traditional rubber boots is able to do. At the same time, the cushioning clings to the feet yet doesn’t impede movement in the least. This results in a feeling that’s comparable to walking in a pair of good sneakers that you’ve just begun to break in.

Proper Maintenance is Key

Like the last product evaluated, there aren’t many setbacks if the boots are maintained but beware if you’re planning on taking these out on the regular. The soles may wear down over time. This won’t happen too quickly but could occur in less than a year’s timespan of having purchased the boots. And while the tread is perfectly designed to walk over rocky terrain, doing so could also exasperate the soles and cause them to lose their strength.

The seams are also pretty rigid, which is a good sign that water may seep inside after they have been worn down.

Be sure to clean the boots once you’re done wearing them, as these incident are less likely to happen if you don’t allow dirt to built up around the sides.

Like many high-end rubber boots of this caliber, sizing is high. You might need to go up to half a size than what you would usually buy, at least with boots. If you don’t mind these hiccups, the Muck Boot MuckMaster is great for anyone with wide feet or those who have has problems with small arches in other footwear.

Pros

Great support for people with a high arch
Padding hugs the feet but leaves enough room for movement at the same time
Durable interior is padded but does not cause the feet to sweat

Cons

Soles may loosen after a few months of regular use
The rubber sole at the bottom is very sensitive to rocky terrain and could erode fast
May leak water from the seams overtime
Sizing runs higher than what is specified by the manufacturer

3Bogs Classic Ultra High – Best insulated rubber hunting boots

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The Bogs Classic Ultra High Insulated Boots have been built to aid in cold environments (as the brand title suggests) but could also be decent for anyone that lives in moderate climates as well. They are all black and have no other colors to choose from. All sizes have a boot shaft of about 12.5 inches. Completely waterproof, you can walk through wet surfaces and snow with good insulation from the inside. Your feet won’t get cold in temperatures as low as 0 degrees. In places colder than this, the insulation will still work but isn’t as effective. Moisture, on the other hand, stay out of the inside at all times. It’s definitely a great pair for people who sweat a lot in other rubber boots.

On or Off in Seconds

The main feature for the Bogs is its unique shaft. The design looks normal at first glance but has two good additions that could come in handy, especially if you’re the type that finds it difficult to put on other rubber boots. A neoprene lining helps maintain flexibility for the handle area, which can be grasped easily when you’re ready to take them off.

For this reason, the pair is suggested for hunters that find themselves painfully trying to take off boots on their own. In addition, this makes it a perfect gift for solo hunters. Just be careful when you’re walking on flat-surfaced and/or dense ice. The tread leaves little for error in such locations and does little to protect the wearer from skids and slips. And the width is a little narrow. You might need a larger size than expected. Still, the Bogs Classic remains a good choice for anyone that’s expecting to be walking on a cold surface for more than a few hours.

Pros

The soles take out the moisture but leave in the warmth
Can be quickly put on or off without too much effort
Holes at the top of the boot can double as a carrying handle

Cons

Tread at the bottom provide poor traction in places with condensed ice and snow
Smaller sizes are heavy and may lead to pain around the ankles until broken in
Slightly narrow width
Slipping may occur when walking in areas that are wet and flat

4Muck Boot Chore Classic Tall Steel Toe – Best rubber boots for bowhunting

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Muck Boot Chore Classic Tall Steel Toe Review

The Muck Boot Chore Classic is a steel toe pair with a basic-looking exterior that almost resembles ordinary working boots. But don’t take this as a sign of weakness; there are lots of good features for anyone to consider a purchase. For starters, the weatherproof rubber coating is very strong. So strong in fact, you’ll probably still be using the boots over a year after they’ve been acquired. It’s specifically geared for muddy and wet conditions, having resistance the erosion for the salts and grime that comes into contact with its sides and tread.

Flat feet? No problem

But take note, anyone that has sweaty feet will quickly find that the boots simply do not hold up well for taking away moisture. This, in turn, could lead to odors from the inside over time. And the arch support is nearly nonexistent.

As an advantage, people with flat feet could find this useful though, and the boot would be an excellent fit if your bottom and heel are oddly-shaped. But there remains a lot with this rubber boot to be excited about. In general, the Muck Boot Chore Classic has its setbacks when it comes to keeping away sweat, but earns points for its powerful weatherproof shell and durable tread.

Pros

Waterproof exterior makes the boot worthwhile for people who plan to use them in wet or muddy conditions
Quickly breaks in but refrains from coming too loose
Dirt and grime can be wiped away easily and does not cling to the boot

Cons

Elastic hugs the lower legs too tightly
Moisture builds up fast, making socks and feet feel wet (and potentially causing odors)
Inaccurate sizing (run 0.5 to 1 size higher than what is advertises)
There is little arch support for the feet

5Muck Boot Arctic Sport Rubber High Performance – Best rubber hunting boots for cold weather

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Muck Boot Arctic Sport Rubber High Performance Review

The Muck Boots Arctic Sport Boot is another winter-geared pair with a good fit, at least when they’re purchased in the right size. Movement remains good after a break-in. When worn on the first occasion, the boots may feel slightly stiff around the heels and tips, especially near the large toes. There’s a 14.5-inch shaft that appears to incline near the ankles. Unlike the outer design that gives off this image, the feet will rest a little more flat than the way it looks from the outside.

Getting the Fit just Right

One big improvement for the future design could be in the stiffness. While this may diminish as they’re worn, anyone with wide feet could still find them a little uncomfortable to have on for more than a few hours. At the same time, the boots are made one size higher than average, and this includes the length and width. This could end up giving you an awkward fit that’s too loose or tight in one of either dimension. When in doubt, always go for a least a half size larger to avoid foot pain.

In the end, the Muck Boots Arctic Sport does perform great at the things it does best, and the temperature rating (minus 40 degrees) makes it ideal for frigid conditions.

Pros

Accurate rating on temperature
Does not impede circulation around the toes and sole
The neoprene folds down, making it easy to pull off and tuck in pants legs when ready to wear

Cons

Large length and width, users may need to wear thick socks to tighten the hug
Bulky construction may make the boots feel awkward, especially to wearers with small feet
Stiff frame makes it a chore to walk around in for long periods of time