I've been a Lacrosse fan for literally decades. I've likely bought 8 or ten pairs of various model, high rubbers from them. Last 2 pairs, the crappy buckle on the rear of the boot comes undone when a tick crawls up my leg. All kinds of crap ends up in the boot and THAT aint comfortable and requires a pullover. So annoying and they must know that the buckle sucks. I've also noticed that the rubber seems a bit "floppier" than my favorite Grange models of years ago. If I'm guessing, manufacturing has probably been outsourced to Jyna.......
So what are modern day, fantastic options in 17/18" high, uninsulated, ankle fit rubbers?
...and a box of rubber bands. :-/
My all time favorite sole has been the Lacrosse alpha burlys. The boots fit my feet well also. I had 3 pairs running concurrently, but 2 are cracking/ splitting open after a season. The last pair of granges that I bought have lasted a full year - but I'm only wearing them for turkey and light summer use. They definitely are floppy and the soles are a joke... no tread whatsoever. Once they stop keeping my feet dry that'll be the last pair I buy unless Lacrosse quality takes a major turn.
Muck and Dryshod (and lets lump in Bogs) are about even for me. All have good attributes but also suck in the same ways. The heel cups inside of the boots always blow out in no time; usually its the first mode of failure. From day 1 I'll almost always double the insole inserts to remove volume and prevent any heel slip/ lift, but it never seems to matter. I actually do this for all my boots if necessary. Also maybe worth noting is that the Dryshods are stiffer and more torsion-ally resistant under foot than Mucks have been. Whatever shank or design they use in general provides a stiffer feel than my mucks... to the point it has made my feet sore somehow?? All of the neoprene sided boots have struggled with durability for me with the exception of the old Muck Pursuit Supremes. I loved those boots, its too bad they stopped making them. Anymore they all pretty much break down in a season or 2. I think I'm done buying this style of boot.
Dunlop boots are interesting. The farm/ work rubbers (purofort) are hard wearing, heavy duty boots. My brother uses them every day on the farm. The material is tough as nails and the tread is deep enough to withstand a ton of miles on concrete etc. He needs custom insoles, however. I found them to be relatively comfortable but heavy/ clunky. They have a ton of rocker. Would be nice if they had a cinch closure. My all time favorite boot from a foot climate and comfort standpoint has been the Dunlop snug boot wildlanders. They feel like slippers and seem to transport perspiration well as my feet tend to come out of them not overly sweaty. Problem with them is that with any soft lining boot they will wear out inside, and have. The shaft sides are also weak like most neoprene sided boots. Had a stick poke right through the neoprene shaft of the snug boots. That said the lower boot (purofort) material seems very very durable. All said, I haven't written all Dunlops off just yet...
The Hoggs boots I bought were with intent to find a "natural" rubber boot. They were lack luster. From broken side buckles to wearing heel lining inside. Didn't last long enough to see if natural rubber was the real deal.
This brings me to current day... I just picked up my first pair of "premium" rubber boots. Arxus Pioneer Nords. Made in Sweden. 100% natural rubber. Metal cam buckle side cinch (not plastic!!!). Reinforced inside heel patch - this is huge for me. 3mm Neorprene lined but 2mm (.08") exterior rubber shaft thickness. They feel well constructed and sorta heavy. I have high expectations for these boots.
The cons... they are ~$300 and there's only one supplier in the US (happens to be local to me). The catch is that the initial cost should more than pay for itself if they last 2~3 seasons. 2 pairs of $150-200 boots in that same time frame will likely shit the bed anyways. If the Arxus last near as long as I expect they will, then they'll pay for themselves many times over. The lack of a heel kick on these Arxus boots stinks but is not a deal breaker for me - I'm gonna glue on my own I think. The tread pattern is relatively shallow, but not Lacrosse grange shallow. Time will tell if they're a winner...once I put them through the paces.
I also tried on (but need to size down) a pair of Arxus Pioneer uninsulated. They are exactly the boot I'm looking for to replace my uninsulated granges. I will own a pair of these when the supplier gets my size in. That said they're significantly more expensive than granges, so they'll need to last say 5 or so seasons to cost justify...
Hopefully you get some useful info from my rambling!
I have Cabelas for hunting and Mucks for around the house and even work. Cabelas are a bit heavier in weight but have been durable for me.
Good to see info about boots though!
Saddlereaper….great info. Just what I was hoping for. I’ll be checking tonight on availability of the Arxus.
Need good boots for my moose hunt in a few weeks, but also need to purpose them on the farm and Whitetails.
Great info. Thanks again.
