Every hunter who has sat in a stand or in a hunting position for a long time knows the battle of cold feet! Muck Boots for over a decade has had a line of boots that have sought to fill this need and they have done it well.
The Woody Max Tall Boot line is a luxury item for hunters, maybe arguably a hidden secret. Muck Boots is a well-known brand but perhaps not extremely well-known in hunting groups. That should change!
The boots are 100% waterproof which is one of the first steps in keeping you warm long-term. We are excited to get into this review, when we had the chance to get a pair we were glad to try them out right away.
We have put Muck Boots in one of our prepping recommend brands section. So that says something about their quality and products.
Table of Contents
Unboxing Of Muck Boots
We got 2 pairs of muck boots in the mail as you will see in the photos there was a complimentary pair given for our young aspiring hunter (9 yr son).
He LOVED the cartoon colouring box that gives kids a fun activity right away to get involved with.
Right away you will see front and center the famous Muck Boot Company logo, their branding and reputation still are valuable and their products are definitely that step beyond many boots out there.
The boots were packaged well, and came with no problems and no defects, there was definitely quality control involved in the process of manufacturing the boots.
If you are ordering online they give you a very handy men’s size chart, womens and also kids size chart.
Muck Boots Company gives some very helpful advice to people buying online: “Boots and shoes are available in whole sizes only, but will stretch to fit half sizes. There is a 15mm toe allowance built into the sizing. For men who are a ½ size, order the next size up. For Women who are a ½ size order the next size down. Many of our best-selling boots are built for men and women – we call them unisex sizing. Women should order 1 size down from the men’s size shown. Our size charts will help you find the perfect fit.”
Reason 1 – Muck Boots Takes Care To Make A Long-Lasting Boot
If you were to ask me what is the first thing that stands out to me about these boots it would be “durability.”
They look rugged, feel rugged and they are built to last.
Muck Boots are made with a shell of Neoprene. It acts as a “neutral medium” between inside and outside temperatures. Naturally lightweight, and very comfortable, the material keeps the foot and lower leg warm and protected in cold and wet conditions.
One website says: “Neoprene, also known as polychloroprene, is one of the first synthetic rubber products ever made. Developed in 1930 by a DuPont company scientist, neoprene is generally stronger and harder than natural rubber and more resistant to water, oils and solvents.”
Natural rubber overlays act as a protective skin for the upper bootie. The upper has a triple-reinforced toe area and quadruple-reinforced heel area. The outsole is made of high-abrasion natural rubber. The rubber in the boots will stay flexible for years.
Muck Boots says on their website: “The NEOPRENE used in MUCK® BOOTS is both waterproof and self-insulating. Our materials exceed the long-term effectiveness of waterproof membrane materials and provide greater insulating properties than all non-specialty temperature-control substrates.”
Overall from the bottom to the top of the boot it all feels well made. Another feature is that the boot is flexible which is usually in a durable item you expect it to be rigid. We will touch more on this in reason two below.
Reason 2 – Muck Boots Are Surprisingly Very Comfortable And Flexible
One of the most uncomfortable parts of having sturdy large boots is the hard material hitting against the chin of your leg.
With Muck Boots, this problem is not just elevated but done away with. The upper calf and topline areas of the Muck Boots are made of soft, flexible neoprene and will stretch. With the flexible upper, the pant leg can be worn over or inside the boot.
The materials do not chaff or hurt the leg and feel extremely comfortable. It is the first boot I have worn that really form fits the leg and contours and moves with you.
The collar material can be turned down to allow hands-free removal and vent humidity in warmer working conditions.
Part of comfortability is the ability to keep your feet warm but not sweating or wet. These boots do exactly that, they mitigate moisture wicking it away and keep your feet comfortably warm and dry.
Muck Boot’s explains on their website this core feature:
“One of the most important and revolutionary features of The Original Muck Boot Company® footwear is the structured, Breathable Airmesh lining used in all our products. Airmesh is made up of thousands of tiny vertical fibres that allow air to circulate throughout the interior lining surfaces. Excess humidity and perspiration that might build up in the boot are quickly wicked away. This creates a comfortable environment for your feet that lasts for extended periods of use.”
Once you have worn a Muck Boot it might be hard to go back to a fully rubberized boot. There might be applications where a full rubber body might be more practical for cleaning.
But for hunting applications, the Real Tree Edge Woody Max is one of the top-tier hunting boots you can find comfortability-wise.
Reason 3 – Muck Boots Are Designed and Engineered To Keep Your Feet Warm
Who wants cold feet? Welcome to hunting without numb toes or any of the uncomfortable experiences you are used to.
Muck Boots have several design features that specifically are aimed at keeping your feet very comfortable in sub-zero temperatures.
They designed this hunting boot with a 5mm neoprene waterproof bootie and fleece liner.
If that were not enough there is an extra 2mm thermal foam under foot.
The NEOPRENE bootie material acts as a “neutral medium” between inside and outside temperatures.
Muck Boots suggests: “It isn’t necessary unless activities are planned for extreme, cold conditions. The NEOPRENE bootie material is rated sub-zero during active use and will effectively withstand freezing temperatures for up to one hour. Medium-weight athletic socks should provide the best fit. The upper will stretch to accommodate thicker socks.”
Neoprene is a great insulator, for its thickness, when submerged in water, neoprene is about as warm as you can get. Which is why it’s used in wetsuits.
Neoprene acts as a barrier against moisture, cold, and even heat. So it will give you a comfortable experience in warming hunting experiences as well.
Closing Thoughts on Muck Boots Woody Max
During all the testing and wearing of these boots, it was very hard to find anything wrong with them.
One small feature I had in the past with older boots was a rubber “heel kick” that came out on the heel and gave you something to press against to get the boot off. The Woody Max does have a kick-off but it is not as pronounced as the other boots I used in the past. (Maybe this is an upgrade idea for Muck to consider). Other than this the boots are perfect!
These Real Tree Woody Max Muck Boots are my top recommendation for hunters and preppers don’t look anywhere else, grab a pair today they will last over a decade guaranteed!