Keep Your Feet Warm And Dry With These Insulated Rubber Boots

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Whether you’re hunting, fishing, farming, snowblowing, or just generally mucking around in cold mud or sloppy snow, there’s no better footwear than insulated rubber boots. In warmer weather, rubber boots can get too hot, but when’s it’s cold outside, there’s no beating the impenetrable waterproof nature of solid rubber.

Fishing might be the ultimate application for rubber boots since you’re constantly in and around the water and can’t afford to let wet feet cut your day short. Rubber deck boots are a staple of boat anglers since they repel both fish guts and splashing water while also providing grip on the deck’s surface.

They’re equally at home in lakes and rivers where you often need to stand submerged in cold water for long periods of time. In such instances, waterproof hiking-style boots can’t compete with the imperviousness of rubber. Ice-fishing presents plenty of water, ice, and slush and usually extreme cold as well.

Hunting offers slightly different challenges suited to rubber boots. A tree stand whitetail hunter might walk miles through snow and muck before sitting still for hours trying to stay warm. This requires a rubber boot that is comfortable to hike in and also is well-insulated. Late-season hunters will want an option that doesn’t overheat.

Even if you’re just working around the yard in cold temps, insulated rubber boots are ideal footwear because they slip on easily while keeping snow and mud out and warmth in. While functional, there are also plenty of reasonably fashionable insulated rubber boot options if you want something appropriate to wear out and about.

Best Insulated Rubber Boots

What to Consider With Insulated Rubber Boots

Warmth

Insulated rubber boots come in a range of levels with different types of insulation, from thinner neoprene and fur to thick wool liners and synthetics. If you’re ice fishing in sub-zero temperatures, you want as warm a boot as you can afford. If you’re hiking around in muck, but it’s above freezing, you may want minimal insulation to avoid steaming out your feet, which can ultimately make them colder.

Many boots will have warmth ratings to give you a sense of how well insulated they are, but note that just because a boot is rated to 0-degrees Fahrenheit, it doesn’t mean you will necessarily be comfortable at that temperature. Boots that employ synthetic insulations such as Thinsulate will often list the amount of insulation in grams, i.e. 1200 grams, which can be useful for comparing boots as long as both list the insulation weights.

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Height

Insulated rubber boots are often at least calf-height since they’re designed to keep out mud, water, and snow, but there are lots of mid- and ankle-high styles, too. If you’re frequently in deep snow or water, it makes sense to go for knee-high boots, but remember that the taller the boot, the heavier and more cumbersome it will be to wear. Get only get as tall a boot as you think you’ll need. Rubber boots that measure around 6-inches or shorter won’t be as practical for standing water, but they’re easier to get in and out of, and may be plenty of boot for certain lighter-duty applications.

Traction

Many winter rubber boots will offer decent traction, but you’ll want to look for outsole tread that’s up to your intended use. Boots meant for ice will have specialized tread or even spikes to prevent slips; conversely, boat deck boots will have shallower lugs and prioritize grippy compounds. If you’re hiking or walking distances, you’ll want a more athletic outsole that isn’t too stiff and has off-road tread that can handle anything from mud to snow to slippery rock.

How We Selected Insulated Rubber Boots

I’ve tested many winter boots over the years and put them through their paces ice fishing, hunting elk, and wading through feet of snow around my home at 10,000 feet in the Rockies. These selections are the result of that testing as well as talking with other hunters and anglers as well as boot brand representatives about the latest offerings. These are the best insulated rubber boots you can buy now.

Alphaburly Pro Insulated Boots

LaCrosse has been making rubber boots for more than 100 years, and the Alphaburly Pro boot represents the evolution of what a rubber boot can be. This is LaCrosse’s premium rubber hunting boot, but it’s a great option for any application since it comes in a range of camo patterns as well as solid Forest Green.

The boot also is available with 400, 800, 1000, or 1600 grams of insulation, or no insulation at all, so you can get the version that best fits your needs.

All versions of the boot feature rubber laid on top of neoprene with extra layers added in high-wear areas such as heel and toe. Inside, there’s a knit layer for comfort and to help help wick moisture and keep your feet cool.

There are 11 different camo patterns available through partnerships with Mossy Oak, Realtree, Sitka, and First Lite so you can match the boots to your hunting kit.

Tall rubber boots can be clumsy footwear for active uses, but the Alphaburly Pros have a tapered Active Fit in the ankles to help keep your feet from slopping around inside the boot. There’s also a gusseted neoprene collar at the top of this 18-inch boot with an adjustable strap that lets you tighten the seal of the boot above your calf to keep warmth in and moisture out.

Forester Insulated Boots

Kamik is another boot maker with a more than 100-year track record of quality and the added pedigree of making boots for harsh Canadian winters. The Forester boots are basic insulated rubber boots and are surprisingly affordable considering the brand name and that they’re temperature rated down to -40 degrees.

The boot is 14 inches tall, so not as high as some models, but there’s a nylon collar that cinches tight on your calf to prevent incursions. The Forester doesn’t come in camo if you’re thinking of using it for hunting, but there are a number of different solid colors to choose from and they have the same natural odor control properties found in all natural rubber boots.

They’re also potentially a warm-weather boot, since the insulating liner is removable, which extends the already impressive value.

Men’s Trolling Pack 6-Inch Deck Boot

Xtratuf’s ankle boots are one of a few insulated rubber boot options in a relatively low height. These have a fishing-first design meant to keep you dry and stable on boat decks. That said, these boots have gained popularity as stylish rain boots, so they work as a casual wear option, too. Because of the low height and front and heel pull tabs, they’re also easy to slip on to your feet.

A faux shearling liner adds comfort and warmth while an XpressCool sock liner helps wick away moisture to prevent swampy feet inside. If you spend time fishing from boat decks in cold weather, these are one of your few insulated options in a lower height. And if you just want something to keep you dry walking around the neighborhood, they’re equally suitable for that, too.

Titan Rubber Boot

Whether you’re ice fishing, snowmobiling, enduring a subzero treestand sit, or exploring the South Pole, Baffin’s Titan boots are some of the warmest rubber boots money can buy.

Going beyond simply packing in insulation, Titans pair Double B-Tek Heat hollow-fiber insulation layer for loft with a light Diamond Net insulation for wind-stopping. There are also heat-reflective layers in both the insole and upper to help retain your foot’s natural heat.

To avoid overheating, these insulated rubber boots feature wool and Hydromax layers to help wick moisture away from your skin. Everything about the Titans is designed for extreme cold, so don’t wear these indoors.

If you want to extend them into warmer seasons when you just need a rain boot, all that insulating tech is removable.

Bozeman Tall Rubber Boots

These simple rubber and neoprene winter boots from Bogs pair lightweight-but-warm insulation with a spacious design that makes them easy to pop on and off for quick trips outside for chores or for short walks in cold, nasty conditions.

One of the best things about insulated rubber boots is the ease of getting in and out of them, but many models choke up around the calf to keep moisture out, sacrificing that convenience in the process. Not so with the Bozeman tall boots, which are step-in easy and have cut-out handles if you need to tug to get your foot fully in, even though the roomy toe box makes that less likely to happen.

The Bozeman boots are not bulky, which is attributed to 7 millimeters of Neo-Techneoprene insulation. It won’t keep you as warm as lots of high-loft insulation, but it’s plenty for short stints outside, especially when paired with warm socks.

While the cut-out handles make them easier to put on, they do lower the effective height of the boot since snow, water, and debris can come in via those same holes.

Apex Pro Artic Grip All-Terrain Boot

While waders paired with true wading boots are your best bet for trudging deep into lakes and rivers, sometimes waders are overkill. Waders are also expensive, and a tall pair of wading boots like Muck Boot’s Apex Pros can get you most of the benefits of a full wading setup at a fraction of the cost.

At 16-inches high, the Apex Pros are perfect for mucking around shorelines and even wading into muddy flats that swallow regular footwear.

Many rubber boots don’t have the right traction for fishing water’s edges, but I’ve worn the Apex Pros for over a year and their Vibram soles have incredible traction. These are flexible enough to let you feel the ground beneath you and help you to avoid the nasty falls that are common fishing around mud and icy/slippery rocks.

The neoprene-only insulation doesn’t keep you as warm as traditional lofted insulation, but it has the advantage of continuing to insulate when wet.

Outfit Yourself For Fishing, Hunting, Yard Work, and More With Expert-Approved Footwear. Justin Park Shares When to Wear and How to Clean Insulated Rubber Boots.

PM: At what temperature should you wear insulated rubber boots?

JP: Because the type and amount of insulation used in rubber boots varies considerably, the comfortable temperatures for each pair can also vary considerably. That said, manufacturer recommendations for the lightest insulation boots in our roundup suggest a maximum temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit. More heavily insulated boots will have even lower maximum temperatures.

At normal indoor temperatures, insulated rubber boots will cause your feet to sweat and can lead to the boots developing an odor over time.

PM: How heavy a sock do I need with an insulated rubber boot?

Well-insulated rubber boots don’t necessarily require you to wear heavy-duty socks. While wearing some type of sock is always a good idea to help with moisture-wicking, if you are wearing socks that are too thick or even wearing multiple pairs of socks, it can cause discomfort and may even make your feet too hot and sweaty.

With lighter insulated rubber boots, a warm sock can be useful for increasing the warmth rating of the boots when heading out in colder temps.

PM: How do I clean these?

JP: One of the greatest things about rubber boots is they are extremely easy to clean because of being completely waterproof. Their slick exteriors tend to shed mud and dirt naturally, but if you need to clean them, you can hose them off outside or wash them in a deep sink. Use soap if needed.

The trickiest area to clean is usually the tread which can hang on to dirt and rocks. Your friend for this task is a stiff-bristled brush, and for truly stubborn debris, you may need to employ a flat-head screwdriver or other stiff but dull implement to poke it out.

Interiors can be more challenging to clean since materials vary and can hang on to odors. Always consult the manufacturers’ recommendations first since they will recommend safe practices tailored to the specific model’s materials. Most interiors can safely be hand-washed with laundry detergent and water mixed, and then rinsed thoroughly with warm water. Just be careful around high-loft insulations and make sure to air dry the boots completely after washing.

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