Talk to me about leather vs neoprene boots for muddy walks (Dubarry vs Muck Boots or similar)

[ParentOfOne]

I'm in the market for some short(ish) boots, to be used mostly for muddy walks. I don't mean technical hikes in the Cotswold, just taking the kids to local parks, on paths with plenty of mud.

I am basically undecided between:

1. boots like the Muck Boots, with a combination of rubber at the bottom, neoprene on the leg, and an airmesh lining inside www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/shoes-and-boots/rain-boots/the-original-muck-boot-company-wetland, and

2. leather boots like the Chameau or the Dubarry www.vintageguns.co.uk/magazine/dubarry-kildare-boots - but ideally something cheaper :)

Thoughts / impressions / experiences?

It seems to me that:

• the Muck boots are cheaper, much easier to clean and get mud off
• leather boots are more expensive but they obviously look much nicer and I suspect will be more breathable
• If I were to use them ONLY for muddy walks, I'd get the cheaper, easier-to-clean Muck Boots. However, the hope is that with something like the Dubarry I can, say, meet a friend for lunch and go elsewhere without looking like a fisherman, then pick up the kid from school and take him to the park even if it's muddy

I am ruling out ordinary rubber wellies because I sweat too much in them and they always gave me blisters, no matter the socks.

Military / tabbing / mountaineering boots with laces are probably better for long hikes on difficult terrain, but that's not what I do, plus they'd probably be harder to clean from the mud than boots with no laces. And I don't want to look like some kind of special force soldier!

Thanks!

I would go for dubarries.

I have several pairs and they are absolutely fabulous.
My oldest pair is probably a good 13 years old and they've been through a lot...horses, rugby games, farm visits etc. They don't look beautiful any longer, but still acceptable.

My brother has muck boots and is very unimpressed. He does wear them all day every day but they have split and he would go for bog standard Dunlop wellies another time as the quality of muck boots is terrible.

@goosebuster Interesting, thanks. How easy or hard is it to clean the Dubarrys if they get dirty with lots of mud? Have you found any style which can be worn with jeans either in or out? I wouldn't want the boots too high.

Obviously we are all shaped differently, but how do you find the Dubarrys vs boots with laces? Can you use Dubarrys also for longish walks, or are lace-up boots always better for those?

I have Kildares and Roscommons from Dubarry. Absolutely love them and great for every day use. They are so comfortable I forget I've got them on.

I have Dubarry. They are super comfortable, look good (imo) and are waterproof as long as you re-wax every year or so and don’t let them go really dry (don’t sit them by a radiator). I’ve walked literally hundreds of miles in mine over the years.
I take them off and put them on by the front door so I don’t worry about getting the mud off, other than to re-wax every 12 months.
I got them from a website selling ex-display shoes and boots at a fraction of their original price.

@TheSproutOfWrath The Roscommon are the lower ones, right? Can you wear them with jeans either in or out? Do you find they are high enough for muddy walks? Do you find the Kildares have a very different fit or is it just that they're a bit higher?

@Yayyayitsaholiholiday What products do you use to rewax? Or do you mean the reproofing spray like you apply to some sky jackets?

Thank you both!

It’s just a wax from Amazon for boots. You put it on like polish. It’s very easy and simple to do.

Yep. Roscommon are lower. I wear them for work (mixed practice vets) with jeans. The Kildares are longer but not knee length so very comfortable.
I've worn both wading through burns, on the beach, up hills, through muddy trails.
I just got my Kildares resoled and reheeled for £90 through Dubarry. I expect they will outlast me! They also fixed a loose stitch and polished them up beautifully.

Neoprene wellies for muddy walks
you’ll spend forever trying to. Clean and dry the leather ones

It's great that they do resoling! Altberg did, not sure if they still do, but they mostly do military or mountaineering boots.
Vibram has a shop in East London which is amazing, I had some boots resoled and they look like new, but not all boots can be resoled www.vibram.co.uk/LondonAcademy

PS Link to Altberg: www.altberg.co.uk/boot-fitting/resoling
Their lightweight tabbing boots are probably the best in their range for muddy walks (the waterproof versions) www.altberg.co.uk/boots/military-boots16 but they remain military boots, they certainly don't look as nice as the Dubarry

I needed some boots for exactly the purpose you describe, as I was fed up of cold feet in wellies. I couldn't quite stretch to Dubarry's so got Amblesides from Ariat (not sure they still make that style). Four years later and I've worn them for hundreds of muddy walks and they still look brand new. I wait for mud to dry, scrape it off, then quick scrub with water and brush. I treat them with dubbin a couple of times a year. They keep my feet so warm and they are very comfortable. And they're okay for going to a cafe or pub in. So I would vote Dubarry's or similar.

@ParentOfOne they are super easy to clean actually, a lot of the time I just hose them down as the goretex and leather means they're waterproof. Mine are all longer styles so afraid I can't comment on the wearability with trousers outside.

I have dodgy ankles so longer walks are always lace up for me as they offer more support.

Would also endorse ariat, but with the cheaper country boot options it is my opinion that you really do get what you pay for so if you can stretch I would. I had Dublin River boots for example, they look similar to the dubarry Galway but the amount of use they were getting the lining just couldn't cope.

I can also recommend ariat if you can't stretch to dubarry. I have a pair of ariat windermere which are knee length but after 4 years of use including mucking out horses and cows, riding in them, muddy walks etc. They're still good although looking a bit worn.
I agree with PP though that cheaper country boots aren't always great before splashing on the ariats I got through a pair a year or more of cheaper brands.

Still in my aigile neoprenes after 8 yrs of multiple daily walks with mad spanners

so comfy I’m caught wearing them to the supermarket etc much to teens mortification (don’t give a fig)

Bareback boots. Lots of styles and I love my Quebec although they will be too high for your needs.

Bloody love my muck boots. But I’d swap them before I met polite company. I’d do the school run in them or go to the supermarket no problem (rural- normal round here). Keep nicer boots in the car?!

If you can stretch to Dubarrys I would. Mine have lasted 12 years and still look good. Winter walks, rugby, dogs etc.

I'm a farmer and live in cheap green wellies as they do the trick for the proper muck. Thing is I wouldn't rock up to the rugby in them or meet a friend for a dog walk. That's where the Dubarrys come in. They're my idea of a posh shoe!!

I have both neoprene muck boots (with a deep tread) and Dubarrys.

My feet get so so cold - freezing - in the Dubarrys but I can walk for hours with toasty feet in the muck boots (not a fancy brand - Cotswold Co for about £80 I think).

I absolutely swear by my Grub boots. Last year's Xmas present and not had a cold foot at a rugby match or on a walk since. I have the purple neoprene wellies and they probably don't multi-task as restaurant footwear - they do offer other styles though.

These might be too high for you but I find the Welligogs boots are so comfortable and warm to wear, yet feel reasonably smart. welligogs.com/products/ranger-brown-waterproof-boots

Another vote for Ariat- I have the Ketley boots which I use for general beach/muddy walk country life with two small children and a dog. They are very warm in winter and very, very comfortable.

Ariat 💜
(Grasmeres 👍)

My main footwear is a pair of Aigle Parcour wellies - neoprone and totally bombproof. And uber warm whatever the outside temperature. I did get a pair of Muckboots as spares for the car boot, but they split after less than 18 months. I wasn't remotely impressed with them for comfort or durability.

I've also got a pair of leather boots from Bareback and they're fab but nowhere near as warm as my Aigle boots. The only advantage is that I can wear them to work after walking with skinny jeans!

Thank you all for your comments! Now I have some homework to do, looking into all the brands you have recommended.

I'd say most of you have confirmed that leather boots like the Dubarry can be used for muddy trails, too, so they seem like the best option for me. If only they were cheaper... :) I have found a store that stocks Ariat (I'll admit I had never heard of the brand) so I'll try to check it out.

I bought Muck boots mainly for watching DS play sport in the winter. Best ever! Feet stay warm.