Help me replace my duck boots

[Renn_aissance]

My duck boots are my go-to barn footwear from fall through spring. Sadly, they are dying. I have Sperry Tidewaters which I’ve really liked for comfort, traction, and just the right amount of insulation, but the duck bill has cracked and they are no longer waterproof. (I had this happen after 3 years with them. They’re pretty popular in my barn and no one else has had this quality issue, so maybe it’s just me?)

Looking for new ones. I want a leather upper, rubber bill to just below the ankle (turning horses out in the mud… so Sorel’s otherwise nice ones are out,) comfy insole (or else wide enough that I can put a footbed in it,) great traction, and a little insulation, but not so much my feet sweat in the spring.

LL Bean’s are out- I’ve never found them comfortable to wear. Who else makes good quackers?

[GreyDes]

I know you said LL Bean doesn’t work, but… Have you tried the high end ones? They have their standard line and then a higher end made in the US version. I think there’s a noticeable difference between them.

Example - https://m.llbean.com/llb/shop/119033?page=women-s-8-l-l-bean-boots-tumbled-leather-chamois-lined&bc=&feat=bean%20boot-SR0&csp=a&attrValue_0=Tan/Brown/Gum/Classic%20Navy&searchTerm=bean%20boot

[soloudinhere]

I’ve been wearing Bean’s approximately forever - I must have like 8 pairs by now?

That being said, if you don’t find them comfortable, there’s always Schnee’s out of Montana. https://schnees.com/forester-tt/

[Renn_aissance]

@soloudinhere

That being said, if you don’t find them comfortable, there’s always Schnee’s out of Montana. https://schnees.com/forester-tt/

Those are luscious. Have you worn them yourself?

My mom has a pair of Bean boots she must have had for going on 15 years. I know they last forever, they’re just not cut for me.

[pony_baloney]

I love my Bean slip-on mocs but am disappointed in how quickly the heels wore down. They were mostly used for driving to the barn and walking a slow, elderly dog on short walks. Otherwise, they are great.

Years ago Ariat made a rubber waterproof paddock boot that was so comfy. Mine just went in the trash after falling apart; they were only about 28 years old. Nothing is made like that nowadays.

Check out Marshall’s. Sometimes they have shoes similar to what you’re looking for that aren’t necessarily horsey brands. Not sure how long lasting they’ll be (like fashionable Hunter boots), but you never know.

[soloudinhere]

@Renn/aissance

Those are luscious. Have you worn them yourself?

My mom has a pair of Bean boots she must have had for going on 15 years. I know they last forever, they’re just not cut for me.

I had a pair awhile back - I have small feet, so Beans are often on megasale in my size at outlets, so I am now swimming in pairs of those. That said, the Schnees are very nice. They’re sort of the mid-west coast LLBean, if you will.