Need alternative to Muck Boot Co. boots...they now hurt my achilles

[Iride]

I need a new pair of warm, waterproof, anti-slip barn boots for the coming winter.

I have the Arctic model of Muck Boot Company boots. I’ve LOVED them…but, for some reason I can’t figure out - maybe I wore them way too much last winter - but by the end of the winter I had serious achilles pain, mostly in one foot, just a little in the other.

It’s much better now that I’ve gone through 2 seasons not wearing them, and not wearing shoes that bother my achilles.

But now I’m panicking because I don’t know what to buy! I’ve relied on this brand for so long!

Any recommendations and experiences are most welcome!

[JoZ]

I don’t have too much help to offer. But I have found that my heels – not the Achilles tendon per se – are bothered by my muck boots. They rub at the nice cushy lining until it wears away, and then I am apt to get rubs or blisters from the torn area. My farrier claims to have had the same problem with muck boots, and she found that Bog brand boots have a better heel bed. So I am going to try them when I replace my current, heel-hurtin’ pair! Sadly, I don’t think it’s something I will notice when just trying the boots on. So I will have to take a leap and hope for the best.

[Ceylon_Star]

Bogs all the way

[Iride]

I’ll look into Bogs, perhaps just by wearing a differently shaped boot the achilles won’t be bothered again right away.

Any other recommendations out there??

[Frog_Pond]

Bogs, and I have a few different sole inserts – a 12$ full length gel (Dr. Scholls), a Sorbothane heel & arch support that’s about 3/4 length, and a full length pink Superfeet. I get the last two at R.E.I, they never seem to go on sale, they’re around $30-40. BUT, they make my Bogs into the best barn boots ever. Mucks are heavy – awesome, but heavy. Bogs with insoles are warm, dry, comfy, and light enough to not worsen my foot pain.

[horsepoor]

I really prefer the fit of Bogs boots over Muck, but I’ve had problems with durability. Bogs was super about replacing my Bogs Rider (I think that’s what they are called? The tall ones with a heel so you could ride in them, but I use them for barn work) when they cracked within a year. But my replacement pair did the same thing. I’m back in Muck this year, wearing thick socks they are ok. For now.

[Iride]

Frog Pond, good testimonial, thanks for the info.
Horsepoor, when you say you’re back in Muck boots and that by wearing thick socks they’re ok “for now”, do you mean that they caused your feet pain? Or what did you mean? Thanks!

[horsepoor]

[QUOTE=Iride;7778740]

Horsepoor, when you say you’re back in Muck boots and that by wearing thick socks they’re ok “for now”, do you mean that they caused your feet pain? Or what did you mean? Thanks![/QUOTE]
I haven’t had Achilles problems, but the Muck boots just don’t fit my feet as well as the Bogs. I tend to get sore heels still the bottom of my foot from the Muck ones. I mostly said “for now” as I seem to wear through boots so much, who knows what my next pair will be!

[californianinkansas]

I love my Bogs. Except for the fact that my pair does not have a riding-boot heel, they would be the perfect winter riding boot. Depending on your size, Amazon has them on sale right now, as does 6pm.com. IME, they tend to run true to size.

Do your Muck boots make your tendon sore or do they cause blisters? Perhaps a good pair of boot stretchers might help? Maybe take them to a cobbler to see if he or she can solve the problem? Or perhaps contact the Muck boot company to see if they have any ideas? I’d hate for you to have to shell out for a new pair of boots if they could be fixed for less.

[CrowneDragon]

I love Bogs, but regular Muck Boots may work just as well for you. The Arctic ones have a solid heavy rubber foot that may be causing the issue.
I wear regular Bogs Classic Tall and my feet stay comfy in the winter in regular socks down to sub-zero temps. The ones with handles have a slightly different fit that the ones with the snug leg design, and I find they are warmer, FWIW.

[quarterhorse4me]

“Xtra Tuf boots” are absolutely great boots with tons of support. Many commercial fisherman wear them and I think most of the guys on the show “Deadliest Catch” use them. If they work for the Bearing Sea they should work at your barn. Everyone in my family has a pair.

[Guilherme]

What kind of pain are they causing?

I’ve got heel spurs and both feet and use Dr. Scholls Gel Heel Pads in everything I own (paddock boots, Patton boots, Muck Boots, tall boots, etc.).

Different brands will fit differently. Sometimes different styles within a brand will fit differently.

Best of luck finding what will fit!

G.

[Iride]

But the strange thing is that they were fine for 2 years. After last winter - which was h*ll on Earth - I may have worn them so much that it catalyzed a problem.

Californiainkansas - the pain is in the achilles area, and the boots are definitely not tight. In fact they might be a little on the roomy side (I have narrow feet). They ARE heavy however…they are the Arctic model - so as CrowneDragon mentioned, perhaps their heavyness caused the problem over time.

I also have regular tall Muck boots - not heavy winter like the Arctics - and they are more comfortable to wear now, but they will NOT be adequate in the wintertime. They don’t have the tread/grip that the Arctics do, I’d die lol.

Maybe I’ll take the suggestion to call the Muck Boot Co. and see what they say.

Thanks for the suggestions…the XtraTuf boots would only work if they didn’t hit my achilles too hard, as it sounds like they’re heavy like the Arctic Muck pair.

[CrowneDragon]

I don’t find any lack of traction with my Bogs, but traction is hardly the issue I’m usually having when I can hardly move with snow up to my hips :lol:
You can always put some pull-over Yaktrax/cleats on them.

[Blume_Farm]

I have these Muck Boots
http://www.muckbootsandshoes.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=30

I also have a pair of mid-height Boggs.

I used to have the black Muck Boots you see for sale at Dover and I used to have a pair of tall Boggs. I didn’t like the black Mucks as they were very uncomfortable. These brown ones are much better. I really didn’t like the tall Boggs, they were heavy, uncomfortable and my feet would get super cold in them (and we don’t even have super harsh winters). They cracked after one year of limited use and Boggs replaced them with these mid-height ones. I love these ones, much more comfortable and not as heavy.

ETA: I bought those heat pack things you can put in your boots as my feet always get cold in the winter which makes my life miserable. LOVE those heat packs.

[alto]

Bogs rated to -30F
In general the leather boots are much more “fitted” than the “classic” styles, the Tacomas & Summits also have a different feel …

[kcmel]

My Bogs fell apart on me after less than a year, while I get several seasons out of Muck boots. I would definitely look into some sort of insert.

[Mallard]

I have had a pair of ‘Mudruckers’ for 3+ years and love them.
They come in tall or mid-calf.

http://intecperformancegear.com/mudruckers.php

[Iride]

Thanks for all of your input!!

[morganpony86]

I, too, am a Bogs fan. Most comfortable muck boot I’ve tried. I have never found a boot with better support.
I haven’t had the same issues as others in terms of falling apart. Each pair has lasted 2+ years with daily wear from Sept-Apr and wear on the weekends throughout the year.