Rusty S. 08.09.21
Snake Boots that don’t Bite
New this year from Irish Setter Boots is a snake-proof version of their 17″ MudTrek rubber boot (style 4866). Featuring Irish Setter’s Snakeguard, Scentban, TempSens, and RPM technology, these are a good candidate for a serious pull on, slip-off snake boot. Like many Americans, I farm and ranch in rattlesnake country, and I need a boot that gives me peace of mind when moving through chest-high crops moving handline or checking on my animals in an unglazed pasture full of tall grass. Irish Setter was kind enough to send me some of their MudTrek Snake boots to try out, and I got to put them through their paces this year. Let’s take a look at how they performed over an intense 100-day test.
Specs:
- Height:17-inch
- Waterproof:Vulcanized Rubber
- Fabric / Material:Vulcanized Rubber-5 mm Neoprene
- Construction: Vulcanized
- Footbed: Removable Polyurethane
- Shank: Nylon
- Outsole: Rubber Mudder – Tan
- Last: RWSC-102
- Lining: Nylon
- MSRP: $234.99
Out of the Box
Right out of the box, I was impressed by how light the MudTreks were in comparison to other robust rubber boots I wear on the farm. I wear a size 13, and my rubber boots usually weigh quite a bit. Due to Irish Setter’s RPM reduced-weight sole, these boots were noticeably lighter than my Vikings. Both the shin and heel area feature extra reinforcement of SnakeGuard, but this material is all through the upper of the boot, providing all-round protection against snakebites. Another feature I noticed right away was a little shelf integrated into the exterior of the boot near the heel. This shelf allowed me to quickly slip off the boots when needed by using just my feet. This kept my hands free from mud or manure, which is a nice touch. The upper also features a zipper for extra easy donning or doffing of the boot.
The tread of the boot looked good for either slogging around in the mud or kicking around in the dirt. Not too deep, not too shallow. Short of saddle stirrups, these boots will get you into or out of most situations around the farm, field, or swamp.
In the field
I wore the Irish Setter MudTrek Snake boots from April through August, in both sub-freezing and extremely high temperatures above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. In. the late spring, when it was still below freezing in the morning, the TempSens technology prevented my toes from getting cold as long as I wore medium weight socks. Once the summer came, and we experienced record breaking heat out west, they were comfortable enough to wear with a thin sock when it was blazing hot. The ScentBan technology also prevented the boots from stinking, even after a long day in the field during a heatwave. For those of you considering this boot as a hunting boot, be aware that they were slightly loud when moving around. For me, thats quite alright, as I’d rather stomp around and ward a snake away in tall grass than step right on one that was unaware of my presence.
With a 17″ upper and snake proofing, the MudTrek Snake boots gave me something priceless: peace of mind. Instead of worrying about rattlers, I could just focus on my work. That was the case with these boots all through the spring and into the summer. There was not one day that I came to work without these boots ready to go in the back of my truck. I also found that these boots were easy to scrape the mud out of, as I like to do before I climb the tall steel fences I have around my bison pastures. They are also comfortable enough to drive in or walk around town in, should you leave them on when done with work.
Durability
After 100 days of testing in a farming and ranching environment, the boots have held up extremely well. They haven’t gotten scratched apart by my alfalfa fields or the rough volcanic rock we have around the ranch. Luckily, I haven’t had to test the snakeproofing first hand, but old barbed wire and thorns haven’t made it through the SnakeGuard, either. The only wear they have started to show was that a thin black layer of sole material has started to slough off a bit. Other than that, they’ve held up great. They also don’t stink at all, inside or out. The zipper system on the side has held up great, too. Waterproofing has been excellent in rain, sleet, snow, wet fields, creeks, and working on irrigation systems in standing water.
Overall Impressions
For a non-lace up farm boot with snake protection that are appropriate for nearly year round wear, the Irish Setter MudTrek SnakeGuards are hard to beat. Reasonably priced and durable, with excellent snake and stink-proofing, they’re a good bet for life on the farm or tree-stand style hunting. For those of you who need to climb mountains or stalk game, however, a quieter, more securely fit lace-up snake boot might be a better bet. I highly recommend anyone who farms, ranches or otherwise spends a lot of time outdoors in snake country give them a look. For more information, please visit Irish Setter.
