The Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport Review

The Arctic Sport did extremely well in our tests, hitting impressive marks in three categories — weather protection, traction, and warmth. As a result, if the weather was unpleasant, we found ourselves reaching for these boots first. However, due to being so stellar in these three categories, there are some downsides: they are clunky, constrictive, and hot for casual use, thus scoring low in comfort and style. Nonetheless, this boot is great when you actually need it, and its fleece-lined neoprene insulation, heavily studded outsole, and cushioned midsole will keep you happy for hours in even the worst conditions.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

The Arctic Sport has the highest shaft in our test and measures in at 17.6 inches from sole to top. Since the top of the boot slightly constricts in the calf due to some well-designed elastic, this further reduces the chance of splashes getting in. We were never worried about getting wet with these on our feet.

It's easy to feel invincible when wearing these boots, striding confidently into water, thanks to their tight fit on our calves. We knew we wouldn't get wet wearing these boots in any weather, a far cry from our experience in many other models, especially the more stylish and lower-cut boots. We originally were curious whether the neoprene uppers would be fully waterproof, but despite our twisting and stretching the neoprene underwater, we never got these boots to leak. Impressive!

Comfort

It's a bit difficult to talk about comfort in the Arctic Sport because the boots are so clearly and specifically designed for cold use. In warm weather, you will have a hard time wearing these for more than an hour due to their absurd warmth. We've tried wearing these in late spring, and our feet get almost immediately sweaty, which isn't exactly “comfortable”.

However, in cold weather, these boots are definitely one of the best in the test and are remarkably warm. We appreciated their EVA padded footbed (and additional thermal padding), which kept our feet cushioned and comfortable even in some truly cold conditions. Yet since these boots are rated for a very specific temperature range (after our warm-weather experiences, we don't really want to wear these above 45°F), we can't give them the highest comfort score — they're just too warm for a wide temperature range. The boot's weight also factors into its comfort rating — they're pretty heavy at 5.35 lbs. While this means they're great for burlier tasks, the boots are just a little heavy for casual jaunts.

Traction

The Arctic Sport boots have impressively great traction thanks to their knobby outsoles. No matter what surface you find yourself on, whether you're running up grassy hills, trying to skid in mud, walking along creek beds, or walking on snow, you won't slip. We did skate around a bit on pure ice, but that's hard to avoid, and none of the boots did any better.

The large, separated studs on the outsole are impressively grippy, and we love how secure they make us feel. And thanks to the wide spacing between the studs, we didn't have issues with rocks getting stuck in the outsole (as we did with other boots).

Warmth

With their neoprene insulation, fleece lining, and a 2mm thermal underlay, the Arctic Sport boots earned top marks for warmth.

The manufacturer claims that these boots are comfortable down to -40°F, and after our testing regime, we think this just might be possible (as long as we were also wearing nice thick socks). During our bathtub ice water test, we spent over 20 minutes in the Arctic Sport boots, barefoot and without moving, before declaring them top contenders, as our feet were only just beginning to feel the chill (and we'd cut the other boots when our feet became uncomfortably cold). During blizzards and trips to the snowy Cascades, we make sure to bring these boots along.

Wearability

The Arctic Sport ranks in the middle of the pack for wearability. These calf-height boots don't pretend to be anything other than what they are — heavy-duty workboots — and that means they're not as easy to slip on and off as more casual boots. They also lack a heel stud, which feels like an oversight. And stylistically, these boots aren't subtle. However, we will admit some of our style consultants like their chunky aesthetic quite a bit.

As such, unless you live in a seriously cold, wet climate, you're probably not going to be casually wearing these out for drinks and a movie, though if you do, your feet will be extremely warm.

Fit

These size 13 boots fit our size 12 feet well, with a half-inch of forward and back wiggle room and minimal room left and right (for our D-width forefeet), so they probably come in between a D and an E width. They also have a relatively low volume, so they hold the ankles well and don't flap around. These fit most comfortably with our aftermarket insoles, but the included insoles are still impressively cushioned.

Value

The Arctic Sport are some of the most expensive rain boots in the test, but more than any other boots, we're certain these will keep you safe and warm. And if you're going to be spending time in the sort of weather that would require these boots, you shouldn't be skimping on footwear. We're sure these boots will last a long time with their reinforced components and high-quality construction. However, if you won't be spending consistent time in horribly cold and wet conditions, we'd recommend you get a more affordable, more comfortable, less hard-core boot.

Should You Buy the Original Muck Boot Company Arctic Sport?

While not everyone needs these boots, those who spend their time working outdoors in sub-30°F temperatures will be glad to have them, with their impressive 17.6-inch shaft height, reliable traction, and fleece-lined insulation. For the rest of us, these boots may be overkill due to their intense warmth, average style, and general clunkiness. But these are a great option if you want a pair of heavy-duty waterproof winter boots. There is something truly wonderful about how warm and dry we feel in the Arctic Sport; they are an easy choice for wet and cold weather.

What Other Rain Boots Should You Consider?