Whether you are working in a hot factory or working in a barn mucking out, getting the right work boots will just make life so much easier.
We are talking muddy, wet and slippery, so it stands to reason that you first of all need some boots that are waterproof.
- Then they are going to need to be fairly decent height otherwise you will be letting in water and all the fly up mud as you walk.
- At the same time you need to give some consideration to comfort. Are you going to be working all day in them, or popping out for a ride after?
The quality really DOES need to be top notch.
So we need to look at COMFORT, WATERPROOFING, TALL, WARM, BREATHABLE as the main consideration points.
Cheap nasty barn boots will simply not stand up to a hard weeks graft.
You know what it’s like when you’re working and your foot gets stuck in a pile of “horsey stuff” (holds nose while pointing towards a big pile…!).
The boots need decent soles on them, good solid seams that don’t leak and let in moisture.
Ideally they also would want to be comfortable and keep out the “stuff” from getting in down the top. Always a heart breaking experience!
The best boots for barn work are ones that will last for a good few years, and save you money down the line.
Best boots for mucking stalls
If you’re only just starting out then a cheap pair of wellingtons like these on Amazon will get you started for the first few times, but you will see a whole world of difference when you choose proper mucking out boots.
Best stable boots
So I’m going to start with these Hale muck out boots on Amazon. Click through the link if you want to see the 6 other colour options (I personally really like the moss coloured ones.
I know you’re gonna ask “how much Shaun?“
Not cheap, not by any chance, but are they good? I think so, but you can decide.
Prices range “roughly” between £50 and £120 depending on the size of your feet (oh the joys of being short certainly weigh in your favour right now 🙂 ) – but then when you go on and look at many other good quality proper mucking out barn boots you’ll see most of them fall into similar price ranges, and there are several more that also increase reaching up closer to the £200 mark (and beyond).
Pro’s and con’s of these boots.
The pro’s
- Very well made and full of all the right features, so in a nutshell good value for the money, as you would expect.
- Should give good grip. It’s got self cleaning outsoles with ribbing (you could put your foot on this rubbing, using it as a lever to help remove the boots).
- Easier than other boots to get on and off. There is a pull loop attached at the back of the top of the boot to pull the boots on easier.
- Has a flat heel for all day comfort (if you get any sort of discomfort when standing all day we can recommend one or two insoles that will make a big difference (opens in a new tab).
The con’s
Not too many but will list a few points
- May not be suitable if you have larger sized calves or ankles (most people are ok though). The issue here is not so much the boots, but the fact that we are all different people with different proportions and it can be hard to get a boot that makes everybody happy.
- In a very small number of cases one or two people have experienced leaking after the 6 month mark, but take that as an “after thought” because again, those who had leaking may have had tighter calves causing all manner of strains on the boots at various points along the seams.
These would make good women’s winter barn boots
But what about Winter boots or Summer boots for that matter?
If it were me I would still try to aim for most of the same features as above but then simply choose some that are either thinner, or a little bit shorter in height.
So for a summer option there is this calf sized Muck boot (namely the original muck boot) on Amazon:
These are great for warmer and drier days with less wet sloppy stuff around, but still superb at helping you keep protected while mucking out.
Perfect then!
Every bit a “proper mucking out boot”, but smaller, more comfortable and less likely to make your feet overheat.
Pro’s and con’s of these boots.
The Pro’s
- Ribbed sole for grip – you’re definitely going to need it when knee deep in “stuff”
- Fully waterproof – so this is a no brainer really! You need dry snug feet while working in a barn.
- Has a breathable lining to help feet stay as fresh as physically possible – not that this will be an easy task considering the environment but hey ho!
- Absolutely perfect warm and waterproof for anyone who walks their dogs too!
The Con’s
- You will need to keep away from wetter places areas, or just take more care, as there is always the chance of dirt that’s being kicked up could get down inside the boot from the top.. although common sense will prevail here for most people.
Pricing for this is much easier on the pocket too and shouldn’t be any more than about £60 or so.
Is there anything cheaper?
There is another brand available that is quite a bit cheaper and looks like it offers most similar benefits.
This brand also looks stylish and looks as though it costs quite a bit more than it actually does.
These Michigan waterproof calf boots fit in the the crowd, and they offer an alternative to the “Muckboots” brand, costing about half the price of the professional boots. The approximate pricing on these is roughly in the region of £20
They are made in both Green and Black colour choices.
Just one thing to bear in mind is that size wise it seems that the boots are about a half size or 1 full size too big, so if you are say, a size 4 and a half, choose a size 4. Or if you are normally a size 6, go for a size 5.
You can of course forget this tip, and just go for the same size as you normally are, but don’t go any bigger.
You can make up for any larger sizing by using insoles, or thicker socks.
Pro’s and con’s of these boots.
The pro’s
- The main and obvious benefit is the cost. If you don’t feel the need to splash out on the very best barn boots these are definitely an option.
- Comfortable and waterproof
- Good grip
The con’s
- The sizing seems like it’s an issue for many. The only advice I can give is to go for a half size or one size smaller.. or.. go for the exact same size as you are now. Don’t go for bigger sizes at it may well be way too big. You can always add thicker socks.
Do you want to be as warm as humanly possible?
If you really want to be snuggly warm (as much as possible anyway, take a look these – claimed to be the warmest muck boots ever made.
Feel toasty in temperatures as low as -40!
These boots have the addition of a snug fleece lining.
They are perfect for all walks of life. Wet walking, winter walking, dog walking, barn work, mucking out, wading through rivers and so on.
These are great quality good all round boots suitable for a wide range of duties.
The pro’s and con’s of these boots
The pro’s
- From a trusted brand (Muckboots)
- Well made with all the right features you need
- Suitable for a wide range of uses that include barn work
- Fully waterproof – and approximately 40cm tall
- Lovely and warm thanks to it’s breathable fleece lining
- Most people that the sizing offered is a good accurate representation
The con’s
- Not the cheapest but you are paying for the quality
- There is a seam at the back that runs up inside the boots. In a small number of cases (2%) people have talked about them rubbing on the heel.
Summary
Choosing barn boots isn’t really a hard task. We have already filtered away the poor quality ones so what’s presented here are some of the best available – and in a range of options from simple cost effective wellies, low priced boots that look every bit a “barn boot”, and then of course the premium branded muck boots.
As a last after thought if you need safety boots that are more suitable to heavy duty work our in depth review here will help you out.
Resources
The Muck boot company – 20 years in the making – a worthy reference.