A rubber boot that’s rugged and durable yet comfortable and lightweight, Irish Setter wins with its MudTrek line.
by Jace Bauserman
Here’s a secret that’s not a secret: Gear matters. There’s a reason serious hunters research, test, and tinker. They know the value of an essential piece of equipment. Hunting is challenging enough, but when you have the wrong gear, punching a tag is even more daunting. When a piece of gear fails, so can the hunter.
Don’t believe me? Let’s kick over some rocks. Two years ago, while hunting the Alaskan tundra, I watched a tough-as-nails hunter wave the white flag. His “guaranteed” waterproof boots leaked constantly, and by the end of the hunt’s second day, his feet were hamburger.
Last season, yours truly tested out a fancy-to-do new heated base-layer system. Morning temps were forecasted in the teens, and I purposefully underdressed. The thin, heated gear promised to reduce late-season clothing bulk and keep you toasty warm. It kept me toasty warm for an hour. Then the batteries in the vest and pants quit, and I froze.
Those are two examples. That’s why you’re able to read about so many different products from so many other manufacturers when you visit Born Hunting. We do our best to test as much gear as possible. If a manufacturer wants to provide us with gear for testing, we don’t turn them away.
In September, I wrote an article about the Irish Setter VaprTrek 8-inch-tall hunting boot. Available in insulated and uninsulated options, this boot has become a staple in my hunting arsenal.
For a full review of the Irish Setter VapTrtrek, CLICK HERE
During October and November, I traded my VaprTrek for Irish Setter’s MudTrek. A 17-inch-tall, 100 percent waterproof, insulated rubber boot built to handle extreme hunts in harsh conditions, the MudTrek met and exceeded my expectations. The vulcanized rubber keeps moisture out and adds longevity. I do countless hang-and-hunts every fall, and I’m constantly scraping the tops and sides of my rubber boots on bark and brush. The combination of the vulcanized rubber and durable 5mm Neoprene makes these boots bulletproof.
Irish Setter MudTrek Technologies
Though rubber boots are primarily for turkey and whitetail hunters, they’re worth having if you’re constantly battling wet, damp conditions. Six years ago, two of my hunting comrades and I barely made it out of the backcountry alive.
For six straight days, it rained. It never stopped, and little did we know that the rain had triggered mudslides and flooding on and below the mountain. It was the most miserable I’ve ever been. Lucky for me, I packed a pair of uninsulated rubber boots into our base camp. I ended up wearing those rubber boots for three of the six days of elk hunting.
Available in an uninsulated model as well as 800g and 1,200g PrimaLoft models, Irish Setter’s MudTrek incorporates several technologies that make it so much more than just another rubber whitetail boot.
RPM
One knock on rubber boots is that they’re typically bulky and heavy. A composite material that reduces boot weight while adding user comfort, RPM Technology is incorporated into the MudTrek boots.
ScentBan
Likely the most significant reason hunters use rubber boots is the boots’ ability to reduce the human footprint. Irish Setter takes human footprint reduction a step further with ScentBan. Added to MudTrek boots in key areas like the linings and footbed, ScentBan kills bacteria that cause deer-spooking odors.
Thermal Boost
I got frostbite on my toes when I was 16. I couldn’t afford the right gear, and I wasn’t about to miss what is likely the best goose hunt I’ve ever been a part of. Since that hunt, though, my feet get really cold, really fast. Once temps start to dip, I go straight to a 1200g PrimaLoft insulation rubber boots and thick wool socks. Still, my feet get cold.
The MudTrek boots use ThermalBoost, a multi-zone barrier system built into the toe box, beneath the insole, and within the footbed. With the ThermalBoost multi-zone barrier system and low-bulk PrimaLoft, areas where heat is most lost has been addressed, and feet stay warmer. More to come on this technology.
TempSens
I started wearing my 800g MudTrek 17-inch tall rubber boots in early October. Temperatures were still warm, but I wanted to test the breathability of these rubber boots. TempSens is a body temperature technology that automatically reacts to your body temperature and sweat level to keep you dry and comfortable.
Irish Setter MudTrek … The Basics
For me, a rubber boot can have all the technologies in the world, but it lacks basic functionality; I will quickly discard it. The MudTrek blends innovation with simplicity, and I love that. The top opening is wide, and the adjustable calf gusset provides an “easy on” fit. The inner Arctic Fleece lining boosts warmth and adds comfort, and the polyurethane footbeds are removable.
I like the combination of vulcanized rubber and neoprene. I’m also a fan of how high up the rubber extends up the boot. This reduces neoprene fray and increases boot longevity.
The nylon shank inserted between the insole and the outsole provides support, stability, and comfort, and the Rubber Mudder outsole dominates any terrain. I love that Irish Setter included a heel kick on each boot, which makes taking the boots off quick and straightforward.
Irish Setter MudTrek In The Field
From October through Late November, I’ve hunted whitetails in two states, hung 12 stands, and performed 17 hang-and-hunt sessions, all while wearing the MudTrek. Like the VaprTrek, Irish Setter put a supreme focus on boot comfort. These 800g PrimaLoft rubber boots are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. Weight is reduced, and they don’t feel bulky and cumbersome on the feet. RPM technology does its job.
I don’t believe you can thoroughly beat a whitetail’s nose. However, if a rubber boot performs the way it should and you’ve taken even basic scent-elimination steps, a whitetail shouldn’t detect your walk-in or walk-out trails. I’ve had hundreds of encounters with deer over the past two months. Not one time has a deer smelled where I’ve walked into or out of an area, at least while I was observing those areas. ScentBan does its job.
Now for the crème de la crème; the MudTreks’ biggest positives: comfort and thermal regulation. On an early October Oklahoma hunt, daytime temps regularly reached 80 degrees. Focused on large agricultural wheat fields and capitalizing on early-season greenfield patterns, I moved stands frequently. Regardless of whether I was walking in 80-degree heat or sitting in a treestand, these boots, though my feet did get a tad warm from time to time, performed brilliantly. My socks were barely damp when I took them off, and though my feet got warm, it wasn’t like they were in a sauna.
On the morning of November 22, it finally got cold in southeast Colorado. My November Colorado rut hunt has been a grind—one that’s not over—and temps have been warm. That morning, I glanced at my 1200g PrimaLoft MudTreks but stayed with my 800g broken-in models. I used Muddy’s Nucleus Heated Socks and ran them on Medium heat. Morning temps were in the low teens, and I sat until 11:00 a.m. My feet never got cold. I believe Irish Setter has mastered thermal regulation.
Final Thoughts
By this time next year, I will own the MudTrek trilogy of rubber boots. I’m so impressed with them, and they will remain in my hunting arsenal for years to come. If you’re on the hunt for a new rubber boot, Irish Setter is running a current sale on most of their boots, including MudTrek models. Be sure to act while the sale lasts.
