For my mid-May cold water springtime adventures this year, I have decided not to wetfoot it. I'm looking for some rubber boots like the Xtratuf Legacy Boot that have a more aggressive tread on the outsole to grip rocks well. The Xtratufs are meant to be deck boots, and I have heard very good things, but to me, the outsole does not look grippy enough for mucky portage landings.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a lightweight-ish boot that I won't mind wearing in a canoe for hours at a time, that is grippy enough for mucky rocks? Am I better off buying some Chota Hippies? Do they *actually* form a seal that prevents water from entering a boot?

Thanks!

LaCrosse Burley Air Bob#
I used these before going over to wetfooting. Good fit and grip, somewhat warm and a bit of work to get off after a day of wandering.

Schnee's Guide ADV
More costly but easier on/off and more comfortable. Again with an Air Bob sloe.

butthead

I've used Muck Woody Max boots for the past 15 years. They have an aggressive cleat on the bottom that has been good on portages and are as comfortable as a pair of tennis shoes. Your feet will get warm in them, but I hate cold feet so that doesn't bother me.

Muck Wetlands have more than enough aggression for the BW. Portaged in rough and long stuff. Mine are holding up great. I use them all the time

I paddle in May most years. I've experienced everything from perfect 70 degree days to four inches of snow. Most often, I'll get one or two nice days and the rest will be in the 40's or 50's with rain.

Three pieces of gear to have:
Glacier Glove Kenai Waterproof Glove ($20/Amazon). If you get into nasty 40 degree weather you'll bless every dollar spent on these.
Chota Breathable Socks ($80/Piragis) - they go inside the boot, not on the outside. Yes, they really keep your feet dry. Your feet will sweat in the neoprene booties so your socks may feel damp.
Wading boots. I prefer Simms Flyweight Wading Boots. They're expensive but the tread is fantastic, have great support and they'll last a really long time. I use mine on my summer trips without the Chota socks.

I've been using these Kamik boots for the past 4 years. I found them on Amazon for $60.....great boots!

Someone on here recommended Neos which are an overshoes (just slip over your regular footwear). These aren't your grandpas overshoes, they are rugged.

I haven't used them in the BWCA yet since I just bought them in November, but they have been fantastically comfortable for hiking in the winter. Waterproof, lightweight, grippy, easy on easy off.

Neos Adventurer Overshoe

My choice is Dryshod Haymakers. They're like Muck Wetlands but better. After the original owners of Muck sold the brand off to Honeywell, Muck's quality has gone downhill and the original owners started Dryshod.

I had a similar dilemma a few years ago. I used to wet foot with Chacos (and wool socks if needed in the earlier months). After a cold wet trip a few years ago I made the switch to the Xtratuf legacy 15".

Don't discount the Xtratuf based on the appearance of the sole. They don't have the aggressive lugs but they are a soft sole meant to be extra grippy. They will serve you well as long as you can exit the canoe in water below mid calf (this goes for any dry boot). Hell, the Freeman's used them for a an entire year in the wilderness.

I have also used the wetlands in the past and they work great too, but have found them to not be as durable as the Xtratufs. I do have a pair of Muck Arctic Sport boots for the winter and would not trust their grip on rocks in the BW.

jdoutdoors - to answer your question about Chota Hippies creating a seal to keep water out of your boots, the Chota Hippies are a neoprene wader/sock. They are most often used with a wading boot; this type of boot has mesh-like vents near the bottom that allows water to quickly drain from the boot. I think the hippies are 5mm thick so the wading boots are over-sized. I have a buddy that uses a pair of my Chota Hippies when we trip together and he just uses an over-sized pair of hiking boots. Your boots will get water in them but your feet will stay dry.

Sorry, new paddler here, maybe I missed something, but Mr. Bill Mason in his Path of the Paddle warned against hard-soled boots and he said: "People who wear open-topped rubber boots in a canoe must have suicidal tendencies. They are impossible to swim in." on page 13.

I'm sure you guys know what you're doing. I'm just wondering who to listen to - as a new paddler I put safety 1st. Or likely I've missed something here.

argv: "Sorry, new paddler here, maybe I missed something, but Mr. Bill Mason in his Path of the Paddle warned against hard-soled boots and he said: "People who wear open-topped rubber boots in a canoe must have suicidal tendencies. They are impossible to swim in." on page 13.


I'm sure you guys know what you're doing. I'm just wondering who to listen to - as a new paddler I put safety 1st. Or likely I've missed something here."

Bill did a lot of whitewater. I get what he's saying ,but you should be wearing your PFD which will keep you afloat. I only wear my Muck Wetlands in cooler weather. I'm more concerned with hypothermia then.

Blatz: "

argv: "Sorry, new paddler here, maybe I missed something, but Mr. Bill Mason in his Path of the Paddle warned against hard-soled boots and he said: "People who wear open-topped rubber boots in a canoe must have suicidal tendencies. They are impossible to swim in." on page 13.



I'm sure you guys know what you're doing. I'm just wondering who to listen to - as a new paddler I put safety 1st. Or likely I've missed something here."

Bill did a lot of whitewater. I get what he's saying ,but you should be wearing your PFD which will keep you afloat. I only wear my Muck Wetlands in cooler weather. I'm more concerned with hypothermia then. "

Hypothermia is my main concern as well. I think that my Muck boots are snug enough at the top to avoid filling if I were to capsize. My Muck boots are my go to for mid May and late September/October trips. I wore them last year in late May and they were really too warm for the daytime highs we had. I ended up folding them down while paddling and portaging.

Mucks, but I can’t give thoughts on any other boots as I have always been happy with the mucks so never tried anything else.

Luft: "Hypothermia is my main concern as well. I think that my Muck boots are snug enough at the top to avoid filling if I were to capsize. My Muck boots are my go to for mid May and late September/October trips. I wore them last year in late May and they were really too warm for the daytime highs we had. I ended up folding them down while paddling and portaging."

I went the weekend of fishing opener last year in mid-May also and the mid-GFT area recived 11" of snow 2 days before we arrived. On some portages we were walking through snow up to our knees and I'm really glad I had my Muck Wetlands and not my Chota Hippies and Caney Forks.

As someone who does a lot of pheasant hunting in the late fall your muck boots are not tight enough to keep water out. The second your foot goes in the water the air comes out in the water fills them up the good thing is there’s not enough water in them to weigh you down in the water is neutrally buoyant anyway. I always wear Mc wetlands as well in the BDubBut to the OP’s Original request Mc makes a line of boots called chore theyAre made for farm work and such, similar to the wetlands only they have a very aggressive sole, Not everyone stocks them might have to check a Farm and Fleet type store

As someone who does a lot of pheasant hunting in the late fall your muck boots are not tight enough to keep water out. The second your foot goes in the water the air comes out and the water fills them up the good thing is there’s not enough water in them to weigh you down and the water is neutrally buoyant anyway. With a good pair of wool socks I can literally dump the water out of my boots and go on hunting when it’s well below freezing. I always wear Muck wetlands as well in the BDub. But to the OP’s Original request Muck makes a line of boots called chore they are made for farm work and such, similar to the wetlands only they have a very aggressive sole, Not everyone stocks them might have to check a Farm and Fleet type store

I have used Neos on two trips. They work very well and have plenty of grip.