Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boot Evaluation

I stay in Nashville, the place we obtain borderline pure catastrophe quantities of rain each spring. Each different week, new creeks type in my neighborhood, and my yard turns right into a lake.

In consequence, I spend plenty of time in rubber boots. This spring, I had the chance to check the budget-friendly Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot, created by Bass Professional Retailers.

In the case of footwear, I typically comply with the mantra of “purchase as soon as, cry as soon as.” There’s nothing worse than dangerous boots, and it’s greatest to not be stingy with them.

Rubber boots, particularly, are robust to nail on a funds. They must be waterproof, sturdy, heat, and most significantly, comfy. Coming in at $70, I wasn’t positive the Redheads would have the ability to sustain with a few of my costlier rubber boots, just like the Alpha Burly Professional, which I had abused for years earlier than having to throw them away.

I took to the turkey woods, boat ramps, and muddy 3D archery programs this spring to see if these boots would maintain as much as the calls for of hunters.

Briefly: The Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boots are rubber boots that may get the job executed for even essentially the most critical hunters. They’re comfy sufficient to hike in for lengthy intervals of time and stay as much as the waterproof declare discovered of their title. Whilst you might surrender some premium options with these boots, they’re an ideal choice for brand spanking new hunters and those that solely use rubber searching boots on a number of hunts annually. And with the cash you save on them, you possibly can spring for that bougie matching Sitka outfit you’ve been eyeballing.

In search of new searching boots? Take a look at our information to the most effective searching boots cash should purchase.

Consolation and Match

The principle gripe I’ve with ill-fitting rubber boots is their uncanny means to trigger sizzling spots and blisters. Since rubber searching boots aren’t breathable, your ft will get swampier than regular. There’s no means round it. In consequence, any pinch level or rubbing can be exponentially extra noticeable.

I spent a number of back-to-back days chasing turkey on a 480-acre parcel that consists of steep bluffs, ridges, and tight topography. There isn’t a lot flat floor to be came upon there. I hunted on the transfer, chasing gobblers from ridgeline to ridgeline, and infrequently sat in a single spot for longer than an hour or two. More often than not was spent mountain climbing.

I had zero blisters on the finish of it and located myself having fun with how the boots felt on my ft. I didn’t discover I used to be carrying them, which is precisely what you need in a rubber boot.

Total, I might say the boots match a contact on the bigger dimension. Not even a half-size bigger, however an nearly imperceptible quantity. I used to be involved that it will make the boots too unfastened and trigger slipping, however I by no means skilled that. You get simply sufficient room so as to add a thicker sock for colder climate whereas sustaining an athletic really feel.

The uppers are additionally bigger, which is a unbelievable characteristic. Rubber boots are nearly unimaginable to put on for these with thick calves, and the bigger higher supplies room for that, or for extra layers in your decrease leg. Nevertheless, due to the collar on the high of the boot, you don’t expertise the higher clapping in opposition to your leg as you stroll.

Insole and Outsole

My favourite technique to make a mediocre boot instantly higher is by including an aftermarket insole, just like the Tread Labs Insole. With the worth of the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot, I figured that might be vital.

Shockingly, I used to be happy with the insole on these boots. After mountain climbing round in them, I made a decision the additional cash for brand spanking new insoles wouldn’t be value it. The inventory insole felt simply superb to me, and I didn’t expertise sharp pains or aches on the ball of my ft or heel after an extended day within the area.

The outsole actually shocked me. At first look, it regarded like an inexpensive rubber outsole that you simply’d count on on a funds boot. However, appears don’t actually matter. I solely care about efficiency.

Tennessee is plagued by steep topography. Having been raised out West, I can attest that the hills down listed below are each bit as steep and slippery as any western mountain; they’re simply not as tall. It’s widespread to be dang-near crawling up scree slopes when transferring from drainage to drainage.

Whereas mountain climbing, the outsoles on this boot offered traction properly above my expectations. The ultra-aggressive lugs on the underside of the boot gripped rock and scree as I used to be going uphill.

As I bought extra time with these boots, I got here to belief them an increasing number of and am very sure-footed in them. I’m undecided they’ll stand as much as years of doing that just like the soles you’ll discover on the Sitka Ventlite GTX will, however for $70, who cares?

Waterproofness

Waterproof doesn’t simply imply maintaining your ft dry whereas strolling by a dew-covered area or dealing with a light-weight sprinkling of rain. It means the product will hold you dry whereas fully submerged.

As such, I didn’t take a look at waterproofness by carrying these on a wet day. I crossed quite a few creeks and submerged the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot all the way in which as much as the collar. There have been zero leaks, even after beating them up and bushwacking by thick, briar-infested forests within the South.

Different Strong Options of the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boots

The Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot comes with a kick tab on the heel and a pull tab constructed into the again of the higher. These options make it simpler to place these boots on and take off.

The kick tab isn’t some tiny chunk of nonfunctional rubber. It’s substantial and supplies a big floor space to use strain along with your toe with out slipping off. It really works nice, and I didn’t really feel like I used to be going to herniate myself making an attempt to take them off, one thing I’ve come near doing with different rubber boots.

All seams on the boot are protected with a rubber overlay. That implies that reasonably than having a tough seam the place two items meet, Redhead overlapped the rubber, providing you with two parts of rubber in high-wear areas. I believe that was a stable transfer as a result of the rubber on these boots doesn’t really feel exceptionally thick.

The Catch to $70 Rubber Looking Boots

With the worth, I didn’t count on these boots to be good, they usually aren’t. They lack in a number of vital areas.

The rubber on the Redhead Camo Utilities feels thinner, which impacts the boot’s efficiency. These boots don’t present ankle help. That could be a widespread drawback with rubber boots, and it will be an enormous ask for a sub-$100 boot to unravel it. Redhead didn’t.

These boots are restricted to fair-weather searching since they’re solely obtainable in 5mm insulation. In addition they don’t include a fleece-lined inside, a characteristic I like in costlier boots. With a thick sock, I’d be keen to hunt in these boots all the way down to about 35 levels. After that, your ft will freeze, particularly if snow and ice are concerned.

Should you settle for that for what it’s, it’s not an enormous deal. The insulation stage they’ve is ideal for wet spring seasons, while you want a water-proof boot or early-season whitetail hunts, when scent management is essential. I simply want they got here in a winter model with thicker insulation for late-season hunts.

The Redheads additionally lack any adjustability. Many rubber boots have straps on the higher and even zippers like these discovered on the Chêne Floodline Velo Boot. There are not any straps to tighten these down, however that’s truthful given the cost.

I’ve solely had these boots this spring, so I’m undecided if that is true, however I do have my doubts about their longevity. I’m particularly apprehensive in regards to the outsole. Whereas it supplies wonderful traction, I might be keen to wager that it wouldn’t stand up to years of constant use. I’ve worn out Vibram soles inside 2 years, and I’d be shocked if these outsoles can final so long as the costlier rubber discovered on high-end soles.

Luckily, most individuals don’t put on rubber searching boots constantly. Should you put on these boots 30 days or much less a 12 months, I’m positive they’ll final for a very long time.

The Redhead Camo Utility Rubber Boot: Who Ought to Purchase Them?

After spending turkey season in these boots, I can confidently say that they’re a stable product. Many low cost rubber boots are junk that crumble with any quantity of actual use. With correct care, the Redheads ought to final for a number of seasons and aren’t only a fast band-aid resolution for these searching for a set of rubber boots. They’re legit.

Should you’re a brand new hunter who’s budgeting for all the gear wanted for hunts this 12 months, the Redhead Camo Utility Rubber Boot provides you an choice to get good boots whereas saving some money for a treestand or pack. These boots give phenomenal efficiency for the worth.

Even hardcore hunters will love these boots. Many hunters don’t primarily hunt in rubber boots. They put on commonplace boots, switching to rubber boots in extremely moist situations.

If that’s you and also you’re searching for a set of rubber boots to get you thru a number of hunts a 12 months, the Redheads are an ideal purchase. It could be mindless to spend extra on one thing that received’t see a lot use when these offers you the whole lot you want.

Hunters who stay in rubber boots, or these searching for insulated rubber boots to hunt within the chilly, might wish to look elsewhere, although. Whereas these are good, there are alternatives on the market which can be higher for the acute person group. However at 70 bucks, I dare you to discover a higher rubber searching boot for the cash.