RUBBER BOOTS.....REALLY???

[Chris Granrud]

As a 4 season fishing guide in the "Ice Box" of the nation and also a FULL TIME outdoorsman, I've opted for rubber boots. If you would have told me I'd be wearing a rubber boot ice fishing on the Canadian border I would have said your "Bat ****" crazy!! I am telling you these boots are warm and comfortable!! Beyond that nothing is more waterproof than a rubber boot. Other boots soak water and then leave you with an ice shell and increase the weight of your boots tenfold. Cordura soaks water and leather get's destroyed without a lot of care. Laces freeze into a ICE ROCK.

Standing in water simply is devastating to the Fun Meter of an ice angler. For years and years I have had the proverbial "Elephant Feet" as my laces were locked in a knot at the end of the day from either drilling holes or fishing in slush pockets.

Of course we all hope for that nice 6-8 inches of banking snow and a crystal clear sheet of ice. Reality tells us each and every season we will face slushy conditions. Either early in the season after a heavy snow, mid-season as the snow won't stop, or late in the season as the snow melts.

The Sub Zero 1200's from Clam are a nice addition to my gear. I have say in my climbing stand several days and walked through several cedar swamps. I also used them early this season trapping. The boots are warm and comfortable and do not absorb water!!

This may be something you want to consider. I can't believe I haven't had boots like these before.

[Northlander]

I have been looking for a good warm rubber boot for ice fishing. I may have to give these a look at the St. Paul Ice Show.

[Chris Granrud]

My feet normally get cold on stand deer hunting. I believe part of this is because the cordura or leather has absorbed moisture. While it might not penetrate the waterproof barrier; It forms an ice shell if you well that get's cold. On the contrary the 1200 grams of insulation within the Sub Zero 1200's allows me to walk directly through the wet stuff without any fear of a dipped foot. We all know what happens to the fun meter here. At the VERY least this boot is a great addition for the active outdoorsman as a second boot. I plan on running it full time this season. After drilling hundreds of holes I normally have boots and laces both saturated and then frozen. It's been commonplace to need help getting my boots off when coming in from a long day on the ice guiding. NO LONGER. Heck who doesn't like avoiding laces!! LOL!! I think that's often the hardest work of the day.

[mainbutter]

A quick tip for anyone with cold feet syndrome:

Too-tight-fitting footwear reduces blood circulation in your feet. Blood circulation is what moves heat from your core to the extremities. More insulation keeps that heat in, non-restrictive insulation makes sure it gets there in the first place

A rubber outer layer will keep things nice and air-tight and water-tight.

Combine all those aspects and you should have a serviceable ice fishing boot. I'm intrigued to say the least, thanks for sharing! Until now I've been using my hunting boots, but slush has been my enemy.

[Brad B]

I will be using a pair of these Clam Sub Zero Boots this year along with the Ice Armor liner socks and Merino wool socks. this should be more then enough to keep my feet warm and dry. the one thing I have heard in other posts about the sub zeros or any insulated rubber boot is that it is recommended to put them on a boot drier after each use. I plan to just sit mine on the furnace grate upside down each night.

[Chris Granrud]

A quick tip for anyone with cold feet syndrome:

Too-tight-fitting footwear reduces blood circulation in your feet. Blood circulation is what moves heat from your core to the extremities. More insulation keeps that heat in, non-restrictive insulation makes sure it gets there in the first place

A rubber outer layer will keep things nice and air-tight and water-tight.

Combine all those aspects and you should have a serviceable ice fishing boot. I'm intrigued to say the least, thanks for sharing! Until now I've been using my hunting boots, but slush has been my enemy.

Very good insight. Your spot on with blood circulation. Sometimes anglers are guilty of lacing up hunting boots too tight as well. Here is the way I looked at it. I knew without a question I need rubber boots in slush. I spend nearly the entire winter on the ice guiding here on Rainy lake. It's not IF we have slush it's when. If you have slushy conditions you simply NEED a insulated rubber boot like these Sub Zero's I reference. I have loved them this entire hunting and trapping season. Once again this weekend it snowed/rained and we walked right through the pooling water pockets. My daughter was trying not to get her boots wet walking on the edges. Looks like we'll be buying a few more pairs unless I risk losing privilege's of mine!! LOL!! NOW if you'd like another tip, grab yourself some wicking socks like offered from Ice Armor. Too often sportsman are sold SIMPLY on grams of insulation. In truth wet feet are cold feet. You have two ways to get wet feet; From the inside or the outside. If your feet are prone to sweating than you truly want a pair of wicking socks as well. This will keep that moisture away from your bare skin. Warmth in arctic weather can be achieved with some thought into the process.

[JeremyCampbell1582814062]

I am thinking about buying these boots.I am terrible with rubber boots and rubber waders It doesn't take long for me to puncture a hole in them.Will the gray part on the toe help at all with that? Is there any maintenance that has to be done on the rubber to keep them in good shape?

[TruthWalleyes]

Make these up to size 16 Wide and you'll be the first rubber insulated boot company to do so...and you'll surely get an order from me.

[Chris Granrud]

Hey Jeremy,

I am not certain of anything in particular needed to maintain the boot, but a puncture will certainly spoil the fun. I have been putting miles on them in the bramble of Northern Minnesota thus far. The boots are tough and the toe is even tougher. It will take a heck of a blow from my experience thus far to pierce the rubber enough to puncture it. YOU WILL however want to keep the auger blades away. This also is a good idea for your toes!! LOL!

[Chris Granrud]

Make these up to size 16 Wide and you'll be the first rubber insulated boot company to do so...and you'll surely get an order from me.

I think the price will go up via Time and Material for production.

[TruthWalleyes]

I don't frigg'n care if you charge $400. Fact is that boot doesn't exist for us big footed friends from any company...and i've made calls to the best boot companies to no avail.

I'll gladly pay over 2x what the rest of you pay so that i can have good boots too.

[Chris Granrud]

I don't frigg'n care if you charge $400. Fact is that boot doesn't exist for us big footed friends from any company...and i've made calls to the best boot companies to no avail.

I'll gladly pay over 2x what the rest of you pay so that i can have good boots too.

Feel for ya bud!!

[TruthWalleyes]

Whatever you can do.

[PurpleFloyd1529315463]

Personally I like the way the Muck Arctic extreme boots perform for both hunting and fishing. They are more flexible than all rubber boots in the upper portion above the ankle and they are very warm even when snowmobiling but comfortable enough that I was wearing them last weekend deer hunting in the mud when the temps were in the 50's.

[JeremyCampbell1582814062]

Thanks Chris,it looks like a nifty boot

[Chris Granrud]

Thanks Chris,it looks like a nifty boot

You bet Jeremy!! I try highlight the products that make my job more efficient and more comfortable. I guess that's how I normally select gear. This was an easy one frankly. Cold or wet feet can trump an otherwise great day. Personal comfort needs to come first if you expect to live it. Add them for this ice fishing season THEN....THEN...the next time you creep into that big buck stand you'll also enjoy the scent free entrance that has busted you in the past! I love dual purpose products like this. A guy only has so much money to go around. These boots are my wood boiler filling boots, driveway clearing, trapping, deer hunting and yes ICE FISHING BOOTS!! Also in case you were wondering, they offer great traction. I was initially concerned about this factor alone within a RUBBER BOOT. Lord knows I had some cheap ones in the past that were like wearing my church shoes in the woods. This is not a concern as they are offer great footing in the slippery arena we operate within.

[swamptiger]

How are they for walking? One advantage of a lace up boot is it doesn't slosh around on your foot when you're walking.

I've had some rubber boots in the past that were good for walking in, but I've also had some that were not so good.

[Chris Granrud]

How are they for walking? One advantage of a lace up boot is it doesn't slosh around on your foot when you're walking.

I've had some rubber boots in the past that were good for walking in, but I've also had some that were not so good.

I put a lot of miles on while still hunting, and frankly was a bit concerned with the lack of support versus in the upper versus a laced up boot. Of course now we're talking more about the hunting side of the equation. While of course you don't have the same ankle support in a rubber boot such as the above mentioned Sub Zero's, the overall comfort of the boot was far greater than I would have initially predicted. I do believe it is more critical to gain a nice fit as it pertains to a rubber boot per proper sizing. The foot portion of the boots of course insulated with 1200 grams of insulation. The upper is NOT insulated. I tuck my hunting pants or sweatpants in the boot and then of course have my socks to further insulate the upper. I happen to believe the slightly loose fit in the upper promotes further blood circulation which might hinder the important blood circulation in other boots. NO BOOT is perfect. This just happens to fit my needs more than any other boot as an active outdoorsman beyond the ice fishing arena.

[cam white]

I notice they don't have a cold rating on them? The Baffin impacts are rated to -140 and are really warm.... Any idea what these are rated to, and where they are made?

[Chris Granrud]

I notice they don't have a cold rating on them? The Baffin impacts are rated to -140 and are really warm.... Any idea what these are rated to, and where they are made?

Never really understood a Cold Rating. Seems there is some disconnect between Comfort rating and Cold Rating. LOL!! Also would have to check with the Clam boys on production. I would DOUBT Matt Johnson is doing them in his garage, but hard to say....He is an overachiever.

What I can say is a cold rating would likely be void after your feet get wet and turn to ice. That for me is one of the biggest deciding factors. Wet feet are the number one thing I want to avoid beyond the boot absorbing water and weighing 50lbs.

[Corey Bechtold]

I've tried those boots that have a cold rating of -140 and my feet still get cold. I picked up the new Clam boots and have fished in temps down to 14 degrees and I am very happy with them! Another plus is being able to walk in the water without getting wet. The lakes are low right now and with the docks being out I have had to walk in a ways to get out there. Warm and dry so far!

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[fishing 101]

Anyone else tried these yet? Trying to decide between these and Muc.

[solocamzman]

While we're on the boot topic, anyone have feedback on the Sorel Glacier Boot? I'm thinking about buying a pair for ice fishing. Do they soak up water pretty badly?

[rockman]

I have a pair of the Baffin Impacts, and the comparison between the Sub Zero's, and the Impacts, is like comparing apples to oranges. Both are different kinds of winter boots. A truer comparison would be between the Sub Zero's, and the Baffin Titans. Both of these are true rubber winter boots. The folks north of the border have good things to say about the Titans, so I am interested in comparisons of both boots.

[jmd1]

While it will be a cold day in h((l when i need a pair of these boots, i do wear a liner and wool sock everyday in my work boots. Summer or AZ winter, i always wear them. One question i have is i am always looking for a good liner sock. I usually wear a liner that was suggested for the military and they do work well. I will order a couple pair to see how they hold up. One other question on the wool sock, are they thick? I like the ones from bass--- their name brand, lifetime warranty on them.