Product Review: Muck Outscape Max Ankle Boots

For all that lies ahead…

Whether you’re out on the trails or mucking stalls, these high-performance boots will keep you dry, comfortable, and on the move.

Okay, as someone who spends 90% of her working day at the barn, I can’t over-emphasize the importance of a good waterproof shoe. The truth is, I blow through them like no one’s business. If I can get a waterproof chore boot to last more than a year, it’s worth throwing a party.

Now, to be fair, that likely has much to do with the fact that I beat the ever-loving 💩 out of them. Typically, being the somewhat frugal *cough– cheap — cough* equestrian I am, I don’t usually splurge on more than one pair of waterproof chore boots at a time. Instead, I buy a tall pair, wear them through the fall, winter, and spring, and then fold down the tops when it gets so hot I can’t deal with it anymore. The resulting look is something like this:

These actually are my daughter’s because my last pair is basically unrecognizable. But you get the idea. Mud is authentic. Photo by DeAnn Long Sloan.

Due to the amount that I wear the boots and the definitely not-factory-recommended cooling method I employ, my boots crack and wear out faster than they should. I have been saying for years that I really need to invest in a summer pair.

Enter the Muck Outscape Max Ankle Boot.

So, before I even put these on, this was what I liked about them:

• They’re lightweight (great for schlepping around the wet grass and mud in warmer temps).
• They appear easy to slide on and off (I hate wrenching my knees and ankles trying to get out of tall boots when it’s humid out/I’m sweaty).
• The sole looks like it has great traction (necessary for equestrians like me, since we’re often on varied terrain, damp stall mats, and other slick surfaces)

Check out that sole…

My initial impressions weren’t far off. The Outscape Max is designed to be a high-performance, lightweight boot that, as the Muck Boot Company says, keeps you “dry, comfortable, and sure footed.” And while the midsole is made with BioLite, a high-quality lightweight foam, the outsole is rubber and is engineered specifically to provide maximum traction and shed debris. (Talk about a win for those of us who spend more time dealing with and walking in animal poo than most people realize.)

Daily use really is where the Outscape Max shines. I’ve been wearing these at the barn EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. since they arrived — and we’ve had a hot and humid summer so far. For the most part, my feet aren’t overly hot or sweaty (generally a problem when I try to turn my tall winter/fall boots into summer boots) — and they’ve stayed dry! I haven’t slipped on the super-needs-to-be-pressure-washed deck that runs along the side of my barn and leads to the manure pile and I’ve been able to pretty quickly shed any less-than-desirable thing I’ve stepped in. They also pull on and off easily, but won’t fall off or gape open (which means no unnecessary amounts of hay in my boots and socks at the end of a day at the barn). Plus, they’re comfortable.

A note on that: I will say that I wasn’t totally sure about the fit at first, but the more I’ve worn the boots, the more I’ve liked them. There’s plenty of room in the toe box, but not so much so that my feet wiggle or move around. They stay secure and I haven’t noticed any rubbing or discomfort.

Yes, I cuff my riding jeans while I’m working. Theoretically, I unroll them and they are long enough when I’m on a horse. But when I don’t ride, they do a great job of gathering arena dirt and sawdust.

Speaking of rubbing, my tall boots tend to hit a weird spot on my heel, quickly putting holes in most of my favorite riding socks. I have yet to notice that issue with these. So, A+ there.

I will be interested to see how these boots hold up in the long run, and look forward to adding to this review at six months and a year out to update readers on how they’ve held up. Right now I’m hopeful.

The only real issue with these boots that I foresee is that I will wear them too late into the fall and step into the soul-sucking mud that comes most of the way up my lower-leg before I switch back to my tall boots.

But, really, that’s not the fault of these boots. Just operator error.

I pulled up my jeans for the full view, here. I try to avoid wearing them like this…

So, all-in-all, if you’re looking for a great lightweight performance boot, the Outscape Max is a solid choice. It’s available in Men’s sizes 7-14 and Women’s sizes 5-11. Like many of these boots, they come in whole sizes only. I recommend going a size up if you’re in between.