Product: Noble Outfitters MUDS Cold Front Boots
Brand: Noble Outfitters
Recommended? Yes
Horse Trail Chicks’ rating: 5 carrots out of 5
In Vermont it can be cold 6 months out of the year, really cold for 4 months. We also have 2 or more mud seasons, and of course, there is snow and ice. As much as I don’t like going to the frigid barn in winter, I can’t ignore my horse for months on end. Riding out in a freshly fallen snow is magical and riding bareback in winter, warmed by my horse, is amazing.
I’ve learned that the key to enjoying winter is being dressed properly. Insulating the body is pretty easy – with thick coats and lined pants. It’s the head and feet where most of the heat seems to leak out.
I tried a few options for boots that claimed to be awesome but were actually not warm, were warm but uncomfortable, or disintegrated after one year, until my local tack store had a sale on Noble Outfitters MUDS Cold Front Boots. I bought them, thinking, “let’s see how warm these are and how long they last.”
One year later, they put a smile on my face as I extracted them from my basement – the only joy I felt at the oncoming cold season. I can’t imagine a warmer boot for riding. They are totally waterproof and after one year are showing virtually no signs of wear. I start wearing them in the fall with thin socks and have never found them to be too hot. In the colder weather I wear them with heavier socks. They are great as barn boots and I also ride in them. The thing I love best is that, unlike other winter boots, they are very warm yet not bulky. Of course they are not as sleek as leather dressage boots, but they fit in my stirrups just fine and I can feel my calf against my horse.
Price: as of October 2018 the price was around $100, well worth it if they allow you to actually enjoy winter riding or do barn chores without the misery of frozen feet.
Where to order: You can get them directly from Noble Outfitters, but you can save about $10 by ordering from other online tack shops.
Monica
