Are lacrosse boots still quality?

[Astewart22]

In need of a new pair of muck style boots for white tail hunting in mostly marshy/sloppy areas. My old cabelas finally cracked and leaking after many good years. Seeing mixed reviews on the lacrosse brand going down hill along with muck. I’m located in Wisconsin so something slightly insulated is needed. What’re you using?

 

[Marbles]

I've been happy with my Lacrosse, they are a little over a year old.

 

[Machingeaneer]

I've got a pair of lacrosse alphaburley that are awesome, about a year old. I expect several more good years from them.

 

[Astewart22]

I've been happy with my Lacrosse, they are a little over a year old.

Which ones do you have? Are they insulated?

 

[Marbles]

Which ones do you have? Are they insulated?

They are not insulated. I was just speaking to the brand. I have used mine ice fishing in 5-12 degree weather.

I have the Alphaburly Pro.

 

[Astewart22]

I've got a pair of lacrosse alphaburley that are awesome, about a year old. I expect several more good years from them.

Are they insulated? That’s the model I’m looking at. Also how do they do on a decent walk out to your hunting area?

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I've had a pair of Lacrosse in my boot arsenal for 40 years with no complaints.

 

[Wolfshead]

I used to wear the Aeroheads until they discontinued them.
This past season I wore the Kuiu mud boots and really liked them.
I wore them every hunt all season, early, mid, and late.
Sitting in a stand in 20 degrees they were chilly and next season I’ll be pairing them with boot covers, but the rest of the time they were fine with the light insulation they have.
Some days I walked four - five miles in them with no issues.
They seem very durable and haven’t shown much wear.

 

[Macintosh]

I think it matters quite a bit how much you use them. Also may be variation from production to production. My impression is lifespan seems variable.

The old green lacrosse boots, I believe changed the rubber formula a long time ago, they used to last much longer and then at some point they started cracking on me after six months or a year of use. Imo that issue is what I see mentioned a lot. But their newer boots are a different construction.
I’m not nearly as familiar with most of the newer models. I have a pair of the heavily insulated alpha Burley’s, 1600 g insulation I think. They’re too warm. Even at 20 below my feet sweat and they’re no warmer than my less insulated pair. If you wore a vbl sock they would be crazy warm.

I’ve now had two pairs of the alpha agility. These have a real boot sole and footbed, and in my opinion are far better boots for walking around than the old lacrosse boots especially in steeper terrain. The standard model still has neoprene, it’s enough insulation for me down into the single digits, even when I’m sitting in a stand. My first pair had a weird crack form in the neoprene upper near where it meets the bottom of the boot and started leaking, not sure what caused it. I just replaced them so we’ll see about durability. The first pair lasted 2 years.

Mucks seem to be more durable to me based on my wifes. But they dont fit my fit so I cant wear them.

 

[Boarmaster]

I wear the wide calf Muck Wetlands. I bought a pair about 6 years or so ago and have been wearing them all these years. They are still in excellent condition. I did purchase a new pair of the same as I saw they were on sale earlier this year. I have been expecting my original mucks to fail in some way for three years but they keep on holding up. They are comfortable to wear. I primarily wear them in AL but I wore them in Ohio this year. My feet stayed warm in single digit temps and snow with some Darn Tough socks. They are good down into the high 20s in AL with just a cheap kirkland merino sock. Not too hot even if temps are in the low 70s. Pretty happy with them.

 

[Timplant]

My group of hunting friends AND wives all have the Alphaburly pro's, 1600G, as long as I am not walking TOO far they are all I wear, WE all threw all of our mucks or bogs out. Ice fishing or almost any white tail stuff with a rifle or snow. They are GREAT. I did have to go half size smaller to get proper fit for walking.

 

[CMF]

I've had good ones and bad ones, one pair lasted 5 years, the soles fell off another pair a year old. I've switched to muck the last few years. might try out a kuiu pair next.

 

[Astewart22]

I used to wear the Aeroheads until they discontinued them.
This past season I wore the Kuiu mud boots and really liked them.
I wore them every hunt all season, early, mid, and late.
Sitting in a stand in 20 degrees they were chilly and next season I’ll be pairing them with boot covers, but the rest of the time they were fine with the light insulation they have.
Some days I walked four - five miles in them with no issues.
They seem very durable and haven’t shown much wear.

Will look into the Kuiu ones. Thanks!

 

[fshaw]

I’ve worn LaCrosse boots for 30+ years, they’re still a good boot but were a great boot. All models now crack at the instep, typically within about 2 years depending on the style, green “rubber” vs neoprene, and the amount of wear. I still wear LaCrosse because I can’t find a suitable replacement. Matter of fact, I have to order a new set of Burleys, the “dot” tread is far the superior tread, because my current pair is cracked at the instep, like they all do. One thing to note with the Kuiu and boots with similar styled soles, if you’re going to hunt steep country, especially in wet leaves, you definitely want a boot with a raised heel. I had a pair of the Alphaburley Pros, very comfortable and have a nice looking tread. In steep country in wet leaves you might as well have skis on, and I like skiing. Just not while I’m hunting. Flat bottom boots, regardless of tread suck in steep, wet conditions. The raised heel gives the bite to keep your feet under you. Just one man’s opinion. I believe this boot is their best for hunting in rugged country, especially with a Super Feet Green insole (the raised heel is a must for me):

Burly Air Grip 18" OD Green

Stand your ground. Even in snow and mud. Waterproof. Insulated. Scent control.

www.lacrossefootwear.com

 

[Macintosh]

@fshaw those are the boots I used for 20+ years. I started getting them cracking pretty quickly in the instep and on the toebox so I gave up on them years ago. I agree the heel is great, but I found the air soles terrible for side hilling. This is the sole on the alpha agility boots that I have now. The heel is not nearly as positive, but there is some degree of heel there for a better bite. But it’s world’s better diagonalling on a hill. Combined with a better footbed I actually far prefer it.

 

[fshaw]

@fshaw those are the boots I used for 20+ years. I started getting them cracking pretty quickly in the instep and on the toebox so I gave up on them years ago. I agree the heel is great, but I found the air soles terrible for side hilling. This is the sole on the alpha agility boots that I have now. The heel is not nearly as positive, but there is some degree of heel there for a better bite. But it’s world’s better diagonalling on a hill. Combined with a better footbed I actually far prefer it.


View attachment 1000552

Appreciate your reply, but that boot wouldn’t be for me. I have no complaint about side hilling with the air grip sole. For me, I find it far superior. Maybe not ad much a flat platform, but better “bite”. The lack of raised heel on that boot wouldn’t be a no-go for me. In rock climbing jargon I use a combination of “smear” and edge on a side hill instead of a full-on edge, and the air grip works well for me. I’m glad that you found a boot that works for you though. You probably have better balance than I do.

 

[Machingeaneer]

Are they insulated? That’s the model I’m looking at. Also how do they do on a decent walk out to your hunting area?

They're the 1600g. For me they're plenty comfortable enough for a good walk but my feet don't tend to sweat either. I even wore them for an entire day elk hunting in September and walked somewhere around 5 miles with no issues to speak of. My feet were sweating that day though lol

 

[The Ri Guy]

They changed something about their instep/sole connection, I swear.

I was a LaCrosse devotee for years, my Father still has his 20+ year old pair. However, of the 5 pairs I've purchased (use them year round for everything here in Wet Side WA state), 4 of them split and started taking on water where the instep meets the sole within 6 months. I used to get a good 2-3 years out of them.

I've moved onto the Schnee's Highwood's for cold weather/winter wear, still haven't found a lightweight rubber boot I love to replace my LaCrosse ZXT/Pac that I used to rock. XtraTuff Legacy 15" are okay and widely available out here, but I've had just as many of them fail unreasonably early.