These boots were made for walkin’ …  As part of a test for MyOutdoors, I was looking forward to trying these Arctic Ice Nomadic Vibram® Short Boots in colder, winter locations abroad… but with current restrictions, more local destinations would have to suffice. A bold, captivating design that’s distinctive to Muck Boots,  along with impressive performance on snow and ice conditions and low-top design with additional lacing to give additional security to preventing snow from sneaking in. They’re casual enough to be worn as a statement piece but also practical enough to go from town to trail – even a snowy Sheffield plateau.

From stomping round my local footpaths, dodging the mud where necessary to negotiating semi-frozen ice patches when when I’ve gone out for my morning wild swim – and keep my feet warm. Here’s my thoughts on my new  favourite winter boots – Muck Boot’s Arctic Ice Nomadic Vibram® Short Boots  .

What Muck Boot say:

Built for high performance in cold weather, the Nomadic delivers unparalleled waterproof warmth and superior traction in a sporty casual snow boot you can wear anywhere. The sleek upper is constructed from a 100% waterproof textile, EVA midsole for support, and soft, thermal fleece lining to provide all day warmth and comfort. The outsole features Vibram®'s advanced cold weather gripping system to deliver traction on wet ice while the Ice trek technology provides grip on dry ice.

Features:

• 100% Waterproof
• 5mm Neoprene Strobel for flexibility
• Fleece lining for warmth
• Lightweight EVA midsole for added comfort
• Vibram® Arctic Grip™ outsole for grip on wet ice
• Icetrek technology for grip on dry ice
• bioDEWIX™ antimicrobial footbed insert topcover
• NZYM™ for odour control and moisture management
• Lace front for secure fit
• Mid-height with pull-tab for easy on and off
• Outsole designed for optimum use on wet and icy ground
• Estimated boot height 22cm/ 8.7"
• Estimated max calf circumference 26.1cm/ 10.3"
• Half sizes order up

Women’s Arctic Ice Nomadic Vibram® Short Boots Reviewed:

Comfort

If you like your boots to resemble something in between a welly boot, a snow boot and a pair of slip on insulated boots  - then look no further then the Arctic Ice Nomadic for all day comfort.  Whilst these are certainly not in replacement of a B2 boot  or a technical winter mountaineering boot, these are ideal for casual winter leisure users, made out of 5mm neoprene strobel for flexible walking and comfortable support that stills allows the user a lot of flexibility . If your walking is in lowland territory such as part of a walk through the woods, or along potentially icy gravel and tarmac terrain, these are ideal. They performed really well navigating the edges of the countryside where trainers would have been unsuitable but heavy boots might have been too much. In terms of warmth and waterproofing - the insulated cuff round the ankle wasn’t quite as waterproof as I expected. Wading through soft powdery snow felt relatively damp as well as walking through thick, claggy mud – this was an area here these boots performed less well, as they seemed to absorb some of the moisture despite the outer being made out of a 100% waterproof textile. These feel like they are boots for users after a sporty casual snow boot for occasional day-to-day use, as opposed to a thicker insulated high boot for all day snow activities. For those who are dreaming of snowy topped après ski trips- these are the boots that would be well suited for airport to chalet comfort.

Grip

As the temperatures dropped, surface water becomes increasingly difficult for walkers to navigate pn uneven outdoor terrain with confidence. Testing the Women’s Arctic Ice Nomadic Vibram® Short Boots – first on a slop of tarmac, with ice run off in 1 degrees  - the shoes ensured my feet had traction, so I was able to walk down to the water’s edge to get my morning dip.  They've also been able to cope with fluffy, white non consolidated snow – with Muck Boot’s Ice tech grip underfoot coping even on mixed terrain, hopping from gritstone boulders to snowy packed trail. They’ve performed well, without the need for ice tracks or similar micro-spikes in relatively icy terrain.

Sizing

The important thing to consider with Muck boots- is to go at least a size up. With my boots, I decided to size up at least a size and a half. I normally wear a size 6 in trainers, with feet somewhere between size 5.5 and 6 – around EU size 39. As part of this test, I opted for a EU size 41. These allowed me to wear a thick pair of hiking, heat holding socks and also put in an insole in , if I wanted some additional arch support. Muck boots have traditionally come up a little small for me, so wearing slightly larger boots actually felt more comfortable.

Flexibility / Ease of use

A jazzy, Aztec themed pull tab makes these boots super easy to take on and off, whilst a colour coordinated lace up front (not essential to keep these boots on) can be easily adjusted to tighten them for a secure fit. I found that having them loose meant I could easily put them on and off.

Keeping them clean

Muck boots has invested a lot in their technology to prevent their boots from degrading and smelling. Using  NZYM™ , their in-house treatment for odour control and moisture management, they also have a bioDEWIX™ antimicrobial footbed which stops the boots from developing growth of bacteria and getting funky in odour. For muddy streaks and caked soles, it was very easy to clean, using a stiff brush to knock the mud out of the diamond shaped Vibram® soles whilst light mud stains could be easily wiped away with a cloth using some warm soapy water.

Look

Available in black, orange and moss green, I really liked the pop of colour  that brought a bit of colour on a dull winter’s day.  With an Aztec pull on tab, made out of a nylon webbing – it feels really contemporary in design. I’ve worn these with casual daywear, from denim jeans to running leggings and they certainly stand out worn in the snow.

So will Muck Boots Arctic Ice Nomadic Boots make it north of the A61? Maybe… The forthcoming year will bring with it a lot of challenges, with fresh restrictions limiting mountain possibilities and ironically it’ll possibly be the best winter forecast we’ve seen in recent years.

With these Artic Ice boots they will no doubt bring a little bit of much-needed jaffa orange cheer during the long winter months – and with plenty of features thoughtfully incorporated by Muck Boots that will encourage product longevity, they will hopefully see some Scottish and Arctic adventures in years to come.

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