Where land and water meet there is often mud, and those of us using small boats likely have to take it into account when we’re cruising. Mud can be messy at best, a barrier or a trap at worst. On the Ohio River, a short span of mud between dry ground and my boat actually pulled the boots and socks right off my feet.In the October 2017 issue, I wrote about mud pattens, squares of wood I can tie to my boots to keep me from sinking deep into soft mud. They’ve worked well for me in several intertidal mud flats, though I have to walk with my legs splayed and I did encounter one river mouth that had mud so sticky I had to turn back. Straps hold the Mudders to the boots. The rubber deck shoe here is size 13. My size-14 rubber boots fit too.
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Be interesting to see how they work in clam flat mud. Clammers just hip boot it. Stuff is so sticky that in venturing out on it with teva type sandals I pulled a sandal apart. I tried pattens and they stuck. What I’ve been doing is wearing shorts and putting on zip-up paddling boots.
Nice review. Glad they worked so well for you. When I am using them and sleeping aboard, I fasten my boots together using the grommets at the back and attach them to the boat. When the tide comes in it helps wash them cleaner than I could get them without a brush. I carry them home in a plastic square dishpan and hose them off prior to storage. The price has gone up in the past 10 years.
I think people should be careful where they use these.
I purchased a pair after researching ways to reach my boat when the tide was out. Luckily I had the sense to undertake a trial run with my wife watching. After a few steps I sank so the wings went under the mud. I couldn’t pull my foot up and gradually, over about thirty minutes ended up to my thighs completely trapped. With the tide turning, it took an emergency call to the fire brigade to rescue me. Embarrassment apart, I could have lost my life.
Mudder Boots originally were listed in the long-gone Herter’s catalog a bazillion years ago—although I think they were called Bog Shoes or Bog boots at the time.
Back then they were relatively expensive.
I didn’t buy a pair, and have regretted it ever since.
Tried my hand at making my own, but that didn’t work out.
Anyway, as of this date, 11 January 2021, they are ‘out of stock’ but as soon as they come I’m buying a pair.
Bought 2 pair, for my son and myself, used 2 times and work sooo good only complaint is the strap system which was quickly rectified by replacing with ratchet snowboard binding straps, wider, quicker made to manipulate with gloves on. Easy