MUCK BOOT MEN’S ARCTIC OUTPOST TALL BOOTS, £145

If your birdwatching involves a lot of mud and/or water, a pair of “deluxe wellies” could see plenty of action. Forget any unpleasant welly memories – boots like these are a very different proposition. As you would expect with that name, this is a cold weather boot – it has a comfort rating of -40°C to 4°C. Yes, that does say -40°.

These boots are well-made (in China), with a rubber and neoprene outer, a neoprene lining and a fleece lining, and a “durable outsole with aggressive tread”.

They are described as an “all-purpose winter boot” and that sole is “for light duty use on mixed terrain”. With boots like these you don’t need to wear long, thick, welly socks – I tested them with short, mid-weight socks. Getting the boots on was easy enough – there’s a reflective pull tab to help but I didn’t need to use it. There’s no heel wedge which might make getting them off a bit easier, but a door sill works pretty well for that!

On test

Even with climate change, my Cambridgeshire testing ground doesn’t get anywhere near the lower end of the Arctic Outpost’s comfort rating, but I was able to put them through their paces (groan) at the upper end. It was a still, misty, December morning, with a temperature of around 3°C for most of my two-and-a-halfhour, stop-start, birdwatching walk. I notched up more than 40 species, including a Great White Egret which, locally, is not so notable nowadays. That it’s not so notable is notable though!

My feet were comfortable in the Arctic Outposts – at times I wasn’t really aware that I was wearing them – that’s a good thing. There was mud, and I deliberately walked through deep puddles. None of which was a problem for the boots and they did well at keeping my feet warm. As for the aggressive tread – let’s just say I wasn’t slipping in the mud. I also tried the Outposts on a 12°C day. I walked almost two miles in them that day and my feet were a bit too warm. Given their comfort range, that’s not surprising, but they can feel almost too warm even at 3°C or 4°C – this is not an all year round boot.

The Arctic Outposts are made from high-grade rubber and a bit of care is recommended – clean them with water or soap and water, and apply a wax polish or some rubber boot care product to keep them supple.

No tabs please

Before I finish – a minor gripe... I don’t need reflective tabs and may cut them off. Maybe Muck Boot will take note and make us some products that don’t shine in the dark.

These well-made winter boots do the job. They may be warmer than you expect and could make your cold weather birding more enjoyable. If you buy some you may need a size bigger than you expect – I did. And if these aren’t quite what you’re looking for the

The Muck Boot range is extensive – take a look. Available in sizes 6-14 in black or moss. Short version (black) available for £130.