Dirt Cheap Mud Boots: Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boot Review

I live in Nashville, where we receive borderline natural disaster amounts of rain every spring. Every other week, new creeks form in my neighborhood, and my backyard turns into a lake.

As a result, I spend a lot of time in rubber boots. This spring, I had the opportunity to test the budget-friendly Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot, created by Bass Pro Shops.

When it comes to footwear, I generally follow the mantra of “buy once, cry once.” There is nothing worse than bad boots, and it’s best not to be stingy with them.

Rubber boots, in particular, are tough to nail on a budget. They need to be waterproof, durable, warm, and most importantly, comfortable. Coming in at $70, I wasn’t sure the Redheads would be able to keep up with some of my more expensive rubber boots, like the Alpha Burly Pro, which I had abused for years before having to throw them away.

I took to the turkey woods, boat ramps, and muddy 3D archery courses this spring to see if these boots would hold up to the demands of hunters.

In short: The Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boots are rubber boots that will get the job done for even the most serious hunters. They are comfortable enough to hike in for long periods of time and live up to the waterproof claim found in their name. While you may give up some premium features with these boots, they’re a great option for new hunters and those who only use rubber hunting boots on a few hunts each year. And with the money you save on them, you can spring for that bougie matching Sitka outfit you’ve been eyeballing.

Looking for new hunting boots? Check out our guide to the best hunting boots money can buy.

Comfort and Fit

The main gripe I have with ill-fitting rubber boots is their uncanny ability to cause hot spots and blisters. Since rubber hunting boots aren’t breathable, your feet will get swampier than usual. There’s no way around it. As a result, any pinch point or rubbing will be exponentially more noticeable.

I spent multiple back-to-back days chasing turkey on a 480-acre parcel that consists of steep bluffs, ridges, and tight topography. There isn’t much flat ground to be found out there. I hunted on the move, chasing gobblers from ridgeline to ridgeline, and rarely sat in one spot for longer than an hour or two. Most of the time was spent hiking.

I had zero blisters at the end of it and found myself enjoying how the boots felt on my feet. I didn’t notice I was wearing them, which is exactly what you want in a rubber boot.

Overall, I would say the boots fit a touch on the larger size. Not even a half-size larger, but an almost imperceptible amount. I was concerned that it would make the boots too loose and cause slipping, but I never experienced that. You get just enough room to add a thicker sock for colder weather while maintaining an athletic feel.

The uppers are also larger, which is a fantastic feature. Rubber boots are almost impossible to wear for those with thick calves, and the larger upper provides room for that, or for more layers on your lower leg. However, thanks to the collar at the top of the boot, you don’t experience the upper clapping against your leg as you walk.

Insole and Outsole

My favorite way to make a mediocre boot immediately better is by adding an aftermarket insole, like the Tread Labs Insole. With the price of the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot, I figured that would be necessary.

Shockingly, I was pleased with the insole on these boots. After hiking around in them, I decided the extra money for new insoles wouldn’t be worth it. The stock insole felt just fine to me, and I didn’t experience sharp pains or aches on the ball of my feet or heel after a long day in the field.

The outsole really surprised me. At first glance, it looked like a cheap rubber outsole that you’d expect on a budget boot. But, looks don’t really matter. I only care about performance.

Tennessee is littered with steep topography. Having been raised out West, I can attest that the hills down here are every bit as steep and slippery as any western mountain; they’re just not as tall. It’s common to be dang-near crawling up scree slopes when moving from drainage to drainage.

While hiking, the outsoles on this boot provided traction well above my expectations. The ultra-aggressive lugs on the bottom of the boot gripped rock and scree as I was going uphill.

As I got more time with these boots, I came to trust them more and more and am very sure-footed in them. I’m not sure they’ll stand up to years of doing that like the soles you’ll find on the Sitka Ventlite GTX will, but for $70, who cares?

Waterproofness

Waterproof doesn’t just mean keeping your feet dry while walking through a dew-covered field or handling a light sprinkling of rain. It means the product will keep you dry while completely submerged.

As such, I didn’t test waterproofness by wearing these on a rainy day. I crossed numerous creeks and submerged the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot all the way up to the collar. There were zero leaks, even after beating them up and bushwacking through thick, briar-infested forests in the South.

Other Solid Features of the Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof Boots

The Redhead Camo Utility Waterproof boot comes with a kick tab on the heel and a pull tab built into the back of the upper. These features make it easier to put these boots on and take off.

The kick tab isn’t some tiny chunk of nonfunctional rubber. It’s substantial and provides a large surface area to apply pressure with your toe without slipping off. It works great, and I didn’t feel like I was going to herniate myself trying to take them off, something I’ve come close to doing with other rubber boots.

All seams on the boot are protected with a rubber overlay. That means that rather than having a hard seam where two pieces meet, Redhead overlapped the rubber, giving you two portions of rubber in high-wear areas. I think that was a solid move because the rubber on these boots doesn’t feel exceptionally thick.

The Catch to $70 Rubber Hunting Boots

With the price, I didn’t expect these boots to be perfect, and they aren’t. They lack in a few important areas.

The rubber on the Redhead Camo Utilities feels thinner, which affects the boot’s performance. These boots do not provide ankle support. That is a common problem with rubber boots, and it would be a big ask for a sub-$100 boot to solve it. Redhead didn’t.

These boots are limited to fair-weather hunting since they’re only available in 5mm insulation. They also don’t come with a fleece-lined interior, a feature I love in more expensive boots. With a thick sock, I’d be willing to hunt in these boots down to about 35 degrees. After that, your feet will freeze, especially if snow and ice are involved.

If you accept that for what it is, it’s not a big deal. The insulation level they have is perfect for rainy spring seasons, when you need a waterproof boot or early-season whitetail hunts, when scent control is crucial. I just wish they came in a winter version with thicker insulation for late-season hunts.

The Redheads also lack any adjustability. Many rubber boots have straps on the upper or even zippers like those found on the Chêne Floodline Velo Boot. There are no straps to tighten these down, but that’s fair given the pricetag.

I’ve only had these boots this spring, so I’m not sure if this is true, but I do have my doubts about their longevity. I’m specifically worried about the outsole. While it provides amazing traction, I would be willing to bet that it wouldn’t withstand years of consistent use. I’ve worn out Vibram soles within 2 years, and I’d be shocked if these outsoles can last as long as the more expensive rubber found on high-end soles.

Fortunately, most people don’t wear rubber hunting boots consistently. If you wear these boots 30 days or less a year, I’m sure they’ll last for a long time.

The Redhead Camo Utility Rubber Boot: Who Should Buy Them?

After spending turkey season in these boots, I can confidently say that they’re a solid product. Many cheap rubber boots are junk that fall apart with any amount of real use. With proper care, the Redheads should last for a few seasons and aren’t just a quick band-aid solution for those looking for a set of rubber boots. They’re legit.

If you’re a new hunter who’s budgeting for all of the gear needed for hunts this year, the Redhead Camo Utility Rubber Boot gives you an option to get good boots while saving some cash for a treestand or pack. These boots give phenomenal performance for the price.

Even hardcore hunters will love these boots. Many hunters don’t primarily hunt in rubber boots. They wear standard boots, switching to rubber boots in highly wet conditions.

If that’s you and you’re looking for a set of rubber boots to get you through a few hunts a year, the Redheads are a great buy. It would be senseless to spend more on something that won’t see much use when these will give you everything you need.

Hunters who live in rubber boots, or those looking for insulated rubber boots to hunt in the cold, may want to look elsewhere, though. While these are good, there are options out there that are better for the extreme user group. But at 70 bucks, I dare you to find a better rubber hunting boot for the money.