If you have spent any amount of time in the outdoors, farming, and/or ranching, you intimately understand how messy and muddy things can get. Your heavy leather work boots might be able to keep your feet dry and clean, but then how do you clean your laced-up, leather boots with mud, water, and manure caked across them? The short answer is those boots never see the inside of your house and you can never fully clean them again. Moreover, you can ruin a good set of leather boots with heavy, repeated exposure to mud and cow poop. So, what is the more appropriate alternative? A set of pull-on rubber boots like those offered by Irish Setter. I found myself in this exact conundrum tending red angus cattle and Mangalitsa pigs with my family. So, I reached out to Irish Setter to test a pair of the Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boots to see if this could be the answer I had been looking for. Today, we are going to review the Ironton from Irish Setter. Let’s dive in!
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In 1950, Red Wing introduced style 854, crafted with Red Russet leather which inspired the Irish Setter name. Irish Setter became the brand for generations by proving itself in the field and on the job site. Today, more than 110 years of Red Wing work boot experience, combined with the over 60-year legacy of Irish Setter outdoor footwear, results in purpose-built Irish Setter footwear for work and hunt.
Specifications – Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot
The Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot is available in sizes 7 – 15 at an MSRP of $129.99 per pair. If this pull-on boot intrigues you, Irish Setter has Free shipping and Free returns on all of their boots. It boasts polyurethane construction for waterproofing and a steel shank for support. The rest of the specifications for the Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot can be read below as presented by Irish Setter:
- Construction: Injection
- Footbed: Removable Polyurethane
- Height: 17″
- Last: 300
- Shank: Steel
- Insole: Trilam Non-Woven
- Outsole: Chevron Hexagon – Black
- Waterproof: Polyurethane
- Weight: 3 Lb 15 Oz
- Resoleable: No
- Sourcing: Made In The USA With Imported Materials
- SLIP RESISTANT – Meets ASTM Safety Standards
- ELECTRICAL HAZARD – Meets ASTM Safety Standards
Hard work can be messy and dirty, which is why you need the unisex Ironton 17-inch black waterproof soft toe pull-on boot. Made from a proprietary polyurethane compound, this boot can easily repel water for protection against wet weather or sloppy jobs. It protects against gas, oil, and other liquids, including harsh chemicals. The outsole provides best-in-class slip and oil resistance to keep your steady on your feet, with a chevron hexagon pattern that features easy-to-clean channels. An antimicrobial liner reduces the risk of odor. This boot meets ASTM standards for electrical hazard protection.
Somebody’s gotta be tough enough to do the hard, dirty work. Finally there’s a boot that’s as hardcore as the work you do. The Ironton pull-on work boot takes durability to a whole new level. Built with a proprietary polyurethane compound that repels anything you throw at it. Water. Gas. Oil. Harsh chemicals. The outsole is rated best-in-class for slip and oil resistance. This boot is also made comfortable, because you don’t stop when it’s five o’clock. You stop when the job is done.
Field Use – Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot
So, now that you have a grasp of what the Ironton boot is all about, how did it perform in the mud and the muck of an angus and pig ranch? I have had these boots for close to 8 months now and the bulk of their service has been in the spring and the fall of this year. Those transitional periods where it is most wet and sloppy outside are where these boots shine. I would much rather where a pair of leather boots I can lace up when romping around our livestock and in pastures, but on wet days these boots are sorely needed.
Overall, the boots fit well, but I would say they “run small” in their sizing. I requested the size that I always wear for everything – boots, workout shoes, dress shoes, you name it – and the Ironton fits very tight. This maybe is not the worst thing in the world because there are no straps, laces, or closures to speak of to tighten them. Maybe it is a coincidence or by design, but the boots fit and come off tightly, so you have no worries of them falling off when running done an “unscheduled, free range” pig (aka escape artist… aka you’ll be bacon soon).
The tread or traction on the bottom of these boots I found to be helpful and very aggressive, which is needed. Other rubber boots I have used in the past were light on tread, so they felt more slippery and slick than confidence assuring. When I am glopping around in cow manure and these friendly boys and girls nudge and shove me with their heads without warning, I appreciate the stability the Ironton affords me, so I am not laying in poop.
Throughout 8 months of on-and-off use on only the bad days to be out in Mother Nature, I have not witnessed any breakdown or degradation of this boot. While it’s a lot dirtier than when I received them, they still are stiff through the top, have a firm sole, and completely waterproof (manure proof) throughout. I thought that, over time, they would begin to break down, but that has not happened at all.
The only potential downside I could speak to now that it is getting characteristically cold in Minnesota is that the Ironton does not have any insulating properties for warmth to speak of. Irish Setter does not advertise any, but a little bit would be nice now that my thermometer will begin to show me more negative numbers than positive ones. Conversely, if these had insulation, I would have been complaining this spring that they were too hot. So, it is a bit of a give-and-take. They’re perfect for one season and maybe a little cool in the next.
Final Thoughts – Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot
So, what are my final thoughts on the Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot?… Overall, I enjoyed and appreciated using them a lot. They perform as advertised, if not even better! A rubber boot might seem like a simple tool or garment to deploy while farming, ranching, or hunting, but Irish Setter put meaningful attributes into their Ironton and it shows through. At their MSRP pricing of $129.99 – $139.99 for soft-toe or safety toe options, I believe these boots are a good investment.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Irish Setter for allowing AllOutdoor and myself the opportunity to try out their Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Irish Setter Ironton 17″ Waterproof Soft Toe Pull-On Boot is something worth spending your money on? Would you deploy them hunting? Take it with you camping or hiking? Use them for farm or ranch chores? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Irish Setter in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
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