Muck Boots graciously sent this editor a pair of Chore Classic Met Guard PR work boots to try out. I put them through their paces – and nearly forgot I was wearing them.
by Donna Schmidt
One of the headaches nearly every miner suffers at one point or another in their work career is finding a pair of work boots that actually work for them. Not just look good, not just fit well, but offer the proper protection and have the capacity to put up with the harsh environment and the many varied surfaces one crosses every day (wet longwall headgate, anyone?).
Granted, I do not spend the number of hours on my feet that a miner does, but as a person that enjoys walking, I opened the box to these Muck Boots Chore Classic Met Guard PRs ready to put in the steps needed to give these boots a true – for lack of a better phrase – civilian test.
In my many, many visits to surface and underground mine sites across the country, I’ve put on many a boot, especially metatarsals – from lace-ups (alongside miles of black MSHA tape) to rubberized thigh-heights and everything in between. I don’t mind saying that a vast majority of them have been sized for men, making finding a comfortable work boot for this female editor daunting over these past couple of decades. My days have often ended with an ibuprofen and Band-Aids for my blistered heels after a long day at a mine site.
Imagine my surprise when I found my new test boots to be sleek, sturdy – and here’s the operative component – comfortable. I hit as many surfaces as I could in them and never lost stride.
More on the Chore Classic Met Guard PR
These boots are not just industrial – they were designed specifically to meet the demands of miners working in harsh underground conditions. They are 100% waterproof all the time, and made from high-grade neoprene (including a 5mm bootie) and layers of hand-laid rubber. Muck added a hi-vis topline and puncture-resistant midsole for safety. It is finished, importantly, by a steel toe and metatarsal guard for full protection. Inside is a breathable mesh lining and they are quick and easy to clean.
The triple-top and quadruple-rubber heel reinforced Chore Classics are ASTM rated F2413-18 M/I/C EH MT.
NAM wants to thank Muck Boots for the opportunity to try out their really comfortable work footwear.
Muck Boots, a Rocky Brands Company, was established in 1999. In addition to mining, Muck produces footwear for various industry conditions, and has lines for men and women.