Boots

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david58

david58

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All hunters need footwear, right? So this thread is relevant, I hope... :)

I am torn. Old school, prefer tall leather boots, waterproofed with snowseal, and nice Vibram soles. But a good pair of Danners with stitched soles (so I can re-sole) are upwards of $300.

Cost at Danner to resole is $130.

But these kind of boots take some serious breaking in. The newer, molded sole boots are not so long on break in, are cheaper, lighter, and more available. But, you wear out the sole and you throw them away. That doesn't sit right somehow...

So, I'm asking for your experience and advice. Santa is going to bring the boots, and he will appreciate the counsel.

I don't mind toting a heavy rifle, but sore feet ruin my day.

Thanks!
 
I've gone both routes. I've had the heavy traditional leather boots, today I choose comfort and have found that I can buy boots designed for hikers of much better quality and comfort than boots marketed for hunters. For less money.

These have been my go-to boots for the last 3-4 years. In my experience I can get several years of use out of boots like this. Almost as long as the heavy stitch down sole boots.

https://www.rei.com/product/881783/salomon-quest-4d-ii-gtx-hiking-boots-mens

In a traditional boot these have proven to be good for the money. They make a 400 gr insulated version for about $10 more. But I stopped wearing insulated boots years ago. With good wool socks I've hunted in temps down in the teens and not been uncomfortable.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/footwear/men-s-footwear/men-s-hunting-boots/men-s-uninsulated-hunting-boots|/pc/104797980/c/104747580/sc/104826780/i/105543180/cabela-s-124-meindl-men-s-uninsulated-ultralight-trade-hunter-boots-with-gore-tex-reg-/1237095.uts?destination=/catalog/browse/mens-uninsulated-hunting-boots/_/N-1102520/Ns-CATEGORY_SEQ_105543180
 
I like Russell mountain boots when it's mostly dry. I had a problem with the first air bob soles, the replacement re-soles have been great.
For hunting in snow, I use 400gr Thinsulate Vasques and gators.
 
I've always worn Muck boots hunting here in Maine. My last pair wore out and leaked so a few weeks ago I purchased a pair of Under Armour all leather Brow Tine boots. They have a gore tex lining and 800 grams of insulation, which is good because my feet get cold quickly when sitting in my stand. These seem to breathe fairly well, which my Mucks did not, causing wet, sweaty feet that would freeze during my afternoon sit. So far I've been happy with the Brow Tines and got them when Cabelas was having a good sale. I think I got $65 off.

Check them out: http://bit.ly/2f0SZPI
 
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I love all-leather boots. I have some Thoroghgood (made in the U.S., if that matters to you) boots for work, and I am looking to buy another pair for hunting. They're not cheap, but they're really comfortable. Even more so than the Danners that I bought a few years back.

You might look into White's, too, if you don't mind ordering online. My feet are pretty picky, so I haven't tried boots from them yet.
 
JudgeHolden10 said:
I love all-leather boots. I have some Thoroghgood (made in the U.S., if that matters to you) boots for work, and I am looking to buy another pair for hunting. They're not cheap, but they're really comfortable. Even more so than the Danners that I bought a few years back.

You might look into White's, too, if you don't mind ordering online. My feet are pretty picky, so I haven't tried boots from them yet.
Click to expand...
I'm a Thorogood fan. They make durable boots that are USA made at a competitive price. Unionbootpro.com has the best prices I've found.
 
Not certain where you are hunting but your profile says "high country New Mexico". Additionally you seem to be talking about hiking boots, not tall rubber boots like I wear deer hunting in MS.

A few years ago I did a fairly lengthy bit of research on boots for a Montana hunting trip. I read everything I could on dozens of boots, looked at places that review this stuff full time (OutdoorGearLab.com , Backpacker etc), heard from hunters and hikers, and analyzed the choices in great detail. I got it narrowed down to half a dozen boots that I knew I couldn't go wrong with. The thing that pushed me over the edge on one of them was an interview I heard with a guy named Rourke Denver. He's a Navy SEAL officer and he mentioned in passing that he always used Salomon Quest 4d GTX in Iraq and Afghanistan. I figured if he was happy with their performance in combat in the mountains of Afghanistan then I'd probably be happy with their performance in Montana and Idaho. I've had them for two years now and I can't imagine a boot offering any more than these do. If Salomon called me tomorrow and asked "what should we change on this boot?" I'd have to respond with a simple "Nothing."

I can't tell you what to get, but I can tell you that you've got lots of good choices, and lots of good resources to compare them. Good luck.
 
My outdoor footwear runs the full spectrum from very light mesh type for early archery or scouting to heavy leather White Packs in the snowy late seasons.
I like traditional leather but it is hard to keep dry and have come to appreciate the boots that use a combination of natural and synthetic materials in areas that each material excels in.
Danner has done a good job and I've started liking what I've worn for work in the Keen line.
You can only get so many miles from a pair of shoes so I recommend to use your best hunting boots sparingly beyond making sure they're broken in rather than wear them daily.
 
I'm a Danner fan. I wore them in the Army in different configurations they they were by far my most comfortable and durable boots.

I wear one of their hiking boots now when hunting. I think I paid ~$150 for this pair of 453s

BN.jpg
 
I am a shooter, not a hunter, but my home range is rocky and another place I go can get chill and damp, so I sometimes need something stouter than sneakers. I have Merrills which are kind of ok, but would like something more generally comfortable. I will put those Salomons on my list, although their shoes seem awful pointy toed. My usual sneakers are New Balance which have roomy toes for my duck feet.
 
Jim Watson, I wouldn't say I have duck feet but mine aren't exactly narrow either. I've never thought of these shoes as pointy but I could be wrong. Here's a shot of another pair of Salomons I have, X-Ultra Prime.

They seem to use a similar sole system as my quest boots and fit nearly the same. These pictured are just mid tops and not as waterproof. More of a summer shoe, or in Alabama it's one I can wear about 300 days of the year.
IMG_20161125_151056_141.jpg
 
Over the years I have run the gauntlet of hunting boots from very expensive to cheap and disposable. Unlike work boots, I have never wore a sole out on a pair of hunting boots. Personnaly, if I can get another new pair of good boots for the same cost as resoling an old pair, I'm gonna go with a new pair everytime. Generally they rip or breakdown from use or the constant getting soaking wet and drying. I also have sweaty feet and have seen linings rot out before the uppers/sole do. This is even when using a boot dryer to keep them dry on the inside. I too am a big fan of snoseal, but no longer depend on it for keeping my feet dry....Gore-tex and other hi-tech materials do a much better job. Snoseal does still do a good job of protecting the leather uppers tho. It also works well on Hockey Gloves and makes the tape used on hockey sticks sticky(The major use around our house anymore). Along with Gore-tex, modern boots offer another advantage...they are lightweight, and unlike my old lightweight kangaroos, are very durable and resilient. What I have found over the years is some brands fit my feet, while other don't Some break in after a few hunts and some never do. Local shoe store tells me it's the last the shoes are made on that creates the fit and not every company uses the same size/profile of last. Many times the reason folks prefer a Danner over a RedWing or Vice-versa is because of this small variance. In truth, many times as a shoe is breaking in, so is your foot. Calluses are made where blisters first formed and ones toes become accustomed to being bent or re-positioned. As the years go by, I realized that paying more for excellent fit, is more important than paying more for a certain brand or model. Sometimes it's better to have several moderately priced pairs of boots than one high priced pair. Yesterday I hunted swamp country where the water has been high all fall. It was nice to have another good pair of dry boots to put on this morning since I went in water over the tops of yesterday's pair. Today's pair were shorter and lighter, with less aggressive wrap around soles, great for the steep clay hillsides I hunted today. Yesterdays pair with their heavy deep lugged soles would have weighed a ton and grown 3 sizes with the red gumbo I walked thru today.

In short, it's hard for anyone to pick someone else's footwear without really knowing the demands of the terrain, their budget, expectations and frequency of use. I too prefer a heavy rifle to sore feet. Heavy boots tho, for me, contribute to sore legs, aching hips and night cramps.
 
I agree! Like the vast number of shoes in your wife's closet, boots match the need and the conditions. I wear Whites loggers on dry rocky ground. They are custom made and have had one pair since 1981. I use two pair so they don't get sweated out. If it gets wet or a little snow, I wear Whites felt lined pacs with air bob soles. If it is snowy, rocky to cliffy or in heavy timber I switch to my Whites caulked felt lined pacs. If you fall in some of my ground you may not get to go home -ever. I am only missing caulked leather boots for heavy timber in dry weather. Sadly enough they appear to have stopped making carbide core caulks. They are an absolute must on granite boulders and outcrops.If you are serious about hunting in the steep west and prone to walking you ought to be able to acquire all the footware for 30 years for under $1,000. I'm guessing that is a small number compared to your spouses closet.
 
I am old school also and I love my leather hunting boots. For several years I have been wearing Cabela's uninsulated kangaroo featherlight boots. They also come in an insulated version but for hunting I like the uninsulated version so I can wear them for spring turkey hunting. I buy them a size too big and wear a pair of Heat Holder socks with them. I also treat them with SnoSeal to help with the moisture. They are very tough and have good vibram soles and the uppers usually wear out about the same time as the soles. They are very comfortable at a cost of about $205. The only downside is that they do absorb some moisture but the comfort level far exceeds the dampness.
 
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