nico said:
What boots would you folks recommend?
Check out the Bass Pro Shops website for good, reasonably-priced boots. Bass Pro's 'house brand' is called Redhead, and they're usually decent quality stuff for a fairly low price. Just took a look and they have their
Redhead Bone-Dry Whitetail boots for $69.
There are basically two things to look for when it comes to boots. Number one is to look for the words
waterproof and breathable. The meaning of waterproof is obvious. Breathable means that when your feet sweat, the boots will allow that moisture to escape, which is a big deal at low temperatures - especially if you're going to be walking a lot.
The second thing to look for is the term 'waterproof and breathable
construction'. See, some bootmakers will make a normal boot, then stuff a Gore-tex bootie in it and call that 'waterproof and breathable'. Technically it is, because it keeps moisture away from your skin, but it still allows moisture to collect in the bed of the boot, and that's bad. When it says 'waterproof and breathable
construction', that means the boundary layer is built into the fabric of the boot itself, and that's MUCH more effective than just a bootie.
Keep in mind though, that a lot of this depends on how you hunt. If you're going to be sitting in a tree stand a lot, then having breathable boots (or clothing) isn't that big of a deal, because you're not going to sweat that much just sitting there. Good, heavy insulation is a lot more important when you can't keep yourself warm by moving around. When I hunt, I don't sit still very much, and I'm constantly climbing up and down hills, so sweat (and getting rid of it) is a much bigger deal for me. I can get warm by moving, and then I benefit from boots and clothing that will dissipate the sweat I produce as a result.