I am thinking about Florida's everglades, for long term use. Don't want to use waders or extremely high boots because of heat issues. Have been looking at combat type swamp boots, both waterproof and not with possibly gaiters to deal with snakes. Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
What are the best swamp boots?
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MCgunner
Member
I've got a pair of magellan snake boots, about 80 bucks at Academy, I like. They're not THAT great as waders. Oh, they're completely waterproof up to the tongue which is about 6" above the ankle. They're cool in summer and surprisingly warm in winter. They breath due to Goretex, so your foot doesn't stay sweaty if you can get it cooled off. Ain't hard for me to find water over 6" above my ankles, though. 
U used to use a pair of hip wader stocking feet, roll 'em down when I didn't need 'em. But, they wore out and I haven't replaced 'em. I have waders if I really need 'em, but yeah, south Texas is hot most of the year, too.
U used to use a pair of hip wader stocking feet, roll 'em down when I didn't need 'em. But, they wore out and I haven't replaced 'em. I have waders if I really need 'em, but yeah, south Texas is hot most of the year, too.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Never been to the everglades.
But if I ever was, I would probably wear knee-high rubber boots like these or similar.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Foot...ting-boots/_/N-1102525&WTz_l=SEO;cat104806080
http://www.tractorsupply.com/mens-p...r-reg-brown-blend-premium-knee-boot-635607799
The will keep you dry, up to the point the water gets over the top of them when you wade off in a gator hole.
Then you can slip out of them fairly easily so you don't drown.
They are also very good at keeping the Creepy Crawlies out of your pants.
And they are not especially hot, as air pumps in & out of them all the time you are moving.
I see the alligator hunter guys on TV wear a lot of white, fairly short rubber slip-on boots on the boats, but I don't know what kind they are.
Oh wait! I found them:
http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/749289.htm
rc
But if I ever was, I would probably wear knee-high rubber boots like these or similar.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Foot...ting-boots/_/N-1102525&WTz_l=SEO;cat104806080
http://www.tractorsupply.com/mens-p...r-reg-brown-blend-premium-knee-boot-635607799
The will keep you dry, up to the point the water gets over the top of them when you wade off in a gator hole.
Then you can slip out of them fairly easily so you don't drown.
They are also very good at keeping the Creepy Crawlies out of your pants.
And they are not especially hot, as air pumps in & out of them all the time you are moving.
I see the alligator hunter guys on TV wear a lot of white, fairly short rubber slip-on boots on the boats, but I don't know what kind they are.
Oh wait! I found them:
http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/749289.htm
rc
MCgunner
Member
We have a name for those white rubber boots, "Seadrift Ropers".
All the commercial fishermen seem to use them as a fashion statement and they're all the rage in Seadrift, Texas, a shrimping/crabbing town. Hell, Memphis Net and Twine used to sell 'em, but I just checked and they didn't have 'em. They still have the black ones, but you ain't Seadrift stylin' unless you wear white. Cob
Member
I like muckboots/ wetlands style.
T Bran
Member
I hunted the glades for many years and found that a cheap pair of sneakers preferably canvas was the best. They are nice and light even when waterlogged dry out fairly quickly and not as hot as boots. At one time I wore rubber boots they were great till water got in them after that they were miserable and hard to remove and drain. Go with the sneakers and if you worry about snakes get a set of chaps ( I never did though ).
Good hunting
T
Good hunting
T
hardluk1
member
T Bran Same for me.
22-rimfire
Member
Depends....
In South America I wore canvas tennis shoes. Probably wouldn't do that again. I would carry a dry pair strapped around my neck or in a day pack and wear the other pair and then rotate. If wading in waist deep muck, I would wear these or army boots. They need to stay on your feet when you sink deep into the mud.
I also have a pair of the Lacross boots rcmodel linked you to. I find them very comfortable and sufficiently protective. It depends on how deep and how often you actually wade in depths over a foot or so. For just swampy conditions (but not significant wading), I would choose these myself.
In Alaska they frequently wear hip waders. They can be uncomfortable walking for long distances.
Rubber soled wading shoes are another option. You need to protect your feet from mechanical injury. By design, they normally dry out fairly quickly.
In South America I wore canvas tennis shoes. Probably wouldn't do that again. I would carry a dry pair strapped around my neck or in a day pack and wear the other pair and then rotate. If wading in waist deep muck, I would wear these or army boots. They need to stay on your feet when you sink deep into the mud.
I also have a pair of the Lacross boots rcmodel linked you to. I find them very comfortable and sufficiently protective. It depends on how deep and how often you actually wade in depths over a foot or so. For just swampy conditions (but not significant wading), I would choose these myself.
In Alaska they frequently wear hip waders. They can be uncomfortable walking for long distances.
Rubber soled wading shoes are another option. You need to protect your feet from mechanical injury. By design, they normally dry out fairly quickly.
MCgunner
Member
s
Good advice there. I have a pair and they've lasted quite a while. They protect even wade fishing on oyster reefs. I got 'em oversize for a pair of 5mm Neoprene waders I wear duck hunting and wade fishing in really cold weather and just tie 'em tight on bare feet for wade fishing/kayak fishing in summer. Get high tops so they will stay on your feet in the muck.
Here is what I use during waterfowl season !
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=2416120923
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=2416120923
hardluk1
member
Also a pair of vietnam area jungle boots would work fine. They are canvas and have the vents that work well for water drainage too.
MCgunner
Member
Wouldn't work for me. I have to have full chest waders for waterfowl. I'm often butt deep pickin' up the deeks and when I sit on my marsh stool, I don't wanna get my butt wet.
Thanks for the great replies. Been following up on them and it's been an education. The places I'm preparing for can involve chest deep water or dry land with low cactus that'll go right through sneakers or dive boots, and there sure can be some suction from the muck. I'm thinking about hardluk1's suggestion about vietnam jungle boots. Are they better if they're waterproof or with built in drain holes? How do they work for you guys? Anybody know a good source for a guy with really wide feet?
MCgunner
Member
Had some jungle boots as a kid and they worked fine in the wet. I grew up near a creek bottom and it was wet down there a lot. They do have some leather on 'em and it eventually rotted and cracked after the boots getting wet, then drying out. Lasted me a while, though.
I have a pair of new issue military "for use in mobile units" or some such, not for ground pounders IOW. Friend's boy just got out of OCS and these were some he got somehow and they're my size, friend couldn't wear 'em. They come over the ankle, are gortex/water proof, and as such, have no drain, but they're all synthetics. You'd have to drill holes in the side or something. They really wouldn't be ideal, don't think. Not sure where you'd find any of the old Vietnam era issue, are they still available anywhere?
Another thing about these issue boots my buddy gave me, they aren't the lightest boots on the planet, either. I've worn 'em ONE day so far since getting them. They're comfy for me, but the weight will get to ya walking much. I will probably just use 'em as motorcycle boots. The water proof part is nice for that.
I have a pair of new issue military "for use in mobile units" or some such, not for ground pounders IOW. Friend's boy just got out of OCS and these were some he got somehow and they're my size, friend couldn't wear 'em. They come over the ankle, are gortex/water proof, and as such, have no drain, but they're all synthetics. You'd have to drill holes in the side or something. They really wouldn't be ideal, don't think. Not sure where you'd find any of the old Vietnam era issue, are they still available anywhere?
Another thing about these issue boots my buddy gave me, they aren't the lightest boots on the planet, either.
I've worn 'em ONE day so far since getting them. They're comfy for me, but the weight will get to ya walking much. I will probably just use 'em as motorcycle boots. The water proof part is nice for that.I've gotten the idea that just like no one boat is good fror everything, the same can be said for boots. With that in mind thanks to y'alls help I think I may have found some good options.
The first thing is that I've accepted that my feet will get wet. Chest deep water will defeat just about everything except a diving bell. That doesn't really bother me. I kayak in my old reeboks. They have worked fine overall, but I wouldn't want to walk a ways in them wet. So my first option is Navy SEAL boots. Once I got past the fast buck artists I found a company who were actually selling to the SEALs, OTB (Over the Beach). They have just joined New Balance, and are in the military portion of their website. These guys are making some amazing products. For me, this one, http://www.shopnewbalance.com/men/shoes/workboots-and-shoes/military/211MBK, looks mighty good. It's their 2nd generation SEAL boot and looks to be even better than their first, as they pay attention to user feedback. Great traction, unbelievable drainage (one guy made a youtube of the first generation that he coukldn't fill up with a hose {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTeABQEdqOQ}) and they dry quickly. The only drawbacks are they don't have puncture proof soles (although one user says the first generation's soles worked great over razor sharp oyster beds), their durability is an unknown issue (the previous generation lasted great for some people, wore quickly for others) and they're a bit pricey. Also they say you can feel every stick and rock if you're humping a hundred pound ruck. That's not in my plan.
These boots would be my pick if I were going to be in the water mostly, like following a slough for miles. Next I'm going to look at jungle boots for when I'd get wet but would mostly be on dry land. Saw some interesting new takes on them that I'll check out and get back to you on.
The first thing is that I've accepted that my feet will get wet. Chest deep water will defeat just about everything except a diving bell. That doesn't really bother me. I kayak in my old reeboks. They have worked fine overall, but I wouldn't want to walk a ways in them wet. So my first option is Navy SEAL boots. Once I got past the fast buck artists I found a company who were actually selling to the SEALs, OTB (Over the Beach). They have just joined New Balance, and are in the military portion of their website. These guys are making some amazing products. For me, this one, http://www.shopnewbalance.com/men/shoes/workboots-and-shoes/military/211MBK, looks mighty good. It's their 2nd generation SEAL boot and looks to be even better than their first, as they pay attention to user feedback. Great traction, unbelievable drainage (one guy made a youtube of the first generation that he coukldn't fill up with a hose {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTeABQEdqOQ}) and they dry quickly. The only drawbacks are they don't have puncture proof soles (although one user says the first generation's soles worked great over razor sharp oyster beds), their durability is an unknown issue (the previous generation lasted great for some people, wore quickly for others) and they're a bit pricey. Also they say you can feel every stick and rock if you're humping a hundred pound ruck. That's not in my plan.
These boots would be my pick if I were going to be in the water mostly, like following a slough for miles. Next I'm going to look at jungle boots for when I'd get wet but would mostly be on dry land. Saw some interesting new takes on them that I'll check out and get back to you on.
chas08
Member
Jungle boots get my vote if you are talking warmer climes. With the right socks you don't even notice wet feet. They also vent the water out well, and dry quickly on the move. But if you are talking cooler weather, Muck Wetlands are hard to beat for a knee boot.
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
I've got the Lacoste's that RC model linked to. They are fantastic. I have hiked miles in them without a problem. They are idea for walking through mud and wet grass (wet grass will soak through any gore-tex hiking boots - IMHO). That being said, if you are going in water deeper than a foot or two, just wear crappy old tennis shoes and expect to have wet feet.
The-Reaver
Member
The most wornout pair of old sneakers you can find.
The way I see it is, " your going to get wet anyway, so you mights as well be comfortable "
Just keep an extra eye out for snakes. and if your not comfortable with how low they are. Then just keep the same concept but with an old set of boots to protect a little higher up on the ankle.
RvR
The way I see it is, " your going to get wet anyway, so you mights as well be comfortable "
Just keep an extra eye out for snakes. and if your not comfortable with how low they are. Then just keep the same concept but with an old set of boots to protect a little higher up on the ankle.
RvR
Lloyd Smale
Member
SNAKES!! ill take a boat!
hardluk1
member
You can not walk around in 80* to 90* weather in rubber boats or waders all day when water can be 1" deep or 4 feet deep. You will ether loss them or throw them away. Good boots will rot You buy a couple pair of light weight jungle boots are high top tennis shoes and go. Change them out at night and if your lucky they get you thru a season. If your feet stay wet in a better boot you will end up with treanch foot and if you wear rubber they will still sweat and you end up wet anyhow. Just a fact of life stomp'n around in the swamp lands. The 5th series or last from the viet design jungle boots has metal shanks in them to keep sharp obects from comeing threw the bottoms but not a real worry in florida much and they had the drain /vents in them and wear thin enought they could dry out a 24 hours. I used both at times but also went bear foot at times. just depends on the ground cover or lack of. Cypress /prairie areas with short grass ,bear feet worked good along with sandy pine and cypress mix pine areas. But today my feet are way to soft.
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