Work/Hunting Boot

[RyeDaddy]

Another vote for Danner.

I love danners since I started wearing them in the Navy. Now that I'm out, I can choose whatever boot I want, and I still choose Danner. I got a pair of Cabela's Elk Hunters, which are made for Cabela's for Danner, they say Danner on the side, and they're awesome. Danners can run a bit heavy, but in six years in the Navy wearing them every day, it took four years to wear my first pair out, and it was a cosmetic thing. Anyway, you can get them in all different Thinsulate levels, or without it at all, depending on where you'll be using them.

 

[MCgunner]

I have an old pair of Lacrosse "all temps" that came with an insole and two types of insulation liners to use with all weather. I am still using 'em. I wore 'em down out in west Texas on the rocks a bit, but they last forever in the mud and dirt down here. When it's really wet on my place, I use a pair of cabela's stocking foot hip waders and just take out the liner and insole to make room for the 3mm neoprene booties on the waders. Those are some rugged hunting boots and very comfortable and water proof, but not really suitable for work.

 

[MacPelto]

Another vote for Red Wings. If you manage to wear them out, they can be resoled, just drop them off at a red wings outlet. Also, free laces for life.

Mac

 

[stevelyn]

Danners. My first pair of Ft. Lewis Go-Devils went through 7 years of military, hunting and police abuse before giving up the ghost.

I'm currently on my second pair since 1997 and haven't treated them any better other than taking better care of the leather. They're about due for a resoling, but are otherwise in great shape.

 

[SIRVEYR666]

Cabela's Upland Bird Boots.


Super light-weight and only $109 (on sale). Gore-Tex and 400grams of Thinsulate (or uninsulated).

I've had about 2 dozen pair in my lifetime. Only boots that I'll buy.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Funny that no one asked what kind of work you do, and I think only Art asked about your hunting habits/conditions. How about your feet? Average width, narrow, or wide? If they run narrow like mine, there are very few good options.

It's hard to get the right answer with such limited info in the question.

 

[mohican]

Cosmo - can you still get Danner Fort Lewis boots? Only pair of boots I ever had that made it to the 6 year mark.

I looked several years ago at the local outfitter, but alas, they no longer carried Ft Lewis series.

 

[Cosmoline]

Yup, for now. And they're still made in Portland. Cabelas stocks them. I'd get them soon, though.

 

[Infantryboots]

I want to thank everyone for their response.

o My occupation is military and I sit behind a desk all day
o I'm looking for a pair a boots for hunting and working outdoors (honey do list).
o Just an everyday work/hunting boots where I can go into the woods.
o Size 11R
o I do not need a heavy insulated boot, I have one of those!

Hooah?

 

[LAK]

Off hand; Danner and Red Wing. Browning have marketed some excellent footwear too - like their Kangaroo Featherweights (which I believe are, or were, made by Red Wing).

In addition to what has been said already, and other factors aside; weight is very important. If you are going to hunt involving distances on foot, and or gaining altitude, a few extra ounces on the feet are far more fatiguing than a few extra pounds on the belt or back.

------------------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[648E]

I got the Redwings. They were $20 less and I already have a pair of chicom Danner's, which are nice, comfortable boots, btw. When I got home I noticed a label inside the tongue of the redwings "Made in China". I guess you just can't win.

HUH?!

Their 2004 Catalog States:

Red Wings are made in America or assembled in the USA in plants located in Minnesota, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri...

I sent a message to their customer service to clarify.

I'm quite sure their Worx and Irish Setter brands are China made but I didn't know any of the Red Wings would be.

 

[gak]

Many manufacturers even try to hide the fact that all or most of their product line is from China.

Our suppliers told us years back that they're switching to asian-made because their stockholders refuse to pay $19.00 per hour to American workers when they can pay 60 cents an hour to Chinese workers.

I also felt ill when three of their managers retired before they were 40 years old because their profit margins were so sick.

Charge double for the product, claim higher manufacturing costs, meanwhile make it in China for 1/100th of the cost = retire at 40.

 

[648E]

I got my reply, here's a bit from it:

Unfortunately our 3 U.S. plants cannot completely satisfy the demand for all styles and prices of work footwear. As an example, today’s younger consumer demands an athletic type shoe at a low price. This style of footwear cannot be competitively manufactured in our domestic plants. So we source these products in China. We design them. We test their performance to insure they live up to the Red Wing quality standards. We hope that by providing these young workers shoes they desire today, we can someday move them into our premium Made In USA footwear products. Their fathers and grandfathers wore Red Wings. We would like to keep them and future generations wearing our brand.

So it seems any Red Wings I buy are still made here.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

Danners with Wool----Not cotton---socks