Rubber hunting boots, what do you guys like?

freddyfour said:
Sorry guys but the cheap CT rubber boots just don't cut it for me. I walk to many miles and I do not find them comfortable enough with my flat feet. Only thing I use those boots for us shoveling snow in the winter.
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It's amazing to me the number of guys that will wait all year, fight with their wives for the time away, give up work and spend ridiculous amounts of money on food, alcohol and lodging just to go hunting but risk their entire trip with sh*tty substandard footwear and clothing. I hunt with guys that tape over holes in their boots and cobble together track pants, old t-shirts and plastic rain jackets and then piss and moan about how uncomfortable they are. You haven't found a loophole by buying your $20 CT garbage year over year, you're just spending more money than the rest of us and fooling yourself into thinking you've saved money. I like to enjoy every minute, rain or shine and good clothing/footwear makes this much easier.

Patrick
 
phinton81 said:
It's amazing to me the number of guys that will wait all year, fight with their wives for the time away, give up work and spend ridiculous amounts of money on food, alcohol and lodging just to go hunting but risk their entire trip with sh*tty substandard footwear and clothing. I hunt with guys that tape over holes in their boots and cobble together track pants, old t-shirts and plastic rain jackets and then piss and moan about how uncomfortable they are. You haven't found a loophole by buying your $20 CT garbage year over year, you're just spending more money than the rest of us and fooling yourself into thinking you've saved money. I like to enjoy every minute, rain or shine and good clothing/footwear makes this much easier.

Patrick
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Irony is that most guys who've never worn top quality gear don't even know what they're missing so why bother spending the money.
 
Patrick,

I don't spend much money on hunting at all. Lodging costs me nothing. Travel costs are minimal as I can hunt 20 minutes from my house. My wife doesn't mind me hunting at all (often she's with me). I hunt nearly every weekend of big game season, and many weekdays after work as well.

Yet I am fine with cheap CT rubber boots (when I really need waterproof footwear). I don't mind spending the 20 bucks every 5 years or so for a new pair.

In the end I am happy and comfortable and my freezer is full. Why should I spend more money just because some other people seem to need to?
 
what amazes me is that Canada is the second largest country in the world and from the Atlantic to southern Ontario Nunavut NWT BC AB YT and others we have a variety of weather terrains and of course men and what will work for one in one side may not work at all for another.

i ve seen my share of high end expensive brands with sitka and kuiu hunters, does it make them better in the mountains no way but if they feel the need of the brand that is good and trust of your gear is the very important ...

one year we had to fix a pair of boots in the middle of nowhere and will the boots high end or not at the end it was the repair that fix it ...
 
Maritime Storm said:
Kamik insulated rubber boots, easily bought at Canadian Tire, I've worn out 2 pairs in 20 years, worth every penny you pay for them and made in Canada.
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+1 for the Kamviks. Forgot my boots when heading out to do some scouting. Made an emergency stop at CT to pick up a pair. Was just looking for something to keep me dry that day, so I was going in cheap. Saw the Kamviks on sale 60% off and figured, sure, I'll splurge and try them out. I haven't worn my old boots since. They get warm in the middle of summer unless you get a lighter insert, but they are great in the cold out of the box.
 
ironsighter said:
Patrick,

I don't spend much money on hunting at all. Lodging costs me nothing. Travel costs are minimal as I can hunt 20 minutes from my house. My wife doesn't mind me hunting at all (often she's with me). I hunt nearly every weekend of big game season, and many weekdays after work as well.

Yet I am fine with cheap CT rubber boots (when I really need waterproof footwear). I don't mind spending the 20 bucks every 5 years or so for a new pair.

In the end I am happy and comfortable and my freezer is full. Why should I spend more money just because some other people seem to need to?
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It's all good, work with what ever works good for you. For myself I just need something a bit more comfortable. If I can find something for $20 that works for my feet I'll take it!
 
I wore rubber boots on a regular basis for 30 years. I found the El Cheapo one's to hurt my feet too much...maybe I just have delicate feet?
The Dunlop are warm and you can stand all day in them, a tad stiff for walking...but big voids on the tread patterm. Diggers
Muckers are much more flexible, but more of a softer sole with a waffle pattern tread.
OP, did you say what kind of country you would be hunting in? Because Dunlop's would likely be great tree stand boots. Just not great ground pounders.
Muckers likely the opposite.
 
phinton81 said:
It's amazing to me the number of guys that will wait all year, fight with their wives for the time away, give up work and spend ridiculous amounts of money on food, alcohol and lodging just to go hunting but risk their entire trip with sh*tty substandard footwear and clothing. I hunt with guys that tape over holes in their boots and cobble together track pants, old t-shirts and plastic rain jackets and then piss and moan about how uncomfortable they are. You haven't found a loophole by buying your $20 CT garbage year over year, you're just spending more money than the rest of us and fooling yourself into thinking you've saved money. I like to enjoy every minute, rain or shine and good clothing/footwear makes this much easier.

Patrick
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phinton81 said:
Irony is that most guys who've never worn top quality gear don't even know what they're missing so why bother spending the money.
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Did you just quote yourself ?

I have spent money on big names but, honestly, I don't find a huge difference in any of the hunting clothing. I even buy most of my outerwear from Giant Tiger. Cheap, it works and not its expensive to replace should it become N/S.

Bargin Harleys in Berwick NS has lots of very well priced hunter gear too. I also use my issued stuff too.
 
grabbers said:
Did you just quote yourself ?

I have spent money on big names but, honestly, I don't find a huge difference in any of the hunting clothing. I even buy most of my outerwear from Giant Tiger. Cheap, it works and not its expensive to replace should it become N/S.

Bargin Harleys in Berwick NS has lots of very well priced hunter gear too. I also use my issued stuff too.
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Yup, guess I did

If guys are hunting by themselves, have at it. Wear whatever you want, but if we're hunting in a group and someone can't complete a drive, goes in early or won't head into a swamp because they are already cold, wet, blistered and/or very uncomfortable it affects everyone. I've completed deer drives many times only to find that the guy who is supposed to be at the end has left and gone back to camp because he's cold and that's bullsh*t. It's the same as the guy who doesn't take care of his atv or truck and instead of hunting, scouting or working around the camp were getting him unstuck or trying to fix his equipment.

I you like the cheapy clothes from GT, wear them but thy are not the same as top end clothing from companies like Arc'teryx, Sitka, Kuiu or First Lite.

Patrick
 
phinton81 said:
Yup, guess I did

If guys are hunting by themselves, have at it. Wear whatever you want, but if we're hunting in a group and someone can't complete a drive, goes in early or won't head into a swamp because they are already cold, wet, blistered and/or very uncomfortable it affects everyone. I've completed deer drives many times only to find that the guy who is supposed to be at the end has left and gone back to camp because he's cold and that's bullsh*t. It's the same as the guy who doesn't take care of his atv or truck and instead of hunting, scouting or working around the camp were getting him unstuck or trying to fix his equipment.

I you like the cheapy clothes from GT, wear them but thy are not the same as top end clothing from companies like Arc'teryx, Sitka, Kuiu or First Lite.

Patrick
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So guys who can't afford (or don't want to buy) top notch gear aren't welcome in your camp, because they hold you back too much.

Hunting really is a very different thing for a lot of different people. I never really realized just how different it could be.

Best of luck to all this hunting season. Go get some good times, fresh air and meat.
 
ironsighter said:
So guys who can't afford (or don't want to buy) top notch gear aren't welcome in your camp, because they hold you back too much.

Hunting really is a very different thing for a lot of different people. I never really realized just how different it could be.

Best of luck to all this hunting season. Go get some good times, fresh air and meat.
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No, guys who let their equipment affect a group hunt need to get some better equipment.
 
phinton81 said:
No, guys who let their equipment affect a group hunt need to get some better equipment.
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Again, I haven't experienced this, its sounds like you have. But I generally don't go wading into swamps unless there is a CSM telling me I have too. Even then he is getting a very stern look lol
 
I had a pair of Nokia Retkis, years ago. I couldn't find them again, and wore some LaCrosse boots for many years after. The Retkis were great with a felt liner. The LaCrosse were tight fitting at the ankle and I couldn't wear them except for early season stuff. Mind you, they were very comfortable. Right now, I wear Muck boots, and they have been great the last two seasons...I find myself putting them on from once the weather starts to get wet all the way to the end of the season.
 
phinton81 said:
No, guys who let their equipment affect a group hunt need to get some better equipment.
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Or the right equipment. 12 inch waterproof boots don't help much if you know you will be wading through 18 inch swamps.
That and mental fortitude. There is plenty of guys who want to be there, but don't *want* to be there. All of a sudden there is a wardrobe malfunction and it is back to crack the whiskey.
 
For fall use, I have leather-lined LeChameau ( $400+), Nokia Finjagd ( $200 ) and Lacrosse Burly ($200) . The Chameau's are the most comfortable and longest lasting ... the pair I have now have been used as day to day winter wear including snow shoveling & snow blowing for the past 14 or 15 years. They are made from very high quality natural rubber.
The Nokias average 4-5 years before cracking & the Lacrosse about the same, however, I find them very hard to get on and off due to a very snug ankle fit.

I don't consider any of them suitable for winter non-active use, such as ice fishing or outdoor spectator sports. All are fine if you are moving about, walking etc.

For winter wear I would consider a pair of Arctic Muck boots, and am investigating the 17" Harkila Forester 3mm H-vent boots with 4oo gram insulation. The Muck boots have been recommended by a few for non-active winter use and I expect them to be at maybe $150 or a little more. I'm not sue they would still be going after 4 or 5 years. The Harkila's are of the same quality as the LeChameaus and should last as long, but are insulated, rated for -30C and feature Vibram Icetrek soles. I'd guess them at around $400 as well.
 
beretta boy said:
I don't consider any of them suitable for winter non-active use, such as ice fishing or outdoor spectator sports. All are fine if you are moving about, walking etc.
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I'd say the same for the vast majority of "winter" rubbers. They don't breath (how can they?) so as soon as the moisture builds up you are screwed. One thing that is said to work in these situations is to wear neoprene socks. I haven't tried them myself. Haven't needed too yet, because 90% of the time I'm moving.
 
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