Hunting boots

Douglas_Gunner said:
I bought the "Cabela's 800-Gram Ultralight Hunter Boots by Meindl" and they have been very comfortable to walk in during fall grouse and winter hare hunting. I do most of my hunting on rarely-cleared trails so I don't have to do any kind of bushwhacking, but I do sometimes have to stomp through knee-high snow for hours. I have submerged my feet in puddles accidentally more than once and never got my socks wet. They are fairly warm in winter but would double up on socks or bring a heater pad if toe warmth is really a concern or if you'll be out for more than a few hours in blistering cold. I think they are on sale right now at Cabela's and are backed by their name brand warranty. I've had mine for 3 years and they are in pretty good shape still so I am a happy customer!
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I bought the 1200-gram boots yesterday. If I find them to warm for spring and fall scouting then I will pick up a pair of uninsulated boots.
 
Another Irish Setter fan here. I have a 200gr pair of Elk Trackers for upland and a 1000gr in a size larger for deer season. I also have a very old pair (well over 10) that are still serviceable and have traveled thousands of miles of year round duty. I still use them when just going for a hike but they have been repaired several times.

I guess it depends on the climate but here in Alberta one or two pair is unlikely to get you by. When it gets below minus 20 I have the Cabelas Trans Alaskans. I like to sit all day and would freeze in the Elk Trackers. If I am out in a down pour or going to hit a very swampy area I use the Muck Woody Elite.

I did purchase a pair of the Cabelas Meindl Ultralites that they have been trying to unload for over a year. I heard great things about the Perfek or what ever they are called made in Germany. The ultralites were made in Vietnam IIRC and the only good thing I can say about them is that they are light. My feet got soaked in dew covered grass even after treatment and one boot fit completely different than the other with major heel slippage. These were the uninsulated ones so maybe the others are better. Mine were sent back.
 
Waterproof Hi-Tec hikers, both insulated and not insulated. Hi-Tec boots have never let me down and the value is excellent, especially when on sale at Mark's.

I don't sit/stand around much when hunting, but if/when I do I just use those toe warmer things.
 
Unless it's very cold and i am stand hunting , i use a pair of HJ Brown Propector boots all leather with Gore-tex lining and Vibram soles. They are also lightly insulated. I think they were used by Canadian military for a while. I use them only for hunting, for the really cold weather i use Muck insulated.
 
L.L.Bean, their Bean boots and Maine hunting shoe(hunting boots) are super. I bought the non insulated ones. Wear wool socks with them when it is cold. I have hunted ten hrs. with them without a problem. When they wear out they will resole them for less than $40. USD. Purchase a size smaller than your street shoe. Money back guarantee, and you won't be sorry. They have been selling them for over a hundred years.
 
I wear Altberg Defenders, practically every day, for everything. They are un-insulated, and yet oddly warm in the winter. They aren't water-proof by the English terminology, where 100,000 wet flexes is considered "water resistant". Strangely "water resistant" means doesn't leak or heads are going to roll in England; whereas "water-proof" doesn't seem to mean anything here except maybe "leaks like a sieve".
 
I walk a lot when hunting.
What works for me is either my Hanwag mountaineering boots or Cabelas Inferno.
Past October I alsmot exclusively wear the Infernos and they work well for me; on my third pair.
 
I have major issues with boot fit. wide feet.
Usually when I get a pair that fits, they don't last. Example the last two pairs of Rocky rubber boots. (second pair was warranty on first) Both crapped out on their second hunt. When I say rubber, I'm generalizing, they are not actually rubber
I agree on having walking boots separate from stand boots when you can. My feet sweat, so if I'm going walking, I definitely do not want an insulated boot, or I'll be swimming home. Seriously, I used to figure my boots were leaking, but it was my feet sweating, they'd be soaked. I've asked for boot advice before, but, I think you really need to decide in the end for yourself. Your feet are different, and so are your hunting conditions. I have yet to find a rubber boot that both fits and lasts. I have had only slightly better luck with leather.
I'm thinking of trying a set of the boots that loggers use, if I can find a pair that fit. They should at least last.
 
John Y Cannuck said:
I have major issues with boot fit. wide feet.
Usually when I get a pair that fits, they don't last. Example the last two pairs of Rocky rubber boots. (second pair was warranty on first) Both crapped out on their second hunt. When I say rubber, I'm generalizing, they are not actually rubber
I agree on having walking boots separate from stand boots when you can. My feet sweat, so if I'm going walking, I definitely do not want an insulated boot, or I'll be swimming home. Seriously, I used to figure my boots were leaking, but it was my feet sweating, they'd be soaked. I've asked for boot advice before, but, I think you really need to decide in the end for yourself. Your feet are different, and so are your hunting conditions. I have yet to find a rubber boot that both fits and lasts. I have had only slightly better luck with leather.
I'm thinking of trying a set of the boots that loggers use, if I can find a pair that fit. They should at least last.
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You should buy quality boots(ie not Rockys) that come in wide sizing. I wear Meindls specifically because they are available in EE widths and feel great.

Patrick
 
John Y Cannuck said:
I have major issues with boot fit. wide feet.
Usually when I get a pair that fits, they don't last. Example the last two pairs of Rocky rubber boots. (second pair was warranty on first) Both crapped out on their second hunt. When I say rubber, I'm generalizing, they are not actually rubber
I agree on having walking boots separate from stand boots when you can. My feet sweat, so if I'm going walking, I definitely do not want an insulated boot, or I'll be swimming home. Seriously, I used to figure my boots were leaking, but it was my feet sweating, they'd be soaked. I've asked for boot advice before, but, I think you really need to decide in the end for yourself. Your feet are different, and so are your hunting conditions. I have yet to find a rubber boot that both fits and lasts. I have had only slightly better luck with leather.
I'm thinking of trying a set of the boots that loggers use, if I can find a pair that fit. They should at least last.
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LOWA makes wide sizes in many of their boots. I didn't realize why so many of my military issue boots were uncomfortable until I LOWAs and discovered the normal size wasn't comfortable so the Cabelas clerk advised I try the wide. The boots fit perfectly and are very comfortable. They have a solid enough reputation that the $300 price tag wasn't a scare, and now a few years later they are going strong still.
 
phinton81 said:
You should buy quality boots(ie not Rockys) that come in wide sizing. I wear Meindls specifically because they are available in EE widths and feel great.

Patrick
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I didn't buy the rockies because they were cheap, but because they were wide, I tried on at least a dozen different boots before I bought them. Some times EEE is enough but sometimes it's FFF, depends on the manufacturer. I also have stump like ankles, damn some supposedly wide boots are tight.
 
WeatherdoG said:
LOWA makes wide sizes in many of their boots. I didn't realize why so many of my military issue boots were uncomfortable until I LOWAs and discovered the normal size wasn't comfortable so the Cabelas clerk advised I try the wide. The boots fit perfectly and are very comfortable. They have a solid enough reputation that the $300 price tag wasn't a scare, and now a few years later they are going strong still.
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Thanks, I don't think i have tried those, but I did try everything Cabelas in Barrie had in stock while I was there last year.
 
I picked up a pair of cabelas brand 1200gram boots. Ive walked our hunting grounds once in them in about -6 and no problems with cold. We will be in again next month to check cams and drop feed. It will likely be a bit warmer and no snow so we will see.

I did have to add a paid of insoles to them but for $125 all in I cant complain. We will see how they stand up.
 
Dogleg said:
I wear Altberg Defenders, practically every day, for everything. They are un-insulated, and yet oddly warm in the winter. They aren't water-proof by the English terminology, where 100,000 wet flexes is considered "water resistant". Strangely "water resistant" means doesn't leak or heads are going to roll in England; whereas "water-proof" doesn't seem to mean anything here except maybe "leaks like a sieve".
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That's because if you buy a pair of boots like Irish Setters that say water proof. ...they are expensive made in CHINA junk!
Look at the tag in the boot before you buy!
 
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