What are the best boots

Ive had a pair of chemical boots for quite some time now. They work great. Made for walking, you can get em with low or high grain thinsulate. Water proof still after 5 years. I have a 400 grain pair for warm weather and 1000 for cold weather. I would order a half size big.
 
I do a lot of hiking and walking, as well as bird hunting in the fall. I tend to use two pairs of boots, depending on the terrain and weather: LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes for most of my grouse hunting. If I've got a lot of miles to put on, I usually go with the Red Wing Moc Toe boots, which are identical to the Irish Setter Wingshooters, except they are still made in the USA and use a better quality leather.
 
Ordered some new boots

I ordered some 200g insulated Beartooths last night. I will report back later after season started and I have had a chance too use them.:thumbsup:
 
Remtech said:
I am looking for new boots that are lighter than 4.1 pounds and that are water proof and 1000 grams of isolation.no rubber boots please. I would also like to buy them from cabelas because i have a gift card for there.

Remtech
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Head up to Berlin WI and talk to the fine people at Russell Moccasin. They make the finest upland hunting footwear on Earth.

I assume you aren't looking for upland boots however, since you say you want 1000 g of thinsulate. And no rubber tells me your feet sweat and then get cold.

Must be for deer hunting....

Get some Mickey Mouse/Pac boots and walk back to your stand very slowly so you don't heat up. Only thing that has worked for me when coupled with my fine beaver fur hat to stay really warm in a deer stand.
 
Remtech said:
I am looking for new boots that are lighter than 4.1 pounds and that are water proof and 1000 grams of isolation.no rubber boots please. I would also like to buy them from cabelas because i have a gift card for there.

Remtech
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Kind of a necro thread but if you haven't bought any boots yet, Cabela's Bargain Hunter flyer (prices good until Oct. 31) has the Cabela's Upland Pro Hunting Boots 25% off. Uninsulated kangaroo @ $142, Free shipping. They have 400 gram insulated as well.

I have to admit I broke down and bought a pair as my real old Outfitters developed a slight water leak in the toe last year. Used some Club points and got them for $111 at my door.

I'll see how they hold up.

<Edit>I put this in the Kansas forum in a boot thread, thought I would update here with the results of my hike today.

Chestle said:
Just bought a pair of Cabela's Upland Pro Hunting Boots. "Bargain Hunter" sale until October 31, uninsulated $143 = 25% discount and free shipping.

Mine arrived in two days. Been wearing them around the house for two days checking fit and pressure points. Very light. Today they go on a 5 mile hike to make sure they're ready for bird season.

Kangaroo bottoms with cowhide toe cap, nylon panels in upper. They are "make in Chi-na!" though so I'll see how they hold up.

<Edit> Just back from the walk. Did 5 miles on gravel roads with the Labs. Boots were a bit stiff at first of course but "relaxed" a little bit every mile. Very comfortable by the last mile. No pressure points or hot spots. I have a very wide foot and I need a large toe box. These boots did not cramp my toes. The sole is reasonably stiff but a bit flexible so walking on the gravel was no problem. I do think I might be in favor of slightly more cushion in the removable foam insole. So far, so good. If they hold up and last a while, I'll feel very good about this purchase.

As far as weight, these are 14EE boots and weigh 1 pound 13 1/4 ounces each, 3 pounds 10 1/2 ounces the pair.
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Cabela's Upland Pro - Uninslutated

I have the Cabela Upland Pro Uninsulated boots.

Bought them in August 2013. Wore then for all grouse (woods) and pheasant (grassland) hunting '13, '14, '15 and through today.

I notice these gore-tex lined boots started to "leak" a little in real wet grass this September. I knew it was time to replace them ... then last week the stitching on one boot (side between laces and toe cap) started to fail.

So they are on sale, but as I researched Cabela's products I see that all clothing and footwear that are Cabela's name brand carry a lifetime warranty under normal wear and tear conditions.

Now I have taken care of my boots (conditioners) and the soles of coarse are not worn out because they rarely say hard surfaces. Toe cap held up extremely well (one reason I bought the boots).

Walked into Cabelas (today at lunch actually) and Cabela's replaced them without hesitation once they saw the open seam.

I like Cabela's but am not a die hard loyalist to them. Have to emit I will be back again ... well at least until BPS takes over ... then there is reset.

In summary, they are great light weight boots with great company backing.
 
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I'll throw my opinion in.....Not really a 'hunting' boot, but I wear Scarpa Kailash GTX boots. These boots fit my feet well, comfortable and have Gore-Tex. They are lightweight, so I only wear them in the early season.
 
BRITTMAN said:
IMHO: Fit and Gore Tex is all that really matter ! :)
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Goretex leaks not a question of if but a question of when. And when is usually out on a great hunt far from the truck in slushy snow.

Russell makes a great boot that doesn't use goretex but is as waterproof as goretex IMO. I wouldn't wade through rivers in them but my feet stay dry because of how they are constructed and the leather they use.

Greater peace of mind than relying on a thin layer of plastic.
 
AtTheMurph said:
Goretex leaks not a question of if but a question of when. And when is usually out on a great hunt far from the truck in slushy snow.

Russell makes a great boot that doesn't use goretex but is as waterproof as goretex IMO. I wouldn't wade through rivers in them but my feet stay dry because of how they are constructed and the leather they use.

Greater peace of mind than relying on a thin layer of plastic.
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I took a look at Russel website,and may have to order a pair for next year. My feet aren't exactly the same size, and they custom make to your feet so maybe it's time to spoil my feet.
 
The Russell south 40s, you won't be disappointed.:cheers:

As far as an off the shelf boot I really love my Bean boots and now they make a gortex lined pair that's even more water proof.
 
This is my first year wearing a pair of Danner Pronghorns. Would highly recommend! They've handled everything I've thrown at them with durability and comfort - grass lands, cattails, cornfields, slews, muddy lake shores, etc.
 
Highvoltage said:
I took a look at Russel website,and may have to order a pair for next year. My feet aren't exactly the same size, and they custom make to your feet so maybe it's time to spoil my feet.
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Wore mine yesterday and did have to try to jump a couple of deep ditches. Unfortunately my brain tells me I can still leap like I was 20 but my creaky joints tell me something different.

Went in almost to my knee on the first one but was able to dig out quick before the water ran down the top of my boot. Wet boot and wet pants but foot dry.

I like that you can customize the boots. I added the boar hide toe cap because my other boots wear out there first. I did a mixed color sort of like the minimalist bird shooter or country squire on their website, green leather accents over the dark brown leather.

I also like D rings for lacing rather than just eyelets or those speed studs. Those things can come off the studs in heavy cover and then your trying to get relaced and never fails, up goes a cock.

The one change I would make, and will when i am ready is to get a different sole. I got the standard low tread vibram which is great for not picking up mud, but is sucks for going up and down steep embankments like the ditches we work. Going to get something with more tread and traction.
 
Cabala's Upland Pro Boot Review

A follow up on my post about buying the Upland Pro boot:

I wore these boots on a 10 day South Dakota pheasant hunt.

The PROS:

They are very light: 1 lb 13 oz for each boot in 14EE, 3lbs10oz for the pair.. The ankle support is pretty good for such a light boot. There was a very short break in period going from new/stiff to relaxed/comfortable. The tread pattern on the sole served me well in the prairie grasslands, corn strips and sloughs. The boots have a fairly large toe box, something that your probably need if you have a wide 14EE foot. So the weight, the fit, the break-in, the support, the sole...all good.

The CONS:

Now the not-so-good. I walked about 7 miles a day in these boots and I put about 15 miles on them walking pre-season to ensure they were broken in.

At around the 50 mile point the cheap Chinese boot laces were shot. They were frayed at all the eyelets and pretty much worn through. I carry lots of 7 strand para cord with me so I just made new laces out of that and pressed on. I have about 40 miles on the para cord and it shows no wear as yet.

Also, the removable polyurethane footbeds are too thin and don't provide much cushioning. After a 7 or 8 mile day in the field, you can feel the sole's tread pattern with the bottom of your foot. Obviously, you can buy better insoles but Cabelas could easily use a more effective, better cushioning footbed.

Lastly, the deal killer. I hunted one day in light rain, so the grass was always wet. After a few hours, I had a distinctly damp feeling around the front half of my foot. When I removed the boots at day's end, my socks were damp. I switched to my old boots for a day while these dried out. When I got home after the trip, I put them on and stood in water for 15 minutes at a depth that just covered the toe cap and then checked for leaks. Yep...leaking at the flex point where toes meet foot right at the joining of the sole to the upper. It was damp all along the seam in the ball of the foot area.

I can't use a Gore-Tex boot that leaks, so these are going back. Too bad too because these are otherwise a great upland boot for doing a lot of walking without getting leg weary.

Now, if you only hunt the desert...maybe you can use these because other than the leak they are great boots.
 
Remtech, not sure if you have purchased yet, but 1000 gram thinsulate may be a little much for most upland hunting. Now if you are hunting ptarmigan in Alaska, then maybe that will work. I have found that 800 gram is about all you need, even in really cold weather as long as you have good socks and maybe a sock liner. I prefer Irish Setters, but a buddy of mine purchase the Danner 8" Pronghorns, and we were out during that last winter storm in Mid December. He liked the boots. Here is the link at Cabelas. http://www.cabelas.com/product/foot.../Ne-1000003197?WTz_st=GuidedNav&WTz_stype=GNU

Happy Hunting!
 
My Irish Setter with 800g thinsulate insulation are used for hunting from my deer stand and upland walking when it is below freezing. Uninsulated boots when temps are above freezing.

Each of my kids wear these hunting boots. Warm and waterproof.

Gore Tex a must as I noted earlier.

If I am hunting in real wet conditions I use knee high rubber boots. I can chase gobblers all day in them even when I run & gun. I like the idea that I can step deeper than 9-10" of water with out fear it will go over the top.
 
My favorites are L.L. Bean Moctoe boats. Lightweight goretex, and comfortable. I wear them everyday even when not hunting. Just ordered another pair to keep in the closet in case something happens to these.
 
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