Whats on your feet?

I've had a pair of Cabela's Outfitter Series boots on my feet for the last 5 seasons, and keep wondering when they're going to wear out. They've been great boots and I've put them to the test. I use them every year for elk hunting, pheasant hunting, and sitting in the old duck blind. I've also used them cruising the hills on an ATV and the occasional summer hike. They seem a little heavier than some of the other boots, but they have held up better than I ever expected.
 
Support American Companies

Ranger Rick said:
As another posted above said, Danner has lines of cheaper boots made in china. After wearing one pair of USA Danners for 15 years, they finally wore out. I bought a pair of the 400 gram Pronghorns [or similar model]. They were very comfortable right out of the box, with no breakin period. But they leaked after a few days in the field, including wet show during a SD hunt. Wet feet = cold feet. Not good and I wasn't a happy hunter.

Danner stood behind their boots, but I upgraded to the 400 gram Raptor, which are still made in USA. I've now worn those for 5-6 years and couldn't be happier. Based on some of the comments, I sure hope they haven't gone downhill with their USA made products.

In the future I'll spend the money and buy something made in the US that will last. The hell with trying to save a buck and having the Chinese made crap fall apart in short order. Also, the hell with trying to save a buck and sending more of our jobs overseas!

Too many people in this country are in love with "cheap". I call it the WalMart Syndrome. They find something made in China, sold at Walmart for $20 and it falls apart after a few uses, when they cold have spent $30 and bought quality that would last. Sorry for highjacking the forum, but it's a pet peave of mine and where I can, I'm going to buy Made in the USA, with an eye on quality and at the same time will help try to keep some jobs here!
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We should support American companies even if products cost more. Our workers deserve the modest middle class lives they lead from their wages as opposed to barracked factory workers in China. China and other similar economies exploit workers.
 
I went to one of the larger Scheels today to check out there boots. Boy was I disappointed. There selection was thin and all they had were the lower end version of various boot companies. Looks like I will have to hit a Cabelas.
 
Consider Browning Featherweights.

moellermd, Cabela's in Mitchell will have a much better selection than Scheels in Sioux Falls. Browning Featherweigths are expensive, but have a lot of unique positives. You can get a 10" Kangaroo leather Gore Tex boot that weighs 2.8 lbs. Insulation in a pheasant hunting boot is probably superfluous, because if your feet are dry it's unlikely they will get cold. These boots also have a sharkskin toe cap that is not a gimmick. One trick that will prolong the life of the toe and seams is to use the liquid toe protector that hockey players use on their skates. However, if you continue to be a pheasant hunting bum and chase roosters 41 days a year, no Gore Tex boot will stay waterproof for more than 3 or 4 seasons. Hopefully your wife will not figure out how expensive that pheasant meat is.
 
I have a buddy that wears nothing but Danners, He just bought a new pair and said it is his last. The quality since they shifted all production to China is just not there. He and I feel we might as well go to Wal-mart and get some boots on sale they are just as good as the Danners. Seeing as how most all the boots these days are China made anyway.
 
My heart was set on a new pair of Danners this spring,but I'm gonna look elsewhere now! Thanks Guys!:)
 
We finally broke down this year and got some new boots that we love. My Fiance and I are wearing the Browning upland boots. We purchased them at Sierra Trading post and wow are we happy. We have about 20 days so far on them and going to put another 4 on Next week as Kansas closes for the season. Feet are comfortable, dry and super light to wear. She wanted me to get her anther pair just for walking around she liked them so much. I was lucky to find a 14. Schnees out of Bozeman makes a great boot also. I would think any company would stand behind there boot since they cost so much. Good Luck
 
crockett said:
I have a pair of Irish Setter Elk Hunters. They fit and feel like a dream, nice and light, good grip, waterproof etc... I put two seasons on them then I bought a pair of Muckboots for hunting wet days/areas. I now wear them from opener to the last day of the season in any kind of cover. They feel like a sneaker on your feet, keep you warm, and are there for you when you want to cross some water or walk the edge of a riverbank. They fit snug on (my) calves, so when you go a little too deep very little water gets in as long as you don't mess around. The loose-knit cover on the inside neoprene lets you breath a bit and you can fold the tops down when driving between spots to let some more moisture out. I am sold on them and so is almost everyone else I know who's used them.
-Croc
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I can vouch for the Muckboots too, but I say they feel like slippers rather than sneakers. Most confortable piece of hunting clothing I have ever worn. I use them for deer hunting now as well. Very warm and water proof. The only downfall is they do not have the best traction on ice or in snow going uphill. Thought about getting those slip on bungee cord traction things but decided it was not that big of a problem.
 
niceshot said:
However, if you continue to be a pheasant hunting bum and chase roosters 41 days a year, no Gore Tex boot will stay waterproof for more than 3 or 4 seasons. Hopefully your wife will not figure out how expensive that pheasant meat is.
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NICESHOT was that really necessary. I have worked long and hard to obtain my trophy husband status. One of the perks just happens to be a few days in the field hunting.
 
Golden2Hunt
Where did you pirchase your Elk Hunters? I went to their site and can't find them!
Thanks, Rod:cheers:
 
rwigg said:
Golden2Hunt
Where did you pirchase your Elk Hunters? I went to their site and can't find them!
Thanks, Rod:cheers:
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I bought Muckboots, not Elk Hunters, at Gander Mountain. But the last time I was in the store I noticed they didn't have the model I bought, could have just been that store. I like the ones I have because you can roll them down from the top, which makes it a lot easier to get in and out of. Check them out at http://www.muckbootsonline.com/. The Wetland looks like the ones I have.

Good luck.
 
I wear RedWing Irish Setters (upland boot, low insulation level, Gore-tex) and my children wear Irish Setter ShadowTrek (Gore-tex). The ShadowTreks fit more like a tennis shoe - real nice for those that like that feel in a hunting boot. I grew up wearing KMART "steer" leather boots and said my kids would not suffer the same fate. :eek:


Ranger Rick said:
Too many people in this country are in love with "cheap". I call it the WalMart Syndrome. They find something made in China, sold at Walmart for $20 and it falls apart after a few uses, when they cold have spent $30 and bought quality that would last. Sorry for highjacking the forum, but it's a pet peave of mine and where I can, I'm going to buy Made in the USA, with an eye on quality and at the same time will help try to keep some jobs here!
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The supplier (manufacturer) at WalMart is caught in a catch 22. Lose the business on price or move to China, lower quality and keep the business. Once the quality is reduced too far, then WalMart (replace with most big box stores here) throws you out the door anyway. Many are surprized that the company that started this sourcing strategy was SEARS about 30 - 40 years ago. WalMart has taken it to the highest (or should we say lowest) level.
 
Cabellas Kankaroo Boots

niceshot said:
moellermd, Cabela's in Mitchell will have a much better selection than Scheels in Sioux Falls. Browning Featherweigths are expensive, but have a lot of unique positives. You can get a 10" Kangaroo leather Gore Tex boot that weighs 2.8 lbs. Insulation in a pheasant hunting boot is probably superfluous, because if your feet are dry it's unlikely they will get cold. These boots also have a sharkskin toe cap that is not a gimmick. One trick that will prolong the life of the toe and seams is to use the liquid toe protector that hockey players use on their skates. However, if you continue to be a pheasant hunting bum and chase roosters 41 days a year, no Gore Tex boot will stay waterproof for more than 3 or 4 seasons. Hopefully your wife will not figure out how expensive that pheasant meat is.
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I bought a pair of the cabellas Goretex Uninsulated Kangaroo Hide boots in October 2007, the welting around the toe wore through before december 1st. I made a temporary fix by coating the worn welt with Krazy Glue (super glue). I noticed that there was no more wear, depite some hard cattail swamp hunting in December/January.

When Cabelas opened their Rapid City store I took the boots in and they gave me a new pair. I immediately coated the welt with the Krazy Glue and they worked excellent for me this season, no appreciable wear on the welting. I will put on another coat of the Krazy Glue this winter and expect to get a couple more seasons out of these boots. Very light, tough leather and one of the few boots i can find in 9 1/2 EEEE which is what I need to be comfortable. I also have a pair of Vasque Boots (Goretex/Thinsulate) that I've owned for at least 10 years. i bought them for Elk Hunting, they are my backup boots for bird hunting and they have worn well too. I did put on one of the rubber/plastic Redwing Toe Protectors to keep the grass from wearing a hole in the toe. They've worked real well too but they are only EE and a little tight.
 
Ranger Rick said:
As another posted above said, Danner has lines of cheaper boots made in china. After wearing one pair of USA Danners for 15 years, they finally wore out. I bought a pair of the 400 gram Pronghorns [or similar model]. They were very comfortable right out of the box, with no breakin period. But they leaked after a few days in the field, including wet show during a SD hunt. Wet feet = cold feet. Not good and I wasn't a happy hunter.

Danner stood behind their boots, but I upgraded to the 400 gram Raptor, which are still made in USA. I've now worn those for 5-6 years and couldn't be happier. Based on some of the comments, I sure hope they haven't gone downhill with their USA made products.
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I just ordered the Santiam 400 gram boot for those late season hunts. I have weak ankles, fallen arches, heel pain, spurs and other foot problems so need a good boot. My old Raptors finally wore out after about ten seasons and they served me well. I sent them back to Danner to be recrafted but were returned with a note that they were beyond repair.

LM
 
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I was going to by the Browning Kangaroo boots. I was at the Sioux Falls Sportsman warehouse going out of business sale. They had them for $149.99 but they were all too narrow. I ended up picking up a pair of Redwing Irish Setter Kangaroo Wingshooter boots. They were $220.00, picked them up brand new for $99.99 on ebay. Couldn't pass up the deal 400 grams Thinsulate, Gortex lines. Very nice boots but the down fall...Made in China...very disappointing

I still am getting a pair of the Browning's in the future. Nothing wrong with two pairs
 
I'll throw my dissatisfaction in with Danner boots, as well. I've been through two seasons with the Pronghorns I purchased and wonder if they'll make it a third? I believe sometime during the first season the stitching was disintegrating and they weren't keeping water on the outside. They are comfortable, but the quality doesn't match the cost. Perhaps most disappointing was that they showed such wear despite the significant decrease in my time afield.

Prior to the Pronghorns, I had a pair of Irish Setter upland style boots, as did a buddy of mine. They were fairly comfortable and lasted a long time, especially considering that in those days, I was putting a lot of miles on my hunting boots. The only problem with them is that they had a heel cup that managed to skin my heels for the first few weeks of the season, even though I wore them year round. I suppose I was in them longer and under tougher conditions than my preseason use. My buddy had the same problem. I adapted by wearing either an ankle pair of panty hose or tight dress socks under my normal boot socks to take the friction off my skin. Aside from the heal cup, I was satisfied with these boots, particularly the durability and adequate comfort.

I've learned that hunting boots, perhaps more than anything save dog, should receive the highest consideration and probably isn't an area to cut cost. That being said, I would have a hard time dropping Schneez or custom type money on a pair of boots and blow them out in a season or two. But then again, I've learned my lesson from discount boots. That's what makes the Danner expenditure so disappointing. Hard to find the happy medium where price, comfort and durability come together.
 
havent heard many people talking about the rocky boots? i have had two sets of rocky boots now and they amaze me each time a buy a new pair. i know i found a good quailty boot that fits me right, so i cant see myself changing to another brand ever. thanks
 
I adapted by wearing either an ankle pair of panty hose or tight dress socks under my normal boot socks to take the friction off my skin.
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Omsrud,

Have you tried a silk under sock? When I first started going to Wyoming big game hunting 35 years ago I bought a new pair of boots at an outdoor store. They told me to wear a silk under sock with a wool sock over it. (weight of the wool sock depends on the room you have in the boot) I did this and never had a problem. In recent years I have been using a Thermax under sock. But I never go afield without a good under sock with wool sock over it, regardless of the temp. I see guys all the time wearing nothing but cotton socks. I guess if it works for them fine but I bet they would find using a wool sock over a silk under sock would make them have happier feet.

I've been looking for some more silk socks and here is a web site that I found.
http://www.wintersilks.com/viewprod...-silk+for+your+toes&prod=mid-calf+sock+liners

Yes, they seem a little pricey, but it's a small price to pay to have comfy feet. If your feet aren't comfortable in the field it won't be a good day.
 
You're dead on with the wintersilk liner. I use the Irish Setter Upland and love the boot but I have the low insulation (200 gram) and at times need a little extra. I wear the liner under a wool blend sock and presto; warm and comfy. As for the boot, the Upland has been great; however I hunt wild quail in the Alibates flint canyon and regardless of brand or cost, a rocky, flinty canyon wears out the leather pretty quick. Two season in and they are shot, but would buy them again. Also my GSP goes through a pair of Lewis dog boots in a couple of years. So we both get new boots :).
 
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