I know the subject of boots has been covered before but this time there is a caveat. I need quiet boots for stalking the bushveldt. Any suggestions ?

Russell "Thula Thula"...check them out at their site. Go barefoot to get any quieter....Ivan Carter does. I have the short PH model with the crepe sole...they're quiet too.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

I love the courtneys. I wear them exclusively in Africa. However, I would not call them a quiet boot. What I want is something for my bare knees. Seems like we always end up crawling about 100 yards once we get close. Knees are quiet but they get a bit tender after about 10 days of that.

You might think about trying a pair of mocassins. Many places sell them and I know of hunters that will slip them on for a final stalk.

Buy some oversize wool socks that will fit the outside of the boot. Slip them on just before the final stock. Very quiet and very inexpensive.
Frank

I believe Clarke desert boots will work...


Mike

Moccasins with a crepe sole, be they Russel's, Clark's or Courtney's.

The Danner Jackal boot is very quiet. I've used them on an early season elk hunt and for PG in RSA last year. The PH even told me I was awfully quiet for an American. I think that's a compliment.

Russell "Thula Thula" are without a doubt the quietest ever!

Ivan and I used them with great success this past year - they're now out of the test phase (which took over 2 years) and are ready for production...

JW

I have a pair of Russell Moccasins and they are very rugged and very quiet. The Thula Thulas are an extension of the original Russell Moccasin, with some ankle support, thorn proof bottoms and other things. Either will work.

Looks very nice they should have called it corka corkas which means pay up pay up LOL are they realy that silent

Danner Jackles work great for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanna:
I love the courtneys. I wear them exclusively in Africa. However, I would not call them a quiet boot. What I want is something for my bare knees. Seems like we always end up crawling about 100 yards once we get close. Knees are quiet but they get a bit tender after about 10 days of that.

Bwana, get yourself a pair of the cloth/elastic knee pads, and place them where you would normally place the short gaiters,that everyone uses in Africa, over your pant leg, and your shoe top, . They serve tha same purpose there as the gaiters, but are always with you. All you have to do is pull them up to your knees before starting the crawl! they work great!

On the shoes, I too like the Courtneys, but if you don't then look at the boots made for bow hunters. There are many brands, and are made with stalking in mind!

As retreever mentioned the Clarks are very quiet. However, I wore a pair for 2 for 3 days in Zimbabwe and took a thorn in the big toe where it meets the foot, very painful. I switched to a backup pair of Rockport hikers after that for the duration of the safari. After the safari I went to Giga & Sons in Bulawayo and bought a pair of Courtney's that I wore on my second safari. I also own a pair of Russell Safari boots but have never worn them to hunt in.

I have Russell's that are pretty quiet. My Courtney's are my favorite boots I own, but stiffer bottoms aren't so quiet. My Danner jackals are comfortable and quiet, but the quietest boots I hav eever worn on their own are Cabela's Silent Stalkers. They are boots that literally feel like athletic shoes and the thin soles and very quiet. I have taken a pair to Africa 3 times, and they have always been fine as far as thorns, etc. They are great here in the US too as they are Gore-Tex lined (I know you don't need in Africa). I have 2 pairs of these, and my old ones are at least 5 years old and I can't give them up.

Tim,

Check some of the Lowa products, I have a pair of low hikers boots from REI that I'm wearing in preparation for a buff hunt next fall. Also, their taller GI type desert boots are very quiet.

Living in SA I don't have access to the variety that folks in the States (and Australia?) do...

But in my opinion many of the boots that clients bring with are too heavy and the soles are more suitable for walking in snow (which they were designed for) than through the African brush.

I've been wearing the same pair of Courtneys for a number of years and they're still fine...

They're quiet enough for stalking in the bushveld, very comfortable and durable and I wouldn' trade them for anything...

So Courtneys get my vote...

quote:

Originally posted by ChrisTroskie:
I've been wearing the same pair of Courtneys for a number of years and they're still fine...

They're quiet enough for stalking in the bushveld, very comfortable and durable and I wouldn' trade them for anything...

So Courtneys get my vote...

I'm with you on this one ... Courtneys

quote:

I know the subject of boots has been covered before but this time there is a caveat. I need quiet boots for stalking the bushveldt. Any suggestions ?

code4 , seeing that you are in australia , heres what i recommend , find something that has SOFT rubber soles , the harder the rubber the more noise .....also make sure that there is no "foam" layer between the sole and the shoe liner , this tends to echo any crunch or sound ...

the great thing about the thula thulas that jeff was talking about is that there is a think , no-give layer between you and the ground so no echo and very quiet ...the ph II model they make has a thick crepesole , thats very soft rubber , not very hard wearing but extremely quiet ...

courtneys are the same , no "padding" just good real rubber on the soles ...

hope that this helps
imc

Ivan,

I looked at the Russell Thula Thula boots on the Russell website and the first thing I thought was that these would be perfect in the sand of Botswana but I would break my butt in hilly leaf covered country. In my mind they are a specialty item and not a general hunting boot. The crepe sole to me seems the best compromise although the ones I have with the Multi-Purpose Vibram are pretty darn good.

I'll stop by in Dallas and shake you hand.

See you there.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
I know the subject of boots has been covered before but this time there is a caveat. I need quiet boots for stalking the bushveldt. Any suggestions ?

I use COURTNEY SAFARIS but lase up boot made in Australia like Rossi, Blundstone and Victor are an option and if hunting in areas with little thorn bush, Dunlop sport Volleys would be great ( they now come in brown and not just white) .

My Courtney Safaris are much quieter than any of my "snow treads".

I just picked up some of these Ecco Track II boots based on the reviews here, namely Mrlexma's recommendation.

http://www.eccousa.com/shoes/m...i-high/2/detail.aspx

The tread looks aggressive but it is very pliable and they are indeed quiet. They also are light but still have great support which I was interested in.

I'll try to grab some Courtneys in Botswana but they are WAY overpriced from Westley Richards here and I here the quality control is very poor and boot size can be off. I don't want to be mailing back boots 5 times to get ones that fit.

I bought and used a pair in Namibia this year of the Ecco Track II boots based on Mrlexma's recommendation as well. ( Thanks MR, they were great!)

Soft bison leather, plenty of support and VERY quiet.

I looked at the Courtneys in Windhoek and thought they were rubbish, quality and construction wise.....but I know how many people like them. I think I'd prefer the Russells over them though............

Anything but Russells! Tennis shoes or combat boots would be better.

Ever since years ago with a German client with corrugated sheet metal soled boots [at least that's about the amount of noise they made] I've been on the lookout for "quiet boots". The best by far in "quiet" boots that also have a reasonable sole life and thorn protection that I have found to date are the ARCTO Desert Boot. They are made in Windhoek, Namibia from sealskin and really comfortable. Also definitely the quietest boots that I've ever worn.

I have suggested a small design change to Mr. Piet van Zyl of Arcto [ Tel. 00 264 6 126 1750] and when the modified boots arrived I went hunting with them with no socks immediately. They are that comfortable! And quiet!

Check the Desert Boot at www.arcto.iway.na

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Cabela's Baer's Feet. Just slip them on for the final stalk. Always great for archery.

sheez - and here i thought the old tenny runners i always wear were enough

I had 3 pair of differnt model Courtneys made for me out of the 2001 buffalo and eland skins for trim around the top. They were the most uncomfortable shoes or boots I ever slide my feet into. Finally gave them away.

On the contary we had 2 different models made for wifey. She loves them, but they aren't for hunting.

For me, never again. This year i used Rockys that are about 15 years old, but cannot call them quiet.

I like soft soles, but in thorn country they can give you some bad pokes.

quote:

Ivan,

I looked at the Russell Thula Thula boots on the Russell website and the first thing I thought was that these would be perfect in the sand of Botswana but I would break my butt in hilly leaf covered country. In my mind they are a specialty item and not a general hunting boot. The crepe sole to me seems the best compromise although the ones I have with the Multi-Purpose Vibram are pretty darn good.

I'll stop by in Dallas and shake you hand.

See you there.

Mark

mark , will look forward to meeting you ...

you are 100% correct the thula thulas are not for everyone , but i must say very quiet ...they were looking at putting a thin vibram sole on them to make them a bit more grippy and a bit harder wearing ...

see you in dallas , look forward to it ..

I found the hi-tek Altutude II's are very good, comfortable boots. They come in wide (very important for me)and wear very well. These with smartwool socks and I can walk all day. They only thing is to very lightly wax the tongue on the gusset, they squeak a tiny bit otherwise.

_Baxter

Courtney's works great for me.

Even here in the desert in the UAE.

These might work as well



If you are walking and making noise just slow down a bit and you will be amazed how soft you can stalk if you take your time...

My 2 dirhams

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:
Anything but Russells! Tennis shoes or combat boots would be better.

X2!

JPK

I have had good luck with Browning Kangaroo boots, they are very light and tough, and have a Vibram Gumlite sole which is extremely soft and quiet. I have tried Russells and Couteneys, I like the Courteneys, have not had such good luck with Russells. The Brownings have a Gore Tex liner, but contrary to what you might think, I have not found them to be hot in summer, and I live in the Houston area.

quote:

Originally posted by JPenn:
I have had good luck with Browning Kangaroo boots, they are very light and tough, and have a Vibram Gumlite sole which is extremely soft and quiet. I have tried Russells and Couteneys, I like the Courteneys, have not had such good luck with Russells. The Brownings have a Gore Tex liner, but contrary to what you might think, I have not found them to be hot in summer, and I live in the Houston area.

I tried these in Africa. They are too hot, not because of the Goretex but hot on the soles in October heat in the Zambezi Valley. Not a bad choice, and beat the hecl out of Courtney's or Russell's. They are pretty quiet. Not enough ankle support for my creaky ankles, but more than enough for anyone who could use Courtney's or Russell's.

BTW, gave a pair to a PH who also found them hot.

JPK

JPK,

Interesting problem, I do not have your experience in
Africa, mine is limited to Namibia in their winter. However, I have walked a lot of miles in West Texas/New Mex. in summer in these boots without that happening to me. In truth, all this shows is that we all react differently to conditions, once certain basic parameters are met for boots, rifles, clothes etc., you simply must experiment and find your own best solution.

Ain't that the truth.

See all the fellows who love either Russell's or Courtneys, neither of which I like as much as the Brownings, which aren't too bad, but not as good for me as....

BTW, love them for around here.

JPK