Whats your favorite pair of hunting boots?

23 December 2002, 20:12

Buell98

Mine is some Filson Uplanders I picked up that were marked as "seconds" for 145/pair. I have as yet to find anything wrong with the boots other then they didnt come with the cork soles as Filson advertises. However, they are still by far the most comforable pair of boots I have ever worn. When it gets cold and snowy, I still have come rubber bottom Columbia boots I have had since 1999 and they work well for wet conditions. They provide good ankle support that the Uplanders dont have, and I would feel more comfortable wearing them in REALLY cold, rugged conditions.

So, whats your go to boot?

Buell

BTW- I posted this to try and get some hunting related content going that is fun and informative. This being as cabin feever is taking over and the site is at an all time low, atleast in my opinion.

Regards and a very merry holidays to you from Buell....

24 December 2002, 02:21

John Frazer

Schnee's Hunter, 13". Warm, dry and comfortable to walk in all day.

24 December 2002, 02:40

Longbob

Any of my Rocky's. I have about 4 pair that I wear depending on the conditions. That is one part of my life I don't have to worry about. My hunting boots. All of my Rocky's are warm, dry, and comfortable from the day I bought them.

24 December 2002, 03:32

browningguy

Selous boots, got mine from Westley Richards. Incredibly comfortable for Texas hunting, wouldn't want to use them in the snow though.

24 December 2002, 03:35

Orion 1

I have a sweet pair of Wolverines. The Gore Tex works as advertised, and they are very warm. (600 g Thinsulate). For serious mountain work, I have a pair of Salomon Adventure 9 mountain boots. Talk about serious traction, and foot and ankle support.

24 December 2002, 04:01

Slingster

I have a pair of Russell insulated "Sheep Hunter" boots for fall, and a pair of Russell "PH" boots for warm weather hunting. Neither has given me a second of trouble.

24 December 2002, 04:05

Rob-airto

I have a pair of Rockies with 1600 grams of thinsulate. There are times when that aint enough.

24 December 2002, 04:20

Hi, Rob-airto:

Nearly two pounds of insulation on each foot? How much does each boot weigh, including the sole, tongue, eyes, laces, etc.?

kk

24 December 2002, 04:34

Aquavit

I have a pair of Rocky Snow-Stalker Extremes that I'm quite fond of. They are a somewhat clumsy thinsulate-stuffed, waterproof footwear reminiscent of the old "moon boots", and not an ideal boot to walk around in. However, they are just the ticket for late winter stand hunting in bitter cold.

24 December 2002, 04:37

<mike aw>

schnee's

24 December 2002, 06:26

Brad

quote:
So, whats your go to boot?

Definately Birkenstock's... I rate them high for comfort and durability. The open toe design also allows you to really "dig in" on the steep timbered slopes. Hot weather in Novemeber? No problem! Peel off the wool socks for outstanding ventilation. They're groovy too!

Brad

24 December 2002, 06:55

Buell98

BrowningGuy-

I also have some Courteney Selous Boots. I think for warm weather hunting they would do the trick, and they ARE waterproof up to the top of the boot. If your's arn't, get some of the beeswax Courteney polish/brush combo that comes in a nice looking cape buff skin sack. That stuff is awesome and I use it on all my leather shoes. I wouldn't really recommend using anything else because EVERYTHING else I have tried before getting the Courteney stuff caused the boots to really darken in color, so much so that I cant really see the lines in the leather too much now. Lesson learned!

Ive also noticed that if I walk in any sort of gravel or small rocks that the tire tread sole loves to pick a few of them up. Annoying at times.

24 December 2002, 07:09

Brad

quote:
Ive also noticed that if I walk in any sort of gravel or small rocks that the tire tread sole loves to pick a few of them up. Annoying at times.

That's the other great thing about Birkenstock's... almost no tread to pick up annoying gravel and small boulders!

24 December 2002, 07:33

Frank Nowakowski

Really like my Schnee pack boots , with bob sole and a spare set of inserts.
But the ones that really impress me are the Russell Sheep Hunters I use for moderate weather, uninsulated and again bob soles. Or my old PH's with crepe sole that I wear when its dry and warmer. The PH's are very quiet and though not a lot of support on sidehills and useless in mud or snow, they are just the thing for most bow hunting or early season deer/elk, when its warmer.

FN in MT

24 December 2002, 07:54

Kensco

My favorite right now are a pair of Danners. They are great for warm weather hunting. I've hunted New Mexico, Venezuela and South Africa in them. They blistered me one year for some reason, but on hunts before and after they were fine. I'm not sure what happened that one year.

I also have a pair of Rockys that I like for cold weather.

The worst luck I had with boots was a high-dollar pair of Brownings. They looked great until I hunted West Texas blue quail in them. After one year, the tops of the toes were shreaded by the long grass, mesquites and cactus we were running through all the time.

I had a memorable pair of Surplus City cheapies I bought in Las Cruces, New Mexico years ago. I hunted mule deer solo a lot back then. I was hunting on a limited access hunt in the Organ Mountains one year.

I'm the type of guy that seems to hunt in a straight line. Anyway, I shot a doe in the middle of no-where and then it dawned on me that I was about ten miles from the vehicle. There was snow melting everywhere. I dragged and carried that poor thing all the way back through the slush and the mud, flipped her over into the trunk, took off my boots, left them by the side of the road and drove away. They had all but come apart.

24 December 2002, 08:03

Hcliff

Russell boots are what I favor. They are great. Better feeling for my feet than the Rocky boots. I have the High Country Hunter with 600 grams with a 400 gram midsole and heel counters. They can customize the boot any way you need it. The price is reasonalbe too. I got my boots for the same price as a Browning Gore Tex boot. Great stuff This is their web site. http://www.russellmoccasin.com/ Give them a call. Small company. I actually went ot where they make them. Made just like the olden days! [Smile]

In pac boot style I use LaCrosse. They have worked great. The Ice Kings are for the ultimate warmth. Not great for walking

Hcliff

[ 12-24-2002, 20:26: Message edited by: Hcliff ]

24 December 2002, 08:07

Buell98

Kensco-

Your tale reminds of me a time when I wore a pair of converse shoes on a rainy day. I slipped and nearly broke my back. Anyways when I got home, the first thing I did was take them off and toss them into the trashcan. I never looked back.

Did you wear cotton socks when you got those blisters? I hate cotton socks other then to use them to apply boot cream and polish things up. I always wear wool socks, and I have so many pairs I have them in about every thickness you could imagine. They last much longer then cotton socks too. A couple months ago I went to San Francisco and took a sailboat tour of the bay. I alone stood in the front of the boat and got soaking wet and cold, but I was wearing the Uplanders and a good pair of wool socks. They were soaking wet but my feet were warm! It took 4 days for them to dry out!

24 December 2002, 08:20

<Fuzz>

I have a pair of Danners I got in 96. Still keeps my feet dry comfortable. Fuzz

24 December 2002, 08:24

RogerK

Cabelas Mendl. I have a pair that's at least 12, maybe 15 years old. Just the last 2 years they have started to allow moisture through, so I purchased a new pair. I carry the new pair along on my hunts to Colorado but don't wear them until the old pair gets wet. Some years that's all season. I have never had cold feet in them. The old pair is so darn comfortable I can't bare to part with them. I have the seams that come up from the soles glued together with shoe goo. I noticed that Cabelas dropped the line. Just to be safe I ordered a backup pair and now have 3 pair.

24 December 2002, 08:50

Brad

quote:
A couple months ago I went to San Francisco and took a sailboat tour of the bay. I alone stood in the front of the boat and got soaking wet and cold, but I was wearing the Uplanders and a good pair of wool socks.

Buell, now that I've learned of your San Francisco connection and the courage you demonstrated facing the elements all alone on that bay area expedition I'm quite convinced you'll find the Birk's IDEAL for YOUR type of hunting and exploring...

http://www.birkenstock.com

24 December 2002, 11:09

<NV Guide>

The best boot that I've tried is Cabela'a Meindl Canada's. I've been using them for almost 10 years guiding sheep hunters in Nevada and love them. I believe that they are still carrying them they just dont show up in all catalogs

Dennis

24 December 2002, 11:39

rickinpatton

through the years i have tried quite a few . rocky bear claws are great for my area 800gm . last pair lasted me 4 years . finally sprung a little leak . the new ones have been a real pain to break in , guess ill just have to hunt more lol

24 December 2002, 13:22

stubblejumper

Meindl canada's for cool weather and schnees elk hunter for very cold weather.

24 December 2002, 14:00

scrappy

Schnees for cold or wet weather. For fairly warm weather {early gun season in Georgia} I like my 3/4 Timberlands.

24 December 2002, 14:37

Steiny

Hard to beat the Meindl boots.

25 December 2002, 09:51

Thomas

Meindl, period!!! [Big Grin]

25 December 2002, 02:00

Pete E

I have Meindl's too and although the feel like slippers I dislike the vibram sole. I find it too hard and noisy for still hunting on a lot of surfaces and also quite slippy on things like wet grass. A friend had a pair of Rocky Stalkers with airbob soles and I wish Meindl offered them. The rest of the Rocky's were poor quality though as each pair only lasted him 12 to 18 months before splitting across the toe and/or leaking...there again I suppose what do you expect for a $100 boot then?

25 December 2002, 03:08

Kensco

Buell, I think I was wearing both cotton and nylon at the same time. I don't recall which was against my skin. We were running over rocky country to circle an elk herd that was feeding away from us. I was drenched in sweat by the time we set up the ambush. The heels of my feet were burning, and I knew I was screwed.

If one of the other hunters hadn't lended me some moleskin that night, I'd have been toast; or had to hunt out of my sneakers.

25 December 2002, 03:53

Caine

Lundhags Luffar!!!! had to trowe my 9 yere old pare 2 mnd a go, it almost made me cry. 9 yeres of hard youse prove there ome of the best shoos you can get!!!

25 December 2002, 04:53

Grizzly Albert

I got some 1200 gram thinsulate rubber boots for an Alaskan hunt several years ago. Worked great. Also great for hunting in cold, wet places in Louisiana and Alabama!
[Cool]

25 December 2002, 06:03

Dutch

My Cabela's Outfitters. Like them a good bit better than my Danners. FWIW, Dutch.

25 December 2002, 10:06

ElCaballero

I have a pair of White's packers that I wear everyday and wear them hunting also. In extremly cold weather I wear my Whites winter pacs.

25 December 2002, 11:51

<Buliwyf>

Rocky for twenty years. Silk sock next to skin and appropriate sock for weather conditions over the silk.

B

25 December 2002, 12:05

<Chigger>

I must go with the Cabela's Outfitters, no need for a break in time like my Danner's which were still giving me blisters after 3 weeks of hiking in them.

The Meindl's I had were sent back to Cabela's they didn't seem to support my ankles like the Danners or the Cabela's Outfitters.

I really can't say enough about those Cabela's boots, I really like them a lot and NO blisters either.

25 December 2002, 12:59

yukon delta

Meindl's are great. I have some Courtenays but would not hunt in them...not enough support in the ankle or the arch. I will try Russells one of these days.

09 January 2003, 20:24

boileroom

I use my cabela's Ibex for alpine hunting because they are light and tuff.
I use my cabela's mount elbrus for my fly ins up north when a boot will be tested with extreme everything.
Both are made by Meindl and I am more than satisfied with them.
I took a pair of cabela's Mountain hunters on a fly in and they leaked horribly on the 4th day of a 11 day hunt. Drying them by the fire every day caused the toe to shrink and was crippling. Never could repair them. Got less than one season out of them.(450$can.)
A couple of buddies use Danners. A bit heavy but one pair is in it's 12th year.

09 January 2003, 20:29

jrslate

Gentlemen,

For Africa, I have been using a pair of Jim Green razorbacks that I picked up at Cape Union Mart. In 2002, after being in the veld every day for over 3 months (and it is very rocky there), they have held up great.

For Oregon, I use my Hoffman's caulk boots, well-greased with Hubbard's boot grease. In Western Oregon, it's steep, rocky, wet, and lots of brush and trees, caulk boots are the way to go.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm