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I posted this in a different area of the site, but figured I'd put it here as well to get more opinions. I am looking for a good, comfortable pair of hunting boots. I tend to hike quite a bit when I hunt. I hunt mostly mule deer and elk in the Rockies, so they need to be fairly durable. Last year I came home with quarter-sized blisters on each heal after one day and I'd like to avoid that. The other kicker is that I don't have a lot of money to spend on the high end boots. Now to my question.... What boots do you think are the best value for your money? Is one brand better than another (Cabela's, Rocky, Wolverine, Browning, etc.)? Any suggestions? | ||
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WyFlyGuy, I like Danners, and if you look around you can find boots on sale at sportsmans warehouse. Irecently purchased a pair of Pronghorns for around a hundred, which is 60 or so off regular price. Good luck. | |||
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WyFlyGuy, In my experience socks make a big difference in how boots work for me, and in my experience not many people pay as much attention as they should to the socks they use. I like to use Smartwool socks with a liner sock under them made of silk or very thin polyester. This would most likely eliminate the tendency of you boots to cause blisters if they fit you well. Much cheaper than new boots. | |||
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DARN! JTEX got there ahead of me. Socks do make a heckuva big difference in how boots and even daily shoes. My most comfortable boots are a pair of RedWings. .395 Family Member DRSS, po' boy member Political correctness is nothing but liberal enforced censorship | |||
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Socks! it is! Two layers, smartwool over something thin. Spend good money on socks, it's worth every dime. I also like footbed inserts. They can be pretty expensive, but they seem to be worth it to me. Probably half of the money I spend on clothing doesn't reach much past my ankles. Brent When there is lead in the air, there is hope in my heart -- MWH ~1996 | |||
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Just to add my 2 cents, About socks, NEVER wear cotton or cotton blend socks! They are blister generators! A pair of real silk socks under your "bulk" sock, usually a wool or wool blend sock is best. Also, your boots need to fit well from the very first day you put them on. None of this "breaking in" bullshit. If they don't fit in the store, don't buy them. Blisters on the heel are from boots that don't fit. You must be able to walk without the heel moving in the heel pocket of the boot. Whether you are on level ground, or going up or down an incline or decline. Most good hiking boot stores have a ramp you can walk up and down when you're trying on new boots. Spend more than a few minutes walking around in your boots before you buy them. I have a pair of Red Wings, and a pair of Solomans that fit really well. You don't have to spend $300 to get a good pair of boots. BUT, even a $300 pair will cause blisters if they don't fit properly. Si tantum EGO eram dimidium ut bonus ut EGO memor | |||
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Thanks for all of the replies! I do wear a good pair of socks over a thin liner sock and, as has been said, the results are great. I think the last pair of boots I got were a little snug - hence the blisters. That's why I'm looking to get new ones and I'd like to avoid that again. Thanks again for the advice! Keep it comin'. | |||
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Cabela's Outfitter series of boots are very good moderately priced boots. Very similar to Danners in build and quality. Remember to lace them tight in the morning before beginning any climbing or decending. Perry | |||
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Rocky Boots and marino wool socks. | |||
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+1 for the Danner Pronghorns. The rest of the story is that some brands will fit your feet better than others too. Spend some money on good socks and liners......... Bob There is room for all of God's creatures....right next to the mashed potatoes. http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/   | |||
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Danner Pronghorns | |||
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I believe the Danner pronghorns are made out of country, but their "grouse" boots are made in country and look quite nice. My old USA made Danners were very similar to these and I would buy them again.... http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0005239811420a.shtml When there is lead in the air, there is hope in my heart -- MWH ~1996 | |||
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A question for those recommending the Danner Pronhorns... I read through the reviews on Cabela's' website and a few mentioned that the leather toe scuffs pretty easily and that effects the waterproofing. Any experiences? How are they for warmth? How about snowy/rainy conditions? | |||
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You can get them from uninsulated up to 1000 grams of insulation. They have a Gore Tex bootie and are waterproof. Bob There is room for all of God's creatures....right next to the mashed potatoes. http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/ | |||
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Agreed!!! Back in the ARMY, we would wear two pairs of socks in the cold and wet times, and when walking a lot. A pair of non-cotton dress socks underneath wools socks was the trick. I've walked miles and miles this way. BTW, Danner boots were the preferred boots in Germany, where cold and wetness were concerned. They tended to be a little nicer on the feet in the long run. Boots are one area I don't skimp on (a lesson I just learned regarding Optics). -eric " . . . a gun is better worn and with bloom off---So is a saddle---People too by God." -EH | |||
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I have a pair of Cabela's Silent Stalkers. They have two African trips on them, with a lot of hard walking and Buffalo stalking, and some Texas, Alabama and South Carolina deer hunts as well. They wear well with a good pair of marino wool socks. They cost around seventy bucks. I have boots costing many times as much, but I have found these to be the most comfortable to wear and walk in for hours at a time. | |||
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The combination I have used in Alaska for the last 5 years (same pair of boots) is Meindls with Smartwool socks. I have no idea how many miles are on these boots but they just started to have the rubber sole pull away from one boot. I am going to have them resoled this winter and keep going. Alaskans are quite particular about their boots and you will see Meindls quite often. Not the only good boot out there but a very good one. _______________________________  | |||
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Chippwea's. | |||
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I am looking at the danner "Full Curl" boots. Anybody tried em? Iv'e had the danner elk hunters for 7 years, best boots I've ever ahd, but I need a lighter pair for early fall.....thanks....wapiti7 | |||
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With regards to Danner (I LOVE them BTW) get them made in the US. Too many quality ?'s on the imports. | |||
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Have a pair of Danners with the old laminated GORE-TEX Insulation,1980 era. They have served me well. Agreed on the sox!!!! ALWAYS wool combined with syntetic or silk liners. Cotton kills, sucks, or whatever. If I were to buy boots on my budget, I'd look to Danner. Now, if I, had bucks to spare, I'd be looking pretty heartly at the Russell cataloges for a pair of "Sheep Hunters". "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" Hamlet III/ii | |||
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Take this from a guy who has experienced first-hand. While training for the 100mile march in Nijmegen 1989 I had developed alot of the same problems, first I started with military issue wool socks at great failure along with half-dollar size open blister on heel. Soon I changed to athletic type nylon socks which could be pulled up tight and eliminated blister problims---could not bring myself to wear womans nylons as other soldiers advised. From experience in training and other situations I've learned that a combination of tight fitting athletic nylon socks, and then a second layer of wool socks is way to go for long distance hiking/marching. R. | |||
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WyFlyGuy, you might not believe me but I use Bates tactical boots. My SWAT friends told me about them so I bought an uninsulated pair and wore them to Africa. Now, many of my friends/clients wear them. They are half to a third of the price of all the "brand name" boots I own. They come in black only but you can get insulated and water proof styles. They lace up and zip up the side for easy on, easy off. As with any new boot, break them in before you take off hunting. You'll find Bates at Bass Pro Shops etc. Also, never leave on a hunting trip without taking a tube of Preparation H. This medication is the best thing you can dress a blister with. It stops the burning and will heal a blister faster than anything I know of. Does wonders for other things too  Good hunting, DavidGray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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Prep H for blisters...I never tried that. _______________________________ | |||
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I learned about it from a friend who's daughter is a gymnast. She told us the US Olympic team uses it. Good enough for me...and it works great. LDK Gray Ghost Hunting Safaris http://grayghostsafaris.com Phone: 615-860-4333 Email: hunts@grayghostsafaris.com NRA Benefactor DSC Professional Member SCI Member RMEF Life Member NWTF Guardian Life Sponsor NAHC Life Member Rowland Ward - SCI Scorer Took the wife the Eastern Cape for her first hunt: http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6881000262 Hunting in the Stormberg, Winterberg and Hankey Mountains of the Eastern Cape 2018 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4801073142 Hunting the Eastern Cape, RSA May 22nd - June 15th 2007 http://forums.accuratereloadin...=810104007#810104007 16 Days in Zimbabwe: Leopard, plains game, fowl and more: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=212108409#212108409 Natal: Rhino, Croc, Nyala, Bushbuck and more http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6341092311 Recent hunt in the Eastern Cape, August 2010: Pics added http://forums.accuratereloadin...261039941#9261039941 10 days in the Stormberg Mountains http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7781081322 Back in the Stormberg Mountains with friends: May-June 2017 http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6001078232 "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading" - Thomas Jefferson Every morning the Zebra wakes up knowing it must outrun the fastest Lion if it wants to stay alive. Every morning the Lion wakes up knowing it must outrun the slowest Zebra or it will starve. It makes no difference if you are a Zebra or a Lion; when the Sun comes up in Africa, you must wake up running...... "If you're being chased by a Lion, you don't have to be faster than the Lion, you just have to be faster than the person next to you." | |||
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I have to say that my Danner frontiers are the most comfortable pair of boots I own. Just recently a friend of mine purchased his own pair based on my recommendation and he feels the same way. They are made out of country and if that's a problem for ya then I would recommend the Danner Grouse or Raptors. Another friend has both of these one insulated and one not and loves them both. "I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." -- General George S. Patton | |||
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The pair I have that fits me the best, and has the most wear are Northlakes. They are just like the Danners. I don't know what will happen to the quality since Rocky took over so many of the brands (Northlake, Georgia, Durango, Lehigh) and Rocky does not work for me at all. Danners are always a good bet. +1 to all the comments about socks. Larry "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson | |||
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I had another friend who wore the full curls as a work boot. Lot's of hiking involved in his job. They didn't last a year. I think as a light hunting boot they should be fine, but wearing them day in and day out was to much. Plus there was a lot of digging involved and it was often easier to kick the dirt and rocks back into the hole. "I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." -- General George S. Patton | |||
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What size boot do ya wear? There is a set of Full Curl 13's on ebay NIB. "I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." -- General George S. Patton | |||
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I gave up on "hunting" boots a couple decades ago. I use gore-tex backpacking boots by mountaineering companies like Asolo, Vasque, La Sportiva, etc. They're light, offer superior torsional rigidity, and are meant for serious walking. I use even burlier mountaineering boots for the steep country here in central Colorado. | |||
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Seems like Danners are the crowd favorite. I, OTOH, like Rockies for cold or cool wet weather. For warm dry weather you can't beat Dr Martins industrial line IMO. Their non-insulated industrial boots come in steel toe or w/o steel toe. I buy the non-ST and they are great for hiking in weather above 30-40 degrees in dry climates. Good Luck Reloader | |||
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I had a great looking pair of Danner's that generated quarter-sized blisters on an elk hunt, and again on a cape buffalo hunt, after a very short walk. In addition to socks being important, be sure you buy the right size boot. I think I bought too small a boot last time. Yesterday I went to Cabela's in Ft. Worth and bought another pair of Danner's; 6" TFX. They were about $150. They look good and feel very good. I bought ultimate wool socks. They will be my cape buffalo boot next year. I like Rocky boots. My biggest waste of money was a pair of Brownings years ago. They looked great....then fell apart after a hard season of blue quail hunting. The leather was ripped to shreads on the toes. | |||
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got a question for yall regarding socks. what do you do in warm weather? still nylon w/ wool? thats what i use in colder weather but always thought it would be too hot in warm weather. ive been using the under armour socks and they are pretty good, but still cotton. most of my hunting is in FL and SC so its warmer weather. -------------------------------- It's more than a passion, it's an obsession. | |||
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In warm weather, use the very thin nylon or silk liner sock. The outer sock should be a thin wool sock to help carry the moisture away from your foot. When I went through basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, this is what we were provided to ensure no blisters. It worked. .395 Family Member DRSS, po' boy member Political correctness is nothing but liberal enforced censorship | |||
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I still use Smartwool socks but they are a different blend and thickness for summer use. _______________________________ | |||
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Check out White's Boots. They always worked very well for me. "I can't be over gunned because the animal can't be over dead"-Elmer Keith | |||
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I agree I have a pair of outfitters for 7 years now and they have the wide widths, I need a EE and from the minute I got them they fit like a glove.And I really used these boots hunting,welding,fishing for brook trout standing in the stream!I'm thinking of getting new soles for them,and I'm going to get another pair.Treating the leather every month is about the only thing I do to keep them in good shape.I've tried alot of brands and most of them lasted about a year,I thought Rocky cordura boots would outlast leather and they were shot in a year. | |||
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for about 4 years i bought at least 2 pair of boots a season. i had a neighbor down the road whos dog was in love w/ my white boxer, baby. he would come up to the house and steal a boot and then take it home and hide it. so i got into the habit of just leaving the lone boot on thier mailbox with a bill and they would write me a check and drop it off. after testing and evaluating many various sets i can say that i dont see a piss ants worth of difference between any boot designed the same way. I dont like rocky cause they tend to tear up on the bottoms from coarse 4 wheeler foot rests and climbers w/ rough platforms. i now stick with the cabellas 800gr. auqashield. they are light, waterproof and keep my feet warm as i need them to be. i keep rubber boots around for certain wet weather stand hunting, but being short even the 16" rubber boots rub the back of my knees. one addition i would almos say is mandatory is Woolies inersoles. they keep the bugs out and the warmth in. the first thing i usually do is replace the laces with paracord and pull out the crappy inersoles. | |||
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