Boot Recommendations

[HaunSolo]

All,

I'm rocking some 5 year old Wolverine boots with 600 g insulation. I can't keep my feet warm for the life of me on early morning sits.

My family is asking me what I want for Christmas, and what I'd really like is a nice pair of hunting boots.

I've been looking at Danner, Irish Setters, and Crispi's(may be a little too much). Probably looking for something $200 or less.

What boots do you recommend? How much insulation should I get for those cold days?

I've tried all sorts of things to keep my feet warm - double socks, one sock plus a liner, chemical toe warmers(can't even feel them after awhile), and heated socks(same as toe warmer).

I do have boot covers that I can use but they are bulky.

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Tr33_n1nj@]

I’m rocking 8 yr old Irish Setters. I’m seriously thinking about a pair of cleats when these finally croak. I’m in the Deep South so it doesn’t get cold enough for insulated boots, just need good socks.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I've been pretty happy with my Oboz Bridgers. I bought them a little over a year ago and have put maybe 140 miles on them so far, mostly post season scouting and turkey season, etc. Even though rubber boots are tougher on my feet, I seem to gravitate to them for deer hunting because I feel that they are just better for not leaving ground scent to spook deer than any sort of leather permeable boot. I have a pair of Lacross rubber boots and a pair of Gumleaf boots I use more during season.

 

[Maverick1]

All,

I'm rocking some 5 year old Wolverine boots with 600 g insulation. I can't keep my feet warm for the life of me on early morning sits.

My family is asking me what I want for Christmas, and what I'd really like is a nice pair of hunting boots.

I've been looking at Danner, Irish Setters, and Crispi's(may be a little too much). Probably looking for something $200 or less.

What boots do you recommend? How much insulation should I get for those cold days?

I've tried all sorts of things to keep my feet warm - double socks, one sock plus a liner, chemical toe warmers(can't even feel them after awhile), and heated socks(same as toe warmer).

I do have boot covers that I can use but they are bulky.

Let me know your thoughts.

What temperature range? What activity level? Sitting on a metal platform in 30 degrees vs hiking around in 70 degrees the answer could vary quite a bit. (After years of going through this I’d ditch the “hunting boots” entirely and take a different approach).

 

[Yimmyb60]

What temps are you hunting and how far are you walking. Insulated boots make my feet freeze. More insulation equals more sweating. I wear la sportiva ultra raptor ii mid gtx and use boot blankets with a hot hands at 20 degrees and below. But it rarely get below 20 here

 

[Jay_Disarray]

Living in MN, I am a huge fan of the N1B air force mukluks. They aren't good for wet conditions or sloshing in shallow water, but for a straight woods hunt, my feet have never stayed warmer. Wool inserts on the bottom, the wool liners, and a good pair of wool socks is all I use for sitting out on the ice while ice fishing

 

[jaredtpuck]

Living in MN, I am a huge fan of the N1B air force mukluks. They aren't good for wet conditions or sloshing in shallow water, but for a straight woods hunt, my feet have never stayed warmer. Wool inserts on the bottom, the wool liners, and a good pair of wool socks is all I use for sitting out on the ice while ice fishing
View attachment 95635

Are these like boot blankets or are they actual boots that you can walk in? This might be an affordable option for keeping my feet warm.


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[Jay_Disarray]

Are these like boot blankets or are they actual boots that you can walk in? This might be an affordable option for keeping my feet warm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They are mukluk boots, military surplus.

 

[HaunSolo]

What temps are you hunting and how far are you walking. Insulated boots make my feet freeze. More insulation equals more sweating. I wear la sportiva ultra raptor ii mid gtx and use boot blankets with a hot hands at 20 degrees and below. But it rarely get below 20 here

I can't keep my feet from freezing when it's below 40 and I'm sitting for more than a couple hours, especially if there is a stuff wind.

Most my spots are a half mile or less.

 

[TNbowhunter]

I really like my Lowa Renegade GTX Mid, sized up 1/2 size and ordered Wide instead of my usual Regular width. Wear a good synthetic or merino thin base sock and a decently thick merino outer sock. Keep your legs warm (heated long johns are great), and you'll likely be fine down to the 20's, even if you're cold natured like me (and I also have Reynaud's, so my hands and feet are always cold). Biggest key for me is to keep my core and legs warm; if I let those get cold, it doesn't matter how warm my boots/socks are, my feet will get chilly quick. Good luck to you!

 

[cibor]

I used to use 1000+ gram boots until I started to check my socks when I took the boots off after I got to my spot. What I found was that my feet were sweating excessively on the walk-in, which caused my feet to freeze when I sat for an extended period of time.

I now have 400g Danner Pronghorn boots, my feet sweat far less which means my feet don’t get as cold, if at all. I also never lace up my boots fully so that way warm air can try to escape.

I just got a set of uninsulated Danner Pronghorns for days we push swamps.

For reference, I hunt in northern Minnesota.

 

[EricS]

I live in Georgia so I don’t know squat about real cold. That said you stated your feet get cold below 40 and that I know a little about. I wear a pair of tidewe rubber boots pretty much every hunt. This is their third season and it’s time to replace them.
Anyway back to cold feet. My legs don’t get cold until in the mid 20s. But my feet will freeze well before then. What I have found that helps me a lot is insulating my legs. That’s done more for keeping my feet warm than any boot or sock I’ve tried.

 

[Glenn]

Spray your feet with an antiperspirant. And don’t lace your boots too tight. Beyond that I wear schnees bear tooth 200g. A pair of darn tough cold weather over the calf hiking socks along with the above tricks keeps me solid down into the mid/low 30’s. Any colder and I’ll drop in a heated insole when I get to my tree.

 

[woodsdog2]

I can't keep my feet from freezing when it's below 40 and I'm sitting for more than a couple hours, especially if there is a stuff wind.

Most my spots are a half mile or less.

I’d recommend a decent hiking boot with a good pair of merino wool socks and then a pair of boot blankets of some kind to put on your feet once you’re sedentary but before your feet start to get chilled. The hiking boot helps with traversing tough terrain and more importantly reduces foot sweat. The merino wool socks help dissipate sweat and because they are wool they stay warm even when wet. Even better is all of this but then take an extra pair of wool socks and change out the ones you hiked in with the dry pair. Kind of a pain to add to your routine but just add more time to your setups. I personally do not change out my socks as my feet don’t seem to get too awfully sweated out. Grey Wolf Woolens makes a great boot blanket. A lot of the guys on here like the more moderately priced Artic Shield ones as well but I have not tried those. I do have a pair of the GWW blankets and they are well made.

 

[jackle1886]

The above is 100%. Only thing I'd add is when you get srt, untie your boots. Makes a big difference.

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[MIPublic]

Rubber boots w/ no insulation and merino wool socks. If I have a long walk I’ll change socks to ensure dryness. No sweat equals no cold feet, at least for me. I’m usually good to the mid 20s.

 

[dalton916]

Good socks and crocs will keep you warmer than good socks and supremely insulated boots. Like mentioned above, it’s your feet sweating that makes your feet cold, not a lack of insulation.

Buy your boots big, with little to moderate at best insulation and pair them with good socks and a spray antiperspirant.

 

[BuffaloBill]

I went to a set of uninsulated hiking boots and Arctic Shield boot blankets with hand warmers in them. I got Crispi but only because they were being discontinued and at a steep discount. Last year my feet froze in rubber boots due to my feet sweating.

 

[Nosaj]

I can't keep my feet from freezing when it's below 40 and I'm sitting for more than a couple hours, especially if there is a stuff wind.

Most my spots are a half mile or less.

Baffin Titans will keep you warm when you are stationary. They have an unbelievable liner that transports the moisture away from your foot to outside surface of the liner. Not the best if you have to hike a distance as they do not have the best support. They are warm and keep sweaty feet dry. Make sure you pull the liners after a day in the field as all the moisture ends up on the inside of the rubber boot and the outside of the liner. I only use them when it is going to be mid 30's or less.

 

[Maverick1]

@HaunSolo - reference this thread.