Hunting boot help!

[Shapeshifter]

I'm thinking about getting some new cold weather boots that are lightweight. I have worn rubber boots of varying amounts of insulation for the past 30 years. Overall I have always been satisfied with how well they kept my feet dry and how well they handled long sits in cold weather. The one drawback being walking comfort on long walks. Having started hunting more public land in the last few years, I have found myself walking farther in to more remote places. I have been thinking about buying a new pair of lightweight, waterproof insulated boots that leather/cordura uppers. I have heard great things about Crispi boots, but honestly they are way out of my price range. I have been looking at the LaCrosse Atlas insulated boot. LaCrosse uses their Dry Core waterproofing and primaloft insulation. I was wondering if any of you had any experience with this boot or any other LaCrosse boots using Dry core. How well did it work for you? Did they keep your feet dry and warm. How does Dry Core compare to Gor tex? How about comfort? Please let me know your thoughts.

 

[Camelcluch]

Boots are tough because they are very personal. I couldn’t get the crispis off my feet fast enough. They are nice boots but my feet absolutely hated them. I did like my Danner Pronghorns for upland and whitetail but they were not great in the mountains. I would try some on and see what your feet like. Maybe add a little extra stiffness in the shank to help with foot fatigue while leaning. Good luck.

 

[Shapeshifter]

Boots are tough because they are very personal. I couldn’t get the crispis off my feet fast enough. They are nice boots but my feet absolutely hated them. I did like my Danner Pronghorns for upland and whitetail but they were not great in the mountains. I would try some on and see what your feet like. Maybe add a little extra stiffness in the shank to help with foot fatigue while leaning. Good luck.

How were your Danners as far as waterproofing and insulation? I had read some reviews where some people were having issues with their boots leaking. This was not on the pronghorns but some other models I looked at.

 

[raisins]

Boots are tough because they are very personal. I couldn’t get the crispis off my feet fast enough. They are nice boots but my feet absolutely hated them. I did like my Danner Pronghorns for upland and whitetail but they were not great in the mountains. I would try some on and see what your feet like. Maybe add a little extra stiffness in the shank to help with foot fatigue while leaning. Good luck.

I am drawn to light hikers that are low, but for me, if I'm honest, a tall, uninsulated boot like the pronghorn is better for me because I can have a huge toe box and no slippage (because of the leg grab-age).

They are just so heavy, usually, in comparison. Also, almost all tall, uninsulated boots are made in China and not as durable (the pronghorn has much lower durability reviews now). If you get a pair of tall leather, waterproof, uninsulated boots made in the USA or Europe, then you are going to pay close to $500 (and have boots that weigh 2 lbs each).

I just got a pair of La Sportiva Nucelo II GTX wide (in 12). I like them so far but haven't worn them outside the house.

 

[raisins]

How were your Danvers as far ass waterproofing and insulation? I had read some reviews where some people were having issues with their boots leaking. This was not on the pronghorns but some other models I looked at.

All the Chinese made Danners have horror stories online. I have 2 pairs (Danner Alsea 400 gram and Danner Mountain 600).

The Danner Mountains 600 have barely acceptable tread for off trail (no heel). The Alseas have better tread.

I wore each around 5 times last year and they were waterproof. They do not appear to be heavy use. I don't wear the Mountains much because the bad tread helped me to slip really bad on mud.

 

[GeoFish]

Low cost and good quality don't usually go together.
Because of my wide feet I went with Meindl comfort fit hunters. At $350 they are expensive. But the cheep boots did not last for me.

 

[Shapeshifter]

All the Chinese made Danners have horror stories online. I have 2 pairs (Danner Alsea 400 gram and Danner Mountain 600).

The Danner Mountains 600 have barely acceptable tread for off trail (no heel). The Alseas have better tread.

I wore each around 5 times last year and they were waterproof. They do not appear to be heavy use. I don't wear the Mountains much because the bad tread helped me to slip really bad on mud.

The Danner Alsea was a boot I had considered until I read the negative reviews about their Gor tex waterproofing.

 

[raisins]

Low cost and good quality don't usually go together.
Because of my wide feet I went with Meindl comfort fit hunters. At $350 they are expensive. But the cheep boots did not last for me.

I am in the same boat, having feet that are wide boats.

I may send my La Sportivas back because they just barely do not push my toe out of alignment (which causes me pain/injury when I walk with toes not in a natural position).

Are the Meindl Comfort Fits a wide toe box like Merrell or Keen wides (if you have experience with those)?

Ironically (maybe?) the less expensive boots (Merrell and Keen) tend to have much roomier toe boxes than boots made in Europe (skinny feet people over there?).

 

[raisins]

The Danner Alsea was a boot I had considered until I read the negative reviews about their Gor tex waterproofing.

At low price point, you're just rolling the dice. You might get a pair that last years....or not. They just aren't consistent.

I firmly believe that on anything but very thin boots/trail runners (with wicking panels) that Gore Tex doesn't make sense and is just a fragile waterproofer that fails in boots after a few years (because it is such a hard use).

Water vapor might pass through the gore tex but almost all of that will be trapped by the waterproof treated leather (and once the leather is soaked then even that will slow/stop). For most boots, a tarp-like laminate right against the leather with a bit of moisture absorbing liner between that and your skin would work better and feel almost exactly the same. I have a pair of fully neoprene hikers with a fleece lining. With a wicking liner sock, they feel just like a pair of leather hikers with gore tex.

 

[TooheyBirdie]

I've actually just got to light hikers for early season (Merrell Moab 2's) and my snow shoveling boots for when it gets cold ( Boggs Bozemans)... they wouldn't be any good for mountains but for hiking the majority of the Driftless region of MN, they work just fine.

 

[gcr0003]

I'm thinking about getting some new cold weather boots that are lightweight. I have worn rubber boots of varying amounts of insulation for the past 30 years. Overall I have always been satisfied with how well they kept my feet dry and how well they handled long sits in cold weather. The one drawback being walking comfort on long walks. Having started hunting more public land in the last few years, I have found myself walking farther in to more remote places. I have been thinking about buying a new pair of lightweight, waterproof insulated boots that leather/cordura uppers. I have heard great things about Crispi boots, but honestly they are way out of my price range. I have been looking at the LaCrosse Atlas insulated boot. LaCrosse uses their Dry Core waterproofing and primaloft insulation. I was wondering if any of you had any experience with this boot or any other LaCrosse boots using Dry core. How well did it work for you? Did they keep your feet dry and warm. How does Dry Core compare to Gor tex? How about comfort? Please let me know your thoughts.

The lacrosse hiking/lace up boots like the atlas are not water proof at all. I would barely consider them water resistant. If you have to cross a low steam or something like that you’d have just as much chance of getting wet in tennis shoes. I have had a pair for several years now but I don’t wear them when I know I will need to cross water. If I cross water I expect my feet to get wet and cold. If you don’t get them wet they’re plenty warm down to the 30s with a good wool sock. I would just lower my expectation for a hiker and water proof. They’re just not rubber boots type waterproof.

 

[Weldabeast]

Full disclaimer in which I haven't actually implemented what I'm about to talk about cause we don't get much cold weather......

U may have really really cold weather where u are and none of what I'm gonna say will matter much but maybe this can give u something else to think about.

My feet get cold cause of sweat more than anything else....so much so that last year on an abnormally cold day for our area I ended up taking my shoes off because once my feet were dry they were warmer barefoot.

I looked around and found a lightweight desert/jungle style barefoot style boot that has a crazy big toe box area. They designed with drying more quickly in mind. They crazy light and flexible. I got them wet a little bit already and it did dry out at a acceptable rate. The toe.area being so large should allow layering of socks without compressing the sock so much it looses it's insulation factor and plenty of room to add chemical warmer.

So the plan is to wear quality socks and have 1 extra set..maybe 2 depending on how much room they take up...and I got some of those boot insulators. Climb up the tree and dry off the footies and put on the fresh socks and either put the boot back on or use the insulators and hang the regular boot to dry.

With all that said....I have never found a waterproof shoe that doesn't make my feet sweat.

 

[raisins]

The lacrosse hiking/lace up boots like the atlas are not water proof at all. I would barely consider them water resistant. If you have to cross a low steam or something like that you’d have just as much chance of getting wet in tennis shoes. I have had a pair for several years now but I don’t wear them when I know I will need to cross water. If I cross water I expect my feet to get wet and cold. If you don’t get them wet they’re plenty warm down to the 30s with a good wool sock. I would just lower my expectation for a hiker and water proof. They’re just not rubber boots type waterproof.

The pressure pushes water through the membrane (like sitting on your butt in gore tex pants without an extra panel on knees/butt).

Boot makers and buyers need to stop worshipping at the Gore Tex (or other breathable membrane) altar. Boots should be getting better over time but the reverse is happening.

Half the effect is psychological. And even with jackets, when they study it the vast majority of water vapor leaves via pit zips, top collar, sleeve holes, etc and only a small amount actually passes through the membrane, but yet pit zips aren't emphasized on jacket much.

 

[Shapeshifter]

The lacrosse hiking/lace up boots like the atlas are not water proof at all. I would barely consider them water resistant. If you have to cross a low steam or something like that you’d have just as much chance of getting wet in tennis shoes. I have had a pair for several years now but I don’t wear them when I know I will need to cross water. If I cross water I expect my feet to get wet and cold. If you don’t get them wet they’re plenty warm down to the 30s with a good wool sock. I would just lower my expectation for a hiker and water proof. They’re just not rubber boots type waterproof.

Do they keep your feet dry walking on wet grass and in small puddles, and shallow creak crossings?

 

[BTaylor]

I am in the same boat, having feet that are wide boats.

I may send my La Sportivas back because they just barely do not push my toe out of alignment (which causes me pain/injury when I walk with toes not in a natural position).

Are the Meindl Comfort Fits a wide toe box like Merrell or Keen wides (if you have experience with those)?

Ironically (maybe?) the less expensive boots (Merrell and Keen) tend to have much roomier toe boxes than boots made in Europe (skinny feet people over there?).

Not sure if they make them in Wides or not but you might check out the Irish Setter Vaportreks. They have a pretty significantly roomier toe box than my Crispi's.

 

[Shapeshifter]

The lacrosse hiking/lace up boots like the atlas are not water proof at all. I would barely consider them water resistant. If you have to cross a low steam or something like that you’d have just as much chance of getting wet in tennis shoes. I have had a pair for several years now but I don’t wear them when I know I will need to cross water. If I cross water I expect my feet to get wet and cold. If you don’t get them wet they’re plenty warm down to the 30s with a good wool sock. I would just lower my expectation for a hiker and water proof. They’re just not rubber boots type waterproof.

Do they keep your feet dry walking on wet grass and in small puddles, and shallow creak crossings?

 

[gcr0003]

Do they keep your feet dry walking on wet grass and in small puddles, and shallow creak crossings?

Fine in wet grass for the most part. If you cross quickly on puddles and streams you can sometimes get by, but it doesn’t take long for water to seep in. It’s not like pouring water into the boot but the inside gets damp. The longer you stay in the more wet they get.

 

[gcr0003]

Fine in wet grass for the most part. If you cross quickly on puddles and streams you can sometimes get by, but it doesn’t take long for water to seep in. It’s not like pouring water into the boot but the inside gets damp. The longer you stay in the more wet they get.

What I’m trying to say is there are better hiking and better hunting boots out there for the price. If you fins them on sale then sure pick up a pair, but I wouldn’t have them as my primary.

@phatkaw also has some windrose but he might have had a better experience with them thenI have. They are extremely light weight and veryflexible which can be nice for different reasons.

 

[Camelcluch]

How were your Danners as far as waterproofing and insulation? I had read some reviews where some people were having issues with their boots leaking. This was not on the pronghorns but some other models I looked at.

My were older Danners. I typically use something a lot more study like the Kennetreks now. There are some good leather boots that won’t empty your account too.

 

[GeoFish]

In the comfort fit line, I have the shoes and uninsulated boots in a 14d. When i ordered the insulated version I had to go with the 14w.
Yes they advertise that the comfort fits are wider in the toe section.
If they don't fit, they pay the return shipping and send the replacements free ship.