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Insulated Hiking Boots

Anyone have experience with Zamberlan 1017s? or Hanwag?

I hem and haw on boots and end up doing nothing each year to upgrade.

Here I am again.

1.) I am interested in the Meindl Comfort Fit Hunter...but they seem sold out in any size that would fit.

So...I'm now looking at:

2.) Zamberlan 1017s:

MEN | Zamberlan USA

MEN
www.zamberlanusa.com www.zamberlanusa.com

These were 20% off just yesterday and I can still get that discount, so they are $312.

3.) I could have had Tibets at $276, but was unsure of getting a noninsulated boot.

4) Looked at Hanwag as well, Trapper Top for insulated and Alaska GTX in non. I'm under the impression they are great but a little stiff for Eastern Use, even compared with the others.

I hear you on non-insulated to avoid sweat, but am still pretty unsure there. It's usually 20F and below when I'm humping mountains. (although it seems warmer more often in recent years).

- Sometimes I track, and I think I'd be fine with uninsulated.

- But, often enough I race to a spot, climb, and set up in my saddle; that's going to be more than a mile or two in for sure. All day sits in NY, PA, Ohio...northeastern weather. Thats got me nervous on uninsulated, even with boot blankets or mukluks.

Also, stiffness. How do the stiffer soles do on stand/platform?
 
Spent the day researching uninsulated leather boots on Tuesday and ended up ordering the Hanwag Ancash II GTX from GoHunt while they were on sale. I'm hoping they fit me well and are not too stiff. GoHunt rates the stiffness a 4 out of 5. These will be my wet weather mountain boots if they work out.
 
Plebe said:
Anyone have experience with Zamberlan 1017s? or Hanwag?

I hem and haw on boots and end up doing nothing each year to upgrade.

Here I am again.

1.) I am interested in the Meindl Comfort Fit Hunter...but they seem sold out in any size that would fit.

So...I'm now looking at:

2.) Zamberlan 1017s:

MEN | Zamberlan USA

MEN
www.zamberlanusa.com www.zamberlanusa.com

These were 20% off just yesterday and I can still get that discount, so they are $312.

3.) I could have had Tibets at $276, but was unsure of getting a noninsulated boot.

4) Looked at Hanwag as well, Trapper Top for insulated and Alaska GTX in non. I'm under the impression they are great but a little stiff for Eastern Use, even compared with the others.

I hear you on non-insulated to avoid sweat, but am still pretty unsure there. It's usually 20F and below when I'm humping mountains. (although it seems warmer more often in recent years).

- Sometimes I track, and I think I'd be fine with uninsulated.

- But, often enough I race to a spot, climb, and set up in my saddle; that's going to be more than a mile or two in for sure. All day sits in NY, PA, Ohio...northeastern weather. Thats got me nervous on uninsulated, even with boot blankets or mukluks.

Also, stiffness. How do the stiffer soles do on stand/platform?
Click to expand...
These are my ongoing concerns as well. I can say with saddle hunting and going more mobile now, I have been using 400gm insulated Carolina work boots for a lot of my early season hunting and their 800gm insulated work boots for my later hunts in 30degree and up temps. I know I probably wouldn't last all day in them at 20-30 degree temps but for the mid 30's they haven't been bad. They do not have a steel toe but they do have a stiff sole but the ankle support and vibram soles work great in hill country. I wear cheap 100% nylon dress socks against my skin and then thin merino wool socks over them. I started doing this last year and it has worked pretty good. For years I just wore LaCrosse Burly and AlphaBurly's then old (1980's vintage) LaCrosse Green Iceman boots with the great high percentage rubber for super cold all day sits but they are very bulky to walk in. I am too looking for a different more functional mobile hunting boot for early, mid and late season saddle hunting. @Topdog I may have to try your system out. I was/am still considering the Meindle's Comfort Hunter but I agree, having to order a half size and all that is a hassle.
 
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Yeah I guess my thing with these other higher tech boots is they are great for the hike in and out and certainly the climb up the tree. But once you're set and you're in your saddle waiting....... how do your feet stay warm in these kinds of boots in the cold, damp, windy weather you have in the NorthEast? The only thing we have ever been able to tolerate are the bigger, bulkier pac boots or my old Lacrosse Iceman's. But again, those suck for long hikes up and down hill country and up and down trees.
 
I am not very rugged when it comes to cold weather, I would say I’m average in that regards. My Lowa Tibets work in 90 degree heat (work) doing active physical labor, with a normal cotton sock. Below 50 degrees I start wearing darn tough socks, below 30 degrees the thicker darn toughs. So here is my system, still hunting, tracking, basically on the move, Lowa Tibets 50-90 cotton sock, 30-50 darn tough, 10-30 thicker darn tough (full cushion or something). Sitting or in a stand, Lowa Tibets, half day sit I’m good down to about 30 degrees anything less than that I’m doing something different, it makes no difference if I’m walking 3 mile to my stand or a 100 yards my system stays the same for the above temps, my feet never sweat in Tibets, zero, rubber boots my feet sweat walking to the mail box. I would not be surprised if I could go almost down to zero in Tibets if I was on the move, they are that good, that being said when I’m moving it’s miles not yards, I cover ground.
Schnees extreme pac boots, for a half day sit 20-30 degrees, they are big and bulky so I limit my walk in with these, I will say though once again my feet never sweat in these ever, they are bullet proof.
Less than 20 degrees and sitting I’m back to the Lowa Tibets and IWOM xt, I have no idea how low I could go with this combo but I would guess it’s off the charts, I usually fall asleep no matter the temperature.
This is my deer hunting system, I check my phone in the morning for weather and grab whatever accordingly.
Coyote season, brutal cold, -20 to 35 most days, on and off the snowmobile, snow shoes, walking, sitting, everything you can imagine, creeks, swamps, you name it. -20 to 30 I wear schnees extreme, sitka stratus bibs and jacket with layers depending on temps.
Coyote season above 30, Schnees Hunter 2 pac boots, these work well 30-45, just like the extreme they are big and bulky and offer no ankle support.
Muck boots, I use them to plow the driveway and thats it, maybe get the mail.
As far as being water proof, both the Schnees and Lowa Tibets are water proof to the point wet grass, small creek crossings, snow, your feet will be bone dry, zero sweat, I would not wear them for fishing or anything but after owning 3 pairs of Lowa Tibets and 5 pairs of Schnees pac boots I’m telling you they don’t leak unless you go over the top, I also treat all my boots once before season and once right after, I hunt from the middle of October to the end of March probably 5-6 days of week and have for the last 23 years, if I started to mention all the boots I have tried my fingers would go numb.
For big water crossings while deer hunting, tracking usually this happens, I carry 2 heavy duty contractor bags in my pack, it works, you don’t wana mess around or anything but it can be done if your fast, much over the knees for depth and you really wana hustle but they definitely work in a pinch, once I’m home I swap them out for 2 new ones, usually the bottom will tear on the rocks.
Stiff boots, this is going to be personal preference, I will say this though, when I was 15 to 25 anything worked for boots, once you get a few years under your belt good boots make the difference, most good boots are going to be somewhat stiff, to me Lowa Tibets are perfect. Schnees pac boots are not stiff at all more like cheap rubber boots. My Muck boots are Artic Sports or something and to me those are just as stiff as my Lowa Tibets.
This is my opinion, good, quality uninsulated boots like the brands mentioned in this thread will be just as warm as most cheaper, inferior insulated boots, why you ask, because they breathe number 1, and the build quality is just so much better is my guess. My advice to anybody is to buy good quality uninsulated boots and regulate temperature with socks, obviously everybody is going to be different and if your hunting is walking 500 yards to the back 40 before dark I’m sure none of this is needed, if your active and hike, climb, basically a mobile hunter this is what I use. The only time I would wear my Muck boots hunting is if my walk was super short and I knew 100% that I would be in a swamp, my feet were always soaked in rubber boots, no matter what socks I tried. I hope this helps somebody.
 
@Plebe that Zamberlan Mastodon actually looks and sounds like a great boot. I have no experience with them but it doesn't seem very well made.
 
Topdog said:
I am not very rugged when it comes to cold weather, I would say I’m average in that regards. My Lowa Tibets work in 90 degree heat (work) doing active physical labor, with a normal cotton sock. Below 50 degrees I start wearing darn tough socks, below 30 degrees the thicker darn toughs. So here is my system, still hunting, tracking, basically on the move, Lowa Tibets 50-90 cotton sock, 30-50 darn tough, 10-30 thicker darn tough (full cushion or something). Sitting or in a stand, Lowa Tibets, half day sit I’m good down to about 30 degrees anything less than that I’m doing something different, it makes no difference if I’m walking 3 mile to my stand or a 100 yards my system stays the same for the above temps, my feet never sweat in Tibets, zero, rubber boots my feet sweat walking to the mail box. I would not be surprised if I could go almost down to zero in Tibets if I was on the move, they are that good, that being said when I’m moving it’s miles not yards, I cover ground.
Schnees extreme pac boots, for a half day sit 20-30 degrees, they are big and bulky so I limit my walk in with these, I will say though once again my feet never sweat in these ever, they are bullet proof.
Less than 20 degrees and sitting I’m back to the Lowa Tibets and IWOM xt, I have no idea how low I could go with this combo but I would guess it’s off the charts, I usually fall asleep no matter the temperature.
This is my deer hunting system, I check my phone in the morning for weather and grab whatever accordingly.
Coyote season, brutal cold, -20 to 35 most days, on and off the snowmobile, snow shoes, walking, sitting, everything you can imagine, creeks, swamps, you name it. -20 to 30 I wear schnees extreme, sitka stratus bibs and jacket with layers depending on temps.
Coyote season above 30, Schnees Hunter 2 pac boots, these work well 30-45, just like the extreme they are big and bulky and offer no ankle support.
Muck boots, I use them to plow the driveway and thats it, maybe get the mail.
As far as being water proof, both the Schnees and Lowa Tibets are water proof to the point wet grass, small creek crossings, snow, your feet will be bone dry, zero sweat, I would not wear them for fishing or anything but after owning 3 pairs of Lowa Tibets and 5 pairs of Schnees pac boots I’m telling you they don’t leak unless you go over the top, I also treat all my boots once before season and once right after, I hunt from the middle of October to the end of March probably 5-6 days of week and have for the last 23 years, if I started to mention all the boots I have tried my fingers would go numb.
For big water crossings while deer hunting, tracking usually this happens, I carry 2 heavy duty contractor bags in my pack, it works, you don’t wana mess around or anything but it can be done if your fast, much over the knees for depth and you really wana hustle but they definitely work in a pinch, once I’m home I swap them out for 2 new ones, usually the bottom will tear on the rocks.
Stiff boots, this is going to be personal preference, I will say this though, when I was 15 to 25 anything worked for boots, once you get a few years under your belt good boots make the difference, most good boots are going to be somewhat stiff, to me Lowa Tibets are perfect. Schnees pac boots are not stiff at all more like cheap rubber boots. My Muck boots are Artic Sports or something and to me those are just as stiff as my Lowa Tibets.
This is my opinion, good, quality uninsulated boots like the brands mentioned in this thread will be just as warm as most cheaper, inferior insulated boots, why you ask, because they breathe number 1, and the build quality is just so much better is my guess. My advice to anybody is to buy good quality uninsulated boots and regulate temperature with socks, obviously everybody is going to be different and if your hunting is walking 500 yards to the back 40 before dark I’m sure none of this is needed, if your active and hike, climb, basically a mobile hunter this is what I use. The only time I would wear my Muck boots hunting is if my walk was super short and I knew 100% that I would be in a swamp, my feet were always soaked in rubber boots, no matter what socks I tried. I hope this helps somebody.
Click to expand...
This is great @Topdog
 
The boot blankets I tried several years ago were quiet in the store, but were unacceptable below 32.
I just ordered the comfort hunter 400 in my normal size 14D. After talking to Meindl. My current collection of boots go from 14D to 15EE. And the china 15EE are tight. Let you know how they fit.
 
GeoFish said:
The boot blankets I tried several years ago were quiet in the store, but were unacceptable below 32.
I just ordered the comfort hunter 400 in my normal size 14D. After talking to Meindl. My current collection of boots go from 14D to 15EE. And the china 15EE are tight. Let you know how they fit.
Click to expand...
What were the boot blankets?
 
fr0sty said:
I've had good luck using wiggy's lamalite socks with rubber and non rubber boots. They suck any moisture off your feet and pulls it to the outside of the "sock". You don't wear any other socks or liners with them. https://www.wiggys.com/specials/15-off-sale/13-lamilite-socks/
Click to expand...

I’ve been planning to try their lamalite.

Wiggys makes an over boot and mukluk too. The one online review made the overboot seem inadequate for stationary hunting but I can’t imagine the mukluk not being warm.

I’m going to order
 
woodsdog2 said:
@Plebe that Zamberlan Mastodon actually looks and sounds like a great boot. I have no experience with them but it doesn't seem very well made.
Click to expand...

What tips you off to poor quality/manufacturing?
 
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woodsdog2 said:
No nothing, not at all they actually look very awesome. I meant to say they look very well made!!!
Click to expand...

I've been through what I can find on Rockslide.

One strike against Zamberlan is their apparently poor customer service. Yet their boots can also apparently be very awesome, so long as you don't have a problem set. Quite a few "tried them all" boots folk are swearing by Zamberlan.

There seemed to be an issue with the Hunter Pro Evo, that was unsatisfactorily handled.

But you can almost find a complaint with most any of them.

Still, customer service is how wrongs get righted. Maybe they're a bit of a risk. Idk.

__________________________________________________________________________

Separately........

What do you do with Meindl's sizing past 11.5? Half sizing stops there...so, is a 13 a 13 or a 12? Anyone?
 
Topdog said:
I am not very rugged when it comes to cold weather, I would say I’m average in that regards. My Lowa Tibets work in 90 degree heat (work) doing active physical labor, with a normal cotton sock. Below 50 degrees I start wearing darn tough socks, below 30 degrees the thicker darn toughs. So here is my system, still hunting, tracking, basically on the move, Lowa Tibets 50-90 cotton sock, 30-50 darn tough, 10-30 thicker darn tough (full cushion or something). Sitting or in a stand, Lowa Tibets, half day sit I’m good down to about 30 degrees anything less than that I’m doing something different, it makes no difference if I’m walking 3 mile to my stand or a 100 yards my system stays the same for the above temps, my feet never sweat in Tibets, zero, rubber boots my feet sweat walking to the mail box. I would not be surprised if I could go almost down to zero in Tibets if I was on the move, they are that good, that being said when I’m moving it’s miles not yards, I cover ground.
Schnees extreme pac boots, for a half day sit 20-30 degrees, they are big and bulky so I limit my walk in with these, I will say though once again my feet never sweat in these ever, they are bullet proof.
Less than 20 degrees and sitting I’m back to the Lowa Tibets and IWOM xt, I have no idea how low I could go with this combo but I would guess it’s off the charts, I usually fall asleep no matter the temperature.
This is my deer hunting system, I check my phone in the morning for weather and grab whatever accordingly.
Coyote season, brutal cold, -20 to 35 most days, on and off the snowmobile, snow shoes, walking, sitting, everything you can imagine, creeks, swamps, you name it. -20 to 30 I wear schnees extreme, sitka stratus bibs and jacket with layers depending on temps.
Coyote season above 30, Schnees Hunter 2 pac boots, these work well 30-45, just like the extreme they are big and bulky and offer no ankle support.
Muck boots, I use them to plow the driveway and thats it, maybe get the mail.
As far as being water proof, both the Schnees and Lowa Tibets are water proof to the point wet grass, small creek crossings, snow, your feet will be bone dry, zero sweat, I would not wear them for fishing or anything but after owning 3 pairs of Lowa Tibets and 5 pairs of Schnees pac boots I’m telling you they don’t leak unless you go over the top, I also treat all my boots once before season and once right after, I hunt from the middle of October to the end of March probably 5-6 days of week and have for the last 23 years, if I started to mention all the boots I have tried my fingers would go numb.
For big water crossings while deer hunting, tracking usually this happens, I carry 2 heavy duty contractor bags in my pack, it works, you don’t wana mess around or anything but it can be done if your fast, much over the knees for depth and you really wana hustle but they definitely work in a pinch, once I’m home I swap them out for 2 new ones, usually the bottom will tear on the rocks.
Stiff boots, this is going to be personal preference, I will say this though, when I was 15 to 25 anything worked for boots, once you get a few years under your belt good boots make the difference, most good boots are going to be somewhat stiff, to me Lowa Tibets are perfect. Schnees pac boots are not stiff at all more like cheap rubber boots. My Muck boots are Artic Sports or something and to me those are just as stiff as my Lowa Tibets.
This is my opinion, good, quality uninsulated boots like the brands mentioned in this thread will be just as warm as most cheaper, inferior insulated boots, why you ask, because they breathe number 1, and the build quality is just so much better is my guess. My advice to anybody is to buy good quality uninsulated boots and regulate temperature with socks, obviously everybody is going to be different and if your hunting is walking 500 yards to the back 40 before dark I’m sure none of this is needed, if your active and hike, climb, basically a mobile hunter this is what I use. The only time I would wear my Muck boots hunting is if my walk was super short and I knew 100% that I would be in a swamp, my feet were always soaked in rubber boots, no matter what socks I tried. I hope this helps somebody.
Click to expand...

I have one question: what in the world do you do for a living that allows you to hunt 5-6 days a week from Mid October to the end of March?? And how do I apply for that job?
 
mtsrunner said:
I have one question: what in the world do you do for a living that allows you to hunt 5-6 days a week from Mid October to the end of March?? And how do I apply for that job?
Click to expand...
I own a tree service business, we get super nasty winter weather around here and most outside contractors shut down during that time frame, I make sure it happens.
 
That’s cool. I actually have two hunting buddies that own their own tree services. They both stay slammed busy pretty much year round, Our weather is just bad enough to cause a few storms that keep the trees falling, but then clears up long enough for them to clean everything up. That is some serious hard work right there. You guys earn your money for sure. One of the guys was actually the ASA world champion in the 1980s and on the cover of some archery magazine.
 
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