Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Insulated boots or non

Thinking I can get away with uninsulated boots with wool socks. Don't seem to get cold feet when I'm moving around.

Always uninsulated for me when hunting out west.

Yep.

I've tried a couple of different insulated boots and I can't find a pair that fits properly enough to actually do any serious hiking.

If there's snow on the ground, I wear a pair of Kennetreck Hardscrabble boots and gaiters.

If there's no snow, I wear a pair of Oboz Bridger BDry boots.

KC

Not me

I spend way to much time glassing

400 and 600 gram is what I like

Insulated for me. It drops down below 0 sometimes during our elk season here and snow on the ground. Insulated boots help to keep the feet warm... JMHO...

Same here.

Before insulated I had to start a small fire a couple of times to thaw the toes.

I do! Have yet to really need insulated boots hunting out West. If I get cold I just move for a bit.

I think the key words in the OP are "when I'm moving around."

I wear Kenetrek Hard scrabbles, the wife wears a Lacrosse 600 gram insulated boot because she gets cold easy. The last three years have been warm so has been a nonissue. This past year I was done my hunting on Sept. 16th and it was 70 that day. Sweat like an unpaid forced worker ( slave) getting one in the truck. Situations change fast and temperatures even faster........

Apparently he'll never stop moving........

I use 2-400 gr as a compromise and depending on how cold it will be at daylight and dusk when I'm usually not moving. You're not going to sit long at 15-20 degrees with non-insulated boots. If it's early season,yes non-insulated in all situations.

To each his own, IMO dawn ans dusk are some of the best times to be moving unless you have eyes on animals.

I have spent the last 5 days hiking/hunting around Salmon, Id. Lots of snow and temps as low as 7* f. My Salomon 4d GTX boots,Smartwool sox and OR Croc gaiters have been perfect while hiking or sitting and calling for up to an hour. My wife is using Lowa leather GTX boots and has had no problems. Whatever you choose size to fit w/ great sox and a thin wicking liner. Good gaiters make a huge difference as does thoroughly drying sox and boots, if possible, every night.


mike r

My current boots have 200 grams of thinsulate and my previous ones had 600 grams. I can't tell the differance warmth wise between the two. If it gets below 20 degrees or so without constant movement I break out the Schnees pack boots.
Everyone is different though. My feet get cold pretty quick.
And as the poster above mentioned try to dry your boots and socks out every night.

Well I have both insulated and non in varying weights from 2.5-6lbs a pair. Was mainly trying to get the extra weight of my feet that comes along with the insulation. Perhaps it doesn't weigh that much but the boots I currently have definitely have a direct correlation with weight/insulation increase.

Two items not mentioned above are liner socks and toe warmers. Some years ago, my backpacking and hiking enthusiast sister-in-law told me about liner socks, generally light wicking socks worn under a heavier insulating sock. The idea is they wick away sweat and also prevent blisters. Having tried them, I agree.

This past November deer season in New York State I used toe warmers for the first time. It doesn't seem to matter how much insulation my boots have, my feet still get cold when I sit. Toe warmers cured that problem.

Another bit of gear to consider is vapor barrier socks. I have a pair but have never used them. The reason I bought them is my feet are sweaty and my socks and boots get wet after a day of walking around in the woods. The problem becomes wet boots for tomorrow's hunt. I was able to use a boot dryer this past season as we stayed in a cabin with electric power. When I hunted Colorado in 1989 and 1991, we camped in a tent. My wet boots were pretty uncomfortable in the morning! The second time out, in 1991, I switched outer socks at noon to keep my boots from getting wet inside. I also had a spare pair of boots on that trip.

I use 400 gram. They are plenty warm for most conditions, but don't roast you when it is warm, either.

400 gram Kennetreks in early seasons and 1000 gram same in later seasons. Gators are always included, even on dry hunts. I cover 10-15 miles per day in my elk units. Solid, well insulated boots are required when I may end up 10 miles back at sunset and don't want to waste time hiking out only to come back in the am. Good, heavy wool socks with liners round out the set up and make over-nighting comfortable, especially with my wool shirts and German Army surplus pants.

Good point. I bought Smartwool liner socks last year and used them all hunting season. I bought 2 more pairs at Christmas - they work great at keeping the feet dry.

This. I have uninsulated and 400 grams in camp at all times. Use varies with conditions. Not that hard to figure.

Warpig602: I use and prefer insulated boots for October and November Elk Hunting - in my opinion insulated boots are mandatory for serious Elk Hunting during this time frame.
During our lengthy early fall archery Elk Hunting seasons here in Montana I often use uninsulated boots BUT... my insulated boots are back in camp ready for use when inclement weather occurs.
And that occurs every other year or so.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Uninsulated with some space for thicker socks, but still able to move toes. good wool socks. Add in toe warmers as noted above. insulated overboots like a boot blanket if sitting still for long periods.

I spent all of my childhood with bad socks and 200-400 gr thinsulate insulated boots. Main reason I would get out of my tree stand early was toes so cold they hurt. Realized my feet were sweating when I would walk to the stand and then they just got colder and colder. I got to where I would wear running shoes to the stand and then put on my boots. Now I have uninsulated boots with good wool socks. key is to allow some room for you to move your toes. Boots too tight will cut off some of the circulation and make your feet colder. Toe warmers added on colder days. Overboots have been great for stand sitting. Even better was sitting in a blind with a small heater.

I have uninsulated boots now. They were fine in early Nov elk hunting this year, of course it was unseasonably warm too. My next pair of boots will have light (200-400g) insulation.

For the site where we all talk about being rifle loonies, I'm surprised there aren't a bunch of boot loonies like myself. I have a few pair of uninsulated boots (Schnee Beartooth Unins., Schnee Guide, Lowa Ranger) AND several pair of insulated (Schnee Beartooth Insul., Schnee Hunter Pacs). I like the ability to pick whatever boot would go best with the weather, as well as the added longevity by being able to rotate boots.

Mild and sunny: the pre-64 .308 and the uninsulated Beartooth
Cold and snowy: the Rem. Mtn guide 7-08 and the Schnee Hunter Pacs

The last couple of seasons I could have gone with uninsulated with no trouble but we hunt in November sometimes over 10k altitude and I'd rather not whine like a little girl and wish for the truck. I have 400, 600 and 1000 gram Cabelas leather boots that are about the same age and are well broken in with one or 2 pairs of varying weight wool socks. They replaced 2 pairs of 800 gram Lacrosse that lasted several years.

I handle my feet being too hot much better than too cold. My first day elk hunting several years ago was in 10" of snow with leaking boots and it made a lasting impression.

Well, I couldnt decide so with the 20% off and free shipping from Cableas this week I ended up with a pair of Cabela/Meindl Perfekts 400gr, and Cabela/Meindl Ultralite insulated.

Not to pick on this post, but only to use it as a spring board for a larger discussion... "hunting out West"? Does that mean New Mexico in September or Montana in November?

The original post doesn't allude to any state or month. Trying to answer the original question without specifics is kinda silly.

Here in the MT General Big Game Season I've hunted in -25*F weather. I sure as hell wouldn't want un-insulated boots in that weather.

So the answer would be, "it depends."

In general, I think an insulated boot is a smart move.

Tend to agree but don't even think its location specific. I've hunted in 22 below in Colorado during 4th elk season, 12 below in second season Colorado, and 70 degrees in Colorado in the first season. Most years it runs 15-20 in the AM, 40-45 in the PM. For me, I always take 2 pair boots - 400 gr and uninsulated. I wear the 400 gr most of the time because I do alot of sitting and watching glassing in the PM. If I'm covering ground looking for elk, the uninsulated go for the walk, plus they tend to be lighter weight. If I'm backpacking I take whichever pair will cover the temps while I'm out. Can't go wrong with 2 pair Meindls - one insulated, 1 uninsulated.

Bill, as a "30-06" choice (all-around), I generally use a 400 gram Thinsulate boot.

[quote=drakecasey]For the site where we all talk about being rifle loonies, I'm surprised there aren't a bunch of boot loonies like myself. I have a few pair of uninsulated boots (Schnee Beartooth Unins., Schnee Guide, Lowa Ranger) AND several pair of insulated (Schnee Beartooth Insul., Schnee Hunter Pacs). I like the ability to pick whatever boot would go best with the weather, as well as the added longevity by being able to rotate boots.

Yup, I've got two pairs of Lowa Renegades to alternate days on so one is alway dry and warm and some schnees for really nasty snow/cold and some of the old original Vasque Sundowners for warm dry and....

Mild and sunny: the pre-64 .308 and the uninsulated Beartooth
Cold and snowy: the Rem. Mtn guide 7-08 and the Schnee Hunter Pacs [/quo

I take 'em both and weather dictates. If I'm in snow, then insulated boots. No snow, then my regular boots.

I've hunted "out west" in nothing but uninsulated boots. Those hunts have ranged from pronghorn in Sept to mountain goats in November. If I'm able to do much moving/hiking I've not found them to be a problem. If funds allowed, I'd have an insulated pair as well, but for me the uninsulated covers more seasons.