Get her a pair of Kenetrek Mtn Extremes for ladies, it's a 400 gram boot. She'll find new love in both the boots and you..

Dober

This is a good thread. Especially the part where rost495 is trying to do something for his wife, to make her hunt more better.

Mark

I'll check into that too.. Was thinking more insulation but one can cover that with correct socks IMHO and toe warmers....

Bullet- thanks, I don't enjoy hunting as much if she's not along. She only takes photos anymore, but that and her being there is the most fun. Now if I could ever get her over her bitchiness about exploring the next face/valley/hill/mountain... still afraid something will happen to me and she'd be lost... but we have so much gear.... it would be hard to die while carrying the kitchen sink and water heater...

Jeff

Jeff,

Unfortunately no one boot will do the trick. I have to agree with Saddlesore about goretex boots. Sooner or later the goretex will fail, I buy goretex boots that are all leather for that reason, you can use a waterproofer on them to extend their use. I have a pair of Schnee's Hunter II's. They are an excellent addition to a Man's outdoors arsenal and are MUCH better than Sorrells or other pac boots. I wouldn't want to spend a long and rough day walking in them but in snow situations they do the trick. "A tool for each trick".

I got to thinking about this and started to remember back in the fifties. Most guys under 50 or so won't remember ,but back in the days of hunting the big hardwoods in deep snows for whitetails,the old red/black plaid of Woolrich was dominant. Along with that were 5 buckle artics,like the over shoes they sell today, only higher. With them were lace up packs with hard bottoms that you could wear around camp at night. In them you wore a pair of wool socks. Everyone called them hunting socks back then. Since then,there has not been any significant technology except maybe poly sock liners, gaiters, and chemical toe warmers that keep your feet as warm and dry. The closest thing today are the pack boots like sorels, schnees, etc. You can buy the $200 mountaineering boots, etc. with gor tex liners,but after a year,or less you have an expensive leather or part canvas boot that isn't waterproof anymore and /or requires constant applications of something to make them useable.
I live at 7650 ft. We get snow on the ground in early Nov,sometimes Oct,and it stays until April or so. I'm out every day,feeding stock, moving manure, or hay, plowing snow ,etc. Mostly I wear sorels,or schnees when I need to walk further,but I'm in wet,slop, about anything one can imagine for a few hours every day.I need to keep my feet dry and warm. Tour about any high country ranch or farm and you will see the same attire on most guys feet. Over the years,we have found what works.These other boots may work for those one-two-three 10 day hunting trips a year or when it is dry,but a person needs something else also.

Neatest thing I have seen for a wife was with a guy that comes up from OK every year where I hunt. He secured a pair of those thick down camp booties to his wifes stirrups like taperderos.She puts her feet in them, boots and all when she is riding.

That's funny. IME, the Dacks are overall a heck of a lot rougher to navigate than most anything found in Montana...

Jeff, a 400 gram Thinsulate boot with a full rubber rand will be ideal for cold weather elk hunting IME. Paks really aren't needed unless stand hunting IMO.

Kennetrek makes a good boot, but there are others out there too. Depends on what your feet like mostly.

I just saw the over boots made by Wiggy's and they look ideal for the stand hunting option. Shoes or boots will fit inside and they have some sole for minimal walking or riding.

They would be the height of luxury in camp with down booties inside. The perfect valentine gift for an outdoor type gal.

Tejano:

I hope they have improved overboots since I tried using them, which was a long time ago. Then, the supergaiters took two men and a boy to get them onto the boots. The overboots were pretty flimzy and had no tread on the bottoms so they were good only if we were wearing crampons. I still have both and they have sat in a box in the closet for a couple of decades.

I still take my down booties with me but haven't spent enough time laying around in a tent to use them much.

KC

The old super gaiters were a pain, even with duct tape around the bottom they would get snow or ice in them. But sure beat the Heck out of frost bitten toes. Used them before the advent of plastic boots, about the time I quit Mountaineering and Ice Climbing.

The Wiggy's have a light sole they were originally made for trench warfare applications. They claim they are ok for walking. I haven't tried them but I will if I am in the market. Over boots are only good for stand hunting or Goose layout hunting, but could be a toe saver if you got really chilled. Might work for riding, horses, snow machine, ATV etc. At 12 ozs worth a try.