I need a good pair of hunting boots. I mainly still hunt and usually walk a few miles getting to where I am going and back. I will be in Region F in Wyoming for deer this year, and also hunt the steep hills of WV. Must be waterproof and would like 4-600 grams of thinsulate. Does anybody have any favorites, and why?

I like schnees as the quality is excellent, they are in bozeman, see them online at http://www.schnees.com/
I have their basic pac boots and the leather uppers are very thick and high quality. I got the uninsulated version for ga and fl but they have a number of insulated models.

A woman I know hunts with Schnee boots.Loves 'em.

Ahhhh...favorite hunting boots. Next to a guys choice of female companion(s), I can't think of a more subjective topic! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My preferences are for short ones, tall ones and in-between ones. Uninsulated and moderatedly insulated are a must, although pards of mine lean toward more heavily insulated models for cold So. Dak. winters. They must be reliable and need little maintainance, save a little cleaning up now and again.

However, for hunting boots I prefer Danners.

I like my Schnees, and they'll fit a standard stirrup unlike many pacs. They are heavy though and I wear Cabelas Outfitters with gore-tex gaiters if it isn't real cold and wet. Early season, Danner ankle high backpacking boots.

I like the lace-to-toe design like Danners. I can lace them tight for walking rough terrain or loosen them for stand hunting and get better circulation for warmth. All leather gives better support but won't let the Gore-tex work as well at wicking sweat out. I got a pair of all leather boots from Cabelas several years ago. I also have Matterhorns I like too. They were military issue boots.

fwiw,
Meindl Perfekts are FAR and away the finest boots I've ever owned. Owned many pairs of Danners with fair performance not to mention Custom Russels which I hold in equal esteem as Burris's Titanium Mr. T Scopes for my use...(grin)

Regards, Matt.

I have bought two pair of boots from Lathrop and Sons.
www.lathropandsons.com

They are now friends. They know their stuff, and you won't regret buying from them. Good people, and the new Han Wag boots are fantastic.

Start with the ones that fit you the best.
I have had good luck with Danners and Rockys. One of my hunting pards bought a pair of Cabelas gortex lined boots. A year later they started to leak. Cabelas took em back. Something to think about.

I use Filson Highlander boots. They are insulated and seem very good. I used them hunting in the rain once, and my feet stayed dry and warm.

They would not be my favorite choice in warm weather. But for tough conditions are excellent. Because they are leather, I'm also not sure about extended periods in wet weather. You'd need a place to dry off each evening, I'm thinking.

I like the Elk Hunter - from Cabela's. Made by danner, Gore-tex or no gore-tex, unisulated or 400 - 600 gram insulation. Good boots, bob sole bottom(love it or hate it), lace to toe.
YMMV.....

Obviously this post is a bit subjective as it really depends on what type of hunting you will be doing and where. I bought a pair of danners years ago. I was not looking for them as I had another brand in mind. I tried five or six brands on and the danners fit like a glove, that's why I bought them and they are fantastic. I typically wear them off season for chores. for hunting, I wear the lacrosse rubber boots and they do not seem to leave much sent on the ground and I almost always have to cross the creek on my land on the way to a stand. Also, I like my russel uninsulated boots for general wear but I go back to the schnees for the quality. they are like the ll bean or cabelas packs but the quality is better (as the price is also higher) but they are really fine boots. I would second what others have already said, if you are going to spend much time on your feet FIT IS EVERYTHING!

I have used Danners for all me early season hunting for years, including a mule deer hunt in WY (E-84) where the terrain ranged from sand dunes to rocks to swamp (well, at least it was a water hole about 6" deep where my buck piled up)! They worked great. They are the sasquatch (sp?) model: lace to toe, gore-tex; 600 gram; air bob sole.

Meindl's STRONGLY!

Meindl's provide much more support than Danners or any of the others I've owned. If the walking is easy, the Meindl's are overkill and I use my Danners but for the rocks, shale and steeps of the Rockies, Meindl's win hands down. I can move twice as fast and more securely with them because of the ankle support and the sole grip.

For rubber-bottom pacs, Schnees or Whites. For leather boots, Meindl or Danner. For pain such as you have never felt in your life, get a pair of White Packer boots and try breaking them in. The finest boots in the world, but your shrieks of agony will make the welkin ring.

Miendls By highest recommendations. Been wearing them for at least 15 years. Fit new like you have had them for years. Great support, traction and warmth. Wear with a liner sock in hot weather and liner and heavy boot sock in super cold and your feet will stay dry and warm. Great support and reliability.

Lessee, welkin . . . I used to know what a welkin was. Didn't Robin Hood's horn (or was it Roland's) make it ring too.

Ah ha! Here it is in the dictionary. "The air, the sky, the vault of heaven".

Iif you're a US citizen, it's OK to let it ring. The USA didn't sign the Kyoto thingy on greenhouse gases, so let 'er rip. Citizenry of non-signatories will have to moan quietly.

--Bob

I would recommend you buy a pair of Whites boots and a pair of goretex socks. I do not think you will find a better pair of boots than Whites. Their web site is "www.whitesboots.com". They were recommended to me by a career Forest Service employee. They sell a lot of boots to Loggers and Fire Fighters. They will custom fit the boots to you. I took a pair of them sheep hunting in Alaska 2 years ago and they worked great. Cabellas sells gortex socks and they work great also.

WVblue

I have a pair of Danner mountain light's and Rocky's with 800gr thinsulate but since i've bought a pair of Schnee's they are all i want to wear. If you do a lot of really tough elevation, a stiffer pair of boots may be better but dollar for dollar the Schnee's are a great boot. They are re-soleable, have removable liners and are made very well.I usually walk pretty far in, and i still hunt quite a bit, and i have no complaints so far, they are very comfortable and thats the most important part of any boot.

MEINDL's, there are just the best boot out right now that aren't a full custom boot. They very tough and very comfortable and fully waterproof.

I put a pair of Danners next to them when I bought them and I was extremly happy I bought the Meindls.

I used to like Danners, but now I prefer Meindl's, I'm on my third pair of them..........there are definately different Meindl's for different applications, i.e. my most recent pair is from Hoffman;s with the caulk's and they have so much support that some guys don't like them....claiming too stiff, but I am getting to like them just fine ! The trick for me (skinny legs and feet) is to wear two pairs of THICK socks all the time, otherwise I tend to have caulk boots "roll over" on me, and that is the end of that pair of boots reguardless of mileage !

Accraholic,

how skinny are your feet? I'm stuck with 13A, and Redwing is now building boots mostly in B widths.

Are you able to find Meindls that fit skinny feet? How skinny?

Thanks,

Sycamore

I bought my first pair of Danners last year and they have been somewhat of a disappointment. A $300 boot should be better. My guide in BC had the Danner Canadians for which he paid $500 Canadian. They were soft and wallowed out of shaped and leaked like a screen roof. I had an old pair of Cabelas Canadas that I had resoled but are now too small for me. I sent them up to him ( he works in the bush every day of the year). He said they are better than his Danners.

If you are going to be spending weeks in rough country, then there are many boots that will work for you. I will caution you against whites and Hathorns unless you need something this robust- I hardly wear mine anymore as they are not the best boot for rough country.

I'm in the market for another boot myself- I am looking at the Cabelas Alaskan and Lowa boots. They are very stiff- not for everyone.

Well, if you want the BEST, go to www.hikingbootshandcrafted.com and order boots from Charlie. I was just in his shop last weekend, ordering two pair of his high hikers and NOTHING comes even close to his boots. They will cost you, but, they are worth it.

Meindls, Scarpas, Kastingers, Hanwags, Lowas are all good Euro boots and I have used many pair of them in the roughest B.C. conditions, but, none of them compare to Van Gorkums. Your boots are absolutely critical to your enjoyment/success in mountain country, so, forget buying beer and buy top quality boots.

Hey Kute, after looking at his original and taller models, which style of boot did you end up ordering? My boots' birthday is coming up in two weeks-------the anticipation is getting to me.

I ordered the taller Trekker style as I need the support for my limpy leg.