pbgunrunner,
I know you said you did not want to spend $400.00 to save a few ounces but let me say that good boots are one of the most important gear items you will need on an elk hunt. Now I wore a pair of Danner Trophy boots for many years and they were great for hiking, and I used them both out west and here in Virginia. They did not have heels and were therefore not good for horseback hunts, I highly recommend a heel on boots used on horseback. I also had a pair of Low Tibbet GTX for milder weather.
Elk hunting means good boots and good optics to me.
