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Suitable for long hikes in steep terrain. If the weather were to turn really cold and snowy, my current uninsulated boots would not be ideal. Current boots are Salomon Quest FWIW. I've used them in snow with morning temps in the teens. If it were colder and significant snow for an entire hunt I'd want insulation. Suggestions?

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Originally Posted by prm
Suitable for long hikes in steep terrain.


Personally, I don't like insulated boots for this kind of use, they make my feet sweat too much on long hikes in steep terrain.

Having said that, my favorite hunting boot for snow is a non-insulated Kennetrek, and they have insulated boots too, that's where I'd look.



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I agree with Smokepole. If you are hiking in steep terrain your feet (and the rest of you) will be sweating. Be sure to wear liner socks under a medium weight wool sock to avoid blisters. Bring spare socks to change. If you only have one pair of boots, wear a vapor barrier sock over your outer sock. That way your boots will stay dry inside. Your feet will sweat more, but at least you will be able to change into dry socks and have dry boots.


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I agree about the insulated boots. But eventually the conditions get bad enough to warrant them. I want to be prepared for that. I'll check out 400gr insulated Kenetreks

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For my feet, I find Kennetrek's entirely too stiff, and unnecessarily so. Also, while Kennetrek is the same price (or more) of other comparable boots that use Goretex/Vibram, Kennetrek uses cheaper proprietary waterproof/breathable liners and soles.

I've found 400 gram boots ideal for cold weather elk hunting.


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I'm with Brad on 400 grams. The issue is that a long steep hike may be required to get to an evening or morning sit spot. Sitting for 2-4 hours in cold weather with non-insulated boots has never worked for me. As a result, I default to 400 gr boots for 90+% of my mountain hunting.


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Originally Posted by prm
I agree about the insulated boots. But eventually the conditions get bad enough to warrant them. I want to be prepared for that. I'll check out 400gr insulated Kenetreks


I bought my first set of Kenetrek 400s this year, and put 100-150 miles on them prepping for a hunt Idaho last week. Kenetreks, IMHO, take about 25-50 miles to break into your foot. They were not bad to break in, but they are stiffer than most people are used to. The temps in Virginia were 70s-90s+, and I didn't think the sweating in the boots was too bad, but I was only hiking for 1-2.5 hours and taking them off.

For the Idaho terrian, I really liked the stiff and the support, especially for some stupid downhill routes, and a lot of sidehill walking. I had an Achilles tendon issue on my left foot all of this year, and the Kenetreks were the only boot that didn't aggrivate it further.

Temps on the hunt were low 30s - mid 70s, and I had good quality wool socks. For the temps with a gator on, it was too much insulation. I did get on the verge of trench foot on a couple of days, and did get a blister from the excess moisture allowing slippage in the toe area.

If I did it over, I would have gone with the un-insulated boot. Even changing socks at the mid-day if I could, the moisture was present. I found that taking the gators off helped, but I don't think I ever really got the boots dried out after the first day.

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^^Did you get an elk though? Good to know they do break in eventually. I need to err to the side of less insulation due to sweaty feet, but it can get bad enough to use insulation. But not during archery season! I could not have worn insulated boots this early. I'm looking at mid-October at 10k'. I can typically do fine with uninsulated then, but one year pushed the limits. I'm watching the long term forecasts!

Here in VA, I'd be a mess wearing insulated boots right now to break in!

Brad, on my one attempt at Kenetreks I found the same as you. Open to other suggestions.

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PRM, I use Crispi boots. They're not nearly as stiff as others I've owned, including Lowa. Best I ever had were Cablela's branded "Mountain Hunters"... no longer made of course.

Cabela's current similar model (Perfekt), with rubber rand, made in conjunction with Meindl is about identical to the Crispi in terms of stiffness... I think it's one of the better mountain boots out there for those that have "soft" feet like you and I.

Actually, the cheaper, rand-less 400 gram Cabela's/Meindl Perfekt was even easier on my feet than the randed version.

Were I getting a pair to replace my Crispi's I think I'd go with the Cabela's 10" Perfekt:

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...26CQ_search%3Dmeindl%2Bboots%26CQ_st%3Db


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Thanks, I was just visiting their site. A good friend has had a pair for many years, and many miles, and swears by them.

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Originally Posted by prm
^^Did you get an elk though?

Here in VA, I'd be a mess wearing insulated boots right now to break in!

Brad, on my one attempt at Kenetreks I found the same as you. Open to other suggestions.


No, not getting the elk was my fault, not anybody elses. Saw enough to make the trip an excellent experience.

I was hiking the Kenetreks in July and August here in VA, and it wasn't bad, but it was also short duration of wear time.

I tried a pair of Crispis that I got off of Camofire a couple years back, they were not bad, but I had less issues with the Kenetreks. My Crispis are not wides, and I need the room with my duck feet. laugh

Last edited by AH64guy; 09/21/16.
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For cold weather non-stand hunting I dress in layers and that includes my feet.

My base is Cabela's Rimrock non-insulated Gore-tex hikers and I purchase them 1/2 size larger.

1) sock liner and merino wool socks (midweight or heavyweight) which works for about 75% of the conditions

2) sock liner and Santi 200 gram Thinsulate socks

3) sock liner and DUI 400 gram Thinsulate socks

4) gaiters

These socks are also great to use in a sleeping bag.

I will add, the Rimrock hikers require very little break-in.

Last edited by roundoak; 09/21/16.

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The Meindl/Cabelas perfekt hunter would serve you well..

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Roundoak, your feet don't slide a bit with those thinsulate socks?

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Originally Posted by prm
Roundoak, your feet don't slide a bit with those thinsulate socks?


Yes, to a certain extent, but with the boot seized up tight no issues for me. Your mileage may vary.

The first thinsulate socks I tried were made by Rocky boots and they slipped at back of the heel more than I liked. I solved the slip with duck tape.


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I bought a pair of the rand-less Meindl in July. I like them alot. I used One and HD on them. They were fairly easy to break in after that.


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Just got my Cabela's Meindl Perfekt boots in today, hope they don't disappoint

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Originally Posted by Taco280AI
Just got my Cabela's Meindl Perfekt boots in today, hope they don't disappoint


On my second pair. You will like them if you picked the right size. If not, send them back and tweak the size. Boots by mail order can be dicey.

But for cold weather and snow, nothing but Schnee Hunters for me in the 12" version. On my second pair after 14 years with the first pair. Have two felt liners which I can switch out at night. Used them in Alaska on a spring brown bear hunt with snowshoes. But use them exclusively on our annual Jan. cow elk hunt in New Mexico.

If you spend any time glassing in cold weather, no matter the boot, bring along another pair of wool socks to switch out your hiking socks which could be sweaty.
Fresh socks at a spotting location will keep you warm. If the hike is back on, I will switch back to the other pair, which I had placed in a plastic bag to keep the scent down.
Good luck

Last edited by bigwhoop; 09/21/16.

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I tried them in the store, but wasn't going to spend $300 plus tax so waited. Then Cabela's had their 20% off Cabela's brand stuff so ordered them.

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Bringing this back up. I put in for a slightly later Deer hunt in CO and will want one pair of insulated boots. Still happy with the Salomons as far as fit and feel. In fact I have three pairs! Just want something a bit warmer in case I find myself still hunting at 9-10k in late October. Two boots of interest are the Crispi Nevadas and the Lathrop & Sons Mountain Hunter Elite.

Breathability is always a big concern of mine, so I think the Mountain Hunter Elite with the more breathable tongue design would be preferable to the Mountain Hunter.

I really don't know about the Crispi. All leather concerns me. Feet staying dry (from sweat) results in cold feet regardless of insulation. Probably why I do so well with the Salomons.

Not ruling out the Cabelas Meindls either. I was waiting to try them at the Cabelas that recently opened near me, but it turns out they don't carry them at this store! ugh.

Last edited by prm; 04/03/17.
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