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My Cabelas 12" Whitetail Extreme Gore-tex 1200 grams Thinsulate are leaking after 8 years of climbing the WV mountains. Was satisfied with them. Not made anymore. Snow, creeks, climbing, 10-40 degrees. What to buy now? Can be 8"-12" tall.

I'd say you got pretty good use out of them!
Are you on the move a fair bit or climbing/descending to fixed position (stand)? I only ask because 1200 grams seems like a lot of insulation to be on the move with.

Your current boots are likely in the 4lb neighborhood (or a skosh more).
Are you satisfied with the weight?

I bought some US-made 800gram Danners a few years ago. Cost about $240 from Amazon. Have worn them in temps down to the teens with no cold toes. They might make them in 1200 gram too. Like all US Danners, they can be sent back for repair/resole.

Got a deal last year on Merrill Gore Tex hikers for warm weather. Very light and comfortable for early season.

Eye-ballin Danner Pronghorn 8" Gore-tex 800 gram Ins. and Irish Setter Elk Tracker 12" Gore-tex 600 gram Ins. $200-$240 range.

I have 2 pair of Pronghorns. One pair has been rocked solid and just sprung a leak after 10yrs. The other newest pair leak if you walk across a damp yard. They are super comfortable but my new pair is not very waterproof.

I have Danner Elk Hunters and a couple other higher dollar Danners that are still waterproof.


The Elk Trackers look good but I’ve never used a pair.

I was having a hellova time keeping my feet warm. I've tried a ton of heavily insulated boots. A few years ago I bought a pair of Under Armour uninsulated boots. They kept me pretty damn warm as long as I wasn't sitting for a long period of time. And even when I was for a few hours or so. I was over insulated in the past and I think my feet were probably sweating and then I was getting cold.

1200g of insulation is a lot. If you're moving I'd stick with 400 or so.

I use only UNINSULATED boots and polypro sockliners and smartwool socks. Never have cold/sweaty feet again. Also - just try some LaCrosse Alphaburly, unless you are doing a LOT of mountains...

Were your Danners true to size? My Cabelas boots are 9s. Just tried on some Irish Setters that were 10.5. Would like to order the 800g Pronghorns but not sure what size. None in stock nearby.

Smartwool socks are the bomb, haven't worn anything else since purchasing several pair, feet are always comfortable no matter the temp. That said I don't hunt in Manitoba, mostly the midwest and they suit my purposes just fine.

+1 on these

Agree LaCrosse Alpha Burleys

They are pricey these days but I have been wearing a pair of Danner Canadians for a very very long time. Gore Tex and 600 grams of insulation. For me it's been a good mix of not to warm when walking and warm enough for all but the coldest late season stand hunting.

https://www.danner.com/canadian-10-brown-600g.html

I think your on the right track with the Danner Pronghorns. I have owned many pairs of these, in 200 gram, 400 gram, 1 pair of 800 gram Pronghorns and several pairs of non-insulated. These are My favorite hunting boots by far. I do a pile of walking to get to My stands and hiking into remote, rugged areas to hang trail cameras, these boots are extremely comfortable and have proven to be very durable....Good luck...Hb

My USA Danne'rs have worked well. Depends on how much walking your are doing but 400 grams of insulation is usually plenty. If you are sedentary than much more will help, beyond around a 1,000 grams of insulation the boots will not be good for walking in.

If I had to buy hunting boots I'd get Cabelas Iron Ridge boots. I have had bad luck with soles that are just bonded to the boot.

Been using the Danner Canadian for many years, the airbob sole is quiet and gives excellent traction. Have sent a couple in to be rebuilt and was amazed that a worn out boot came back looking brand new! They've held up to Alaska rain forest hunting for many years.

So the Iron Ridge is not bonded? Sewn?

The US made Danners are sewn on and the over seas manufactured Danners are bonded. My US made Danner Grouse boots with the air bob sole have been terrific, but being leather, they hold more scent than a rubber boot. Boots for deer hunting depend on where and how you hunt. If I don't need to walk very far and want to stay warm for a long time my Caribou Sorel boots work very well, but I don't like them for walking. My LaCrosse Alpha Lites slip on and off well but they rubbed a blister on me that nearly cost me the deer season. The Muck Arctic Pro boots are a nice compromise for waterproof, pretty warm and better for walking than the Sorel Caribou boots. When I need to go a long ways or only plan to sit for a couple hours or still hunt, then it is those Danner un-insulated Grouse boots with a set of slip over Boot Blankets from my pack.

In the absence snow/real cold weather, I wear Meindl hiking boots (uinsulated) with wool socks. Otherwise, it Schnees pac-boots with airbob soles (Hunter II or Extremes) depending on how active I’ll be. The Schnees are essentially a lifetime purchase the soles can be rebuilt.

I wear my work boots 🥾