|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1 |
Just wondering which boots you prefer. I'm going to KS this December, so I expect cold days and plenty of dew in the mornings. I'm thinking leather might not be waterproof enough, and I don't want to wear rubber boots if they can be avoided. So, which boots should I look at. Price is not a consideration. Thanks for your replies.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,274
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,274 |
I've used Danner Grouse ( https://www.danner.com/men/hunt/grouse-8-brown.html) boots for the past 5 or so years and they're perfect for pheasant hunting in my area. Plus, they are USA made.
Eliminate qualified immunity and you'll eliminate cops who act like they are above the law.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,827
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,827 |
I presume you're not exactly roughshooting on this trip. No need to over think this. Any boots you'd wear at home will likely be plenty good. I have a pair of Meindl hikers I wear most often. Keens or Merrills would be fine as well. They're light and water proof and if I need more I step up to a pair of stitch down 8" Danners and more than that is Schnee pacs. You are unlikely to need more than the hikers and if you took gaiters along just in case, I'd think nothing more would be necessary.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,350
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,350 |
Gumleaf boots You'll never go back to leather.
Music washes away the dust of everyday life Some people wait a lifetime to meet their favorite hunting and shooting buddy. Mine calls me dad
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,400
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,400 |
95% of my upland hunting is western Kansas pheasants. Typically so dry you can’t even spit. Also have hunted more than once where $20 at the car wash was a good start.
The only time I wear rubber anything is when it is actually raining or just finished. Dew on the grass doesn’t effect my leather boots.
I’ve worn out Danner Pronghorns. They were comfortable for sure. But only held up a few seasons.
Current main boot is an American made Danner, all leather, no insulation, discontinued, but similar to Grouse Hunter. It’s held up well for several years.
If it’s completely dry, I’ll wear my work boots, Thorogood moc toe wedge sole. No insulation. No gore Tex. No issues.
I won’t wear less than a 9” boot. 6” boots don’t have enough height and enough gusseted tongue to keep weed seeds out of my socks.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1 |
Thanks men. Going to look at some danners in the days ahead.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,176
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,176 |
If the boot is "waterproof" enough to keep out water it's going to be "waterproof" enough to keep in persperation. No matter what you do your feet are going to get wet. I wear whatever boot is comfortable and lightweight as fatigue is more of an issue than dampness to me.
Most of my synthetic boots have Gore-Tex or similar material but that is not something I look for. Leather boots get a treatment of Sno-seal as it helps protect against weathering. If it's fairly dry I wear two pairs of thin moisture wicking socks or if wetter a pair of the moisture wicks and a thin Gore-Tex sock. Doubling socks provides protection from blisters and abrasions which can be had with poorly conditioned leather boots. The Gore-Tex socks don't exclude moisture but it does ease in making it a little less noticeable at first. No matter what, I have at least one extra set up of socks to switch into at some point. Generally, that is the halfway point but if it is warm and sunny I'll switch socks when I switch dogs or hunting spots. Leave the worn pair someplace they get the sun so they can dry and I'll switch back into them at the next break. Depending on how wet the areas you are hunting, one can even dry wet boots out in a few hours.
Almost forgot- as mentioned tall boots and gaiters are very helpful too. They help shed wetness and debris as well as prevent fraying of pants cuff season and cuts and tears to the shins of both pants and legs. Keep extra laces or a length of thin par accord or leather handy as some gaiters clip onto the bottom of the laces to prevent the gaiters from ridining up. This clip can wear through laces if there is a rough edge. The laces can also be used to replace the strap that goes around the foot to hold the gaiters down when that wears out.
Last edited by woodmaster81; 09/02/20.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,813 |
If it is relatiavely dry then most times it will be Solomon 4D 3gtx...most comfortable boot I've found so far...
Wet or cold then one of the new fitted rubber boots...either Muck or Lacrosse Alphaburley...un or insulated depending on how cold...
laissez les bons temps rouler
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 161
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 161 |
I live and hunt in Kansas. I wear Danner Pronghorns for all my quail and pheasant hunts. Haven't had a problem with moisture.
Be careful on the Kansas "roads" after snowmelt or heavy rain!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5
New Member
|
New Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 5 |
I like the Muck Wetland model. I use them for everything from deer hunting to small game. Easy to take on and off and fairly lightweight.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,141 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,141 Likes: 4 |
I hunt in snow the most and personally would not wear rubber boots though I have Schnees pac’s. I wear the relatively inexpensive Rocky Mountain Hikers from Cabelas (though I do not shop Cabelas anymore) for from mule deer and elk to pheasants on the plains. I’m on my third pair in about fifteen years. They are Gore-Tex lined but uninsulated.
I don’t find the lug Vibram soles any disadvantage on the prairie soils as is often stated.
I rarely get cold feet but do have a pair of the much more expensive Browning kangaroo skin upland boots — very light though insulated and GT lined — but rarely wear them though they are also comfortable.
I find good gaitors will greatly lower the temps your feet can tolerate; in fact, they are almost too warm for me unless I’m in deep snow and in the -20* and lower temp range.
But feet are important and what works for each varies widely.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,317 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,317 Likes: 7 |
I actually wore snake boots last year in South Dakota. I wore them a bit loose and they worked great.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,305 Likes: 13
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 24,305 Likes: 13 |
Bring a good set of gaiters too.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 21
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,274 Likes: 21 |
I use either my normal Lowa Hunter GTXs (with gaiters if there's snow) and a good coat of wax or just plain muck boots. I've never had an issue with good fitting muck boots on late season pheasant hunts. Grass and seeds may fall in from the top since I tuck my pant legs in, but that's a non-issue, for me at least.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,513 Likes: 1 |
Thanks for the additional comments.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 9,127 Likes: 7
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 9,127 Likes: 7 |
I've had these browning goretex boots for 10 years. I don't use them except for one or two Upland trips a year. I just finished putting some waterproof wax on them, so they darker than they really are. I wish I could remember what the model is, but boy they are great boots. Not mountain boots, for great for beating around in crp and brush.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 26
Campfire Greenhorn
|
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 26 |
I have a pair of wood n’ stream moc toes that have performed extremely well with regard to being waterproof. Traction can be a little sketchy with the wedge sole though. Not sure if you can still find the wood n’ streams but thorogoods replacements (flyways) should be even better. I run their work boots as well and they are top quality.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 194
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 194 |
These are waterproof Oboz. Best hiking shoes made, and some great boots. I have worn Danners and many other brands over the years, but they get left in the closet now.
|
|
|
|
79 members (AdventureBound, 406_SBC, 907brass, 300_savage, akpls, 10 invisible),
1,347
guests, and
765
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,449
Posts18,507,938
Members74,002
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|