Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Boot preference between Schnees and LL Bean ?

I'm looking for a light weight rubber bottom leather upper hunting boot ,comfort is a MUST as well as performance ,any suggestions from actual end users ? They both appear to be well made but the Schnees look bulky and heavy ?

I assume you are looking at the Maine Hunting boots vs the Schnees Pac boots, maybe the hunters?

I have a pair of hunters and a pair of maine hunting boots. I no longer wear the LL Bean's for any serious activity, they have no traction in wet or snow. The Schnees are super warm and very comfortable. I find them to be much less bulky than my old sorel pac boots.

If you're looking at different boots, let us know.

I hope your chillrens' college is fully funded.

If you need $500 worth of comfort for your tootsies, you might be a diva.


here ya go J-Lo

good enough for US Troops, good enough for you


http://m.sportsmansguide.com/Product.aspx?a=591923








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Hardly $500....

The bean boots are from college and cost all of about $70. Regardless, you get what you pay for...buy the schnees Rick, you won't be disappointed and Schnees stands behind everything they sell.

I agree with you get what you pay for,are the Schnees heavy ? I don't want a boot that wears you out

I have no experience with Schnees. I have hunted out of LL Beans for 20 years though. Comfortable lightweight and durable. I agree with setch though....traction in snow on hills is a no go. On flat ground they are fine.

LL Bean stands behind them too.

My biggest complaint with my Schnees is that I can not seem to wear them out.

Dang!

You need Mickey Mouse boots in Tennessee? Great boots, but not the greatest if you'll be doing a lot of walking.

My first pair was LL Bean's and they lasted a long time. But after old man Bean died and the kids took over the company they wouldn't honor the warranty to replace the bottoms and the quality seemed to go down along with the service. So just about any alternative would be good as far as I'm concerned.

I have and hunt with both boots. I have 10" Schnee's hunters with the thin insulation liner and 10" Bean's that are gortex With Thinsulate. I mostly use the bean boots while archery hunting. They are lighter more comfortable and quieter under foot than the schnee's but the traction is HORRIBLE on anything that is muddy or covered in snow. The schnee's are a much better all around hunting boot. They work very well on all types of terrain with the airbob sole. And they don't seem to wear out. My Bean boots look like racing slicks after 12 years of use. I have had my Schnee's for at least 10 years and they have held up much better.

may I ask why your preference is this style of boot . Just curious, not looking to flame anyone.

Looking for something rubber bottom to reduce scent ,would like it waterproof ,reasonably warm and light weight with good traction

Have the insulated, Gore-Tex Maine Hunting boot with their version of air-bob (Beane-Bob)soles. I loved them and should have bought another pair when they did away with the sole option. Had to have them re-soled with the chain thread, and like the other posters here they suck on anything remotely slick.

Rick - I really think the key question is how cold will it be when you wear these boots and what type of hunting will you do? I wear my schnees extreme pacs in mid-Jan in the NW corner of PA to hunt flintlock. I don't think I'd wear them during buck season unless it was very cold. I have also wore them in MT in the late elk season. I have worn them for hunts where I walk all day and found them to be absolutely fine & comfortable, good support, etc.

You say 'reasonably warm'. The Schnees Hunter II would probably be the best bet. If you're open to a pair of all leather boots (i.e., not with rubber on the bottom), then you have lots of options - danners/kennnetreks/miendls with 400-600g of insulation.

...hope this helps

I have the Schnees and they are fantastic. I would buy them again in a heartbeat. The last time I looked at their warranty, it said something like, "We are from Montana, we will make it right".

I have the Schnees, Sportsman Model. They are a better hiker than my old Sorels, but Not perfect. The leather uppers sag in the back as they age. They are very waterproof with regular greesing and the liner is very durable and drys over night hanging in the wall tent. A big plus in their favor. If I grade them on a 1 to 10 scale I'll give them A strong 7.5 I'm very boot picky so 7.5 is pretty damn good. If They had a nylon stiffener in the back, They would be a easy 9 boot.

Comfort. Scent control. I like the ability to lace them up as opposed to slip on rubber boots. They have worked great for me over the years.

I didn't mention it, but berettaman is right...they clearly say 100% satisfaction guaranteed and back that up. I regard them as highly as LL Bean on their warranty & standing behind products. This is really important to me and why I have shifted all my gear purchases away from cabelas and over to Bean & Schnees & Beretta...I just don't have the energy & patience to deal with mediocre products from retailers who don't stand behind them.