Looking for a new pair of boots for elk hunting. Need a warm and waterproof boot that is durable and tough. What works?

Well with all of us being different, and with what works for me might not work for you, my feet sweat a lot,
and I like Rockies, Gore tex 1600 thinsulate, wit a cotton liner sock, and a wool sock over that!
I have to have ankle support, and a good lug under my feet for soles!
I also add a dr. sholes pad inside! I go one size bigger, and it works for me!

There's a lot of good boots on the market, and a lot of choices!

Kenetrek, Crispi, Lathrop…

BUT - each may fit your foot a bit different. I’ve got duck feet - short and wide. The Kenetreks have been the best out of the box for fit and support over many years. I’ve got 100s of miles on mine off season and in - still going strong.

The Crispis have been similar in the leather pair, but my Idaho lls are stiff and less comfortable than I expected.

Plan on putting 50+ miles in these boots to fully break them in.

I use the Lathrop insoles in all.

For my wide toes, I find that Keen boots are the best fit. For 95% of my elk hunting, uninsulated 6" boots are about ideal. Our seasons are mostly in Oct before it gets real cold. This year we'll be hunting in Nov so it could be colder. I have a pair of Columbia insulated boots for that. They aren't great for comfort but they are dry and fairly warm. I don't wear real cold weather boots enough to spend $200 for good ones.

For most of my elk hunting in Idaho, I like Lathrop & Sons Mountain Hunters and Hanwag Alaskan GTX; both uninsulated, 8”. I sit some and glass, then move and repeat. I find with good wool socks my feet don’t get cold down into the mid/low teens. Both are terrific in steep, rocky country (also great for chukar hunting). I use Lathrop & Sons insoles in both.

https://lathropandsons.com/collections/l-s-brand-boots/products/lathrop-sons-mountain-hunter

https://www.campsaver.com/hanwag-alaska-gtx-hiking-shoes-men-s.html

When it is bitter cold or in snow, I switch to Danner Canadians for their insulation. I don’t wear them often.

https://www.danner.com/men/hunt/can...g7-jR8wIVh-azCh04wgxJEAAYAiAAEgKZX_D_BwE

As to waterproofing, I have yet to see any “waterproof” linings really work. I’d prefer they didn’t have them. I use Obenauf LP in the outside.

I have really narrow feet so the lace-to-toe Danners that can be had in a narrower boot work well for me. I have one pair with Vibram soles and another with air bob soles that I alternate if hunting from a camp which would make that feasible.

Danner

Hanwag Alaska GTX and Hanwag trappers

US made Danner"s.

For people with narrow feet Lowa makes some models in narrow. https://www.lowaboots.com/mens/narrow-wide-widths

Thanks for that , BeanMan! I need 15 narrows, hard to find!

I don't wear "boots" a lot. Exceptions are snow, rain, and maybe snowshoeing.

I still use an older pair of Danners, maybe Pronghorns, for snowshoeing. I don't like them as much as my first set of Danners. Those came from a USAF base in Washington and may not be commercially available. Uninsulated, flat black, regular vibram soles, and a perfect balance of loose enough / tight enough that they provided support without cutting off circulation. The Pronghorns, if that's what they are, are too tight at the ankle for me, restrict circulation if I wear thick socks, so my feet get cold despite the insulation.

What I mostly wear are Merrell. I have a couple pairs of mid-height, waterproof shoes. The Phaserbound have good ankle support. Like 'em but I have to limit distance because they have very vertical backs to the heel and I have bone spurs so I need a deeper heel pocket. The waterproof midheight MOABs don't have as much support but they have deeper heel pockets so I can wear them further.

Still, none are as comfortable as the low top MOABs, not with my heel bone spur problems. Any time I can manage it, I wear those despite the weather .. goretex gaiters with waterproof low tops is my real go-to setup. Obviously no good wading creeks but there aren't many creeks I can't step across where I elk hunt.

Kenetrek Mountain Extremes have made hunting much more enjoyable for me. I have a ton of foot pain so hiking always sucked, and adding a pack was just that much worse. But the Kenetreks, ungodly expensive though they are, made it actually comfortable and enjoyable to pack around chasing elk. Warm and dry and fully supportive.

For my low volume flat feet and a narrow heal the only boot for me is the Meindl comfort fit Hunter. I have tried a lot of the big name boots and Meindl is the only one that keeps my feet in good shape.

As I mentioned in a previous thread, boot fit is so darn personal that what works for one will cripple the other guy. I could make a dozen suggestions and none of them may be a good recommendation for somebody else.

I have a moderately high arch, a high instep, wide across the forefoot and need a big toebox--both width and height,, and a moderately narrow heel. I have learned to buy the wide size these days.

My Asolo Sassalongs are one of my two pairs of go-to hunting boots currently. Asolo no longer makes the Sassalongs, but their Hunter is almost identical (which has also been discontinued it appears). Sierra Trading Post has the Hunters available at a good price in limited sizes, but no wide sizes that I saw. One thing I really prefer is the rubber rand that goes all they way around a boot--protects the foot better and allows the boot to have a longer waterproof life span. Alas, most boots don't have that.

Full disclosure: I own two pairs of different models of Asolos, and in typical European fashion they have a very stiff sole, and their boots require break-in time.

As mentioned every foot is different. For me the Crispis have been high quality, an excellent fit, and worked well hunting elk and mule deer in the mountains of central Idaho. I have a medium width ball, narrow heel, high instep and a generally low volume foot.
Hope this helps.

Kinda like askin what kinda woman you like. Try em, pick what you like

Limmers

Us made Danner

The Metro Hi Boots work really well for snowshoeing (with gaiters); waterproof and warm:


https://www.sorel.com/c/men/collections/cheyanne/?pos=1


Swap the laces with 100% polyester laces.

Agree that trying is the only way to find out what works.

For elk hunting and rough terrain, short of true mountain hunting, I use an older pair of Danner insulated lace-to-the-toes with air bob soles. IIRC the model is Elk Hunters - don’t know if they still make them. They’re tough, fairly supportive and waterproof.

For flatter terrain, I prefer Russell Mountain PH with their soft Vibram soles. Not as supportive or as stiff as the Danners but comfortable for long walks in fairly flat places or occasional slopes or kopjes. The leather is very water resistant when treated correctly.

I bring a pair of Schnee 10” Hunter pac boots and a pair of 200 gram Danner Pronghorns.

If they fit you I think it's tough to beat Meindl's. Fits the most important thing.

2015 i bought a pair of Keen Targhee II. Finally tossed them last year after a lot of abuse. Bought a pair of Targhee III and they lasted 8 months before falling apart. Keen sent me a pair of Targhee II replacements and they are THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE boot I have ever had.

I'm also looking for a similar boot as the Keen's but better built.