Favorite waterproof boot

[Goose10]

Whatever you pick, make sure they are 100% leather without nylon on the exterior. The nylon lets dirt/dust get inside against the Gore-Tex membrane and abrades it slowly resulting in a leak sooner or later.

 

[sp6x6]

I do that type hunting every yearn MT.Done ID many years too.Crispi one off my favs,Asolo.La Sportive.There.s many.

 

[jbur13]

What's your favorite hiking boot for hunting the wet days (rain and snow). Think October-November elk and deer hunts in the mountains of Idaho. Wanting something I can wear for a 7-10 day hunt without having wet feet the entire time
Thanks!

Look beyond the boot. Yeah, get a top shelf boot and gaiters. In addition, if it starts raining for more than a few minutes or beyond a sprinkle, you'll have to have really good rain gear. Top and bottoms, the light weight rain gear is crap and you'll be wet in 30 min.
Once your pants are wet it will seep into your boots and the day is done. I wear Kennetreks and T&K gaiters, with Frog rain gear. If you're just crossing small creeks and walking through knee high wet grass, then the boots and gaiters are fine. Rain = Rain Gear.

 

[Rosebud]

To me it's dependent on when and where you're hunting. In the south it mostly stays in the neighborhood of just below freezing in the morning and warms up to upper forties to fifty in the afternoon.
And we are WET. So Muck Boots, Dry Shod type with good insulation is just about a must.
Western hunters will be on foot covering more ground, good leather boots are the normal with enough insulation to stay warm on a long set.
Far north is back wet again, but much colder. Pack boots here.
Just my experience with hunting around the country for a few years.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

I've been wearing Herman Survivors for years now. They're warm, dry and comfortable. When it gets cold I wear a silk sock under a wool sock the draw sweat away and when covered the silk reflects your body heat back to the foot. Try it.
What Jbur said above, besides rainwear I spray my shirt, pants and coat/jacket with Camp Dry a couple weeks before hunting season. It dries odorless.

 

[pburtman]

I've had good luck with the waterproofing holding up on my Crispy boots, my older Danners that I've had in the past didn't stay waterproof after a few years of use

 

[Flatbow]

How do the Danners fit in the heel?
I have a narrow foot and very narrow heel.
Hard to find a good fit

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

How do the Danners fit in the heel?
I have a narrow foot and very narrow heel.
Hard to find a good fit

I have the hardest time trying to find a boot to fit. Size 14. The only boots /shoes that I like and fit very well are Danner and Merrel. The only thig is buy a pair and wear in your home for several hours. if you don't like them send them back. Danner & Merrel have a free send back.

 

[gareyg]

Danner Boots. I grew up with them in Oregon. Most of the loggers and fallers I worked with back then wore them. Mostly the tall, heavy, black leather hobnail versions built like a tank. Danner has definitely gone more commercial, Chinese-ium, and city boy trendy lately of course. My latest are thinsulate goretex Danner Pronghorns. I've worn them for over 20 years. I've worn them hunting in the hot Fall early hunting in N. California mountains, and 20 degrees and 3 feet of snow in the Idaho mountains. Backpack hunting miles per day up and down mountains. Good idea to waterproof the leather with mink oil or similar, and silicone for the canvas (eg Scotchguard). Just as important is the right combination of socks, and your boot size absolutely must have the right space from them. My combo is silk, wicking, and smart wool. Probably smart to wear lady's hose as the first layer to avoid blisters but I never have. I stuck with light silk or similar synthetic. Yes you have to know how to wear good gaiters when it's wet, or how to properly cinch down cuffs of goretex bottoms over your boots to keep dry in rain and snow. Cinched tight temporarily when needed, I was able to quickly wade small creeks nearly up to my knee without getting my socks and feet wet. If you try that you must be sure-footed and you MUST not dilly-dally! But it can be done. I basically temporarily tied the cuff drawstring very tight, then folded extra pant bottom over it and tied the overlap down very tight as well with cord. Do not try this for the first time out in the woods. Practice somewhere safe until you get it right. I recall a story from Danner long ago, that the firefighters and smoke jumpers stopped wearing Danners, because they could not tell when their boots were on fire.

I'd like to hear more about how others actually use their boots. Also here's a picture of my Pronghorns. The tread is not very aggressive, and it's held up surprisingly well. Note the laces tied up halfway. I don't need a full lace-up for this Texas Mississippi flatland treestand hunting stuff. Much more comfortable when sitting in a tree from dawn to dusk. (;

 

[dfanonymous]

The second best Danners I ever had were the RAT boots. However, the only lasted 2 back to back rotations, then the heel cup plastic shattered. Yes those were EGA berry complian boots. There were beyond getting resoled.

The overall best was the crater rim back when they were issued as the combat hunters. However, they cheaped out on a lot of added a synthetics around the ankle support that broke down over time. The waterproof bootie suffered the same issue as all the others do. The bootie will leak when it's been bent thousands of times from walking over time. It's just something that happens when you use your boots a lot. The sole is mild. And they really aren't as stiff as I imagine some people would like compared to other mountain boots.

Heres been some concerned with trying newer models here

 

[dfanonymous]

Danner Boots. I recall a story from Danner long ago, that the firefighters and smoke jumpers stopped wearing Danners, because they could not tell when their boots were on fire.

I'd like to hear more about how others actually use their boots.

You're right, most don't. Most of the fire agencies I'm aware of use whites or nicks boots. They are made explicitly for fire activity.

I think the pronghorns where one of the best boots danner made at that price point.

The picture I posted in my first post here pretty much depicts how I use them. 1-18 mile rucks, mountain conditions, different season depending on tags, packouts, bivy style expedition. Usually in wilderness areas to get away from the road hunters.

ps this spotting scope kinda sucks. Don't listen to the poors about the glass being "just as good as"

 

[Quintus]

Best boots I ever had were Danner Canadians. Stayed waterproof for 10 years through 3 soles hunting and part time logging. Now I wear Crispis or Kenetreks and a good set of Gaiters. I did a fair amount of post holing in CO this year in pretty juicy snow wearing the Kenetreks and the ONLY thing that stayed dry was my feet.

 

[tomcat818]

Zamberlan (Italy) for me checks all the boxes comfort, longevity, price, never leaked in any conditions, they resole all the full leather models. The only con is they take about 50-75 miles to fully break but most quality backpacking boots are the same. I bought this pair about 14yrs ago and put many thousands of miles on them hunting, backpacking, shed hunting, and general use. These are the 996 Vioz GTX mid height boots REI today $350 and when I bought them IIRC $309. They are soled for gaiters and crampons and I've used both without issue. Traversed the Paradise Glacier and Muir snow field on Mt Rainer using crampons with backpack stayed the night at Camp Muir at over 10K'. Back when I bought my boots they didn't offer any "hunting" boots but now they have several lines dedicated as such. I've ran Danner boots as well but they didn't hold up as well as the Zambs or been as comfortable. The leather curing process used on the Zamberlans keeps the leather from breaking down longer IMHO. Zamberlan has a fitting process that really works so if you do buy them follow it to a tee and trust it. The picture is right after deer and elk seasons this year and they are ready for cleaning and oil. I keep thinking maybe I should get a new pair and keep coming to the realization there's no need. BTW I put the classic logger boot laces on them because they stay cinched and don't come untied.

 

[1wildcatfan]

Love my Lowas GTX. Have two pair. Wear one while the other is in Germany getting resoled.