Suggestions for a good elk hunting boot

[Ohfishal]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

I live in Montana and do a lot of elk hunting. I own several pairs of Kenetreck and Schnees. I like them both and highly recommend either brand. I hear Crispi are good as well, just have never worn them. I would check out the Mountain extreme 400g Kenetreck, they are a good all season boot. I wear my Schnees 200g Beartooth early in the season and my Kenetreck mountain Extreme 1000g late in the season.
Make sure you break in your boots, ideally with some actual mountain hiking with a pack. (I know that might not be possible for you) so do your best, like at least a total of 50 miles minimum with a weighted pack. Good luck.

 

[MSURunner]

Lots of guys recommend really stiff boots for rough terrain and heavy loads but I don't. I bought into the heavy expensive boot game once and I paid for it badly. I bought a pair of La Sportiva Makalu mountaineering boots (very similar to kenetrek boots) for a week long wilderness backpack trip. I had them and wore them everyday, everywhere for several months before the trip to break them in but there is no breaking in a steel shank it simply doesn't flex. Once I got into steep country I developed heel blisters almost immediately needless to say, I had a miserable week. I kept those boots for digging holes with a shovel because they sure could take a beating but I never took them into the mountains again. I found that the best boots for my feet (that I have found to date) are the Solomon Quest 4D GTX. They weigh about half as much as those really tough stiff boots and they fit and flex with my feet and ankles instead of forcing my heel to slip inside the boot. They also cost $100 less. Don't just buy boots because someone recommended them! You have to try them out, and not just on flat ground, or you might end up in the hunting trip from hell.

If going for a lightweight boot, I don't think there's a better boot than the Quest 4D!

 

[ScottB338]

Kenetrek mountain extreme. I bought 3 different high end boots for my wife and I and tried them out. Kenetrek, we both agreed, we're the most comfortable. I was actually hoping a different brand would win due to the price. But they are worth it and are, by far, the best boot I have ever owned. Comfort right out of the box (for us anyway).

 

[WeekendWarrior]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

Lots of guys will say Crispi or Kenetrek because these boots are commonly advertised to the hunting community, and are great boots - make no mistake. Truth be told, the companies dedicated to mountaineering and climbing make the best boots for being off trail, in snow, on steep ground, while keeping the boots light as a feather. I personally still hunt in La Sportiva Trango boots. Scarpa, La Sportiva, Lowa, and Asolo are some of the premier names and all make great boot technical boots.

The founder of Kuiu, Jason Hariston, always hunted in Scarpa boots, here he is going through his gear list for a backpack hunt, showing off his boots:

Something to note is these ultralight synthetic boots can lack durability. Prior to taking hunting more seriously, I climbed professionally as a guide, and I would go through three pairs of my Trango boots a year, usualy wearing out the toe climbing alpine rock to the point my crampons couldn't hold anymore... I was using them 5-7 days a week and doing relatively hard climbs, but the older style full leather boots always held up better than the newer synthetic boots. Something to think about. Again, nothing wrong with a traditional leather hunting boot, but if weight and performance are the highest priority, consider a lightly insulted mountaineering boot.

 

[Mike Matteson]

You need a very good fitting boot. Water proof. A very light pair of socks and a heavy wool sock over the light pair of socks. That will allow for you foot to move, but stop most blistering if any. The wool socket retain about 80% of it heat even if wet. Make sure you have more than one set of socks to allow the use set to air out and dry out. If you are carrying a heavy pack you will need a heavier set of boots.
Take a look at Backpacking and on hiking with how to use boots.

 

[Elksnot]

I am a cheap skate. But when it comes to elk terrain don't cheap-out on boots. It nearly ruined a hunt for me in 2017; blisters so bad I ended up doing a lot more sitting. Regardless of the brand here are my secrets to success:
1. put 10 miles in walking in the boots you're planning to hunt in before you go to properly break in.
2. Wear a liner sock and a merino sock. I use the kenetrek ultimate liner sock. They really reduce friction.
3. YouTube Randy Newberg he has several videos addressing insulated vs. Non insulated boots. He lives and hunts in MT and wears no insulated boots a lot. He claims the sweating of your feet makes you colder and in my experience contributes to BLISTERS!
Good hunting this year!

 

[orifdoc]

Kenetreck for me, but pay attention to your socks too. For some reason I need to wear a nice liner sock with a regular sock on one foot to prevent heel-rise. Took me a few blisters to figure that out. Buy them early and get some miles on them before the hunt.

 

[7fan1967]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

Danner and miendel both make a good hunting boot . The key is to be picky on fit and comfort . Get them broke in well before the hunt . Sore feet will ruin any hunt . Good luck and happy hunting . Oh and send pics

 

[CoachChris]

Boots are ultimately subjective.
I live in NW Wyoming.
I wear Rocky S2V Tactical Military boots all year round.
They're the only boots that comfortably fit my feet.
All the suggestions in the world matter for nothing until you find the boots that fit and work best for you

 

[longgun505]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

We live in MT and hunt out east each year for elk, muleys, whitetails, and speedgoat. This may sound strange, but when I retired from the army I was still in the south where timber rattlers, cottonmouth, copperheads abound. snake boots were a must! I fell in love with lacrosse, and Danner boots. I find that these boots are excellent/comfortable for all day we are hiking through the toughest terrain in Montana. While they are a snake boot, they are still quite comfortable in cold weather down to about 10-20 F with good socks, especially if you are on the move throughout the day.

 

[floyd kittrell]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

Call Mr. Len or Andy Backus at the long Range shooting store , they sell Kenetrek , I believe , and their prices are as good or better than other stores and they are a pleasure to work with .

 

[RogerPA]

Take a look at this review on Rokslide. Billy Molls is a life-long Alaskan guide, and I can tell you from my own experience hunting with him, I doubt many hunters in their lifetime would put a pair of boots to the test that Billy does in one season! He notes several manufacturers he's used over the years, noting what he believes are the pros and cons of each. It's a good read!
(The attachment is only a screen shot of 1st. page, not a hot-link.)

 

[Starlite]

We will be going to Montana elk hunting the week before Thanksgiving. We are expecting (preparing for) snow so Im looking for a good warm, water proof but lite pair of boots that would be good for putting miles on each day. I have warm gore tex boots I use here in PA but I dont do much of any walking with them and know they are way too heavy for mountain hiking in the snow.

Id appreciate any suggestions.

Personally I'd say wear an ultra light summer boot or hunting sneakers and pack a pair of NEOS. I use the Navigator 5's with studs

 

[KyCarl]

I wear boots all the time Switching from La Sportiva to Kennatreck to Zamberlan all have things I like and things I don't but day in and out
the Zamberlan are the BEST!!! I like sewn soles much better than molded! Here are the ones I have.

Zamberlan 1025 Tofane NW GTX RR - Norwegian Welted Boots Made in Italy | Zamberlan USA

Recognized with the prestigious Outdoor Industry Award and part of Zamberlan's Norwegian Welted boot line, with Gore-Tex, Vibram, and Hydrobloc.

www.zamberlanusa.com