Upland Hunting Boots

What style/brand of upland hunting boots do you guys like? I’ve always just bought cheap pairs of tall, rubber boots and they’d last me a couple of seasons before the side weld would start to tear open where they flex at the ball of my foot. Last year a bought pair of Red Wing leather boots that claimed to have a 100% water proof membrane but they only lasted about 20 trips before one of them started to leak badly. Nothing worse than having soggy feet while putting on the miles pheasant hunting.

I want something that is truely water proof. I’m alway walking through creeks, boggy areas, heavy dew, wet snow, etc. I don’t need anything to eliminate odors like a deer hunter needs.

Any recommendations or comments?

Boone

Not long ago I changed my approach to buying boots because I was tired of getting boots I wanted that didn’t fit perfect. Now I buy the boot that fits the best instead of buying the brand. Good options are Rockys, Danner, Irish Setter, Browning, etc. Make sure you get one with Goretex. Rockys are usually the most economical and everyone always seems to like them. My favorite place to go is Cabelas. You can try on pretty much every brand there is and really zero in on a pair that fit’s like a glove. That’s my .02

I wear Danner boots. I have a pair of Eagle II boots that are closing in on 10yrs old and they have not leaked once. They are Gore tex lined and made of leather. I highly recommend all the boots made by Danner. I suppose that’s why I have so many.

Danner Boots

I also hunt in Danner boots. I love them and have talked some friends into trying them. They also love them. I did have one pair that leaked but that was after 6 years on them, sent them back to Danner and they put a new liner in them for a small price. I would also look into the LaCrosse Alph Burly Sport. I also have a pair of them and they are good. They are like the old rubber boots that you get but with a lot better fit. With those you can wade through anything up to your knees just make sure that you get the ones with good traction. Some soles are pretty smooth. I agree with going to Cabelas and trying a few on. Good luck with your choice and good hunting this year.

Leather hunting boots with a gore-tex lining may be waterproof, but eventually the leather gets pretty wet if you are hunting the conditions you describe. With leather boots, you need to keep treating (waterproofing) the leather even though they are gore-tex lined. I have found sno seal works pretty well.

That having been said, I would imagine that you might be happier with a pair of LL Bean boots or a similar style where the bottoms of the boot are rubber packs, but the uppers are lace up leather.

I find that I like different boots for different conditons – temperature, level of activity, type of terrain. You need lots and lots of different boots…

Danner’s were my favorites too until I decided to try a pair of Cabela’s Pinnacle boots last fall. They are light weight (just over 3 lbs a pair), good traction, good support and waterproof (Gore-tex), and under a hun! Don’t know what else you would look for in a pair of boots you are doing alot of walking in??
I would at least recommend trying on a few pairs from the different manufacturers in that style.
barc

I agree with Honest John…different boots for different situations. For an all round boot I go with Cabela’s Kangaroo skin boots. VERY light weight, GoreTex/thinsulate lined. And most important – PLIABLE. It is like wearing a pair of tennis shoes in the field, but with good ankle support. I’ll buy another pair even if I don’t hunt.

A coat of Snow Seal goes a long way to keep the leather waterproof and soft.