Hunting Boots

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d2wing

d2wing

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I generally wear three basic types of boots. Heavily insulated for deer stand, Lighter well insulated for driving and tracking deer. These boots last until the foam or whatever the soles are rot away. I use lighter and more rugged boots for bird hunting and I tend to wear these out. I am about done with my Cabella Kangaroo boots and my Danners.
A friend has two pair of Irish Setter boots, Aero tracker and light Ultra-dry boots not sure of exact models. He says he only wore them once or twice, selling for $50 apiece.
Anyone have any experience with them or suggest others?
I hunt some grouse in the woods but mainly hunt pheasants in thick grass and swampy areas. Must be light, waterproof and tough to stand up to the friction of the grass and stiff enough to protect from twisted ankles. Lots of really rough ground too. Some ice and snow so need traction too.
What do you guys recommend.
 
I had a pair of danners until my parent’s dog are them. They didnt think this was a big deal... its hard to replace properly broken in boots.

I bought a pair to replace them and they fell apart in 1 season. The eyelet on one failed and both wore through on the junction of tongue.

I’ll likely accept recommendations.
 
I have Irish Setters 400gram lace up hunting boots for upland/dry weather/early season bowhunts. I also have a pair of timberland hiking boots that are superb. I wear them to hike and work. I've had three pairs of them over the years. Very comfortable.
Our deer hunting is primarily river bottom. Its almost guaranteed that you will wade water at some point. For that I wear arctic mucks.
Some hate them....I love them. Mine have been good.

Reading thr from my climber...lol
 
I have worn Danner's for many years, but the last pair that I got is not as good as the others. I can feel cold air going through the Cordura upper when I ride my ATV and the Goretex started leaking within a year. It is a shame that I'll have to find a new brand. I never had to breakin Danner's.
 
Yeah it seems that quality has gone down on several brands. I've had soles fall off a 3 pair now. two pair Rockys and a Cabelas The Cabelas were only worn a day or two a year. The Rockys only for deer hunting. I think I am going to make sure the Setters fit and probably buy them tomorrow. Supposed to be like new.
 
Irish Setter makes some good boots, some not so good. I'm not familiar with that exact model. But I stopped wearing traditional hunting boots years ago. I haven't used anything with insulation in probably 20 years and have hunted in single digit temps with up to a foot of snow on the ground. The secret to warm feet is to keep your bodies core warm (internal organs and the brain).

If your core temperature starts to drop your body will start to sacrifice the extremities by reducing blood flow to your feet and hands. Once that starts to happen no amount of insulation is going to help. If your core is warm, then your body will send extra blood to the extremities in order to cool the core down. Too much boot insulation leads to sweat soaked cold feet. I just wear quality wool socks. Sometimes 2 pair.

Probably the closest thing I can think of in a traditional hunting boot that is decent quality is the Danner Pronghorn. I'm talking about the new version made this year. The older versions were lacking.

Top 2 are the old style, bottom 2 are much better

https://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=734095080&CQ_search=danner+pronghorn&CQ_zstype=REG

Backpackers and hikers put far more miles on their boots than hunters and there are a lot more hikers than hunters. There is a demand for much better quality, more comfort, better durability and better prices with hiking boots than hunting boots. There are lots of good options, but I've been wearing some of these for several years. In addition to hunting they see a lot of use hiking and when I'm called out with the SAR team I volunteer with. This is a good price.

https://tacticalgear.com/salomon-quest-4d-3-gtx-wren-bungee-cord-green-sulphur

Another very good boot.

https://tacticalgear.com/lowa-renegade-gtx-mid-sepia-sepia~1
 
I refuse to buy any hard use boot that do not have the soles stitched onto the upper. I've had far too many glued on soles and seen my fair share not hold up and come apart like some of those that @jmr40 posted. Nothing against you @jmr40 but just personal preference on boots.

Clarification: I'm not saying I've seen those particular models @jmr40 posted come apart, but that style with the glued on soles.
 
I wear Danner Mountain Light boots as my primary hunting boot. They are not insulated but are Gortex lined and are all leather so they keep me fairly warm and absolutely dry. They are not cheap, but they are not cheap.

Danner makes two lines of boots, made in the US and made somewhere else. The US made boots are still top notch. But you will pay for them. The foreign made boots are cheaper but they do not last.

If it's really cold or snowy then I wear my Schnee Hunter II pack boots.
 
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I used Danner Pronghorns this year and liked them, many full days trudging through dry and snow with no leaks or blisters. They were comfortable and seemed to give adequate support to my arch and ankle.

I never used insulated boots when I hunted in the south, but it's a different game when you're hunting somewhere you'll see real cold. During early season I wear uninsulated boots, but I have a pair of 400 gram thinsulate Irish Setters, older versions of the Elk Trackers. When it gets really cold, or if I know that I'll constantly be in snow for a few days and my boots exteriors are likely to get (and stay) wet I'll wear those boots, the insulation makes a difference, even when you're hiking all day. I've worn the Irish Setters down to -15 deg, and certainly didn't wish for uninsulated boots even though I was constantly moving, there were a few days this year chasing elk up in the Snowies though, that I wished I had them instead of my uninsulated Pronghorns.
 
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I bought the Irish Setters today. One pair insulated one pair not. I wore the uninsulated on a pheasant hunt . They felt really good and fit great. But they felt a little loose at times but mainly felt good. Both pair were like brand new, but not current models so I don't have full specs. I am pretty happy with them for $50.
 
d2wing said:
I bought the Irish Setters today. One pair insulated one pair not. I wore the uninsulated on a pheasant hunt . They felt really good and fit great. But they felt a little loose at times but mainly felt good. Both pair were like brand new, but not current models so I don't have full specs. I am pretty happy with them for $50.
Click to expand...
For $50 you did just fine. You won’t get those prices at any store. I’ve worn several brands and styles of boots. The ones that have lasted the longest is an old pair of RedHead all leather outers with 800gr thinsulate. I’m on my 10th season with them. I’ve warn Danner Elkridge and Pronghorn. I gave them away. Have a brand new pair of Irish Setters with 1000gr Thinsulate waiting for it to get cold enough to try. I always replace the insoles in every boot I get. None ever fit right.
 

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I wore out a few pairs of Rockies, last pair I bought was Irish Setters. their both great. hdbiker
 
jmr40 said:
Irish Setter makes some good boots, some not so good. I'm not familiar with that exact model. But I stopped wearing traditional hunting boots years ago. I haven't used anything with insulation in probably 20 years and have hunted in single digit temps with up to a foot of snow on the ground. The secret to warm feet is to keep your bodies core warm (internal organs and the brain).

If your core temperature starts to drop your body will start to sacrifice the extremities by reducing blood flow to your feet and hands. Once that starts to happen no amount of insulation is going to help. If your core is warm, then your body will send extra blood to the extremities in order to cool the core down. Too much boot insulation leads to sweat soaked cold feet. I just wear quality wool socks. Sometimes 2 pair.

Probably the closest thing I can think of in a traditional hunting boot that is decent quality is the Danner Pronghorn. I'm talking about the new version made this year. The older versions were lacking.

Top 2 are the old style, bottom 2 are much better

https://www.cabelas.com/browse.cmd?categoryId=734095080&CQ_search=danner+pronghorn&CQ_zstype=REG

Backpackers and hikers put far more miles on their boots than hunters and there are a lot more hikers than hunters. There is a demand for much better quality, more comfort, better durability and better prices with hiking boots than hunting boots. There are lots of good options, but I've been wearing some of these for several years. In addition to hunting they see a lot of use hiking and when I'm called out with the SAR team I volunteer with. This is a good price.

https://tacticalgear.com/salomon-quest-4d-3-gtx-wren-bungee-cord-green-sulphur

Another very good boot.

https://tacticalgear.com/lowa-renegade-gtx-mid-sepia-sepia~1
Click to expand...

Sweaty feet = cold feet in my case every single time. This season I'm trying something new. Instead of two layers of heavy wool socks I'm using one layer of heavy wool /acryllic socks with a pair of very thin polyester socks under them. The polyester wicks very well. It seems to be helping thus far. Haven't had any really cold log sits in the woods yet this season though. But from what time I've had in the woods it's been great.
 
I use Danner 800 gram ProngHorns, and for Pac boots I wear Lacrosse Ice King Alpha ( I think). Love the Danners, these are my second pair. Love the Lacrosse as well. If you walk much with the Lacrosse you'll likely want something else, they are more for stand or blind hunting in below freezing weather.

-Jeff
 
d2wing said:
I bought the Irish Setters today. One pair insulated one pair not. I wore the uninsulated on a pheasant hunt . They felt really good and fit great. But they felt a little loose at times but mainly felt good. Both pair were like brand new, but not current models so I don't have full specs. I am pretty happy with them for $50.
Click to expand...

Well for that kind of money I'd have done the same thing :)

-Jeff
 
After wearing both pair of Irish Setters a couple times I am pretty happy with them. They are a little taller and stiffer than my other bird hunting boots. But tying them fairly tight and wearing thick wool socks they are very comfortable. Not as light as my Danners but I didn't notice as I wore them. My feet weren't sore at all and I have foot trouble at times. The uninsulated pair seemed to be well vented yet fully waterproof. I recommend them.
 
HB said:
I had a pair of danners until my parent’s dog are them. They didnt think this was a big deal... its hard to replace properly broken in boots.

I bought a pair to replace them and they fell apart in 1 season. The eyelet on one failed and both wore through on the junction of tongue.

I’ll likely accept recommendations.[/QUOTE

I don't hunt but I hike. Same thing, I guess. I wear Keen now. Gypsum II. I agree with some of the other posts that there seems to be a problem with glue on newer boots. Sorry about your Danners. Dogs love boots.
Click to expand...
 
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I prefer something inexpensive from leather, and I buy them large, and I mink oil the heck out of them to water proof them. Then I use a couple layers of wool or wool and silk around the foot to snug things up and provide insulation. In warmer situations I will wear all leather; sometimes even moccasins, if I really want to creep around the forest. Even after breech loading, lever action rifles like the Winchester '73 were the norm, a lot of hunters in warmer weather used mocs, to get in close enough for their cartridge and iron sights to be effective.

LD
 
Yeah, mink oil doesn't do it where I hunt. Here I am always fighting tall grass, cattails, nasty brush and weeds like burrs and stickers, rough ground and a lot of wet ground, sloughs, now snow and ice. I need protection for my feet ankles and legs. Sometimes I wear chaps. Sneakers or moccasins would be awesome. Gave them up decades ago for where I hunt. Moccasins or sneakers would work for sneak hunting on dry trails. Plain leather boots work sometimes here. My dog chewed up my last pair a couple dogs back. I like em. Too wet here.
 
Anymore updates on the pronghorns? I am torn between pronghorns, irish setter wingshooters and meindl ultra lite hunters. Just need something for yard work, chasing squirrel and bunnies and maybe turkey hunting.
 
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