What boots do you wear?

[.38 Special]

I generally am hunting either in sage scrub and California foothills, or up in the central California mountains.. It normally is warm to hot, and I normally am still-hunting with a light load. More and more I find myself sneaking around in high topped moccasins. When I expect cold weather, hard hiking, or rough terrain, I just wear my usual leather hiking boots. My current favorites are from REI.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I was at work one night and I stepped in a mud hole. My boot was soaked and it was below freezing. My shoe strings froze but that foot stayed warm and dry all night.

Belleville 700s

 

[Garandimal]

Nope.

The first Gortex boots I ever owned were the all leather Matterhorns. The manufacturer said not to put Sno-Seal on them because it would keep them from breathing.

It may not matter with the newer leather/cloth boots but I got into the habit of using Nikswax.



The first pair of Bellevilles I had lasted 7 years. I put roughly 2000 miles on them every year and I resoled them twice before the midsole gave out.

That's some great road milage.

Mine are the hot weather (no GoreTex).

I just do the leather parts... to keep it conditioned.




GR

 

[Trunk Monkey]

That's some great road milage.

Mine are the hot weather (no GoreTex).

I just do the leather parts... to keep it conditioned.

GR

This was my office for 3 years.



The fence line was 98/100 of a mile and I walked it 9 times every day. Rain or shine snow, mud or heat.

After that I got an assignment checking substations. Three of them were up in the mountains. Some of them were downtown and the rest of them were out on the plains.

Same thing 5 days a week rain or snow or mud (no shine because I worked nights). And the Bellevilles held up.

I pay 150 bucks a pair for the black duty duty boots.

The ACU boots I buy at the local surplus store. I'm not sure why but the Bellevilles (and from what I've heard the Danners) aren't high speed enough for the soldiers on Ft. Carson so they get them issued and they go straight to the surplus stores, brand new and never worn. I got 2 pairs with the tags still on them for 20 bucks each

 

[Trunk Monkey]

This is what I wear in town. It's a pair of Vasques (from back when they weren't made China) that I got for 95 bucks when Grand West Outfitters went out of business in 2000.

They've been resoled twice. They've been up and down the Manitou Incline and Pikes Peak God-only-knows how many times.

The Manitou Incline.



They're actually still comfortable but I don't think I'd use them for any serious hiking

 

[alsaqr]

My not so cold weather boots are uninsulated Meindl Ultra Light Hunter boots. For cold weather hunting my boots are 45 year old Hermann Survivors.

 

[9x56MS]

Depends on the kind of human ting I am doing. For stand hunting I use Muck arctic sport. For upland hunting Irish setter with 400 gram thinsulate and goretex. For still hunting in cool weather I have a pair of guide gear all leather with 800 grams of th insulate and sympatex lining. For cold weather still hunting I have a pair of scheme Pac boots. I frostbite my feet in the army and have a hard time keeping them warm. Most of these boots I have had between. 10-25 years. Buy good quality the first time and take good care of them and they will take care of you.