Hunting Boots

[brutal]

Some people poo-poo them, but my 400 gram Danner Pronghorns have been great to me for many years now. Maybe they make them different now?

Wear Smartwool socks of appropriate thickness for the weather and done.

[newracer]

Have you (and anyone else with a boot recommendation) used them in wet conditions at least three times?

I ask because The *waterproof" Hi-Tecs were water proof, but only once. I got a second pair on discount and sprayed them with water proofing stuff, and they got swamped the first time in any moisture. I missed an opportunity on a bear because I was drying them out on a log one day.

I don't get a chance to hunt a lot so I have had those boots for about 20 years. I have hunted many wet days in them, upland birds in the rain and snow and elk in the snow, feet are always dry at the end of the day.

[newracer]

Some people poo-poo them, but my 400 gram Danner Pronghorns have been great to me for many years now. Maybe they make them different now?

Wear Smartwool socks of appropriate thickness for the weather and done.

I think that's basically what mine are, just branded as Cabelas.

[brutal]

https://www.danner.com/men/hunt/pron...edge-400g.html

Not a popped stitch or anything. They are as solid as the day I bought them. Think I got them at Bass Pro north on a big sale AND talked the shoe guy into an additional discount for buying a second pair of footwear and a grip of Smartwool socks. The socks have long since worn out but the boots are still good to go.

[Irving]

I don't get a chance to hunt a lot so I have had those boots for about 20 years. I have hunted many wet days in them, upland birds in the rain and snow and elk in the snow, feet are always dry at the end of the day.

I read through the reviews on your link and a lot of people are saying these were great boots that they've been buying for years, but they changed the design so if the thread seam inside on the ankle doesn't kill your feet, then the too thin lace rollers will been/break on you. A lot of people were making the same two or three complaints and all said that the quality really went down with the recent design change. Bummer.

The Crispi boots like promising, but I'm pretty skeptical of the suede "water resistant" uppers.

[Bailey Guns]

I would say get a pair of the old-model Danner Raptor 400 GTX boots (not the new model Raptor 650). Extremely durable, waterproof, comfortable, great traction on a variety of surfaces. But Danner discontinued them to make room in the hipster bullshit boot lineup for skinny jean-wearing groomed-bearded little girlie men.

So, no...I don't have a recommendation.

[TRnCO]

I've been happy with Mendyl for the last few years. I bought another pair for my trip to Alaska in two weeks.

[whitewalrus]

Have you (and anyone else with a boot recommendation) used them in wet conditions at least three times?

I ask because The *waterproof" Hi-Tecs were water proof, but only once. I got a second pair on discount and sprayed them with water proofing stuff, and they got swamped the first time in any moisture. I missed an opportunity on a bear because I was drying them out on a log one day.

I find that you need to get the ones with goretex lining if you want to be dry after streams or other standing water. Many are listed as ?waterproof? but they are just meant to keep feet dry when walking in wet grass.

The problem is that waterproof boots do not breathe as well, tend to be a bit heavier, and take longer to dry once wet

[brutal]

I've been happy with Mendyl for the last few years. I bought another pair for my trip to Alaska in two weeks.

TR, I know you put on a metric shit-ton of miles on your footgear, but those boots are getting terrible reviews on Cabela's.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABE...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I see a lot of nice boots out there that might replace mine, but if they don't offer wide (EE or wider), they're a non-starter for me.

[Tim K]

I guess I'll be the counterpoint. I've been competing in the SAC for a few years now, and I do a lot of hiking with a 50# ruck. A really lot. I'm partial to trail running shoes. They're light, comfy, and cool. My experience with waterproof boots has not been good. They're worse than useless if you have to cross something deeper than the boot as they never drain. Plus, as already noted, they're hot. I don't like wet feet, but I've settled on shoes or boots that drain quickly vs waterproof.

None of the above applies in the winter, I don't suppose. I don't hunt, so my experience walking outdoors in the snow is limited to shoveling my driveway.