Keeping your feet dry?

[yakimanoob]

Hey folks,

Just wondering what your footwear setup is for mild rainy conditions walking through wet brush.  So far, I haven't found a reliable way to keep my boots from getting soaked when trudging through wet brush in rainy weather. 

This weekend I was using the cabelas space rain pants with mid-height OR gaiters and my Scarpa Zodaic hiking boots.  Best I can tell all of the individual parts are solid, but water still got in through the tops of my boots and my feet were soaked most of the time. 

What do yall do to keep your feet dry?   

[kselkhunter]

I've never had my feet get wet with good boots and good gaiters.

You shouldn't get rain in the top of your boots if your boots, rain pants, and gaiters are waterproof, so somethign is off.   Either boot, gaiter, or pants failed. 


I use Zamberlan boots and Operation Research gaiters.  Variety of different rain pants, but usually Sitka.  I've spent 10 days backcountry hunting in snow and heavy rain multiple times with this setup. 

[biggfish]

I only wear boots, waterproof leather, and shy of stepping in water above the places I've never had wet feet. Are you sure your boots just don't breathe and it's sweat?

Sent from my LG-US701 using Tapatalk

[huntnnw]

ive yet to own a single boot lined in gore tex that doesn't leak within a year

[LongBomb]

Muck boots all day long. Some ppl dont like them because they dont fit very good since there sizing isnt very specific.

[Highhuntin]

ive yet to own a single boot lined in gore tex that doesn't leak within a year

Same here.. second pair of lows Tibet’s gtx and my feet got soaked yesterday took off gaiters and pants were dry underneath so defiantly a boot issue, I’ll fill them with water after they dry to test but not happy, both pairs less than 1 year

[Highhuntin]

Also 3 pairs of danners with gortex that leaked less then  a year.. am I doing something wrong??

[huntnnw]

I've lost count how many "high end" boots I've had that have failed. latest pair are Meindl perfekts they went on 1 elk hunt and then I wore them shed hunting and leak terribly. whats sad are my Georgia romeos I wear around the place that get the crap used out of them are waterproof! had them 2 years

mucks are not made to hike in

[trophyhunt]

Sounds like you need better gear, I was out yesterday and it was very wet.  in fern and grasses all morning on the wet side, I had my Asolo boots, kuiu gaiters and yukon bottom and top, perfectly dry all day.  It was expensive but worth it.  My boots are about 3 years old with tons of miles on them.

[C-Money]

I always buy Gore-Tex boots. Danner or Rocky, I have never had an issue. wet vegetation, creeks, no leaks for me!

[7mmfan]

I've also had terrible luck with boots leaking. I buy the most comfortable boot I can find now, goretex or other, and I Obenaufs the heck out of them and keep them good and greased up. No issues in a few years now.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Obenaufs-Heavy-Duty-Leather-Preservative-oz/721512.uts?productVariantId=1748272&WT.tsrc=PPC&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=02874800&rid=20&ds_rl=1252079&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpZSvua_C3QIVEVp-Ch1HOg5BEAQYAiABEgKfa_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also, I do a fair amount of blacktail hunting in late October, and it's virtually guaranteed that it's going to be wet. I wear Xtratuffs and gaiters and never get wet. It is usually not grueling hikes in rough terrain though.

[yakimanoob]

It's possible that my boots have failed, but it's unlikely as I stood in a creek with them to test them a couple weeks ago (with only a few miles walked in them since).  I'll test them later today or tomorrow as soon as they're dry. 

I do suspect the OR Flex gaiters are simply the wrong design for the task -- they're marketed (and reviewed) as good for shedding water but they don't seem to be constructed with any kind of proper waterproof layer.  I'm also curious if the height is the main problem, as they're only about 8" tall.  Folks that have had success with this: are you running full-height gaiters? 

I sat for about an hour and a half glassing in rain and my pants performed great.  They're dainty little things and I'm expecting them to shred at any moment, no doubt, but they were $38 so I'll happily use them until I get wet for the first time and then I'll get some proper rain pants   

[Jpmiller]

Also 3 pairs of danners with gortex that leaked less then  a year.. am I doing something wrong??

Wax your boots. Keeping them waxed keeps the leather from absorbing moisture and allowing it to sit on a waterproof liner the water always finds a way through. Whether they're stitched in or screws through the soles leave them in water and it will find a way through. I work outside in the mud and rain in lined dannera and never have an issue with wet feet after I started religiously waxing them.

[Highhuntin]

I have not waxed or greased a pair with gortex yet because I have read conflicting things about it with gortex... I have tried a couple different “conditioners” that are supposedly gortex safe but have been thinking about giving up and using sno seal or something similar

[7mmfan]

It's possible that my boots have failed, but it's unlikely as I stood in a creek with them to test them a couple weeks ago (with only a few miles walked in them since).  I'll test them later today or tomorrow as soon as they're dry. 

I do suspect the OR Flex gaiters are simply the wrong design for the task -- they're marketed (and reviewed) as good for shedding water but they don't seem to be constructed with any kind of proper waterproof layer.  I'm also curious if the height is the main problem, as they're only about 8" tall.  Folks that have had success with this: are you running full-height gaiters? 

I sat for about an hour and a half glassing in rain and my pants performed great.  They're dainty little things and I'm expecting them to shred at any moment, no doubt, but they were $38 so I'll happily use them until I get wet for the first time and then I'll get some proper rain pants 

My guess is that the short gators don't help any. Consider this as well. You have a few overlapping layers. Boots, with pants over the top of them, and then gators over the top of the pants. Water will inevitably find it's way into the top of your gators. More will find it's way in because they're short. If you're standing, your pants should shed any water past the top of your boots, so if your boots are good, you should stay dry. However, if you're sitting, your pant cuffs will pull up slightly, and if you have lowrise boots, you are probably exposing your ankles and the top of your boots. At this point, any water that is trickling down your legs and into the top of your gators will probably find its way to the top of your boot/socks and wick into the fabric. Game over. The only way around that is taller boots, longer pants, or some other way to accomplish full coverage.

That's just my thoughts on it. In the end, water is the most tenacious substance on earth and it WILL find a way into any system given enough time.

[Buzz2401]

I prefer two pairs of boots and either good rain gear or gaiters.  I find that if I alternate my boots everyday and allow the leather and the sweaty liner they last many many years.

[kselkhunter]

10 years with Zamberlan's, applying Sno-Seal every year....no leaks. (yes, their website says to only use their waterproofing product and the boot repair guys say I'm crazy as Sno Seal clogs the goretex pores and ruins it, but it's worked very well for me)  Same thing with my wife's Asolos, I apply SnoSeal every year and she's never had a leak either and we spend alot of time in the snow and slush every year.   Before I switched to Zamberlans, I ran Rocky's and didn't treat them and I got water in them after a year or two of use.   I realized the signficant difference in quality of boot at that point.  But, try treating your boots, and see if that works. 

For me the main function of the gaitor is to keep my rainpants in place over the top of my foot.  Keeping my pants from riding up when I'm walking through thick vegetation and exposing the top of my boot.   I also snowshoe and Nordic ski in the same OR gaiters that I use for hunting, and the OR gaiters work well in that instance also in deep snow.

[yakimanoob]

Thanks folks.  I just checked the waterproofing and the left boot is solid, but the right boot has a substantial leak.  Seems odd, actually, because this weekend both feet were wet but seemed equally wet so I assumed it was mostly due to wicking. 

Anyway, the soles are also not impressing me as when I cleaned them off just now I noticed about 1/3 of the lugs are completely missing  sooooooooooo time to test Scarpa's warranty.  I'm about 10 days past the 1 year mark, so wish me luck... 

[Jpmiller]

I have not waxed or greased a pair with gortex yet because I have read conflicting things about it with gortex... I have tried a couple different “conditioners” that are supposedly gortex safe but have been thinking about giving up and using sno seal or something similar

I've heard other people say they've been cautioned against it but the folks at dinner always recommend a weekly obenauffs (sp?) Treatment and ive never had any issue with it.

[GoldenRing270]

Rocky Gortex Socks they are pricey and hard to find but well worth it. Also they run about 1-2 sizes small. I wear a size 11 boot and the size 12 fits me well. They saved my feet this weekend.

[Highhuntin]

I have not waxed or greased a pair with gortex yet because I have read conflicting things about it with gortex... I have tried a couple different “conditioners” that are supposedly gortex safe but have been thinking about giving up and using sno seal or something similar

I've heard other people say they've been cautioned against it but the folks at dinner always recommend a weekly obenauffs (sp?) Treatment and ive never had any issue with it.

Ive used the obnauffs oil on work boots many times but never tried the wax, guess my other concern is if I use the wrong thing will it void my warranty with Lowa or gore?



To the OP good luck with your warranty they should honor it a week out I hope!

[Alchase]

If you wax goretex boots, they will be waterproof, but you loose what gortex is all about, the breathability. Wax seals up the boot, taking away Gortex ability to breath.
If you don’t care it they are breathable, then why by gortex at all?


I have both Asolo gortex GTXs that are waterproof and Merrill waterproof non-gortex boots. Both are verry good boots.

[huntnnw]

I have not waxed or greased a pair with gortex yet because I have read conflicting things about it with gortex... I have tried a couple different “conditioners” that are supposedly gortex safe but have been thinking about giving up and using sno seal or something similar

I've heard other people say they've been cautioned against it but the folks at dinner always recommend a weekly obenauffs (sp?) Treatment and ive never had any issue with it.

gore tex is a bootie style liner inside your boot. It would take enormous amounts of wax to soak thru leather to the gore liner

[Tim in Wa.]

waterproof socks work great

[Alchase]

If you wax goretex boots, they will be waterproof, but you loose what gortex is all about, the breathability. Wax seals up the boot, taking away Gortex ability to breath.
If you don’t care it they are breathable, then why by gortex at all?


I have both Asolo gortex GTXs that are waterproof and Merrill waterproof non-gortex boots. Both are verry good boots.

Correcting myself here!

Straight from the Asolo website:

Step 2: Condition your boots
•After cleaning your boots, apply a water-proofing impregnation spray while they are still slightly damp. The boots leather pores are wide open while they are damp and that allows the impregnation treatment to penetrate deeply into the leather.

•Regular applications of an impregnation spray are recommended to keep water and dirt from sticking or soaking in.

•It’s particularly important because soaking wet boots lose their breathability, which affects their ability to regulate your foot’s temperature.

•Take note that a water-proofing treatment needs 24 hours to fully take effect.




Step 3: Care for your boots
•No matter how hard, how often, when or where you use your boots, they should be cleaned regularly with specialized shoe care products. Particularly if they are used frequently in extremely wet conditions it is vital to apply a waxy shoe paste or creme – even on boots made with a GORE-TEX® membrane.

•Leather that has been soaked with water and has swollen must be restored in order to retain the boot’s fit, flexibility and durability. If a boot does not receive proper care, the leather will dry out, become brittle, and will pull at the seams, leaving your boots irreparably damaged. To avoid this, shoe care products can be rubbed on with a rag and polished in with a brush. Carefully using a hair dryer to blow warm air on the boots will improve the creme’s ability to penetrate the leather’s pores.

•The application of oils and greases is not recommended because they turn the leather very soft and make it virtually waterproof, the boot loses stability and strength.

[bracer40]

Alchase, thanks for posting this. Reminds me I need to do some post hunt care on my boots following last week’s Idaho soaking (rained on us and the gaitors were back in camp while we were bushwhacking through tall, wet brush)
Yeah, everything below our waists was soaked!

[jackelope]

I've been wearing the same Meindl Perfekt hunter 10" boots for I'm not really sure how long now...probably at least 8 years now. My feet stay dry I'd say 90% of the time which is fine by me. I use Obenauf's on them a couple times a year. They've been hiking and hunting all over the place. There are so many different possibilities for wet feet. I wear OR Crocodile gaiters. They're expensive but they're really reliable. I almost never wear rain pants.

[yakimanoob]

No response yet from Scarpa so I'll be wearing the same boots this weekend (leaving Thursday).  My short Flex-tex gaiters are already on their way back to backcountry and my OR Verglas gaiters arrived today. 

I'm hoping the full size gaiters (which cover MUCH more of the boot itself, btw) and a solid application of Nikwax will make up for the leaky gtx and keep my feet dry.  Forecast is mild so wet feet won't ruin my trip anyway. 

Can't wait to forget about nit-picking my gear and get back to focusing on finding animals 

[Highhuntin]

good luck on your  hunt!

Also I just stopped and checked out some of the waterproof socks... $50+ per pair??  I would think if a gortex liner in the boot wont work then the waterproof sock may have the same issues sooner or later

Maybe Ill just turn into a fair weather road hunter

[nwmein199]

It's possible that my boots have failed, but it's unlikely as I stood in a creek with them to test them a couple weeks ago (with only a few miles walked in them since).  I'll test them later today or tomorrow as soon as they're dry. 

I do suspect the OR Flex gaiters are simply the wrong design for the task -- they're marketed (and reviewed) as good for shedding water but they don't seem to be constructed with any kind of proper waterproof layer.  I'm also curious if the height is the main problem, as they're only about 8" tall.  Folks that have had success with this: are you running full-height gaiters? 

I sat for about an hour and a half glassing in rain and my pants performed great.  They're dainty little things and I'm expecting them to shred at any moment, no doubt, but they were $38 so I'll happily use them until I get wet for the first time and then I'll get some proper rain pants 

Kenetrek gaiters are amazing. I hunt thick nasty wet side for elk and they do not let a drop of water in and I am going on year 5 with them. Also I am 6'-3" and the top of the gaiters are just below my knees so I think the height would have something to do with it.

[huntnnw]

I've been wearing the same Meindl Perfekt hunter 10" boots for I'm not really sure how long now...probably at least 8 years now. My feet stay dry I'd say 90% of the time which is fine by me. I use Obenauf's on them a couple times a year. They've been hiking and hunting all over the place. There are so many different possibilities for wet feet. I wear OR Crocodile gaiters. They're expensive but they're really reliable. I almost never wear rain pants.

you must have the real german made ones, mine just fall apart from Cabelas. My Perfekts were used on 1 hunt 3 years ago, last year and now going into this year and the the sole on one boot is starting to peel off and the other boot the stitching on the heel is falling out.

[Jonathan_S]

goretex never lasts a year and boots rarely last 4 years.  I'm learning that the best way to keep stuff dry is to hunt in the rain less  I've had plenty of those Western Washington elk hunting days that if I were doing it again, I'd just put on rubber overalls and barn boots.

The fancy breathable rain gear breaks down quickest from wet abrasion and the best boots all break down eventually.

[jackelope]

I've been wearing the same Meindl Perfekt hunter 10" boots for I'm not really sure how long now...probably at least 8 years now. My feet stay dry I'd say 90% of the time which is fine by me. I use Obenauf's on them a couple times a year. They've been hiking and hunting all over the place. There are so many different possibilities for wet feet. I wear OR Crocodile gaiters. They're expensive but they're really reliable. I almost never wear rain pants.

you must have the real german made ones, mine just fall apart from Cabelas. My Perfekts were used on 1 hunt 3 years ago, last year and now going into this year and the the sole on one boot is starting to peel off and the other boot the stitching on the heel is falling out.

I got them at Cabela's in the bargain cave for like $68 or something like that. If I remember correctly, @coop2424  got a pair the same time as me. I've been contemplating a new pair, but I wore them last weekend on a hike and they're still comfy. The thought of having to put 50 miles on a pair of boots before they're comfortable makes me cringe. These boots were comfortable and blister-free right out of the box. They've been hiking all over the state in you name it weather, on top of Mt. Adams, all over the Goat Rocks last year in you name it weather, west side elk hunting...totally happy. Maybe a one-off but I'd buy them again without a second thought.

[ctwiggs1]

My Meindl's are holding up great as well.  My feet get wet, but I'm not convinced it's the boot at this point.  I'll upgrade my pants, gators, and socks (wicking to eliminate sweat) before I touch my boots.

[pygmy1985]

I’ve tried different boots, Asolo, Zamberlain and now Lowas, and after 1-2 years, they all leak. When I spoke with company about the leaking Goretex liner, rep suggested that it was probably water wicking down from bottom of pant legs. I wear waterproof gaiters, so not the issue.  I tested boots by standing them in sink with water up to just cover the sole, and both boots had fair amount of water intrusion in 1 hour. Even if the leather or sole seams are leaking, water should not bypass intact goretex liner. I’m sure the goretex liner gets a leak perhaps from sand, rock in boot, etc. and just like a rubber raft, leaking will begin.
I’m not planning on buying goretex boots every year, so now I just wear the Rocky goretex socks. They work well.

[Highhuntin]

I fill mine with water to test for leaks and tried this yesterday with my lowas and had no leaks in about 20 mins.. my feet were soaked on sunday and not from sweat, pants were dry under gaiters so no sure if flexing them when wet  is letting water past a seam or what.. I don't think ill buy gortex boots again either,  ill probably  go with  leather and grease them.

[yakimanoob]

Well, gotta give an A+ to Scarpa for their customer service.  I got a replacement pair of Zodiac boots in the mail today, no questions asked.  They said the early runs had a bad batch of rubber so they didn't think twice when they saw the condition of the lugs -- they just dropped me a new pair!

 

[shallowforks]

I wear kenetreks with kuiu Yukon gaiters and am always able to keep my feet dry. @yakimanoob how did your high hunt go? did you glass up any nice bucks with that new spotter? pm me

[Igor]

I have a pair of 8" Danner Elk Hunters.  I have had these boots for 18 years, and they have never leaked.  I only wear them for hunting, nothing else.  They have been to Montana and Idaho.  The GoreTex has not failed.  Both of my sons eventually switched over to the same boot, and they are happy with theirs.  Every couple of years I clean the leather up with a good leather cleaner.  I would recommend Danner whole-heartedly.

[Alpine Mojo]

Waxed leather is waterproof.  Brand name doesn't make any difference.  We all have our preference.

Goretex is breathable in a sprinkle.  If it is pouring down rain you might be better off staying inside with your pumpkin spice latte.

[cbond3318]

Danner Pronghorns regularly treat with Obenhaufs has worked for me. 3 seasons on this pair so far.

[pianoman9701]

We got pissed on for 5 days in September; torrential. The inside of my boots stayed dry. Make sure your rain gear is solid and covering the uppers of your boots. If not, you need longer rain gear. It also helps to use a Peet propane boot dryer (or electric if hunting from home). If your feet sweat, you'll have wet boots. Also, get good boots and keep them treated. I used bowstring wax (the cheap stuff in the red & white tube) in camp to re-treat and it worked really well. Wear wool socks and even if your boots do get wet inside, your feet will stay warm.

[StoneTrees]

New to hunting, but most of my experience is backpacking and hiking the wet side of the state so lots of experience trying to keep my feet dry over the years.

My personal recipe for dry feet is running the best fitting all-leather-upper boots with the fewest seams and then waxing them very well.  Before the wet weather kicks in each year, I brush them down well and wax them with NikWax cream.  After that dries for a couple days, I wax them again, really massaging in the cream each time.  The leather really soaks up the wax best, IMO (i.e. deeply) when really dry.  Couple that with knee-high gaiters to keep moisture from splashes, brush, and rain from propagating down your pant legs and you should be good to go unless your boot starts to break down.

Since I have wide feet and won't buy boots without trying them on first, I end up buying the best fitting boots where I find them locally.  My current set aren't high end boots, just simple Hi-Tec boots that fit better than any other boot I've ever owned (bought after a frustrating weekend of trying on tons of high end boots).  I've never run a goretex boot and with these relatively cheap $80 Hi-Tecs being successful with this waterproofing scheme, I'm pretty confident this method works.

Case in point, this past weekend, I was out scouting my general season hunting area and was in a steady drizzle and hiking through lots of puddles from a couple inches of melting snow.  Feet did great.

[Alchase]

Make sure your rain gear is solid and covering the uppers of your boots. If not, you need longer rain gear.

One year I could not figure out why my feet were getting so wet, then realized when hiking my rain gear would rise above the boot top, dumping all the rain into my boots. 

Gaters really do help, lol

 

[pianoman9701]

Make sure your rain gear is solid and covering the uppers of your boots. If not, you need longer rain gear.

One year I could not figure out why my feet were getting so wet, then realized when hiking my rain gear would rise above the boot top, dumping all the rain into my boots. 

Gaters really do help, lol

 

I use gators, too. I have some fleece ones from Cabelas that work well.

When I got out of the service in the early 80s and hunted in NH and ME, blousing my boots wasn't a problem because it never rained during hunting season, or rarely did. And, I looked cool. Then I moved to W. WA. The first season I hunted on the wetside, I learned why you don't blouse your boots.