Best hunting boots on the market

[fishngamereaper]

Early season Salomon quest gtx hands down most durable and out of the box comfort I have found. Late season can't beat Meindl....mine are 8 years old and barley show wear...

[ljsommer]

Zamberlan's.  My buddy from Alaska put 15 years on his first pair and is 10 years into his second thus far.  I'm on 10 years with my pair.  I put a deep cut in the leather causing a leak this past year.  I called Zamberlan's for advice, they put me in touch with local cobbler in Washington who gave me great advice, and I have a leak free repair and heading into this season. 

I am a backpack hunter for all seasons, multiple states.  Only wilderness areas. I hike, hunt, and snowshoe in the boots year round.   I spend more days in the remote wilderness than the average person.   A properly cared-for boot can last a very long time.

My 

Not sure if this is anyone elses experience but Zamberlans feel so awkwardly uncomfortable on my feet. I really wanted them to work due to their reputation but I guess peoples feet are just that different. Ended up trying and returning a pair of Irish Setters, and then buying some Danner's instead which I put 10 miles on the other day with a 60 pound pack and they did great.

[LDennis24]

I agree with other in that it's all in the fit and how rough you yourself are on boots. I know some guys who can wreck a pair of boots in a day's work and others who seem to do the same thing yet don't have any problems with their boots for several years... Some brands like Danner outsource their work too and you have to look into the boot to see where it was made. Justin boots made in America are pretty good boots. But Sportsman's carries them made in China. Same name just missing the Made in USA tag...

Danner makes a boot the call Rainforests, excellent boots! Don't ever buy a boot that's welted unless it's all leather. That plastic dries out and cracks where your foot bends then it starts separating and leaking and never lasts more than a year for me. No matter what brand it is. It depends... Lol

[Okanagan]

No such thing as the best boot on the market.  Look at pictures of feet and you might notice they are all different.  Combine that with the different strides, weights and other variables and the best boot on the market is the one that works best for you.  This is why some guys swear by XYZ and others can't wait to throw them away.  I wear a zero drop boot and those would absolutely kill someone who constantly wears a heel.

Of course, there are companies that produce a better made product, have a better warranty or customer service.

Ditto on all points.  You nailed it.

The Salewa's I am now using are the most comfortable serious off trail hiking boot I've ever worn. I wish that they were all seamless leather rather than the froo froo mix of suede and high tech fabrics. Excellent boot however, if your feet match the mold they use to build them.  How thick a foot and toes are up and down is seldom mentioned but makes a huge difference in how boots fit, especially in the toe box.

[vandeman17]

I ordered some Crispi Titans last week and will be putting them to the test on a whitetail hunt this november. I am hoping they will be the last boot I buy for a while.

[thinkingman]

I have a tough time spending a lot of money on hunting clothes...well, I have a tough time spending money period ....so what you guys are saying is, the Danner Vital 8 inch boots I bought last fall for $150 at Sportsmens Warehouse and wore about 6 times during late archery and thought were really comfortable....are going to fall apart rather then wear out?

I used to just wear my Merrill hiking shoes but upgraded to proper boots.

I bought a pair of Oboz hiking shoes($150) this summer and I really like them. Good traction going downhill on rocks,

Yes, that's what we're saying.
I should also point out, boots have much different construction, even within brands.  My Danner Pronghorns were decent on scree and basalt. My Danner High Country boots were soft construction and good for stalking but I wore them chukar hunting and it felt like I had very little protection for the bottom of my feet.  I could feel every pebble.

[2MANY]

Danner has gotten away from the best sole ever made...............The Bob.

What a shame.

[whacker1]

I am tough on boots.  I have worn out to sets of Kennetrek's.  The first pair I had rebuilt and the first pair lasted longer than the rebuild or the second pair.  I bought a set of  Crispi Idaho GTX.  The Crispi's I love for fit and durability in the sole, rand, and stability in the ankle, but I blew out the Goretex last year in Brushy N Idaho, so they are only used for dry weather hunting now.  I would be going with a full leather Crispi on next go round. 

Late season this year I am alternating between 2 beat up sets of Kennetreks.

I also have a set of Scarpa Chamoix GTX that I bought used.  They are really comfortable, but they are too stiff in the foot bed for hiking.  They are really a mountaineering boot that I hold onto for occasional endeavors. 

I have burned up several sets of Danners over the last few decades and I won't be going that direction again.

Kennetrek the Mountain Extreme, the Rand would always fail in brush country or sharp rocks.  I started putting McNett Gear Aid Free Sole around the top of the rand to preserve the life span and to keep water out.  That has extended the life of them significantly.  I will do the same to a brand new set of Crispi Nevada or Crispi Guides next year when I make the next plunge

[Karl Blanchard]

Impossible question to answer as everyone has different wants needs and desires.  Boot care has a lot to do with longevity as well.  My issue is tread wear.   Most of my boots have uppers that are still in acceptable condition but I walk the tread off of them.  Meindl Alaskans I would get two seasons out of them.  Scarpa kenisis I got 2 seasons but had two eyelets break.  Kenetreks leaked on me after a few hunts so never had them long enough to speak to anything else.  Lowa Tibet lasted one season. 

I recently tried a pair of soloman quest in an attempt to prolong my mountain boot life.  3 days in idaho, 4 days plus 6 evenings after work elk hunting (elk packout), another 2 days in idaho (deer packout), and 6 terrible days in the rocks of NV (deer packout) and they are trashed. 

Boots are like tires and are meant to wear out.  Find one you like and just run them till they die.  Replace and repeat.  I dont run insulated ever so cant give you a recommendation but a hard hunting buddy of mine has a pair of schnees something or other and hasn't destroyed them yet which is a feat for jeremie

[CoryTDF]

I've tested a fair share of boots. Check out the boot reviews on iReviewGear.com. Right now I am really loving the Zamberlan Lynx boots that I am testing. I'll be testing out the Smilodon during my Idaho trip later this month.   

I'll agree with what Karl said above. Schnees makes some great boots I have both the Beartooth and the Granite and I like them both very much!

[Curly]

I've had pretty good luck with Lowa in the past but I definitely won't be buying any Lowa boots ever again after what happened to my wife's Lowas.

She hardly even worn them before. I  think I bought them for her last year and except for the very occasional use, they've mostly sat on her closet. She was wearing them last weekend when the sole desinigrated on one boot, then the other boot the same thing started to happen.

[CoryTDF]

I've had pretty good luck with Lowa in the past but I definitely won't be buying any Lowa boots ever again after what happened to my wife's Lowas.

She hardly even worn them before. I  think I bought them for her last year and except for the very occasional use, they've mostly sat on her closet. She was wearing them last weekend when the sole desinigrated on one boot, then the other boot the same thing started to happen.

That is really weird. I've had great luck with all the Lowa Boots I have tested. I am sure they would make it right by you if you contacted them.

[Karl Blanchard]

I will admit right out of the gate but I have not had any lowa boots in quite some time. The construction on mine we're very good. I heard they had a very bad stretch with quality control but have recently really stepped up their game. Are those boots possibly a few years old and maybe fall into that category? Like Cory said I'll bet they'll take care of you no problem. 

I dont see what the big issue is anyways! Everyone needs a pair of racing slicks

[b0bbyg]

Mountain hunting I really like Lowa Tibets but they took forever to break in... 100 miles and it wasnt fun but after that they have been awesome.

I havent found a day hunting boot i like. they all seem to blow seams, lead like a sieve or lose a sole in a month... I wouldn't recommend wolverine, danner pronghorn, solomon GTX or lowa renegade.

But like others have said. Its all about what works for you, your feet and your needs.

Go somewhere where you can try lots of styles and pairs, its all what your feet like.

I have 3 pairs of Lowa's put several years on the first before they started leaking a little bit, bought a 2nd pair that has a very small leak after 2 years.  Bought another pair this year because I had a coupon for REI and a member dividend.  Did not really need a 3rd pair but did not need anything else and these fit my feet.  No break in for me they just worked out of the gate.
In Lowa's defense I am horrible about taking care of my boots and do not treat them like I should. Likely would not leak as soon if I was better about cleaning and storing properly.

My wife loves her military RAT Danner boots, no break in and wears them all the time, I hated them and was not willing to wait for them to break in.

Like others have said its all about what works for your feet!

[Sandberm]

I've had pretty good luck with Lowa in the past but I definitely won't be buying any Lowa boots ever again after what happened to my wife's Lowas.

She hardly even worn them before. I  think I bought them for her last year and except for the very occasional use, they've mostly sat on her closet. She was wearing them last weekend when the sole desinigrated on one boot, then the other boot the same thing started to happen.

You must have been walking through an area that was just sprayed with roundup. When in doubt, blame roundup.