how to make boots more quiet

[Gobble Gobble]

I have a pair of Rocky boots that I love but the souls are really hard and make a lot of noise when walking. Where I hunt it has gotten really dry this year and with all the old leaves and fallen branches on the ground it sounds like I'm walking on a bag of potato chips. I can only walk so slow to minimise the noise. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can make the souls of my boots more quite. I have thought about making fleece booties to slip over my boots but I don't want to lose my traction then walking over rocks and up hill.

[rasbo]

lose the boots..I have a pair that is semi hard and I just have to pay attention to where Im stepping,bob soles on my danners rock

[benhuntin]

stay in the truck and road hunt this season they will hear your truck way before they hear your boots

[brianb231]

We are big fans of Yetti feet or the plush boot covers. They work very well. Now they suck in wet weather and if you have to climb or decend in them but for walking through the woods quietly or getting out of the truck for you road hunters they work very well.

Just my 2 

[fair-chase]

This is what I am sporting in the early season. It's about as minimalist as I get, I just can't do those shoes with the toe cutouts...

http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22876M/0/Mens/Barefoot-True-Glove

Comfortable, dries very quickly, and quiet. So far I am comfortable with them down to 30* as long as I have a good sock on to compensate.

[6x6in6]

The Cameron Hanes stocking foot stalk. 

[Stilly bay]

learn how to walk like a deer. take three steps pause and take a moment to glass.
 if you do a lot of sneaking around on gravel roads a cheap pair of felt soul wading boots is just the ticket unless its real wet out -they aren't exactly waterproof.

[ICEMAN]

learn how to walk like a deer. take three steps pause and take a moment to glass.
 

   or wait for rain...

[micdude]

This is what I am sporting in the early season. It's about as minimalist as I get, I just can't do those shoes with the toe cutouts...

http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22876M/0/Mens/Barefoot-True-Glove

Comfortable, dries very quickly, and quiet. So far I am comfortable with them down to 30* as long as I have a good sock on to compensate.

Maybe I'm cheep but that seems expensive for some shoes that will last one day.This is good subject though I have a buddy who uses moccasins, and a uncle who takes his shoes off when stocking, but I just use Irish Setters cuz I hate my feet getting wet.

[CAMPMEAT]

Soft soled leather moccasins.

[fair-chase]

This is what I am sporting in the early season. It's about as minimalist as I get, I just can't do those shoes with the toe cutouts...

http://www.merrell.com/US/en-US/Product.mvc.aspx/22876M/0/Mens/Barefoot-True-Glove

Comfortable, dries very quickly, and quiet. So far I am comfortable with them down to 30* as long as I have a good sock on to compensate.

Maybe I'm cheep but that seam expensive for some shoes that will last one day.

I didn't even see the MSRP up there. Heck no would I spend that much! I think I paid 60+tax for last years "not in fashion anymore" models. Yes I totally agree that spending $110 on these would be a little outrageous. Also, while they will make it more than one day, I'm not expecting miracles out of these things. Hoping for 5 years. My last pair of similar light weight shoes for early season lasted 15 years of abuse albeit they had several repairs of stitching and Shoe Goo. I have always had far more problems with conventional leather boots falling apart beyond repair than I have with the hippy hiking industry shoes, boots, and pacs.

[jechicdr]

Anyone try hunting with "Five Fingers" http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Trek-Mens.htm#tabsBlock  ?

[Gobble Gobble]

For you "road hunting rifle totters" I’m an archery hunter and I get away from the road as far as I can get. I have thought about taking off my boots for a stalk but last time I dropped gear for a stalk I needed help to find it again as it blended in to good. Where I hunt there is a lot of oak trees so their leaves just pile up, it has also been logged in the past so there are still lots of braches lying about and the ground is clay so I have areas of no ground cover with exposed clay and basalt rock. I have high arches so I need to wear boots with good support. I have been known to cover more than 15 miles in a day of hunting.

[MuleySniper]

I always thought these things were for fruitcakes but Ive been hearing guys carrying them in their packs for making stalks. It makes sense, but just one more thing to have to carry and probably only useful in the early season unless you don't mind frost bite on your toes
http://www.rei.com/gear/feature/search/Google/Barefoot%20Shoes?s_kwcid=TC|13029|shoes%20with%20toes||S|e|7258645325&cm_mmc=ps_google-_-Category%20-%20Footwear_TOF-_-Footwear_Barefoot-_-shoes%20with%20toes&gclid=CLOTu6es6KoCFRxSgwodm13p9Q

[Huntbear]

I put gags on my boots.   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

get some replacement felt for wading boots/waders, and glue them on the bottoms....

[CAMPMEAT]

I always thought these things were for fruitcakes but Ive been hearing guys carrying them in their packs for making stalks. It makes sense, but just one more thing to have to carry and probably only useful in the early season unless you don't mind frost bite on your toes
http://www.rei.com/gear/feature/search/Google/Barefoot%20Shoes?s_kwcid=TC|13029|shoes%20with%20toes||S|e|7258645325&cm_mmc=ps_google-_-Category%20-%20Footwear_TOF-_-Footwear_Barefoot-_-shoes%20with%20toes&gclid=CLOTu6es6KoCFRxSgwodm13p9Q

Now those are pretty wild...... kinda Rainbow Family lookin'...

[jackmaster]

if you like the boot then take it to a shoe shop and have them resoled with a half inch cushion and the bob sole, i had this done to my jungle boots in the service because we walked everywhere with every thing we owned on are backs and your feet are way to important to have problems plus they are soft and quiet and you have good traction on wet rocks and logs 

[bowhunter851]

put wool socks over the top of them

[724wd]

Soft soled leather moccasins.

   i have these and love them!

http://www.moccasinhouse.com/MHProduct.asp?GroupID=11

that said, after wearing them outdoors, i find myself walking funny, trying not to wear the soles out with my normal gait.  i love a high arch boot and the funny walk in the moccs kinda makes my heals hurt.  but i love them!   

[brianb231]

Anyone try hunting with "Five Fingers" http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Trek-Mens.htm#tabsBlock  ?

If everyone started wearing these in the woods, everyone would start screaming "Yetti", "Squatch" tracks everywhere. It would be an epidemic. Picture those prints in the mud. Bigfoot Lives!!!

[grundy53]

Anyone try hunting with "Five Fingers" http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Trek-Mens.htm#tabsBlock  ?

I have a pair that were a gift. They are actually pretty cool. But I don't think I will ever actually wear them.... couldn't imagine someone catching me wearing them in the woods.

[lokidog]

learn how to walk like a deer. take three steps pause and take a moment to glass.
 if you do a lot of sneaking around on gravel roads a cheap pair of felt soul wading boots is just the ticket unless its real wet out -they aren't exactly waterproof.

I deer hunted in northern CA one year and the oak leaves were like walking through corn flakes.  I did not see a deer for an entire day, just heard them running away.  I started shuffling my feet in short little bursts to sound like a squirrel.  I got to at least see deer in the woods that way.

I also made carpet pieces to tie to my boots when walking the gravel roads in one area I used to hunt ML.

[jechicdr]

Anyone try hunting with "Five Fingers" http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/products/Five-Fingers-KSO-Trek-Mens.htm#tabsBlock  ?

I have a pair that were a gift. They are actually pretty cool. But I don't think I will ever actually wear them.... couldn't imagine someone catching me wearing them in the woods.

I try to hunt areas where there are not very many people...that way I can wear 5 toes and pantyhose (oh wait that was some other guy in a discussion of socks to wear while hunting) and not worry about embarrassing myself.

[Gobble Gobble]

I see lots of deer and hear others running for cover. I even had a young buck Sunday run right at me and stop within 20 feet before he even knew I was there ( I wasn't walking at the time). It's easy to see deer running away I'm concerned with the stalk and kill. With my set up I'm confident out to 70 yards.
 
I like the carpet idea and its durability.

[Snapshot]

...Hang them on your belt.