Hunting Footwear suggestions needed

[allboy]

Anyone have suggestions on a light weight boot, or even low cut hiking shoe I could switch over to? I have been doing about 5-10 miles a day and the boot I have now are a not good for this type on hunting. I have a wide foot. Not looking to spend over $100.00.

[blackveltbowhunter]

What are you using currently? This last year I injured my ankle during shed season and was unable to walk in any shoe over ankle heighth. I ended up buying a pair of merrils the chamelion 3 I think. They are a "low top" Below ankle. I have been very impressed. I actually wore these for the majority of the early elk season and all my scouting trips. Lotsa miles on these shoes. They also have a higher top version of the same thing. As well as several other models. The low top sucks in loose dirt and rock. But depends on your terrain. Keen also makes several good light boot options. A buddy of mine likes them and says they fit him awesome.

[allboy]

I'm currently using some bulky Wolverine boots. The area I hunt in North EW has long access VIA closed logging roads to get to my location. I have used running shoes in the past, but they only work so well once I get to my location. 

[7mag.]

For the money that you want to spend, you might want to check out the Cabela's Snow Runner. They are about $70-$80, insulated, gore-tex, very light and comfortable. I wore mine for 2 seasons, including one high hunt, and many local deer and elk day hunts, as well as quite a bit of hiking to get in shape, and they are still in good shape. They are a great boot for under $100.

[allboy]

I went to Sportco, and Wholesale sports today and I might have to dig all little deeper in the pocket. I didn't know $100.00 doesn't buy you much for a hiking/hunting boot, and they are all made in China no matter what the cost.

[throttlejocky20]

Imo boots are like optics you get what you pay for. dont sacrafice comfort and durability for a better price tag.

[jackelope]

I went to Sportco, and Wholesale sports today and I might have to dig all little deeper in the pocket. I didn't know $100.00 doesn't buy you much for a hiking/hunting boot, and they are all made in China no matter what the cost.

Mine are made in Germany.
 

Consider the wet factor when looking at boots. Danner Pronghorns are pretty popular boots but it seems there's a lot of reports on here that they leak. If you don't spend a lot of time in wet terrain they'd probably be good but you've got to spend more than 100 bones.

[GoldTip]

I went to Sportco, and Wholesale sports today and I might have to dig all little deeper in the pocket. I didn't know $100.00 doesn't buy you much for a hiking/hunting boot, and they are all made in China no matter what the cost.

Mine are made in Germany.
 

Consider the wet factor when looking at boots. Danner Pronghorns are pretty popular boots but it seems there's a lot of reports on here that they leak. If you don't spend a lot of time in wet terrain they'd probably be good but you've got to spend more than 100 bones.

I wear the Danner Pronghorns, and yes, they leak in about a year.  I buy a new pair every September, and wear the old pair on dry days until around now, spent part of this recent Moose hunt with my dad breaking in new pair, but most days wore last years pair.  Last years pair leaked one day with very wet grass walking for about 3-4 hours.  I do wear mine considerably, hunt Montana, Idaho and Washington every year from September into December and will use them as well when snowshoeing.  They are also worn all spring and summer each year while cutting wood and then they usually start leaking come mid-September.  If I used them for only hunting they would probably last me two seasons.  If I hunted only Washington they would probably last 3-4 seasons.  They are extremely comfortable, and easy to break in.  Reasonably priced at $189 at Cabela's and I've never had them give me blister.  As much time as I spend in them, I feel they are fairly priced   

[BuckHunter23]

Go to Cabela's and take a look in the bargain cave.  I found my boots there for a huge discount.  If anything, you might find something to get you by for a a season or two, til you can save up for the pair you really want.  I just picked up a new pair of the Under Armour Siberia boots for less than half of their retail cost.  Damaged box so they couldn't sell them in the shoe department!!!     Hope you find some good ones.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Kill a deer or elk and make some mocasions.

[Alchase]

Hiking shoes? Merrils trail shoes
 
http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10776688&cp=3077570.3079720.2866879&parentPage=family
 
They are great for hiking around. I wear them daily.
For hunting I use Asolos GTXs, though they are over $200.

[duramax]

I also have the Danner Pronghorns. I have had them for 4 years now and they just started to leak the last day of muzzle loader elk. I have resealed them and hope they hold up. They were very comfortable from the start and easy to break in, as stated above never any blisters. I have put many, many miles on these boots and expect to put many more on them.

[jechicdr]

Both my sets of boots ran about $300.  Asolos and Kennetreks.

[jennyfell55]

I've been extremely happy with my Danner APBs. So far they've been completely waterproof, as well as standing up to everything I've been able to throw at them (even crossing constantine wire at work!  )

[BULLBLASTER]

I love my keens for a light hiker. They are comfy and work well for.wide feet. You can get them insulated or noninsulated. My girlfriend calls them granola stompers because she sees hippies wearing the same onss. I have danner frontiers for wet or colder days. They are 4 years old and still no leaks. Hope they hold.out through this.season.

[LincolnTWilliams]

I became a memeber at REI so i could check out their "Garage Sales" and it has paid off for sure. I picked up a pair of $150 merrils for 30, my girl got a pair of... well the brand is escaping me but we got about the same savings. Both are water proof and have served us well so far this season. Also a bunch of other gear... check it out!

[pianoman9701]

Imo boots are like optics you get what you pay for. dont sacrafice comfort and durability for a better price tag.

  Spend more money now, save your feet, spend it less often. Take proper care of good boots with proper treatments. I got my first pair of "expensive" boots this year. I'm not going back to cheap again.

[washingtonmuley]

Imo boots are like optics you get what you pay for. dont sacrafice comfort and durability for a better price tag.

  Spend more money now, save your feet, spend it less often. Take proper care of good boots with proper treatments. I got my first pair of "expensive" boots this year. I'm not going back to cheap again.

Your feet are very important part of making for a successful hunt.

[Alchase]

I became a memeber at REI so i could check out their "Garage Sales" and it has paid off for sure. I picked up a pair of $150 merrils for 30, my girl got a pair of... well the brand is escaping me but we got about the same savings. Both are water proof and have served us well so far this season. Also a bunch of other gear... check it out!

Be careful at the REI garage sales....I returned my $250 Vasques because they were leaking. They turned around and sold them at the garage sale for $150, with no indication they leaked. I love REI's service and warrentee, but all those returned items go into their garage sale. As long as you know why they were returned, you can get some good deals.

[pianoman9701]

I bought my $450 Lowa boots on Ebay for $164.00 w/shipping incl. They're awesome boots. If I'd been able to get a 12W instead of a regular, they'd be even nicer, so ask a lot of questions if going to something like that for boots. There are some good deals to be had out there.

[johnnyaustin44]

I got the cabelas silent stalker for 120$  really light and waterproof so far and I have a wide foot as well. so far my favorite boot.

[addicted]

The merrels are good shoes, especially if you like low top bunny hugger shoes.  A lot of the TACP and army scouts wear merrels and they appear to be holding up.

I bought danner pronghorns for my wife and I for our "cold as balls" boots. Hers are 1000gram and mine are 1200 gram zippers. They have been great so far, very comfortable and they breath well.

Come next paycheck i'm heading to the german hunting store to try on a pair of Hanwags.  should be able to get something similar to lathropandsons "Alaskan" for under $200. 

[Sea3006]

Try the Rocky Trainer C4t.  Very light, comfortable and about $110 most place online.

[TheHunt]

For boots during archery hunting I look for boots that do NOT squeak in wet grass.  Rocky boots squeak in wet grass.  I buy the 100 dollar models of uninsulated boots for the September hunting.  I like the idea of getting new boots every couple of years then I always have three pair of boots rotating so that I always have nice dry boot. 

But during the winter I go with the insulated boot. 

[hikeNhunt]

If you are looking for some good hiking shoes for wide feet, then I would second the Keen suggestion. I've got pretty wide feet that rub on a lot of normal hiking shoes. Keen makes nice wide sizes and they have several kinds of waterproof boots. You can find them in the normal shoe size that sits below your ankle or ones that come up to about mid-ankle. I always stick with ones that come up on my ankle a little ways now for support when going through brush.

If you can spend the extra dough I would suggest looking into Red Wing's Irish Setter boots. I think they are actually made in America. They have lots of different styles of hunting boots with different levels of insulation (or no insulation if you want that) and made in different materials. I have a pair of normal Red Wing Shoes for work and they have lasted for years. If you ever want to resole them I think it costs $75.

[deleted BGS]

I wear the Danner Pronghorns, and yes, they leak in about a year.  I buy a new pair every September, and wear the old pair on dry days until around now, spent part of this recent Moose hunt with my dad breaking in new pair, but most days wore last years pair.  Last years pair leaked one day with very wet grass walking for about 3-4 hours.  I do wear mine considerably, hunt Montana, Idaho and Washington every year from September into December and will use them as well when snowshoeing.  They are also worn all spring and summer each year while cutting wood and then they usually start leaking come mid-September.  If I used them for only hunting they would probably last me two seasons.  If I hunted only Washington they would probably last 3-4 seasons.  They are extremely comfortable, and easy to break in.  Reasonably priced at $189 at Cabela's and I've never had them give me blister.  As much time as I spend in them, I feel they are fairly priced   



I have had the same pair of pronghorns for 6 or 7 years now and not had a leak! Never had one problem with them except they are bulky. I am in the market for new boots now only because i have worn the bottoms out and slip when walking.  However, the company did switch most of their boots over to japan or china and those could be a pair of those, mine are the old ones made in or.
[/quote]