Hunting Boots: A Comprehensive Guide

This perspective is from our daily lives in boots, extraordinary footwear, to say the least: we walk through water, mud, snow, farm sh-tuff, and yes, we dance in them. A boot is a highly designed piece of equipment or gear. Whatever your designation for them, they're made specifically for whatever we do in life. Some wear boots more than they wear street shoes and tennis shoes combined, and for some, they wouldn’t be caught in anything other than cowboy boots. 

Boot style, make, height, and specialty boots are designed for diverse terrain, environments, and work conditions. 

A working boot can be made with fire-retardant material for welders, linemen, and arborists. In the construction industry, you look to a steel-toed boot.

Many years ago I even high-stepped on the dance floor in heavy, fluffy-topped Sorel® boots. 

Are snow boots made for dancing? I would say no!

Type of boots for the conditions

A muck or mud boot, such as the Xtratuf® boot, is an excellent choice in rainy, wet, muddy conditions, such as fishing, marshy areas, horse stables, and rainy, damp ground. You’ll see these as everyday wear in Alaska, a fashion statement you’ll find nowhere else. But for the rainy, wet conditions of Alaska, they do make sense. 

Many years ago, Sorel snow boots were the boot of choice as they were the best option. Living in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, trudging through deep winter snow, they, too, made sense. But they're not the best boots for hiking. A person will find that their foot slides in them, creating blister-making friction.

When I backpack to my hunting location, I would wear my favored leather hunting boots with my Sorels® strapped to my backpack. The cold temperatures of November made the warmer boots a welcomed comfort after a long hike.    

Snow Boots

Although Sorel® is still made, my current snow boot of choice is the ankle-high 13-inch Northern boot by Kenetrek. I like these boots because I can hunt in deep snow without the snow working its way into the top of the boot, and if conditions get deep, I can quickly put my gaiters over them. The other nice thing about the Kenetrek Northern boots is that they will fit in the oversized stirrups. Did I mention that they are comfortably warm and not too bad for short hikes? 

Warm Weather Boots 

A good hunting boot suits the particular terrain your game calls home. Some boots are made for arid desert conditions. These boots have a leather lower and synthetic fabric around the ankle, but they do not have the ankle support some people require.

Water Boots

When hunting in wet marsh river lakes and ponds, look for a good rubber or lightweight breathable fabric boot. The Xtratuf® calf-high rubber boots, Frogg Toggs® hip boots, or Simms® Freestone pants. Freestone wading boots with rubber traction soles are a great combination.

The only negative aspect of (hip-high) wading pants and chest-high waders is that they can be too confining and uncomfortable, as they don’t breathe well enough for your upper midsection.

What boot to use in Alaska 

Alaska, with its most diverse terrain and extreme conditions. Whether you're on a drop hunt, raft, or open tundra, you can find yourself in very wet conditions. Generally, you’ll live in hip boots. Your hunting adventure can begin with you having to unload the beaver bush plane from shore or on the edge of a marsh grass park.

Open tundra and endless days of rain and drizzle can be uncomfortable if you are unprepared. Hip boots are handy even if you are walking tall grass and shrubs. The grass and shrubs can hold water as if walking through water. A well-waterproofed leather boot can get you by with a good pair of gaiters and rain pants.

Boots for the Rocky Mountains

Ankle support is a priority, with a good snug fit and traction like an excellent off-road mud tire. 

This boot specialty handles uneven terrain and steep rocky hills exceptionally well.

This type of boot is made for steep and uneven ground. In my opinion, off-road is where you break these in. The stiff sole, snug fit ankle support is well suited and served on steep, slick, angled mountain slopes, where you are most likely to roll your ankle. 

Insulated or non-insulated boots 

This type of boot also depends on the time of year and the hunting you do. A non-insulated boot such as the Hardscrabble boot by Kenetrek is suitable for archery, and an insulated 400 gram boot is best during cool to cold months. The 400 is the gram of insulation in the boot, which is about the middle ground of insulation. For colder temperatures look to the 1000-gram.

Waterproofing 

Be sure to use the waterproof conditioner before and sometimes during your hunt. The length of your hunt and dry conditions can affect the waterproofing of your boot. 

Camp Shoes 

After a long day of hunting, allow time for you and your boots to wind down, dry out, and breathe! A lightweight camp shoe or slipper can be a good choice for camp comfort.

Socks

Many of us simply grab our everyday socks for the hunt; Not all socks are not created equal. A good boot requires a good sock. A sock should fit you well; it should not be over or undersized, where the heel sits high or too low. A sock should fit you and the boot and be made for the weather you are hunting in.

You can choose a brand, make, and model as you like, but Kenetrek® made it simple. I won’t go too in-depth about sock height and type, but they have socks for all boot styles. 

The key factor is that you have a quality sock, but what it's made of does matter. A cotton sock won't do! A good synthetic blend, with its Merino wool, polypropylene, and nylon blend, fits the bill just right.

Well-fitted boots and socks will make you feel like hunting!

Note: 

Our choice of boots and socks is based on our current options and is not meant to be a comparison of other makes and models. This writing is based on the type of boot, proper fitting, conditions, and appropriate boot for the terrain.   

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right boots and socks can enhance your hunting experience. This guide reflects my personal preferences based on years of trial and error.

What boots do you prefer for your hunt? We’d like to hear your thoughts and any topics you’d like us to explore further. Your experiences can help us all become better hunters!