New Boots

[schwinger]

I am looking for some advise on some new WARM boots for deer hunting. My Rocky's bit the dust last year and need to be replaced. I have never been able to keep my feet warm in a deer stand. Anyone have suggestions?

I was looking at the new Camuks (by Mukluk) and think I may give them a try but they are $200 and so I was hoping to find someone that has used them. Anyone have a pair?

[JohnWester]

irish setter makes a mean boot, 1800 gram thinsulate.... I use them with their wick dry socks and I am very warm. and the nice thing is they are light weight.  I switched last year from my la crosse ice kings and I am glad I did.  Much easier to walk in and track deer.

[brandbll]

I got some Irish Setters last year for something like 100-120 bucks from Joes.  VERY pleased with them!  Only con was that the loop on one of the boots for pulling the boot on broke fairly early on.  Not a big loss though.  I thought it might be a bad sign but i treked through a hell of a lot of wet thick woods and they've held up beautifully.

[beeker]

I always liked my rocky snow stalkers until they bit it a few years back. I had a pair of wolverines that I wear now, but I invested in some really good socks and  the wic socks and think my feet were cold more over because my choice of socks was poor. just a thought.

[schwinger]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am sure poor choice of socks has been an issue more than once.

I am really intrigued by the claims on the Camuks though and would love to find someone who has a pair.

I have always had Sorels and Rocky's. No real difference in my opinion both have treated me well enough.

[101PROOF]

I got some Irish setters last year also.
I can stand on the ice fishing at low temps and my feet sweat.
I also can walk in water (cross a loe river or slush)up to the top of the boat and at this time have never got me feet wet.
This was the best boat I have ever got.
I'm going out to buy some lower cut boats that are a lower gram thinsulate for wormer weather.
I have the 1800 gram and going to get a 800 gram so my feet don't sweat

[thunderpout]

Schwinger... youre right on with the sock deal... the right socks can make even pretty sorry boots tolerable, and vice versa, the wrong socks can make the best boots worthless...  I too bought a pair of irishsetter snoclaws(?) a few years back, and they are the warmest stand boots Ive ever had... problem is if you walk to your stand quite a ways or do alot of stalking, your feet sweat and then get cold when ya sit, cause they dont breathe well... the warmest boots I have ever bought bar none are my Steger Mukluks... I have the Artic Weathermates, the same ones they use on the artic/antartic expeditions... theyre not waterproof... but they breath.. and theyre flexible as far as how many layers you can put in them... I know they make a new camo more waterproof hunters model.... check out there website... they are made in Ely, which is pretty cool...

[schwinger]

I know they make a new camo more waterproof hunters model.... check out there website... they are made in Ely, which is pretty cool...

The new camo ones are the Camuks that I am talking about.

I have to say the Irish setters have alot of votes so far. I may just go with those but I don't need them for awhile so I am going to ponder a little yet.

thanks for the suggestions and input.

[UncleDave]

Can't beat the Muks.  I assume they are made in Minnesota.  I have a friend who is from Ely and has a pair of them from 15 years ago or so.  He NEVER gets cold when we ice fish or go out in the cold.  Spendy but you get what you pay for.

[thunderpout]

Yep... hand made in Ely.... Ive had mine for 10-15 years also.... Ive pretty much worn them out, Think I paid $150 back then, worth every penny!  When Ice fishing/Eelpout fest etc. they often are the only part of me that doesnt get cold... and regular boots dont come close as far as comfort goes....

[atcher]

Get good sock liners, found out the hard way.  Liners and some hi-tech woolies.

[backwoods]

Danner or Irish Setter, both make great boots.  Socks are your foundation to build on, I agree 100%.  However, heres a tip you may not know.

Dont tie your boots real tight around your ankle, as it cuts the circulation down and will cause your feet to get colder than they should.  Just tie it snug but not tight.

[snow]

Take a look at where these boots are made guys,most of'em are made in china except these~Use to like my old irsh setters,went looking for another pair and found out they sold out to china! end of that deal.

http://www.kenetrek.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RM-HCH-10

As stated the kenetrek is a dang nice durable boot,also take a look at the "Russel' boot on this page,hand made in wiscony,have them send you a catalog (free),comes with a foot sizer,they'll custom build a pair for you,hard to beat that kind of quality and service.

[backwoods]

For $371 a pair, they should send a fair maiden to massage my feet every night after she takes them off. 

[JohnWester]

Use to like my old irsh setters,went looking for another pair and found out they sold out to china! end of that deal.

not all irish setter made in china. and the leather is tanned here.  Do a little homework.  Irish setters are a great boot.

and I am not just saying that because I work there.

[thunderpout]

Russels are reeeaaaly nice... thats what ya pay for hand made custom fitted stuff, ya get what ya pay for... I bought some Danner guide boots with air-bob soles from Orvis 15-20 years ago for $200+.... my buddies said I was  stupid... but ya know what?  though the air-bob soles are worn down to nubs and they dont have quite as much ankle support as when I first got em,  I still have em and use em... they dont leak and theyre comfy as hell!  Best $$ I ever spent!  My buddies that laughed at me have probably bought at least four or five pairs of boots since I bought mine.... Whos the moron now?!? I'd buy another pair, but they dont make that model anymore.... I won a nice pair of Irish Setter Kangaroo bird shooters ($200 boots) at the Game fair a couple years ago, they are pretty sweet too(made in Red Wing MN)... so now I have bird hunting boots that will probably last me the rest of my bird chasing days.... Dont skimp on boots... skimp on everything else if you must, but good boots are worth every cent you pay.

[snow]

did'nt say they were,the boots I want for my needs were made in china,the soles were glued and not sewed and I did'nt like the heel pocket and very little ankle support.

[JohnWester]

what thunderpout said...

$200 now, last let's say even 15 years.

$60 for a cheaper boot, but you buy a new pair every 5 years.. .(benefit of the doubt)

your saying, ya, see I still save 20 bucks.

I guarantee the $200 boots fit better and offer more support.

I am almost 40, (shudder I will be in Jan.) , and it took me a while and a lot of lessons learned the hard way that never, ever go cheap on something you will use a lot.  You WILL end up paying more in the long run. You are better off paying a little extra and buying a good quality product and enjoying it!! 

[The General]

what thunderpout said...

$200 now, last let's say even 15 years.

$60 for a cheaper boot, but you buy a new pair every 5 years.. .(benefit of the doubt)

your saying, ya, see I still save 20 bucks.

I guarantee the $200 boots fit better and offer more support.

I am almost 40, (shudder I will be in Jan.) , and it took me a while and a lot of lessons learned the hard way that never, ever go cheap on something you will use a lot.  You WILL end up paying more in the long run. You are better off paying a little extra and buying a good quality product and enjoying it!! 

I will buy a pair within the next week if you are willing to put a written guarantee that the $200 boots you are touting will last at least 15 years.  I don't care the brand, what they look like, where they are made.  If they will keep my feet warm and dry for 15 years.  Heck I'd pay $500 for that boot if it came with a written guarantee.  I have never found a pair that last longer then 3 years where they are still water proof.  My Danners are going on year 2 and cost in the $150 range I believe.  If they make it the rest of this year I'll be happy.  Any more after that is a bonus.  In fact I still have my first pair of Rockeys but they are pretty worn out and just like the rest of them they seem to get holes and stop keeping the water out.

[Cody Gruchow]

Danners are nice boots. i need to get a new pair because i buy the cheap ones and walk holes in them in a matter of a month, so it gets a bit expensive

[JohnWester]

you can't just buy a pair and wear them... there is maintenance for boots, just like a car.  If you want them to perform and last, you have to take care of them.  To keep them waterproof, you have to follow the directions and oil them, or condition them.  I had my LaCrosse Ice Kings for probably 15 years... and heck they are still perfectly good and waterproof, but my son starter wearing them, so I bought a new pair of Irish Setters last year. And I expect to get 15 winters out of them.

[The General]

Yeah John I did buy the oil and conditioner this time and the Danner (Pronghorn I believe but don't quote me on that) and they get wiped down after every days hunt.  But I pheasant hunt literally almost every Sat and Sunday of the season and a couple trips to SD.  It seems like the stuff i walk through eats the leather right off.  I could post the name of the oil/conditioner that I use (what the cabelas guy recommended) if that would make a difference.  Maybe he didn't know what he was talking about.  I would never know if he did or not.

[brandbll]

I got some Irish setters last year also.
I can stand on the ice fishing at low temps and my feet sweat.
I also can walk in water (cross a loe river or slush)up to the top of the boat and at this time have never got me feet wet.
This was the best boat I have ever got.
I'm going out to buy some lower cut boats that are a lower gram thinsulate for wormer weather.
I have the 1800 gram and going to get a 800 gram so my feet don't sweat

Yeah, i've tromped through some Marshy stuff hunting with my Irish Setters trying to work my way around the bigger water/mud holes and i've stepped in stuff that looks like sturdy land only to sink into water fairly high up on the boot.  The first time i did i was pissed thinking that I was going to have to turn around because I was going to start feeling by feet getting wet, but i never felt them get wet and my socks were dry when i came in. 

Too warm and too waterproof can lead to your feet sweating and sweat isn't good when you have to sit out in a tree stand.  But as someone said it does help to not lace your boots super tight.

This last weekend i was grouse hunting with a couple of buddies who got up north a day before me.  They were all talking about how they had gotten soaking wet and their feet got soaked the day before.  I told them i'm not worried about my feet getting wet with my boots and they both basically blew me off like i didn't know what i was talking about and my feet would be wet tommorow too.  Well it rained hard that night so it was extra wet in the morning and surprise surprise, at the end of the day my feet were completely dry(and i was just wearing a single pair of cotton socks), their's were wet.

[thunderpout]

Hey Schwinger.... Dont know if you checked out Stegers new Camuks, but a buddy of mine got a pair from his wife last fall (nice wife eh?) and used them deer hunting (stand hunting) and loved them.  They didnt help him get a deer though.   My old arctic mukluks are 15 or so yrs old and were wearing thin in the sole, so I got a new pair last week.  I got the Extreme Camuks, I tested them in the cold this last weekend, and so far like em as much as my old ones.  Ill keep ya posted....

[schwinger]

Thunderpout, I have not checked them out yet but I think I will be waiting until next year to buy the new boots now that I made it through deer season. It is nice to hear a report on the Camuks though.   Thanks