Hunting Boots

[DaveO]

I was looking in my fav. dream book looking at boots

Then I remembered why I need  a new pair of boots...mine leak like a sieve they started to leak about the 2nd or 3rd time Ive worn them.

The first time I bought this brand of boot I fell in love,,The second time I bought this brand they were OK no love there but they worked.

The last pair I bought I vowed I will NEVER but this brand again..

Then ice fishing with a good buddy of mine I noticed he had the same boot on that I had on so we started talking about them,,,funny he said the very same thing that I said..

The brand of this boot?,,,,,ROCKY!!!!!

what is your boot experience with good or bad hunting boots?

[Benny]

Well I have to say I love my Rocky's and wouldn't buy any other brand.

I tried the Irish Setters,Wolverines,Brownings,and the Lacrose brands.

The only one that came even close to lasting as long as my Rocky's were the Lacrose.

I bought my first pair of Rocky's in 1982, they lasted till 1994 before they finally gave out in the toe seam.
I bought a second pair in 1988 and they lasted till around the early 2000 mark before the soul separated.

My current two pairs of Rocky's are now 2 and 5 years old and still going strong, even used the older ones to ride ATV with and they still are water tight and the souls are still holding up.

I just bought a pair of Snake boots from GM in Fridley before they closed, they are a Little stiff  but I expected that because of the high calf's on them.

My Lacrose boots lasted maybe 4 years or more before their Gortex membrane started to leak.

They wouldn't replace the boots either, where Rocky sent me a coupon for 75% off my choice of their line up from any retailer I chose, those Rocky's were 10 years old and well worn to the point Rocky said the souls were unrepairable.

My Irish Setters were the second best but again they wouldn't stand behind their boots after I shipped the pair to them to repair the 1 inch cut I got in them from climbing on the shale rock in Idaho Mountains.

They said it was my fault for abusing their boot!!!But they claimed the boots would hold up to any abuse I could dish out to them.

I love my Rocky's.

Benny

[Spinach]

My current boots are Irish Setters, they do not leak and keep my feet nice and warm, they are a little heavy though. I also have a nice pair of browning knee high rubber boots that I wear for waterfowl hunting or when I have to walk through the water while Pheasant hunting.

When I'm deer hunting in my stand and don't have to walk a lot, I wear my Lacrosse Ice Kings, these are the warmest boots I've ever had, they are bulky and are not for walking though.

With out a doubt in my mind, the most comfortable boot is made by Danner, they are very expensive but last a long time. I wore my last pair out a few years ago and replaced them with a pair of Rocky lightweight boots, I use them mainly for warm weather pheasant hunting.

I guess I have a pair of boots for all conditions and types of hunting.

[shakey legs 2]

I don't have a Cabela's catalog handy but I have a pair of their upland boots that has 400 grams of insulation and a gortex bootie.  It is made from Pittards leather from England and is so soft there is no break in needed.  The soles shed mud and don't retain rocks.  There is an extra layer of sharkskin leather on the toe to help prevent scuffing.  I have had them for several years and they still look/wear like new and I hunt just about every weekend from the middle of October to January 1.  All you need to do is use a little silicone boot grease once in awhile to keep them looking great.  They are also very light weight ( I think less than 3# a pair).

[Joe]

I've been looking for a good pair of upland boots and the Cabela's brand is a nice looking boot. I just can't get myself to spend the $170.00......yet. ::)


I've got 2 pairs of Lacrosse, 1 pair of Rocky's, 1 pair of Itascas, and 1 pair of Brownings. All these boots have been great boots for me. My oldest pair started leaking last year, but their 7 or 8 years old.

[Outdoors Junkie]

I have a pair of Rocky's and they have been great!

[GRIZ]

I had a pair of rockies and it didn't even take a week before the seem at the heel split and within 2 they started to split from the seam by the toe. I exchanged them with much haggling from where Ibought them. Fleet farm in St.Cloud. It took a couple months for this pair to start falling apart anf Fleet would not exchange this pair.

I E-mailed Rocky and got a reply back from them stating that the boots are guarenteed for one yr. The retailer is expected to stand behind that guarentee for which they will be reimbursed by rocky. The short of it is I got shafted because I don't keep my reciepts. I did e-mail the reply from rocky to fleetfarm with no reply back.

I willnot buy another pair of rockies for two reasons.
1. I believe they as a company should make shur the retailers stand behind their warranty better.
2. I don't belive that rocky boots are made with enough workmanship to even last 40 days worth of use.

[jigglestick]

my first pair of hunting boots were rocky cornstalkers. the next pair were not. the first pair are here and on their second owner.
they never leaked but I wore the toes out of them and they still never leaked. the soles lasted forever and they are still going strong.
my brother bought a pair and ended up taking them back because they leaked.
I bought another pair at reeds last year on closeout. I got'em for like 63 bucks and they were stiff at first but after getting them wet a couple times, they are almost as good as the first pair.

I have seen them pull apart at the seams though. I must have gotten wednesday boots, as opposed to your friday boots.

[vickieschessies]

I too have had 2 pair of Rocky boots. Never again at 1yr the 2nd pair of boots, the whole arch broke.  I bought a cheap pair of Brahma's for my son. He loved them but out grew them so I took them over. I'm still wearing them for chores and their 4yrs old. Both him and I bought new pairs last year and just love them. Great boot for the price.

[Mayfly]

Hmmmm..


I have been wearing the same pair of Rockies for 5 years now...

I figured I would treat myself to a new pair of boots last year and I am still wearing the old Rockies.....

So now I have a brand new pair of boots waiting for my 5 year old rockies to give out on me

Rocky has been good to me and continues to do good....

[WoodChuck]

 ???? WAL-MARTS hermans survivors, for 39.00 and 3 yrs old and still going.1 set of new sole liners and 1 set of boot laces should last 1 more hunting season. a little bear greas goes a long way!!!!

[mopho]

redwing/irishsetters   have never let me down I'm on my umpteenth pair    I've yet to find a  pair of rockies that  i like

[Bufflehead]

 Every pair of Rockies we have had been JUNK!!

 Fall apart and leak in short order

 I want to try a pair of Danners.

 Also, NO CORDERA(sp?) all leather ONLY! if a boot is going to fail, it will be in the seam where the cordera is sewen or glued.

 

[Mayfly]

LaCrosse,


I bought a pair a year or maybe more ago and they haven't gotten much time until this year.

These boots are heaven. They are the most comfortable boot that I have ever hunted on. I'm honestly in awe....Wow!


I also retract my statement about the Rockies!!! I have a pair of Rockies and I was confusing them with my Magnums.

The Magnums are the boot that I have been using for years with pleasure but they don't come close to the comfort of the lacrosse.

Rockies = Junk

Magnums = Durability

Lacrosse = Heaven!

[jigglestick]

wait til you get those lacrosse boots in water :(
I suppose on a hot day that could be heavenly

[Mayfly]

I've used them in water......It was a joy.

The only time that I have used them was in the spring in mud and water, ice fishing, and late season pheasant hunting.

I'm serious.....these boots are heaven.

[jigglestick]

I bought a pair of LaCrosse boots shortly after I gave my old rockies to my kid.
they are still the most comfortable hunting boot I have ever had. they stayed water proof less than one hunting season.  they did not breath and my feet were wet because of that, but then what ever makes them water proof, wore off or wore out or what ever because I could not wear them out partridge hunting afer a rain without getting wet from the little bit of water I would encounter on the trail.
I would spray them with waterproofing, but that would not last one outing.
keep in mind that each manufacturer has many different styles and they may or may not be as good as the other.
in this survey, we have noted several brands.
the general concencus is that rockies are overall, most un-reiable, leaving boot owners dis-satisfied most of the time.
my experiences have been different with rockies. I have had two different styles and the first ones could not be beat. even with a hole in the toes, they would still not allow in water. my new ones were a bit more uncomfortable, but after a couple times wearing them in service, they have become quite comfortable and they are indeed waterproof, unless I go over the top :o
so, use this information as you will. the most important thing is to get out there. it just may come down to your own personal experiences to decide for yourselves.

[Benny]

You can say what you like about Rocky's, but I guaranty you no one has abused boots like I have and the Rocky's were the only ones still able to go up to the last lace with out leaking.

I used them for 4 wheeling on my Honda 250R that had metal foot pegs and not these baby rider floor boards they have now.
Used them in Colorado crossing the shale and stone ridges chasing Elk, used them creeping through the plowed fields of South Dakota,North Dakota, and Western Minnesota, stood for hours in water up to the tops waiting for a flock of 50 Canada's to get off the pond and fly over.

I used them to roof a house once because my tennies were to slippery, walked hundreds of miles in them up on the range in the iron ore pits looking for grouse and deer.

Iced fished with them with 4 inches of ice water around my feet for ten hours with out a leak.

Maybe these other boots are fine as well, but I won't switch for any reason till they prove to be a bad boot for me.

Benny