Boots: light and fast or heavy and bomb proof?

[Ucsdryder]

I went on an antelope hunt last night, then chased elk this morning. I wore the salomons on the antelope hunt and the schnees on the elk hunt. Those salomons sure are comfortable! It’s hard to describe, but it feels like my foot is wrapped in pillows, like my feet were swaddled just right!

Lacing up the schnees I feel like I’m Iron Man putting on my “shit’s gonna get real” boots.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Spent a week chasing moose in Colorado. I learned 3 things.

1. A full leather, mid-high top, fully waterproof boot, paired with good gaiters, is mandatory for stomping around in willow choked meadows and bogs.

2. Moose should be shot next to the road.

3. Rubber buck shot doesn’t work on moose!

 

[robby denning]

Spent a week chasing moose in Colorado. I learned 3 things.

1. A full leather, mid-high top, fully waterproof boot, paired with good gaiters, is mandatory for stomping around in willow choked meadows and bogs.

2. Moose should be shot next to the road.

3. Rubber buck shot doesn’t work on moose!

View attachment 772702View attachment 772703

all points taken but you gotta explain the rubber buckshot!

 

[TrailDog]

I'm really surprised nobody has referenced this video yet:

The Best Hunting Boot (Isn’t What You Think It Is) – The Experience Project

the-experience-project.com

Personally, I'm on my 5th or 6th pair of Scarpa Fuegos...arguably one of the heaviest and stiffest mountain boots out there. But as I get older I'm trying to transition to lighter and faster, can't find something I like better than the Fuegos yet but I keep looking. Currently hunt archery in a pair of Salomon ultra-mids and the rest of the year I'm in Fuegos.

 

[fngTony]

I went on an antelope hunt last night, then chased elk this morning. I wore the salomons on the antelope hunt and the schnees on the elk hunt. Those salomons sure are comfortable! It’s hard to describe, but it feels like my foot is wrapped in pillows, like my feet were swaddled just right!

Lacing up the schnees I feel like I’m Iron Man putting on my “shit’s gonna get real” boots.

Exactly how I feel with my Merrell’s and Hanwags. Think the hanwags will be reserved for harsh abrasion and really wet conditions.

 

[timberbuck]

Something that will do it all. There is a lot of wisdom in the statement that you should not sacrifice comfort and weight for the five or ten percent of your hunt when you may be packing out an animal and need a heavy boot. I've gone midweight. I don't care if I need to replace every 3 years or so because of reduced waterproofness or wear. The Salomons are too fragile. The Crispi Nevada I own is too much. I have found my ideal in the Zamberlan Baltoro Lite.