I get that, I’m just trying to figure out if I need to shell out a couple more hundred dollars on boots or if my uninsulated will do just fine with some booties. Trying to minimize the financial hit when I’m already having to buy all the other gear needed for a backcountry elk trip with a spike camp set up
What boots do you have now? My advice is for uninsulated full leather boots and a good pair of gaiters. If your feet do get cold you have multiple options of warming them up. Moving around, starting a fire, switching to a pair of dry socks, or simply loosening laces while stationary to increase circulation can all take a good pair of uninsulated boots into very late seasons.
To be honest, I don’t think I would worry about using some kind of bootie. My last winter hunt was right after Christmas for my son. First day it was a little above 0 degrees and I only used full leather uninsulated boots with gaiters. There was about 10” of fresh snow as well. We walked to high points and glassed. When our feet got cold we would stand, stretch, wiggle toes, rock our feet, move around a little, etc. It doesn’t take long to warm them back up and if you loosen your laces some and move your toes a little it takes even longer for them to get cold. I’ve been doing this for many years.
Some Irish setter elk trackers full leather. I was gonna get a pair of kuiu gaiters
Insulated in 2nd season almost all the time. If it's dry with warm temps, I'll do uninsulated.
400g is good middle of the road. I use 800g with hot hands and can stay comfortable until it gets close to or below 0.
Yeah that’s why it’s so hard to figure out. I’ll be hunting around the 9,000 mark since that’s likely where the elk will be. I’m looking at some 200g Irish setter elk tracker xd or 400g danner. I understand Crispi is the best but it’s hard to shell out that much money for a first elk hunt when I’m already shelling out so much for other initial gear.
Yeah I might eventually get a pair but my uninsulated elk trackers work fine. That’s why I’d considered the elk tracker cod for insulated pair since they have the 200g option
A thin poly blend. You need to wick the moister from your feet. An old Skier trick is the spray your feet with antiperspirant before putting the socks on. Moister= cold feet. Another idea is to change your socks after you get to a glassing spot. One guy mentioned Gaters . They are a must in my opinion.
All depends on the weather. Year before last when guiding my wife, I wore insulated pac boots with removable liners for 80% of the hunt. We were trudging through snow, and it was cold the whole week. Some years it's uninsulated-only, and tshirt weather in the afternoons. This will be my 55th year of hunting and_or guiding in CO during that time, at roughly the same elevation as the Vail area. There are no "average" coonditions.
I’d take what you have now and not worry about it. Make sure you treat them with a good leather treatment and use the money you were going to spend on other boots to buy more ammo and practice with your rifle.
What gaiters do you like? I have the opportunity to get some outdoor research crocs for $55. Or do I shell out for kuiu Yukons?
Well in that case I’d need to buy another pair of boots so might as well get some 400g anyway right?
