Hiking boot vs Hunting boot?

[Frontline Defense]

Hey guys and gals, NC flatland bow hunter here. Heading to Noxon MT in September, bow hunting elk. I am all too familiar with breaking in boots etc, courtesy of the US Army Rangers. At 57 now, I'm starting 9 months ahead vs a week after basic training ( I feel the shin splints as I am writing this)! So many options out there like bows and broadheads. I have a pair of Zamberlan GTX RR in size 14. I am about to start the break in process. I had bad plantar fasciitis in my feet and wear $485 frigging special foot inserts. So any boot I get, I have to chunk the included foot inserts. I know I need a second pair to take with me. Do most get the second boot exactly as the 1st one? I have zero rugged boot stores to try anything on and the one place didn't have anything over a size 12. The 1st pair of Zamberlans I had to exchange and it was $100 freight to mail back, unbelievable shipping cost last year. I was eyeballing some kenetrek Corrie II Hikers, but wasn't sure if a hiking boot would be suitable for "hunting". In my mind hiking and hunting is the same. Again I'm from the SE flat country so I don't have much experience in real rugged terrain outside of Saudi and Iraq. Our jungle boots did fairly well in my opnion in that environment, minus zero ankle support. Thanks in advance.

 

[WeiserBucks]

Why do you need two pairs of boots?

 

[Frontline Defense]

Why do you need two pairs of boots?

Everyone keeps telling me to have a 2nd pair as a backup.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I would disagree. I bring whatever boots I want to hunt in an whatever other shoes you want for driving ect.

 

[fmyth]

I do a lot of hiking and scouting over the summer and then do 2-3 western hunts a year. I am not a true backpack hunter as I camp where I park my truck and hike in and return every day for an average 10-15 miles a day. I have never bought a pair of boots marketed as "hunting" boots. I personally prefer Lowa boots but there are many great hiking boots that work great for hunting. Keep in mind that many boots marketed as hiking boots are for people that are not carrying a backpack and even if they are they never have to load an elk quarter in it for the hike back.

 

[mtnbound]

Hey guys and gals, NC flatland bow hunter here. Heading to Noxon MT in September, bow hunting elk. I am all too familiar with breaking in boots etc, courtesy of the US Army Rangers. At 57 now, I'm starting 9 months ahead vs a week after basic training ( I feel the shin splints as I am writing this)! So many options out there like bows and broadheads. I have a pair of Zamberlan GTX RR in size 14. I am about to start the break in process. I had bad plantar fasciitis in my feet and wear $485 frigging special foot inserts. So any boot I get, I have to chunk the included foot inserts. I know I need a second pair to take with me. Do most get the second boot exactly as the 1st one? I have zero rugged boot stores to try anything on and the one place didn't have anything over a size 12. The 1st pair of Zamberlans I had to exchange and it was $100 freight to mail back, unbelievable shipping cost last year. I was eyeballing some kenetrek Corrie II Hikers, but wasn't sure if a hiking boot would be suitable for "hunting". In my mind hiking and hunting is the same. Again I'm from the SE flat country so I don't have much experience in real rugged terrain outside of Saudi and Iraq. Our jungle boots did fairly well in my opnion in that environment, minus zero ankle support. Thanks in advance.

I say yes to a spare set of boots. In September you can soak a pair of boots in NW MT in a day, it’s all depending on what Mother Nature decides to do.

If you have someway of drying out your boots overnight then maybe not but you are traveling a long ways to have to miss a day of hunting because your boots are soaked or get damaged somehow. Yes you can wear wet boots but it sucks.

If the boots you are breaking in work for you then yes buy another set if they don’t workout then try a different brand. Crispis have been my long time favorite.

 

[taskswap]

I bring two pairs of boots. I'm not saying everyone needs to, but I had a pair of (what seemed to me at the time to be) very good Danners that gave up the ghost on a trip 2 years ago, the sole under one toe just totally separated and went from "kinda waterproof" to "kinda waterscoop" Luckily I realized it was starting to go before I hit the trail, but it was still a 5-hr run to town and paying nearly double for small-town-outfitter price to buy a replacement. Guess I really helped support the local economy that year...

Every since then I've always brought a backup. You'll laugh but my backup is actually a pair of Dewalt work boots. They're not the best long-range hikers but they're still designed for framers walking across rafters 10 hours a day so they're very close - that's a lot like picking your way over rocks and logs on a trail. They were also very affordable, bulletproof, and they fit me well.

In some situations I bring 3 pairs. Most trips don't need this, but in Rifle 1 I hunt a trailhead with very heavy traffic from other hunters, and lots of horses. If there's any kind of weather the whole parking area turns into a gross soup of mud, spit, grey water, and horsesh1t. Nothing beats a pair of muck boots in that - easy on and off, knee-high protection, and they stand up to anything.

 

[Jethro]

I would never travel that far and not have 2 pair. Some years I had 2 of same model, sometimes 2 completely different companies. I hike in them all year and wear them to hunt. I prefer all leather, medium stiffness.

 

[Pacific27]

I'm in wet country, doesn't matter how good your boots are if in water for days on end they will disintegrate.

Lacross Alphaburley (water/mud)
Lowa Tibet EVO GTX (hiking/packing)
Danner Pronghorn (day trip/camp boots)
Danner Super Rain Forest (Work/Heavy construction)
OlaKai Flip Flops (gotta let your feet breathe)

As you know from your days in the military, always take a couple extra sets of laces

 

[LongWayAround]

I would encourage you to bring a second pair of hiking/trail type boots. Having something that feels more like a tennis show is good insurance in case you find that your current setup doesn't work well after days in the mountains.

There's a pretty strong following of minimalist footwear around here.

 

[Frontline Defense]

I'm in wet country, doesn't matter how good your boots are if in water for days on end they will disintegrate.

Lacross Alphaburley (water/mud)
Lowa Tibet EVO GTX (hiking/packing)
Danner Pronghorn (day trip/camp boots)
Danner Super Rain Forest (Work/Heavy construction)
OlaKai Flip Flops (gotta let your feet breathe)

As you know from your days in the military, always take a couple extra sets of laces

Yes sir. Extra laces are most forgotten. Jerry rigging those totally sucks! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Frontline Defense]

I say yes to a spare set of boots. In September you can soak a pair of boots in NW MT in a day, it’s all depending on what Mother Nature decides to do.

If you have someway of drying out your boots overnight then maybe not but you are traveling a long ways to have to miss a day of hunting because your boots are soaked or get damaged somehow. Yes you can wear wet boots but it sucks.

If the boots you are breaking in work for you then yes buy another set if they don’t workout then try a different brand. Crispis have been my long time favorite.

Yes wet boots suck and especially when the temps drop.

 

[NealS02]

I do usually bring two pairs of boots. The Corrie II hiker I can’t speak about on direct experience, but I did look at them before buying a pair of Crispis and don’t think you should have any issue if that’s the direction you go. I have been converted by Steve Speck, Randy Newberg, and others on wearing lightweight hunting/hiking boots in all seasons unless stationary for a significant period of time. For archery elk, you will be fine with a lighter boot.

 

[Frontline Defense]

I do usually bring two pairs of boots. The Corrie II hiker I can’t speak about on direct experience, but I did look at them before buying a pair of Crispis and don’t think you should have any issue if that’s the direction you go. I have been converted by Steve Speck, Randy Newberg, and others on wearing lightweight hunting/hiking boots in all seasons unless stationary for a significant period of time. For archery elk, you will be fine with a lighter boot.

Thanks. I’ve got some Irish setters in size 14 and man they are no joke toting around. They’re my Illinois and Michigan sitting in a tower stand boots while it’s snowing. I’m all about lighter!!

 

[Big Sky Guy]

You didn’t specify if you have the Guide or the Outfitter. The “hunting” boots generally go up higher above your ankle and weigh a tad more than the “hiking” versions. In your instance the Outfitter (hunting) vs the Guide (hiking). I have a strong preference for the lower ankle (hiking) slightly lighter versions. I’ve had great satisfaction with Crispi Nevadas and now the Kenai (same boot but with full grain leather vs nubuck). The Zamberlan Guide seems to have a similar design and is the design I always recommend to newer western hunters - full leather/nubuck and then a full leather rand. Solid design and seem to last the best vs synthetics or those lacking rands like the Corrie 2 appears. Brands are somewhat foot specific but all the major (Kenetrek, Crispi, Lowa, Whites etc.) brands offer a boot of that design.

I never understood why they market/label them as hunting vs. hiking but the boot height seems to be about the biggest consistent difference I’ve seen across all the brands.

If were in your shoes (or boots) I would begin with what you have and if they are great get a second pair around Memorial Day. Prly be a sale or something and still enough time to break those in. If you have the higher Outfitter version might be worth trying the shorter Guide version.

Good for you starting now. Hope you draw the tag.