Hip boots for moose hunt

[MtGomer]

Those of you that have taken hip boots on a hunt... what do you recommend?

 

[cnelk]

Lacrosse insulated ankle fit

 

[Thess87]

I took lacrosse traplines. They did great but they are heavy. My partner had Simms with hiking boots and at times I was kinda jealous.

 

[Hessticles]

I used breathable chest waders with wading boots and it was money!

 

[waterrat]

LaCrosse uninsulated anklefits for 35 years now. Even took a ram on a grizzly sheep combo with them.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

waterrat...WTF! I bet those dogs look like road kill after a sheep ascent in hippers! Daaang ol' school

 

[Werty]

Check trapping forums, those people spend a lot of time in the water.

 

[wildwilderness]

Breathable waders by far more comfortable, packable, effective. Hip boots are for float pilots and tourists- and old farts who are set in their ways

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

What’s funny, the only local Alaskans I know that use hip waders are new guys. Knee high rubber boots or chest waders. That’s it.

 

[VernAK]

Fifty years ago, hip boots were the norm for much Alaska hunting but we had a good hip boot on the market at that time and it's never been matched since. I'm trying to remember the brand and name......very lightweight canvas top with knob soles on a very pliable foot......I'll think of it in a bit....

 

[AKDoc]

What’s funny, the only local Alaskans I know that use hip waders are new guys. Knee high rubber boots or chest waders. That’s it.

I agree...although I do see hip boots on many of the float pilots.

When I go moose hunting each year, I'm on a drop hunt, living out of a tent for at least two weeks. Where I go moose hunting can get really, really wet, so I always bring chest waders (Simms) AND knee high insulated rubber boots (Lacrosse). I always end-up needing and wearing each of them at different points during the hunt...probably 80/20 knee highs/chest waders. I haven't worn hip boots for twenty years.

Hey Vern...when I first moved to Alaska thirty years ago I had a pair of hip boots like you describe. Mine were Lacrosse.

 

[Larry Bartlett]

There have been too many instances where I wanted to cross a creek early on when i wore hip boots, and either got wet doing it or couldn't cross. I don't have that concern now, nor do i take rain pants because i live in breathable chest waders rolled to my waist. Warmth, dryness, utility and efficiency rules in the backcountry.

I vote chest waders unless the scenario is benign and wading is kept to shallows.

Plus, and this is a huge perk...putting on a pair of wet-on-the-inside hippers that froze all night to start your day is total bullshit and extremely painful. Instead with wading boots and breathables we simply boil 2 cups of water and dump a cup in each wading boot before you slip them on, then you'll never think of hippers ever again.

 

[Hessticles]

Chest waders are also money while butchering as moose! I looked at the simms which were 5 ply but were too expensive for me, I found some compass 360 waders that are 6 ply for about a 1/3 the cost of simms. They held up great through all the brush and butchering 3 bulls

 

[MtGomer]

Thank you all for the recommendations. Chest waders were what I would have thought I should bring but the outfitter suggests hip boots.
I ordered the Lacrosse Big Chiefs.

 

[Hessticles]

Depends how wet it will be, we would have been screwed a couple times with hip boots

 

[wyodog]

Thank you all for the recommendations. Chest waders were what I would have thought I should bring but the outfitter suggests hip boots.
I ordered the Lacrosse Big Chiefs.

I took insulated Big Chiefs and my feet froze for 10 out of 11 days. Plus some of the camps have so much water hip waders are very limiting.

 

[teamr2]

Check out the Simms or patagonia wading pants. Keep your ass dry if you want to sit down and are comfortable enough to play basketball in.