How to find right fitting boots

S-3 ranch

WKR
Joined
Jan 18, 2022
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1,150
Location
Texas / Hillcounrty
I bought some nice redwing Irish setters about 6 -8 years ago and find that for some reason I am not using them ( wore them 3 times hunting) they just seem to sit in the hunting gear room , with most everything on line shopping or idiots who don’t know crap about hunting boots, what’s the best way to figure it out?
these Irish setters seem to hurt my shins, making a think they are to tall (10inch) ? Want stitchEd and not molded
 
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SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,143
Trial and error. No other way. Might be able to shorten the curve a little bit with a call to some experts like Lathrops and Sons. Explain to them the kind of hunting you do, and what boots/shoes have worked for you in the past. But still, you’re going to have to put your feet in em.

REI used to actually accept returns after real use. Might check to see if they still do. That way you can actually put some miles on u even terrain and such to see what’s really going to fit.

Then once you find something that works, buy two exact same pairs, and rotate them so they last longer.
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2015
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1,614
Location
W. Wa
My personal go-to is to buy a pair of shoe covers off Amazon and use those to test boots out on the mountain. Now I’m not gonna go get sweaty and spend a week “testing” them, but if I can put a couple miles in I can figure out fairly quickly if they’re gonna work or not. I think I had 60 miles or so on a pair that cost 30 bucks with zero issues returning the numerous boots I tried. To be able to truly test boots the small cost is well worth it.
 

SDHNTR

WKR
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
7,143
My personal go-to is to buy a pair of shoe covers off Amazon and use those to test boots out on the mountain. Now I’m not gonna go get sweaty and spend a week “testing” them, but if I can put a couple miles in I can figure out fairly quickly if they’re gonna work or not. I think I had 60 miles or so on a pair that cost 30 bucks with zero issues returning the numerous boots I tried. To be able to truly test boots the small cost is well worth it.
That’s a great idea!
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
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16,179
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Colorado Springs
I've only had one pair of boots in my life that I hated, and it had nothing to do with their fit. I do know what I prefer though, so as long as they aren't too heavy or too tall......I'll make them work.
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2021
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414
Location
Clifton Springs, NY
What about rubber boots?

Going on a moose hunt this fall in Newfoundland. The Outfitter suggest bringing knee high rubber boots. If I wear the Muck boots I currently own for a whole day just working around the house my legs, feet and hips just ache. No way can I wear them for 6-10 miles a day.

Plus, I really dislike wearing rubber boots. My feet always seem to get hot and sweaty, then cool down and get super cold. Plus I like to “feel” the ground with some of my lace ups, especially when stalking through the woods.


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OP
S-3 ranch

S-3 ranch

WKR
Joined
Jan 18, 2022
Messages
1,150
Location
Texas / Hillcounrty
What about rubber boots?

Going on a moose hunt this fall in Newfoundland. The Outfitter suggest bringing knee high rubber boots. If I wear the Muck boots I currently own for a whole day just working around the house my legs, feet and hips just ache. No way can I wear them for 6-10 miles a day.

Plus, I really dislike wearing rubber boots. My feet always seem to get hot and sweaty, then cool down and get super cold. Plus I like to “feel” the ground with some of my lace ups, especially when stalking through the woods.


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I hate/ despise rubber boots, when I was moose and caribou hunting in Alaska and northwest territory , they requested I bringing them, only time I used then was to get out of the airplane, I used my
pac boots 99% of the time and had extra liners
 
Joined
May 10, 2015
Messages
2,476
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Timberline
I've only had one pair of boots in my life that I hated, and it had nothing to do with their fit. I do know what I prefer though, so as long as they aren't too heavy or too tall......I'll make them work.

Same here, except I made the mistake of getting a size too big to accommodate thick socks.

I've since learned to let the design of the boot do it's job and to lace a little loose if needed initially to allow them to stretch before relacing.
 
Joined
Jan 18, 2021
Messages
414
Location
Clifton Springs, NY
I ordered a pair of Schnee’s Pac Boots and Beartooths, both in size 9. Pac boots fit great with a regular sock(don’t think I’ll need a heavier sock with them). Beartooths are a tiny bit snug with a thicker wool sock. They are not insulated as my feet sweat all the time. I figure if it is cold I will wear wool socks. My question is, will they stretch out a little when breaking in? Or should I exchange them for a 9.5? Or a 9 wide?

Just nervous to send them back and the 9.5s being to big, especially after break in.


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