Insulated boot experience

[dkindels]

I know this seems to come up on here a lot but I have not seen a thread geared toward insulated boots exclusively. I hunt in south dakota and would like to use boots for dual purpose. One would be stand hunting for a few hours for archery late season where temps near 0 degrees F. Also, would like the boots to be mobile enough to use for our rifle season where i do a mixture of hiking and sitting to glass across rolling hills. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Currently have a pair of danner 1000g pronghorns that just dont seem to fit the bill. I have a pair of the crispi idaho that i love and seem to keep my feet just as warm as the danners even without insulation.

 

[CaseyU]

I really tried doing some research this year on this topic and decided to do some of my own experiments. I have some snow hiking boots garmont ice somethings( very warm but no support) i have some pac boots. (the warmest boot but hate trekking in them) and a couple diferent mountaineering boots some goretex and others not. The best combination i found this year were a pair of mountaineering boots. Scarpas. Which have a very minimal amount of insulation and goretex. I hike where i need to be and pull out those arctic boot covers and slip them on and bam! Ticket punched. If i know i am sitting for a long time but want to be ready for a trek or packing some weight i will use my mountaineering boot with boot and loosen up the toe box and slap a hot handz toe heater on each foot. At that point you are basically riding im a cadillac. Best of luck. Experiments options before you head out! Oh and when its cold weather i use a sock liner amd fits medium weight merino socks

 

[Matt W.]

Interesting topic.. I've been debating a pair of the Irish Setter Rutmasters. Seems like a decent boot for sitting, cold weather, and the like. Anyone else use this boot?

 

[Kotaman]

Here's my experience: (I am in the frozen tundra of North Dakota) The key to keeping your feet warm while sitting is keeping your feet dry. If I am hiking in for a long sit, I will typically wear my Rocky Blizzard 1200 Gram boots and put on a fresh, dry pair of socks when I get to the stand along with a pair of stick on toe warmers. This Rocky is a big boot and not condusive to hiking much.

If I am doing more mobile hunting, or even some snow shoe hunting, I will wear my 200 gram Lowa Sheephunters and pack my Hot Mocs. But at zero degrees my sits will be limited with this combo.

There is really no perfect boot for extended hikes and long sits. IMO you really need two different pairs of boots. One for treestand hunting and one for more mobile type hunting...Or in my case about 16 different pairs of boots.

 

[trk3263]

Will have to watch this topic....

I have a pair of Rockey 1000 Thinsulant Bearclaws I wear for Duck hunting and they are way to much insulation for Hiking as I learned at the begining of my backpacking career when I got half dollar blisters on both heels.

I currently wear Salomon Quest GTXs and love them for backpacking. I want to pull the trigger on another pair but keep questioning myself about a medium weight pair. Most of my hunting season is Oregon Bow season so the Quest have worked great and have had ZERO issues with them but there is always that peer pressure on Kenetrex and Lowa's.