Lightweight Trail Shoes vs. Frankenstein Boots

[GKPrice]

One could also go so far as to say "switching to bare foot hunting can be a LONG process, and is not something you can dabble in for a season and decide if you like it", but that still doesn't automatically mean that's the best choice.

I've played basketball my entire life and had numerous ankle sprains over those years with flat shoes. Yet in 35 years of big game hunting I've only rolled an ankle once, and that was wearing a pair of flimsy boots without the higher heel. All those other roll-free years were with taller heavier mountain type boots with a heel.

Just like anything else, there's no one answer that fits for everyone, and people need to figure out what works best for them. When I'm hunting these days, I don't even think about what's on my feet. My boots are just an extension of my body and provide everything I need from them. No picking pine needles, twigs and grass, rocks, and everything else out of my socks......no worries where I place my foot (especially in cactus country), and enough support to run up and down rocky slopes without worrying about where to step, or beaten up bruised feet.....especially after an entire season of hard miles.

Plenty of guys I know wear low-cut trail shoes, and if that works for them.....fantastic.

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[fngTony]

I had the same thought as the OP, I have more non hunting back country experience than hunting. I agree with 5milesback and will add that if trail shoes work for you great just don't forget the gaiters.


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[themulieslayer]

having a bit of a boot fetish I have tried everything under the sun. I currently own a pair of
kenetrek moubntain extreme uninsulated,
2 pairs of cabelas 8" Silent Stalk Sneakers,
salomon speedcross 3's,
Salomon quest 4d's,
invo8 roclite 390 gtx,
La Sportiva crossover gtx
Oboz windriver II Bdry
and a few more that I never wear. I archery hunt in my home state and have hunted a wilderness area in Idaho for 10 of 12 years (never skunked) I usually pack out my Mule deer whole boned out at around 100 pounds including head mostly downhill, Have packed numerous elk and deer in my home state. It all comes down to your feet and preference. I hate my Kenetrek's, sole is to high, and kills my knees (for sale if interested), Right now I love my Salomon quest 4d's and Inov8's. Just try pair after pair until you find the right one that works for you.

 

[Muttly]

Older thread, pretty late chiming in... Been a Frankenboots kinda guy for years.
Broke a couple toes first week of January, Work boots at this point are all double shank, think that fact and taping the toes every morning made getting through the first week or so a lot more bearable. Left foot, and I,m a truck driver, wasn't real fond of the clutch for a while. Although I do dig the band..
Anyhoo, noticed a few things.. My comfy slip on shoes that I normally put on after work pretty much sucked for a few weeks. Took the dog for a walk tonight wearing them, 1/2 mile into it, toe started bugging me a scoshe.. And I,m normally wearing them shooting the bow after work, shooting wasn't so hot, favoring the toes on my lead foot threw my form off first couple shots.
Conversely, my hiking boots, Scarpa Grand Dru,s don't have much give to em at all. Have been pretty fond of them. Getting the boot on wasn't much fun, first couple times with the broken toes, but once they were on, bout as comfortable as you can really get with broken toes, and that mostly solid sole let me get out on the trails, probably the next best thing to wearing a cast..

Not saying either one is the be all end all for everybody, just an observation, different tools for different jobs.

Much as I normally like ditching the heavy boots after work, almost amusing, my comfy shoes are now the heaviest pair of Frankenstein boots that I own..

 

[fort fireman]

Just my thoughts from an easterner. First off, I have worked with horses and was a trail guide for years. Therefore I wore cowboy boots for 98% of my time not at the firehouse on my full time job. At the firehouse it's been duty boots or heavy fire boots. I've since stopped working so much on the side and have been wearing low cut hikers most of my off time. My everyday shoes are either merril Moab's or Vasque juxt shoes. I like both. HOWEVER, last spring I was going on a back pack turkey hunt. I drive up in my merrils and had my hunting boots in the truck. I got there and parked my truck. Hopped out and had to go pee. I took 2-3 steps of the trail to pee and rolled my ankle on a stupid Little Rock. It happened so damn fast I never saw it coming. Thankfully I had my higher hunting boot to put on and lace tight for some support. I hunted 3 days but it hurt the whole time. Now I have a run down of what I have worn and what I usdually wear for a reason. Between the cowboy boots, zip up duty boots( usually unzipped to get in and out of quick, pull on fire boots( not much ankle support) and low top hiking shoes one would think my ankles were pretty strong. However in a blink of an eye I rolled my ankle and nearly ruined a hunt. I'll wear boots with some ankle support, Thank you.

All that and just realized this is a pretty old thread. Sorry to revive it.