What products do you wish companies made for hunting?

[Poser]

Without getting too down in the weeds. Mapped rugged protection that would allow for more flexibility because you can use softer material in between the rugged sections. Good deep lugs without the climbing section and little ridges on those lugs. A rubber compound that balances cold sloppy conditions with reasonable durability. More utilization of injection molding but with more flexibility than what we’re used to. Real anatomical shaped lasts, WIDE WITHS!!!!!!!!!!!! More options bigger than a size 11. Everything exists just not widely available in one package, we’re compromising too much.

I'm just not buying into this. There is a huge variety of boots available on the market and many of these bootmakers have been in business for generations.

In terms of "hunting specific", there's just nothing that hunters need that's not available on the market.
The only difference between a backpacker and a hunter is that hunters spend more time off trail and tend to carry heavier loads. Wildlands firefighters also carry very heavy loads and spend time off trail. Off trail is addressed with a full rand which a host of companies offer. There are at least 2 brands that come to mind, Schnees and Crispi, that primarily cater to hunters above other user groups and market their boots as "hunting boots"
When you get into goat and sheep hunting, you may need a mountaineering style boot. Other than that, its all fit and preference.

-Removing the climbing section from the lugs? Have you lost your damn mind? Are you not in fact spending most of your time climbing when Western hunting? This rather undoes your criticism out of the gate. No one on this forum, not one single member is going to levy a complaint about the fact that their lug design features climbing traction under the toes.

-Rubber compounds? I'd say every reputable brand on the market has at least one line of boot that does just that. If you start blending compounds too much, you'll get uneven wear. I can't say I've ever fielded a complaint about any of the compounds on any of the reputable boots I've owned and I live in the Western mountains and use boots, including boots with winter compounds on them, year around.

-More flexibility than what we are used to? That's a personal preference. I personally prefer softer flexing boots, but also own some stiffer boots for burlier situations.
-More options bigger than size 11? Seriously? What brand stops making boots at size 12? I'm a size 13 and have never had an issue finding a design for a boot in my size. I'd say limitations start after size 13, but, like the big fella above, you are getting into the sub 2% of the population when you get into size 14 and bigger.

There's no such thing as putting out the perfect boot for everyone. Feet vary in shape too much and preferences are wildly all over the map. What is the perfect boot for me may be terrible for you. You're presenting this as if we are missing some singular solution. The solution is to offer a wide variety of designs, fit, flex and features and let people find what works best for them and their particular needs. There will always be statistical outliers -people with very problematically shaped feet and with a size 21. While expensive and unfortunate, statistical outliers will often have to resort to custom boots as you just can't reasonably mass produce something that fits them.

 

[fngTony]

What makes a boot hunting specific? There are a huge variety of shapes/sizes/styles/height/sole stiffness/material etc.. Do they need to be camo?


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Basically combining the attributes I mentioned while using newer materials. Also maybe going to a natural toe box shape like Altra.
@Poser the climbing section certainly has its place and we already have that on every medium to serious duty boot but how many moose hunters are dealing with class 3,4&5 terrain? For the high country sheep, goat, elk and deer hunting I know there is still some need for the traction but I think we can get that while not sacrificing traction in the mud and soggy soil areas. I have some merrell boots where the lugs have little teeth on the sides. Think of it as an aggressive blizzak tire vs a hard rubber mud tire. LaSportiva makes some close to what I’m talking about but they don’t fit my foot shape or size.

 

[Poser]

Basically combining the attributes I mentioned while using newer materials. Also maybe going to a natural toe box shape like Altra.
@Poser the climbing section certainly has its place and we already have that on every medium to serious duty boot but how many moose hunters are dealing with class 3,4&5 terrain? For the high country sheep, goat, elk and deer hunting I know there is still some need for the traction but I think we can get that while not sacrificing traction in the mud and soggy soil areas. I have some merrell boots where the lugs have little teeth on the sides. Think of it as an aggressive blizzak tire vs a hard rubber mud tire. LaSportiva makes some close to what I’m talking about but they don’t fit my foot shape or size.

I deal with class 3 and 4 terrain all of the time in the San Juans. I don't expect boot makers to conform to my specific niche demands, but in the Western mountains I hunt, traction on rock is far more of a performance concern than shedding mud. Thankfully, modern lug designs. do both pretty well. However, if you asked me which one I was more concerned with, I'm going to go with traction on rock every time. Do I occasionally get into soggy mud? sure. Is it more of a concern than slipping on smooth, wet rock? Never.

 

[wyosam]

Basically combining the attributes I mentioned while using newer materials. Also maybe going to a natural toe box shape like Altra.
@Poser the climbing section certainly has its place and we already have that on every medium to serious duty boot but how many moose hunters are dealing with class 3,4&5 terrain? For the high country sheep, goat, elk and deer hunting I know there is still some need for the traction but I think we can get that while not sacrificing traction in the mud and soggy soil areas. I have some merrell boots where the lugs have little teeth on the sides. Think of it as an aggressive blizzak tire vs a hard rubber mud tire. LaSportiva makes some close to what I’m talking about but they don’t fit my foot shape or size.

Talk about a niche market! How many moose tags are available in the western US annually? Here in AK, moose boots predominantly look like waders xtratuff/muck/etc fancy irrigation boots. I’ve seen a lot of moose in western Wyoming while hunting elk, and always assumed the biggest challenge was actually drawing a tag, not a complete lack of mission specific footwear.


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[Reburn]

I deal with class 3 and 4 terrain all of the time in the San Juans. I don't expect boot makers to conform to my specific niche demands, but in the Western mountains I hunt, traction on rock is far more of a performance concern than shedding mud. Thankfully, modern lug designs. do both pretty well. However, if you asked me which one I was more concerned with, I'm going to go with traction on rock every time. Do I occasionally get into soggy mud? sure. Is it more of a concern than slipping on smooth, wet rock? Never.

I think tony is seeking a combonation like I am having a hard time finding.

I'm looking for a heavy duty trail runner with a over the ball ankle support with a wide toe in a 13 or 14.
Lighter then anything crispi offers and better excuted then Merrell moab 3 or Salomon quest 4d.
It's a bigger guy problem because of the narrow ass toe box. They make the last the same as a 11 but longer.
For a 13 that is. Same last as a 11 just longer. Which causes the toe box to be narrow. Most times a wide the laces will be touching and still not tight enough but a great toe box. I want it to deal with rocks or mud / soft terrian equally but be specialized at neither.

 

[fngTony]

I deal with class 3 and 4 terrain all of the time in the San Juans. I don't expect boot makers to conform to my specific niche demands, but in the Western mountains I hunt, traction on rock is far more of a performance concern than shedding mud. Thankfully, modern lug designs. do both pretty well. However, if you asked me which one I was more concerned with, I'm going to go with traction on rock every time. Do I occasionally get into soggy mud? sure. Is it more of a concern than slipping on smooth, wet rock? Never.

What boots do you use? They probably fit my traction needs but probably not fit me right

Talk about a niche market! How many moose tags are available in the western US annually? Here in AK, moose boots predominantly look like waders xtratuff/muck/etc fancy irrigation boots. I’ve seen a lot of moose in western Wyoming while hunting elk, and always assumed the biggest challenge was actually drawing a tag, not a complete lack of mission specific footwear.


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Crispi laponiia and Asolo falcon evo are close examples of what I want. Problem is the fit that asolo thinks everyone has extra narrow feet and want their boots to feel like you’re bare foot on hardwood floors. I’ve only tried on the laponia 2 but it didn’t quite fit my foot shape well enough to buy them. I just get the impression that hunters are hell bent on wanting an extremely hard stiff boot and saying screw all the other factors. We need a middle ground boot with modern materials that still protect our feet while being flexible. That falcon evo is quite impressive being about 19oz but you can still kick into rocks with it. I don’t know what size you wear but look at how few options there are for a size 12+ in normal or wide and I mean wide not wider than extra narrow.

 

[wyosam]

What boots do you use? They probably fit my traction needs but probably not fit me right

Crispi laponiia and Asolo falcon evo are close examples of what I want. Problem is the fit that asolo thinks everyone has extra narrow feet and want their boots to feel like you’re bare foot on hardwood floors. I’ve only tried on the laponia 2 but it didn’t quite fit my foot shape well enough to buy them. I just get the impression that hunters are hell bent on wanting an extremely hard stiff boot and saying screw all the other factors. We need a middle ground boot with modern materials that still protect our feet while being flexible. That falcon evo is quite impressive being about 19oz but you can still kick into rocks with it. I don’t know what size you wear but look at how few options there are for a size 12+ in normal or wide and I mean wide not wider than extra narrow.

You might be in a pickle. Big and wide I assume does present a challenge. Custom boots are a great solution, except it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be what you want. I owned a pair of boots I had made for a long time, until I finally abused them enough it was time to let them go. They were exactly what I wanted at the time, and felt amazing. Trouble is. Not sure that exists in modern materials. You can choose last stiffness etc, but what you’re describing sounds like an assembly line boot in sizes that have a limited market. Not that they shouldn’t be made, but it sounds like a tough project for someone to make money on, which is unfortunately a really big problem. You might be able to get close in a custom with a fairly light supple base leather reinforced where it matters for protection and durability.


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[jtevanMT]

How about lightweight hunting boots that are waterproof for more than one season. When the grass and brush is wet with rain, dew, or wet snow, I have a difficult time keeping my feet dry. Even with new boots and good gaiters my socks are usually damp to wet if the grass and/or brush is wet.

 

[Mojave]

Backpackers have almost all gone to wearing shoes. It’s a rare exception to see a backpacker in boots these days.

Wildland Firefighters do for sure as they are required to, but that’s an occupational requirement.

I have not seen this in Europe.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Boots that have ether come removable traction spikes or a flip over section for ice.

I don’t want full corks, I don’t want to put on and take off the slip over things that catch on sage and trip me.

Regular 3 flex 8-10 inch high with about 6-8 cork spikes.

 

[BRTreedogs]

I also want a damn propane tent heater with a thermostat that actually works at higher elevations.

Not electricity and not a wood stove.

 

[Poser]

I think tony is seeking a combonation like I am having a hard time finding.

I'm looking for a heavy duty trail runner with a over the ball ankle support with a wide toe in a 13 or 14.
Lighter then anything crispi offers and better excuted then Merrell moab 3 or Salomon quest 4d.
It's a bigger guy problem because of the narrow ass toe box. They make the last the same as a 11 but longer.
For a 13 that is. Same last as a 11 just longer. Which causes the toe box to be narrow. Most times a wide the laces will be touching and still not tight enough but a great toe box. I want it to deal with rocks or mud / soft terrian equally but be specialized at neither.

Have you tried Innov8 trail shoes? They have the most generous toe box of any brand I’ve tried. Despite having a narrow foot, my toes are like giant sausages so I get squeezed by many brands, but not Innov8.

 

[Poser]

What boots do you use? They probably fit my traction needs but probably not fit me right

I have a couple of different pairs of Schnees. They are just a bit wide for more narrow foot profile, but they have a sufficiently generous toe box for my big-ass toes. I used Zamerlains for quite a number of years as they fit my foot profile well, but my toes were always cramped.

For trail shoes, I use Innov8 which, for my foot, are the most well fitting outdoor brand on the market due to the extremely generous vertical volume of their toe box. If Innvov8 made leather boots, I'd be all over them.

 

[hardincobucks]

I'm just not buying into this. There is a huge variety of boots available on the market and many of these bootmakers have been in business for generations.

In terms of "hunting specific", there's just nothing that hunters need that's not available on the market.
The only difference between a backpacker and a hunter is that hunters spend more time off trail and tend to carry heavier loads. Wildlands firefighters also carry very heavy loads and spend time off trail. Off trail is addressed with a full rand which a host of companies offer. There are at least 2 brands that come to mind, Schnees and Crispi, that primarily cater to hunters above other user groups and market their boots as "hunting boots"
When you get into goat and sheep hunting, you may need a mountaineering style boot. Other than that, its all fit and preference.

-Removing the climbing section from the lugs? Have you lost your damn mind? Are you not in fact spending most of your time climbing when Western hunting? This rather undoes your criticism out of the gate. No one on this forum, not one single member is going to levy a complaint about the fact that their lug design features climbing traction under the toes.

-Rubber compounds? I'd say every reputable brand on the market has at least one line of boot that does just that. If you start blending compounds too much, you'll get uneven wear. I can't say I've ever fielded a complaint about any of the compounds on any of the reputable boots I've owned and I live in the Western mountains and use boots, including boots with winter compounds on them, year around.

-More flexibility than what we are used to? That's a personal preference. I personally prefer softer flexing boots, but also own some stiffer boots for burlier situations.
-More options bigger than size 11? Seriously? What brand stops making boots at size 12? I'm a size 13 and have never had an issue finding a design for a boot in my size. I'd say limitations start after size 13, but, like the big fella above, you are getting into the sub 2% of the population when you get into size 14 and bigger.

There's no such thing as putting out the perfect boot for everyone. Feet vary in shape too much and preferences are wildly all over the map. What is the perfect boot for me may be terrible for you. You're presenting this as if we are missing some singular solution. The solution is to offer a wide variety of designs, fit, flex and features and let people find what works best for them and their particular needs. There will always be statistical outliers -people with very problematically shaped feet and with a size 21. While expensive and unfortunate, statistical outliers will often have to resort to custom boots as you just can't reasonably mass produce something that fits them.

Agreed!

 

[Solm]

an actually odor concealer that works.

 

[Phaseolus]

Boots actually designed for western hunting, it would still need to be a few different models to cover everything. Right now we’re adapting mountaineering and backpacking boots for hunting and manufactures are making incremental changes for us but I don’t know of anyone designing a boot from the ground up for western hunting

Interesting, what would you like to see in a western hunting boot that is different from a backpacking boot? I’ve been thinking about this for the last five minutes and didn’t come up with much. Possibly an insulation layer underfoot that would not absorb moisture? I rely on sock layers rather than insulation in mine because once insulation gets wet it stays wet or damp until you have heat to dry it.

 

[TaperPin]

I get the impression that those who have comfortable feet are happy with the construction and design of boots. My regular old Asolo backpacking boots, both fabric and all leather, have been ideal for both construction work and all kinds of hiking, backpacking on trail, bushwhacking, hunting the foothills, hiking 14ers, killer ups/downs, climbing across rock slides, fighting gumbo mud in crampons, or snowshoeing. The first ten pairs were as comfortable as the last ten - I like to over think things, but the design of these has done everything I’ve asked of them, so I wouldn’t change a thing. My only complaint is the latest boots no longer have the notch at the back for a crampon wire.

 

[Mojave]

Talk about a niche market! How many moose tags are available in the western US annually? Here in AK, moose boots predominantly look like waders xtratuff/muck/etc fancy irrigation boots. I’ve seen a lot of moose in western Wyoming while hunting elk, and always assumed the biggest challenge was actually drawing a tag, not a complete lack of mission specific footwear.


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Yes!

I have hunted elk in Wyoming, Montana and New Mexico. I am not going to name areas, some have been on the plateau some you climb. None have been steep.

Rarely have I needed actual mountain boots. Danner Canadians and Danner elk hunters were always my go to boot. There were steeper areas, but I don't remember hunting elk that high.

I hunted Coues deer in New Mexico a few years ago. Needed mountain boots every day.

Earlier hunts this year in Austria had me wishing I was in something way harder than a soft style boot.

I bring both on all hunts in the mountains now.

 

[sndmn11]

I'd love a 1/2 ton Subaru station wagon. Diesel six.

Low volume popcorn that's doesn't crush til I monch it.

 

[JFK]

How about a solid/safe rem 700 trigger? Too much to ask for I suppose.