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Post by Muab Dib on Dec 22, 2014 18:55:11 GMT -5
Will be in the market for a new pair of winter hunting boots soon...Who makes a high quality leather boot anymore that will keep my feet warm and dry AND that's made in the US of A? I've looked at Danner and Irish Setters but I'm seeing nothing but "Made in China" or "Made in Vietnam" confused-smiley-013...Help!
Muab
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 19:38:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2014 19:43:38 GMT -5
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Post by Muab Dib on Dec 22, 2014 21:21:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the link Muttley. There's still hope I see!  Muab |
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Post by GlennD on Dec 22, 2014 22:51:48 GMT -5
I guess you might find a pair, but I gave up on trying to find a waterproof pair of leather boots years ago.. The best pair of boots I ever owned are GI Korean Boots, sometimes called Mickey Mouse boots. I bought them at surplus in about 1962. I still have them and the rubber is still as good as new. They were probably made in the early 1950's. These days I mostly wear the calf high rubber boots in about 1000 gram thinsulate. They are ok, but seem to only last about two years walking through green briars and stuff before they crack where the boot bends behind the toes. The old Mickey Mouse boots just keep ticking and ticking.. If they could make a rubber boot in 1950 that sill looks and performs like brand new today, why can't or won't they still do it? OH, I know, built in obsolescence..  By the way, I was talking to a friend about the Mouse boots the other day.. As I recall, I paid .50 cents for them. |
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Post by GlennD on Dec 22, 2014 22:55:54 GMT -5
Another by the way, I see the link mentions Rocky boots. I bought a pair of Rocky Bear Claws several years back. I only had them about two years and hardly wore them when I noticed the sole was disintegrating! Literally melting off the boot. I had not walked in chemicals or anything to cause it.. The soles on the boots just fell apart.
I still scratch my head at that one.. but it was the last pair of Rocky boots I bought.
By the way, Google Rocky boot sole problems. Amazing..
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2014 5:36:20 GMT -5
Over the past 60 plus years, I have worn and worn out a bunch of boots. Those early ones were just leather, and gore tex hadn't been invented yet, so we put bear grease or Pecard oil on them to keep our feet at least partly dry. It worked a little bit, but wasn't perfect. The first hunting boots I had for cold weather was a set of felts and arctics (those rubber boots with the metal thingys that snapped shut and cut your cold fingers). Later, A pair of Canadian Sorels with felt inserts. I still got cold feet, but they were better than nothing. A lot of boots have gone over the horizon since the 1950s, but let's go to more modern times and more modern boots. I have a pair of Rocky Bear Claws. I bought them four years ago at a store in Chambersburg named "Super Shoes." The gore tex still works. The soles have not disintegrated. They have held up pretty well. Maybe these are the exception? I had a pair of Timberland boots at one time. The sole fell off. I took them to the store where I bought them and the owner sent them back to the factory. A few weeks later I got a new pair of boots in the mail, which leaked the first time I wore them. I sent these back and got a third pair of boots, which did not fit well, so I gave them away. I still have a pair of Danners that I bought to go out west in 1999. They are not gore tex, so they do not keep my feet dry. They are not insulated, so they do not keep my feet warm. For bird hunting or summer or early fall hiking, they can't be beat. I had a pair of Chippewa boots that I hiked much of the Appalachian Trail in until they fell apart. I probably had well over 1000 miles on them while carrying a pack that usually went to 50 pounds or so. The second pair of Chippewas did not do so well, but I ruined them hiking from the Delaware Water Gap to the Susquehanna. Anyone who has hiked that stretch knows why boots have a tough time there. Some years ago while getting ready for an Alberta bowhunt for elk, I bought a pair of Lacrosse rubber boots. I think they were called "hikers." Grant Midtdal, my guide on that hunt, put between 8 and 10 mile on me every day, and I ended up killing an elk. I still have those boots and wear them to work outside when it is really wet and not all that cold (no insulation). These boots I got from Sportsman's guide a couple of years ago are super. They are easy to put on (no need to strain and heave to pull them over the ankle), warm, waterproof (so far), and comfortable to walk in. At the same time, I bought a set of rubber boots with 1000 grams of thinsulate. Knee high. I got them at a local sporting goods outlet. They still are waterproof, but are not the most comfortable things to walk a mile or more in. When the weathe is frightful they are the go-to boots. One last thought. When I went to Alaska on a sheep hunt some years ago, I bought a pair of Mendel (Austrian) boots at Cabelas. They are really stiff and supportive, and are just the ticket when hiking up a talus slope in the Brooks Range, but not worth squat for hiking here in PA. This is an example of a boot that is designed for sheep hunting and very little else. Having said that, I'm keeping them around just in case I get a wild hair and decide to try a goat or sheep hunt again.  |
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Post by GlennD on Dec 23, 2014 9:40:17 GMT -5
Sounds like you win the "He who dies with the most boots wins" contest Mutley! Although, sounds like both of us have spent more money on boots over the years than anniverary gifts for the married lady we live with. And five buckle Arctics and Felt Packs! Yep, those were the cat's meow many years ago. A little cumbersome to walk in, but as I recall they were the first combo to keep my feet dry and relatively warm. Fact is, the Mickey mouse boots I talked about above have a similar design.. felt sandwiched between rubber layers. A long lost friend who I spent most of my hunting days with was a member of the Army Ski Patrol and stationed in Alaska for a couple years. He was the one that introduced me to the Mouse boots. He was a member of the Sixty Below club! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2014 19:24:50 GMT -5
Will be in the market for a new pair of winter hunting boots soon...Who makes a high quality leather boot anymore that will keep my feet warm and dry AND that's made in the US of A? I've looked at Danner and Irish Setters but I'm seeing nothing but "Made in China" or "Made in Vietnam" confused-smiley-013...Help! Muab Danner does offer a top of the line "Made in the USA" boot line(link below).
I played with a few others over many years that others have been mentioned in this Thread but they are all subpar IMO. I bought a high end USA Made Danners(Elk Hunters) which have been serving me well the past 10 plus years.
USA Danner
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Post by Muab Dib on Dec 23, 2014 20:32:06 GMT -5
That's the exact boot I'm looking at Loggy! Can you give me the low down on them. Still waterproof? Fit okay? Wear well? Comfortable...etc
My only problem (fit wise w/ heavy socks) is I'll likely have to order them from the company as I can't find any stores that have them on line right now.
Muab
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 6:29:27 GMT -5
Muab...I bought mine from Cabelas about 10-12 years ago when they carried the higher end "Made in USA" Danner line. If I recall they were in the 250-300 dollar range as I remember my Mrs sayin that's more her boots cost!! lol.
They are Goretex & still waterproof after extreme use in all kinda conditions including walking/standing in top slush while ice fishing.. These boots are handcrafted and not a Chinese stamped out crapline. They wear like steel plus are the most comfortable boots ive ever owned. The soles are a Vibram platform plus you can resole(unlike todays imports) but my soles still have a few miles on them.
In cold conditions I normally wear a heavy merino wool sock along with a Cabela's Outfitters sock liner. My feet never get cold even when ice fishing. I think mine are the 400 gram Thinsulite. That being said I normally wear a size 10 boot so I ordered 10.5 to compensate for heavy sock/liner and they fit perfect. In fact...they also fit purdy well even with a midweight wool sock.
As far as care...I clean with damp cloth end of season and apply SnoSeal which is a bees wax based leather treatment.. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 7:05:31 GMT -5
If they could make a rubber boot in 1950 that sill looks and performs like brand new today, why can't or won't they still do it? Actually, they do, Glenn. www.mickeymouseboots.com |
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Post by Muab Dib on Dec 24, 2014 7:41:58 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Loggy. I'm going to try to track down a dealer. If I can't find one I'll go to the factory as they appear to take returns. Proper size with heavy socks is my only concern. Interesting that outlets such as Cabelas and Gander Mt. only stock the Danner Chinese imports; that's a game stopper for me. Was also looking at the Irish Setter Elk Trackers (local store in Greencastle has them in stock) but again, Made In China! So...it's a pair of Danner Elk Hunters w/400 gr made in USA for me! Again, thanks for the info. Loggy.
Muab
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 7:56:50 GMT -5
IDK mutt, have to say I absolutely love me Meindles. Picked them up when I did the DIY archery elk hunt in CO for two weeks. There are different styles so maybe these are different. Meindle Perfekts for Cabelas.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 8:15:19 GMT -5
These are the ones I have, Todd; The Alaska Hunter model. It is hard to imagine how stiff and supportive they are. The perfect boot for those Rocky Mountain talus slopes. Cabela link |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2014 10:02:06 GMT -5
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Post by dennyf on Dec 24, 2014 10:28:51 GMT -5
Never owned any sort of hunting boot until the mid 70s, when I finally got tired of wet feet and bought a pair of the green Brownings. My two huntin' buds already had them, plus Sorel pacs and Herman Survivors.
Still have the Brownings, although one sole partially detached. Probably from repetitive soakings with silicon spray to keep 'em waterproof? Glued the loose sole back on with shoe goo years ago, but I can no longer get them on now due to one swollen ankle. No insulation in them, so they're useless in really cold weather.
Next pair of hunting boots were Wolverine pigskins with Gore Tex lining and maybe 400 grams of Thinsulate? They are at least 25 years old now and still going well. A bit of suede waterproofing spray before using and they're good to go. Very light weight, which I like.
Forget now if they were 200 or 400, but they're the boots I wear most of the time and never had any issues with them, other than cold feet when temps get into the low teens. That wasn't much of a problem when I could still walk, btw. They are the boots I wear all winter when working outside, doing snow removal, etc - so they've seen lots of non-hunting duty.
Vibram sole lugs are now down to well less than half the original depth, so they'll soon need replaced. I hear lots of bad feedback on current Wolverines, so not sure what I'll replace them with.
Then maybe 8 or 10 years ago, bought a pair of 800gram (China) Rockies on sale someplace, because I had cold feet several times during the previous deer season with the Wolverines.
Mostly leather w/nylon inserts towards the top. Light weight, round peg lugs that it took some getting used to after nothing but Vibrams over the years. No problems with them so far, but I didn't have them on at all this year in deer season. There were seasons when I wore them almost every day, though.
I've looked at dozens of different hunting boots in the past month or so, but regardless of the brand, do not like how the soles are "bonded" to the boot itself on most of them. I do not put much faith in something that has an irregular glue line and looks like it might fail at the slightest bit of rough use.
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Post by blackbruin on Jan 1, 2015 3:55:43 GMT -5
I have had the irish setter elk hunters for 6 years now, a real good boot even though made in china. They are my cold weather boots, put alpaca wool sole insert when its real cols, if im sitting some toe warmers or the insole warmer, well worth their weight in gold....
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Post by redarrow on Jan 1, 2015 8:26:00 GMT -5
My brother and my son both got some Rockys and neither pair lasted more than a year.
I bought a pair Danner Pronghorns(cheaper, made in Viet Nam) about a year ago. These are the most comfortable boots I've ever worn. They are light and supportive. I have been very happily surprised by these boots.
I have never found any boots that I was happy with 'till these. I only wish they had a zipper up the side to make them easier on/off.
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Post by dougell on Jan 6, 2015 10:54:39 GMT -5
The Rockys of today are not the same as when they were made in Ohio.I bought a pair of Rockys on clearance for $99 about 15 years ago.They're a little beat up but still functional and they don't leak.Personally,I wear Muck boots about 80% of the time these days.Easy on,easy off and they're comfortable.
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Post by buzz on Jan 6, 2015 11:20:27 GMT -5
I wear the Irish Setter elk trackers. I have been for a few years and they are holding up well, comfortable, warm, and dry. I do a lot of walking in these boots every year. They have already out lived any Rocky boot I ever owned. Rocky boots are total junk imo.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2015 22:29:33 GMT -5
Hunted NE PA all day today in Cabelas Perfekt 10" Hunter Boots by Meindl with Under Armour heavy boot socks. Temperature at start was 3 degrees and it never got above 13. The snow depth was about 3". I was a stander on the first two drives and a pusher on the final two. The combination of socks/footwear was awesome as my feet never got cold or sweaty. I have had the shoes for three hunting/ice fishing seasons now and have been thoroughly impressed by their performance and comfort. BTW, I treat them regularly with Obenauf's Leather Preservative.
I loved these boots so much that I bought a pair of the 7" Perfekt Hikers. I am every bit as impressed with them as I am with the Hunters!
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Post by good ole boy on Aug 11, 2015 21:14:11 GMT -5
If they could make a rubber boot in 1950 that sill looks and performs like brand new today, why can't or won't they still do it? Actually, they do, Glenn. www.mickeymouseboots.comThose look real good Mutt.I,m really considerin those.I wonder how well they hold up to briars and such? |
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Post by cavscout19d on Aug 12, 2015 19:08:34 GMT -5
they hold up extremely well had mine for 5 years now. they are called VB boots (vapor barrier. i have the white pair rated up to -40 i believe? the black pairs arnt rated so high. people think the valve on the sides are for pumping up with air dont do that it will ruin them! its to unscrew when riding in an unpressurized aircraft like a helicopter to prevent them from expanding and popping. another pair of boots that I use everyday for work are the rocky S2V's i have the regular kind but they do make gortex lined winter boots.they last me about 2 years. iv gone through 2 pairs already but they are comfortable as heck. keep in mind i wear these boots everyday and in a week typically ruck/ walk/ run a ton of miles. The only issue i have with them is the break in period. it usually takes 1-2 weeks of constant wearing and they will hurt the back of your ankle but once broken in it like having a pair of Cadillac's on your feet!
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