Our Guide to Finding the Best Hunting Boots

Whether you’re hunting, hiking, on a combat patrol, or just doing yard work, the boots you wear are so very important. I’m not necessarily proud of the fact that it takes hard lessons to learn for me. However, once it’s ingrained in my head, I get it and I don’t forget it. This blog will serve as a guide to finding the best hunting boots for each kind of hunt. 

Why Do You Need Hunting Boots?

Hunting in higher elevations always impacts a hunt without ever giving the hunter the advantage. The environment is an important consideration to take when buying boots. Colder weather means the potential of snow and ice with sub-zero temperatures. It really brings an added danger because, without insulated boots, you could risk frostbite on your feet. My first time in the Rockies I wore the wrong boots and I would have been in trouble if we stayed another day. 

There are many environmental regions throughout our country with their own weather patterns and temperatures. You’re going to need boots that are designed for each of those environments. 

If I were to wear my hunting boots in Virginia that are meant for Colorado, my feet would sweat and I’d have to change socks multiple times to keep my feet dry. The design of the boot you wear matters and can greatly impact the level of success you gain from each hunt. 

Danner Vital Hunting Boots

Danner has been a reputable company since before WWII and has continued to innovate with the times. The non-insulated Vital hunting boots are my favorite boots to wear in Virginia and North Carolina (where I hunt most of the time). I can’t overstate how much I love these boots. They’re built with an Abrasion-resistant leather to avoid scuffing them up on rocks, branches, and even metal for superior durability. 

Danner Vital hunting boots are 100% waterproof and even allows moisture from sweat to wick to the outside without letting water in. The footbed is made from Open Cell Polyurethane and provides superior shock absorption with an additional layer of open-cell construction for improved air circulation. The last thing you ever want with boots is for them to be heavy and hard to bring up from the ground. The Danner Plyolite® midsole reduces the overall weight of the boot without sacrificing comfort. 

To top of the incredible features of this boot, it comes with the Lock & Load Lacing System across the forefoot for a secure, yet quiet fit, and locking speed hooks for quick lacing. As someone with a wider foot, finding comfortable hunting boots is pretty close to impossible for me. These Danner boots are not a perfect fit for me, but nobody that I know of makes a 4EE (x-wide) hunting boot. Regardless of the tighter fit, they’re still incredibly comfortable. 

LaCrosse Men’s Alphaburly Pro 18″ Hunting Boot

Many Hunters swear by LaCrosse hunting boots because of their versatility and comfort. Personally, I can’t wear these boots because they don’t make a wide and my feet are like paddles. I’ve worn them for a hunt and had to return them because I was in too much pain to wear them and worry about the hassle of taking them off. However, if you have normal feet, these boots are incredible. I love how high they are (18″) because you can walk through streams or wet grass and not worry about your feet getting soaked. 

LaCrosse has these boots rated to be able to handle -50-40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, I’d stick with temps much closer to 30 and not risk the chance with their 800 grain Thinsulate insulation. I think their insulation is incredible, but I’d rather wear the arctic boots below for peace of mind. 

The Burly Pro outsole of the boot gives you amazing tread for any environment from slippery wet rocks to muddy fields and waterways. The outsole is designed to prevent mud from caking up in-between the tread. The neoprene gusset on the top half of the boot is designed to tighten or loosen the boot to accommodate different calf sizes. However, many people complain about how hard it is to take off the boot, especially if you have wider feet like mine. 

I’d recommend these boots to serve as a universal hunting boot in almost all environments as long as the temperature is below 50 degrees outside. The high gussets also act as a barrier from thorns, sharp branches, and snakes. At 5.2 pounds, they sound heavy, but the weight is distributed very well and they feel light. 

Danner Pronghorn 8″ Hunting Boot

I make no apologies for promoting Danner boots because I know how great they’ve been for me. The Pronghorn hunting boots are made for the environments of its namesake. Most often you’ll find Pronghorn in places, such as Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Colorado. All of those places are rugged, dangerous, and can get bone-shattering cold.

The Danner Pronghorn boot is made with 1,200 Grain insulation to keep your feet dry and warm in temperatures from 30 degrees Fahrenheit all the way down to -30. However, I believe you have to be in incredible shape, physically & mentally to hunt in -30 temps. The colder the temperature the more likely the animals are moving around. This increases your chance of seeing them and harvesting your target. However, the cold has a strange way of weeding out weak-minded men and women like no other environment condition. 

The Pronghorn is 100% waterproof and made with GORE-TEX liners to keep your feet dry and warm under austere conditions. The Pronghorn features a Vibram® SPE Midsole that is able to absorb the shock of the jagged rocks that cover the Rockies. My favorite feature of the Danner Pronghorn is the 851 Last because it offers just a little more room in the toe box and locks my heel in place. The Pronghorn also only weighs 4 lbs. and distributes the weight very evenly across the boot.

Irish Setter 860 Elk Tracker Hunting Boot

The Irish Setter 860 Elk Tracker boots are the boots to try if you’re concerned about how you look. I’ve always been a strong believer in the saying, “you look good, you feel good, you play good”. Even if it’s not grammatically correct, it rings true with these boots. The first time you put these boots on, you’ll feel like a million bucks. They’re made from Goodyear leather and as long as you treat the leather, they’ll last a long time. 

Most Affordable Hunting Boots: RUNFUN Hunting Boots

RUNFUN hunting boots are made to be used in cooler hunting conditions because they’re made from 200-grain insulation. However, they’re about as light and comfortable as you can get if you don’t have paddle feet, like me. RUNFUN are made with a great lightweight anti-slip rubber composite that absorbs shock really well.

RUNFUN boots are made to be 100% waterproof and weigh an astounding 3.2 lbs. for the pair. This makes them the lightest hunting boot on the list. I love the anti-abrasion material on the outer boot because it provides better durability than other boots in this class. Even though they’re waterproof, they breathe really well and keep your feet dry and comfortable. 

Conclusion

Hunting is one of the most spiritually gratifying activities you can do in your life.  However, if you don’t have the right boots, you can hurt yourself or put yourself in a compromised position. Having the best hunting boots can be the difference between fun and disaster. This blog is a guide to finding the best hunting boot for different environments. 

If you’re interested in learning more about hunting and what to wear, read our blogs, “Spring Turkey Hunting on the East Coast” and “7m Remington Magnum Hunting Rifles”.