Picking out the best winter hunting boots
1. Thorogood Endeavor Extreme - Editor's Pick
If you live in, or travel to, places with extreme winters and cold, harsh conditions, you need the best winter boot you can get. One of the warmest you will find is the Thorogood Endeavor Extreme. We first checked out these boots at SHOT Show a little while ago. These boots have 2,400 grams of Thinsulate insulation. That is a lot of warmth! But that would be pointless if they weren’t comfortable, and that’s where Thorogood does an amazing job. These boots fit great, at least for me. But if you read customer reviews, you’ll see that my opinion matches what others say. Quality is top notch, too.
2. LaCrosse Footwear Alphaburly Pro - Scent-free Warmth
Before the neoprene boot craze took hold, most hunters knew that LaCrosee made high-quality, warm rubber boots for scent prevention while hunting. LaCrosse adapted and showed why they are a leader in winter hunting boot technology with the Alphabury Pro, a rubber/neoprene hybrid boot with 1,000 grams of Thinsulate, bonded neoprene and unmatched mobility, durability and more in a waterproof winter hunting boot. I wore a pair of these boots for many years until my teenage son grew into them and he took them from me. You want to talk about a true test of durability – let a teenager wear something. The lug sole provides plenty of traction and the calf gusset lets them fit a wide-range of people.
3. Cabela's Predator Extreme - Bargain Cave Find!
Cabela’s Predator Extreme Pac Boots are built for serious hunting in seriously tough conditions. These boots have a removable 9mm Texel liner that warms your feet while it draws moisture away from the skin. These liners also sport Cabela’s heat-pack pockets under the toe areas. The Predator Extremes have 1,200 gram 3M Thinsulate Insulation for optimum heat retention. Cabela’s Dry-Plus linings deliver waterproof performance to keep feet dry and comfortable. They have full-grain leather uppers with matte-finish polyurethane-molded shell panels. Matte-finished EVA midsoles soak up ground shock, too, so you can hike all day long and still have working feet.
4. L.L. Bean Maine Warden's Hunting Boots - Comfort Pick
L.L. Bean has built a reputation on making quality products that function as well as look good. When they went looking to make a comfortable, winter hunting boot that would keep your feet warm while wearing comfortably enough to allow all day wear, they knew who to ask. The game wardens for the state of Maine spend a lot of time in the field, and need to have warm, comfortable boots. These boots have genuine leather uppers with Gore-Tex and 200 grams of Primaloft insulation for warmth. The sole is Vibram Megagrip for optimal traction in winter envirnments, too. These are serious boots that can handle whatever you throw at them.
5. Dryshod NOSHO Ultra Hunt - Best Neoprene Boot
The folks at Dryshod set out to make an extreme-conditions, winter hunting boot that checked off all the boxes. The NOSHO Ultra Hunt does it. Made from a DENSOPRENE XD (extreme density) foam bootie, the NOSHO builds from there with seven layers of protection and 4-way stretch fabrics for unparalleled freedom of movement. While these boots let you move, they also provide support where and when you need it, making them perfect for long days in the field doing what you love. They have a removable EVA sock liner and have an outer sole made to grip even in the iciest conditions. Dryshod thought of everything when they made these boots.
How tight should winter hunting boots be?
One of the biggest mistakes we see with winter boots is having them fit too tight. To fit properly, the boots need to be snug around your ankles and your instep, but allow for room for your toes to wiggle freely. This is even more important if you plan to add those disposable toe warmer packs, as they need air to function properly. One of the traps we all fall into is thinking that more socks equals more warmth. While yes, a warm pair of socks is a must for winter hunting boots, you can’t make them too bulky or tight. Air is your friend. Air will allow your feet to breath as well as act like an insulating layer around your toes.
You want the boot to fit snug in the ankle and instep regions to keep your foot from sliding around, or becoming unstable as you walk. Both of those things can lead to disaster, both in terms of fatigue and in the possibility of sprained ankles, etc. Winter is hard because you don’t always know what awaits you under the snow. Step on the wrong thing and you’ll be glad your boots fit right.
How much insulation do I need?
That’s a good question. Most boots use 3M Thinsulate for insulation. It is a thin, warm synthetic insulation designed to maximize warmth while minimizing space. Thinsulate is used across much of the apparell industry and you’ll find it in everything from gloves, to socks, hats, jackets and more.
A hunting boot with 200 grams of insulation will be nice for mildly cool days or evenings with high activity levels. 1,200 grams is good for pretty cold weather with modest amounts of activity. Go past the 2,000 gram mark and you’re ready for the coldest weather. We’re talking like multiple days below zero and modest to no movement.
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