Picking out the best winter hunting boots

Cold feet can ruin any outdoor activity from hunting to fishing and more

   01.20.21

Picking out the best winter hunting boots

We’ve all heard the old saying about someone getting cold feet, so they quit an activity. The saying is often related to getting married, but it can go for a lot of different activities. Ever wonder where that saying came from? Look at it this way, ever sat in a stand late in the season and have your feet get cold? How long do you want to stay there? I don’t know about you, but I’ve bailed on a few activities in my time simply because my feet got too cold. You need to take care of your feet. I once ran into a guy out ice fishing who was wearing no more than a pair of loafers. I had him come over and warm his feet by my heater before going home. Proper footwear is a must for any outdoor activity. A great piece of advice I got was to always wear the best winter hunting boots I could find.

Winter hunting boots are always one of the things I look for when I got to SHOT Show. Yes, new firearms and knives are always an attraction, too, but I take my feet seriously, especially when it comes to my comfort levels when I’m afield. I have big, wide feet, so finding comfortable, supportive and warm boots is a hard thing to do.Luckily there are some truly amazing winter hunting boots on the market right now, and I’m sure you can get a pair that suits you best.

Cover Image: Shutterstock/Joppo

1. Thorogood Endeavor Extreme - Editor's Pick

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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.

Pros/Twice as much or more insulation than most of the competition
Cons/Best for extreme cold. Can be too warm for some uses
Bottom Line/The most warmth combined with mobility and comfort

2. LaCrosse Footwear Alphaburly Pro - Scent-free Warmth

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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.

Pros/Durable and warm with outstanding traction and scent free
Cons/A little bit on the heavy side
Bottom Line/A solid, waterproof boot that will keep you warm

3. Cabela's Predator Extreme - Bargain Cave Find!

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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.

Pros/Great fit for walking and toe-heater pocket for warmth
Cons/Best for active use
Bottom Line/A great deal on a warm hunting boot

4. L.L. Bean Maine Warden's Hunting Boots - Comfort Pick

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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.

Pros/Designed to be warm and comfortable for long days being active in cold weather
Cons/Costs a little more than some others
Bottom Line/A great winter boot for the active hunter

5. Dryshod NOSHO Ultra Hunt - Best Neoprene Boot

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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.

Pros/Great comfort and flexibility with terrific grip on ice
Cons/Tight on bigger calves
Bottom Line/The best neoprene boot we've found so far

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.

Avatar Author ID 667 - 1702302518

Derrek Sigler has been a professional outdoor writer for more than two decades since earning his Master’s Degree in creative writing with a thesis about fishing humor. But if you ask anyone that knows him, he’s been telling fishin’ stories since he was old enough to hold a pole. He has written for Cabela’s and served as editorial director for Gun Digest books. Over the years, he has also written for Petersen’s Hunting, North American Whitetail Magazine, Wildfowl, Grand View Media, and has worked with Bass Pro Shops, Hard Core Brands and Bone Collector. Successful Farming had him write for their magazine and he has appeared on their TV show to discuss hunting and ATVs on multiple occasions. He writes about the things he loves - hunting, fishing, camping, trucks, ATVs, boating, snowmobiles and the outdoor lifestyle he enjoys with his family in their home state of Michigan and more as they adventure around North America.

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