Hunting boots vs moccasins

t.r. · Post by **t.r.** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:56 am

I prefer light rubber sole moccasins for hunting non-snow conditions because I can travel much quieter through forest and foothill terrain.

But snow and sub-zero conditions are common around here in November and later. I wear 1,000 gram thinsulate (whatever that is) boots with wool socks. They're not ideal but the alternative is frostbite.

What do you prefer?

TR

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:04 am

I most often wear the LL Bean 6" hunting boot. Rubber sole, leather upper, uninsulated with wool socks. (I am switching to almost all wool all the time) I hardly ever wear leather in wet conditions. Temps here are often in the 20s-30s during the season but might be up in the 70s. I know from personal experience that hypothermia is possible all year round.

86er · Post by **86er** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:34 am

I normally use ultralight, non-insulated boots with two or three layers of premium socks for a lot of traveling through the woods and fields in very cold weather. I adapt the layers of socks so I am dry and warm. Without heavy socks, the boots are great hikers and warm weather tools. Put a footbed in them to make them fit right without the heavy layers. I currently use a 6" scent-free leather/cordura model from Rocky that are performing great (although the Rocky customer service is horrible).

For cold weather stand hunting I have a huge pack boot thing that looks like moon boots and weighs a ton, but they are snuggly warm for sitting in a tree or ground blind when the thermometer doesn't get past 32. Just don't start too far from the stand, it is tiresome and hot getting there lugging those boots around.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:43 am

I wear Jungle Boots down to about 10deg. Below that I wear Matterhorns - particularly in wet areas.

But, in cold (10 to -10) & DRY climes I've also been known to wear sandles with good virgin wool socks. The snow doesn't sticks and my feet breathe so they don't sweat.

I'll take chilly DRY feet over wet feet any day.

Jason_W · Post by **Jason_W** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:44 am

I've been considering getting some moccasins for tracking.

can they be waterproofed? What do they offer in the way of ankle support?

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:33 am

I like moccasins but they don't provide much traction, if you'd say they provide any. I have a pair of Rendezvous boots from Carl Dyer and they're about the best quality built moccasin I've ever ran across. They're spendy, but you get what you pay for.

http://carldyers.com/

The leather conditioner they use and suggest you use is a good water proofer, but it has a smell that you're not going to fool a critter with. You have to do your death down wind stuff or you'll get made.

Plus, you need to acclimate your feet and legs to walking around with no heel. You'll walk like a white man, slamming your heel down first, giving every animal in the forest a heads up that you're coming. You need to remember that and walking slowly and place your foot down very flat and soft. Try it. It's a lot harder than you think.

Most other times, depending on the weather, I wear either a good pair of uninsulated hiking boots with Thorlo socks or a pair of Thinsulate insulated pair of hunting boots with knob soles w/Thorlo socks.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:45 am

Jason_W wrote:I've been considering getting some moccasins for tracking.

can they be waterproofed? What do they offer in the way of ankle support?

No leather is "waterproof" but you can get some degree of water repellency... Dyers mocassins have some ankle support.

I was thinking about this about 2-3 weeks ago. We often go out in the field in at least 6" boots. I know that after years in service I was conditioned to cover my ankles in the field. After some time wearing some other shoes, I've gotten away from having to do that in even pleasant weather conditions. However, in snakey places, some will feel safer in higher boots.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:54 pm

I normally wear my previously ARMY Issued Desert boots or Jungle boots. If it gets cold and wet I have a couple nice pairs of Gortex.
God Bless Uncle Sam for taking such good care of me!

JohnnyReb · Post by **JohnnyReb** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:29 pm

Wear boots for the comfort............ Comfort concerning snakes when pushing through briars and brush when you can't see the ground. We have alot of ground cover in the fields and along the treeline. Many days the temperature in the early fall is in the 70's so snakes are still very active.

66GTO · Post by **66GTO** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:36 pm

When I saw your topic, I thought you meant your hunting boots were bitten by a copperhead or cottonmouth!

shawn_c992001 · Post by **shawn_c992001** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:18 pm

-To work doesn't matter if it's -10 or 100+ Matterhorn Tiger Tip metatarsel boots. If it's cold a liner sock and some thick wool socks. Tied pretty snug. If it's warm/hot just cotton tube socks and my boots tied loosely.

Hunting is much the same only 1000gram Wolverine's when it's cold and 800 gram Rocky Bearclaws when it's warm.

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:41 pm

Artic Sorel's with a wickam wool socks, unless it is warm like above 0'F then tennis shoes and cotton socks.

Noah Zark · Post by **Noah Zark** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:48 pm

Hobie wrote: . . . I am switching to almost all wool (socks) all the time . . .

Good point, Hobie. If I'm wearing socks, they are wool. Period. I've been doing so for probably 30 years now. Cotton socks get wet and bunch up and take forever to dry. Soft merino wool socks don't itch, don't absorb moisture, and dry fast. MUCH more comfortable than cotton, or rayon/acrylic. I don't even OWN a pair of non-wool socks anymore, and haven't for more than 25 years.

Noah

bigbore442001 · Post by **bigbore442001** » Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:11 pm

For some reason my feet get rather cold. I wonder if I have some sort of circulation problem?

In early fall I wear LL Bean boots. I find them pretty comfortable. As the season progresses, I'll don on a pair of Baffin trapper boots. They are an all rubber boot with an insulated liner in it.

When it gets really cold out come the 14" Schnee's . The most comfortable boot I have ever worn.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:41 am

Boots for protection against snakes(Copperhead,Cottonmouth and Rattlesnake just name a few in my locale).

Rod WMG · Post by **Rod WMG** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:15 am

TR wrote about hunting in mocs. I've never done it, but I think, under the right conditions, it'd work well.

Now that I have only one leg, I can't switch heel heights witout a "makeover." So I'll have to stick to hunting boots of some sort.

rock-steady · Post by **rock-steady** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:57 am

Boots...specifically Logger's. The heel digs in when walking very slowly heel to toe. I can walk very quietly by placing the heel down first and rolling on to the ball of my foot....Injun style...

[/img]