Buyer's Guide: 10 Boots to Fit Your Style of Hunting

Whether you hunt bucks with a bow or birds with a shotgun, having the correct type of boot for the pursuit can make all the difference between an enjoyable day in the field and a miserable experience. Blisters and rolled ankles just aren't fun. But beyond that, a good boot suited for both the country you're hunting and the way you’re hunting it can help you be more effective. Quality boots give you confidence to travel across tough ground while focusing on the game and not your feet. Following are 10 boots that cover many situations; it's up to you to pick the one that fits your needs.

Crispi Briksdal Pro GTX

• Weight (Single Boot): 32 oz. | Height: 10"
• Insulation: 200-gram Gore-Tex Comfort lining
• Best For: Scrambling up rocky slopes and along steep ridges
• Key Features: The height of the Briksdal Pro lends additional support to ankles in rough country while climbing or side-hilling, particularly when carrying a heavy pack. Crispi’s board lasting wraps the soft part of the upper to the insole frame for a mechanical construction that balances torsion rigidity with comfortable flexibility. A rubber rand fully surrounds the nubuck leather upper to protect it from abrasion. The Vibram sole has a dual-density polyurethane midsole to absorb shock during descents.
• MSRP: $480
• Info: crispius.com

Danner Recurve

• Weight (Single Boot): 23 oz. | Height: 7"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Following a dog through pheasant fields or grouse woods
• Key Features: Danner pairs classic design with modern technology in the Recurve. The upper is constructed of full-grain leather and nylon (in Mossy Oak Bottomland or brown), and it melds with a Vibram SPE midsole and grippy Vibram outsole. This rubberized EVA midsole maintains the same cushioning properties of traditional EVA but is more durable. Open-cell polyurethane in the removable OrthoLite footbed offers support while improving heat dissipation and air circulation. The Danner Dry lining allows moisture to escape from inside the boot without letting water in from the outside.
• MSRP: $210
• Info: danner.com

LaCrosse Lodestar

• Weight (Single Boot): 23 oz. | Height: 7"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Stalking elk through blowdowns
• Key Features: The Lodestar offers a lot of stability in a lightweight boot that keeps feet nimble when navigating over and around obstacles. LaCrosse’s X-shank has much to do with this, dispersing weight evenly underfoot while offering support on uneven surfaces. Further, the DuraFit heel cup locks the heel in place for a secure fit. The Vibram outsole has omni-direction lugs that grip difficult terrain, and the material is flexible enough to remain quiet when sneaking in for a shot. A HexGuard rubber toe protects against abrasion, while a Gore-Tex waterproof, breathable liner ensures feet remain dry.
• MSRP: $240
• Info: lacrossefootwear.com

Lowa Camino Evo GTX FG

• Weight (Single Boot): 31 oz. | Height: 6"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: All-day spot-and-stalk sessions for mule deer
• Key Features: The updated Camino Evo GTX handles the up-and-down business of spot-and-stalk hunting with a couple tweaks to a proven boot. The ankle area is redesigned to allow for more flex when hiking uphill to glass. Lowa’s new sole package places cushioning under the heel and ball of the foot to improve the boot’s rolling properties, or how energy is transferred along the foot during a step. The result is more comfort and stability when closing on a buck, whether that means hiking into or out of a canyon. The boot retains Lowa’s independently adjustable lacing zones on the forefoot and upper.
• MSRP: $360
• Info: lowaboots.com

Meindl Comfort Fit Hiker

• Weight (Single Boot): 29 oz. | Height: 7"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Late-summer pronghorns and early-fall whitetails when the weather is warm
• Key Features: Hunters get the cradling support of Meindl’s Comfort Fit system in a hiker-height boot with a Gore-Tex waterproof lining that permits feet to breathe. Comfort Fit provides more room in the toe box and width at the ball, ensuring the big toe doesn’t get cramped. It also creates a wider sole base for more stability. Feet don’t slide, however, thanks to a snug fit at the heel. Cork footbeds with Poron inserts absorb shock while Vibram Multigrip 6.0 outsoles dig into tough terrain.
• MSRP: $290
• Info: meindlusa.com

Rocky MTN Stalker Pro

• Weight (Single Boot): 29 oz. | Height: 6"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Traversing rock-strewn hills in search of upland birds
• Key Features: The MTN Stalker Pro is a low boot, but that doesn’t mean it can’t handle the rough country that chukars and Western quail species often call home. Traction comes in the form of a Vibram Mountaineering outsole, and the boot’s Shield Guard provides an extra layer of protection from sharp rocks, cactus and thorns. Rocky’s fiberglass shank adds stability when birds are on steep slopes. The lace-to-toe design anchors the feet, and the Rocky Rebound footbed keeps them comfortable over broken ground.
• MSRP: $207
• Info: rockyboots.com

Cabela's Zoned Comfort Trac

• Weight (Single Boot): 42 oz. | Height: 17"
• Insulation: 2,000/1,600/1,200-gram Thinsulate Ultra
• Best For: Treestand or blind hunting in frigid weather
• Key Features: The Zoned Comfort Trac has three areas of Thinsulate Ultra to keep feet warm without adding unnecessary weight and bulk: 2,000-gram insulation in the toe, 1,600-gram insulation along the sides and top of the foot, and 1,200-gram insulation around the heel. Wool frost plugs also form a thermal barrier between the feet and the cold ground. Rubber uppers guard the feet against moisture, and gussets on the outside buckle tight to hold in heat while closing out sleet and snow. Molded polyurethane footbeds and nylon shanks provide support.
• MSRP: $149.99
• Info: cabelas.com

Dryshod Overland

• Weight (Single Boot): 40 oz. | Height: 17"
• Insulation: 5 mm Densoprene foam
• Best For: Hunting whitetails in creek bottoms, swamps and marshes
• Key Features: The Overland's hand-laid natural rubber and Densoprene construction is 100 percent waterproof. Plus, Hydrokote water repellent causes moisture to roll off the surface of the upper material so the outside of the boots dries quickly. The molded outsole provides traction in mud and slop, while a rigid shank and reinforced tuck board lend stability when trekking through the muck. A four-way stretch air-mesh lining allows air to circulate inside the boot, and the tops roll down for venting in warm temperatures.
• MSRP: $179.95
• Info: dryshodusa.com

Irish Setter MudTrek

• Weight (Single Boot): 35 oz. | Height: 15"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Early- to mid-season bowhunting
• Key Features: Irish Setter gives the MudTrek its ScentBan treatment to kill bacteria that causes odors. Rubber and 5 mm neoprene shield against water, and the vulcanized rubber outsole provides both traction and durability when traveling to and from stands. Inside, TempSens technology reacts to your body temperature to keep you comfortable. It either cools the feet by vaporizing moisture or retains heat to keep them warm. Support comes from a polyurethane footbed, and an integrated heel kick makes removal easy.
• MSRP: $149.99
• Info: irishsetterboots.com

LaCrosse Alpha Agility Snake

• Weight (Single Boot): 39 oz.
• Height: 17"
• Insulation: None
• Best For: Spring, summer and early fall hunts when venomous reptiles are about
• Key Features: Sandwiched between the liner and the exterior of this boot is a flexible fabric that protects against the fangs of snakes. It adds little to the weight of the Alpha Agility and doesn’t hamper maneuverability or comfort. Hand-laid rubber over neoprene makes for a waterproof boot, while the jersey knit liner wicks interior moisture and dries quickly. You get all the benefits of a LaCrosse rubber-neoprene boot with added peace of mind when hunting around snakes.
• MSRP: $200
• Info: lacrossefootwear.com