Late season boots

[Russf]

Wondering what most people are using for boots for their later season hunts. I have a pair of lowas non insulated I use for early season and have used last couple seasons but struggle with cold feet once there's a bit of snow if I'm sitting. I know socks make a world of difference too so wondering what everyone is using. Looked into darn tough socks as well as crispi has a set I was looking at. Currently contemplating getting a pair of the Crispi wild rock plus gtx, was also looking at Hanwag Trapper top Gtx. The boots are extremely pricey so I would obviously want them to resolve my issues and last a long time. I know alot of people also recommend the elk trackers and I see they are 1000g of insulation and these are by far cheaper then the others I listed however I have heard alot of mixed reviews of poor quality from the elk trackers in the last few years. Located in region 8, when moving I'm ok for warmth of feet but when I'm sitting it gets brutal. Open to other suggestions.

Yes first post- usually just do a bunch of reading on here:grin:

[swampthing]

The elk trackers will serve you well for the price. They are warm. As you know good boots are pricey! I wear kenetrek backboots for cold november hunts as well as winter varmit hunting. Mine are about 10 years old and still in great shape. The hanwag trappers you mentioned arent that warm of a boot with about 200 grams insulation. I have worn mine in about -15 and they are ok if you keep moving. They will last a long time as well. I have them.

[Silent But Deadly]

I have a pair of Crispi wild rock GTX Plus. The ankle support is outstanding and they kept my feet nice a toasty during a mule deer hunt last December. I used use elk trackers but I found the ankle support is no where near as good as the wild rocks.

[firebird]

Hanwag trapper tops late season and hanwag alaskans the rest.

if you like your Lowas why not get an insulated pair?

hanwag, lowa (brother companies) are a on a different level than redwing (elk trackers)

[emerson]

I use my insulated work boots. 400 gram I think. Saves me $300 and keeps them very well broken in.

[RyoTHC]

Zamberlan sella gtx for late season and their Toffane GTX for the rest of the year.
best boots I’ve ever used.

[Russf]

Hanwag trapper tops late season and hanwag alaskans the rest.

if you like your Lowas why not get an insulated pair?

hanwag, lowa (brother companies) are a on a different level than redwing (elk trackers)

Yes I agree that they are likely superior boots. I'd rather buy it once and be happy then have to buy it twice.

I have been looking on hanwags website and can't see how insulated the Alaskans or the trappers were. It says "Additional insulation layer under the insole and 8 mm insulation midsole" but not sure how it translates into grams of insulation.

[pin_head]

If you’re looking at the elk trackers I would honestly say to look into Muck Boots instead. They are wicked warm and offer about as much comfort as a $hitty thinsulated boot. I wear Hanwag Tatra, Trapper top, and Muck boots. When it’s THAT cold I don’t generally end up hiking too far and hard so the muck boots do the trick. Don’t go chasing goats with them but they are great for sitting if your hike in isn’t too rugged.

Brad

[alpinedust]

If you’re looking at the elk trackers I would honestly say to look into Muck Boots instead. They are wicked warm and offer about as much comfort as a $hitty thinsulated boot. I wear Hanwag Tatra, Trapper top, and Muck boots. When it’s THAT cold I don’t generally end up hiking too far and hard so the muck boots do the trick. Don’t go chasing goats with them but they are great for sitting if your hike in isn’t too rugged.

Brad

Which muck model?

[Salix]

I got a pair of the Hanwag trappers this summer and wore them for early elk trip. No issues with too hot of feet. The insulation is only in the foot bed. that being said I know what you mean about late season cold feet.
First question is what are you hunting and what type of hunting. If hiking and packing you need good hiking type boots with insulation. I feel with good wool socks the hanwags would work ok if hiking but not if sitting.
Ive been in the north a long time and work in forestry. For hunting and work once freezing and snow starts I go to a decent winter pack boot or the past few years a rubber insulated work boot with bama socks. As mentioned the muck boots are warm and waterproof but I found the pair I had didn’t last. Now running the Dunlop rubber boot, good to -40. I put miles on them but they don’t have great ankle support if you are looking for that. They keep the feet warm thought.

[Onesock]

Schnees 13 inch high

[Russf]

I got a pair of the Hanwag trappers this summer and wore them for early elk trip. No issues with too hot of feet. The insulation is only in the foot bed. that being said I know what you mean about late season cold feet.
First question is what are you hunting and what type of hunting. If hiking and packing you need good hiking type boots with insulation. I feel with good wool socks the hanwags would work ok if hiking but not if sitting.
Ive been in the north a long time and work in forestry. For hunting and work once freezing and snow starts I go to a decent winter pack boot or the past few years a rubber insulated work boot with bama socks. As mentioned the muck boots are warm and waterproof but I found the pair I had didn’t last. Now running the Dunlop rubber boot, good to -40. I put miles on them but they don’t have great ankle support if you are looking for that. They keep the feet warm thought.

Hunting will be for both mule/whitetail as well as moose once season opens up in November. I only hunted till late November previously but being this will be my first archery season after rifle closes and assuming I have a whitetail tag I would be hunting in December as well. I do a bit of both at times hiking and then sitting. Generally sitting dusk/dawn and hiking throughout the day. I don't have issues with being cold when hiking only when I start sitting, and being I will likely be doing bow in December it would be a lot more sitting I'm thinking.

I also have a pair of the green Dunlop rubber boots I used to wear when working in Alberta. I ran Bama socks with them as well and never had an issue but I didn't do much sitting around. I mean I could run those or my heavier insulated -100 work boots but they are not the best for hiking in. Those could do for bow season I suppose if I go to where I'm thinking as not a far trek but for rifle season when I'm sitting and hiking they don't provide the support nor comfort for that.

Kind of looking for something that will do for both the hiking and sitting periods in the later part of the season once the snow starts (basically now). Hopefully they would work for the sitting part while bow hunting as well but if not I'd go with one of the older insulated work boots.

[Frank grimes]

One thing that can help cold feet when sitting is putting something under them like a piece of carpet or one of those foam mats. I use the foldable thermarest. I cut it in half and sit on one and put the other under my feet. That way I don’t need as warm of boots so my feet won’t sweat to
bad when hiking. Sweaty feet get cold fast when you stop moving.

[Sitkaspruce]

Schnees 13 inch high

These! or the Sorel Caribou or if you can find them Mavericks. I ran around in the bush for years in Mavericks and they were some of the best!

I now wear Muck Arctic Pro and they are great, warm and waterproof.

Here is another post with the same question

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?161312-cold-weather-boots&highlight=sorel

Good luck in your search

Cheers

SS

[Greenthumbed]

I’m very happy with the pair of Hanwag Trappers I recently purchased. Quality is excellent, Gortex liner is awesome and I won’t have much issue with cold feet while hunting. If I do I’ll switch to my Sorel pack boots.

[m5wilson]

I wear the Hanwag Alaska all year, hunting in the spring, hiking all summer and then hunting all fall. Generally my feet are warm enough but during November whitetail they did get cold while sitting. I started bringing some toe warmers to put in them but this year I bought some Muck Insulated boots. I am still pretty mobile when I hunt whitetails but the terrain is generally less rough and packs are lighter. Haven't had a chance to use them much.