Need a new pair of boots
 

I need to buy a new pair of boots before the season starts. Anyone have an opinion good/bad on Danner? Irish Setter?

Whats the best pair of upland boots you've had?

Depending on the terrain you will be hunting You might consider Russell Bird Shooters. They are great for the uplands but not so good in the marshes.

I have always used Rocky's Cornstalkers. They last me about four years before the waterproof membrane begins to break down but they're great in mostly dry terrain for several years longer.






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I have had a few pair of the Irish Setter/Red Wing and like the USA made ones. The Chinese ones not so much. I have had good luck with Filsons but they are getting pricey. I usually wear a leather boot, a Bean boot or a rubber wellie type boot depending where I hunt.

I have used bean hunting boots for 56 years ad they are still my favorites but you need to put orthotic insoles in them and specify the hunting boot.

Have multiple pairs of Bean Hunting Shoes and a pair of custom built Russels but the most comfortable hunting boots I have ever worn are uninsulated Danner Pronghorns. Light as can be, plenty of support, solid traction and just plain comfortable.

over all a muck boot is hard to beat...charlie

I love my Russell boots.

Best boot
 

Kenetrek
They have them all beat Alaska guiding sheep,B C and Mexico
Chuckar hunting in Nevada there is no other boot and they can be resoled or rebuilt each go is good for about 1000 miles

Oh, I saw this thread and thought you were getting ready to go gambling...

I must agree with Alton. Kenetrek boots are hard to beat. I tried a lot of boots before settling on Kenetreks. I like that the factory for a little over $100 does Not just resole but basically completely restores the boots. These boots just wear like iron.
Once broke in they are as comfortable as any boot I have worn.

Russell"s are great for the uplands.

I hike every day and the best boots for comfort and durability are Meindl's sold by Cabelas. I have worn out at least 4 pairs in the last 15 years (and two hips :rotf:) . The perfect hikers are a great all around boot. You will not be disappointed.

Bean's Maine hunting boots are hard to beat with the proper inner sole. Have used them for over 50 years and the Browning kangaroo boot is a great dry upland boot as they are super lightweight and comfortable.

Irish setter wingshooters 9 inch... Great wear in and still as waterproof as day 1..

My uninsulated Filson Uplanders will still be in new condition when I am gone. Y'all watch the obituaries. I think retail is over $300 now. Woops. $410. I may start wearing them more.

Love my Redwings for the uplands; they just look like hunting boots oughta...

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...7_trans_IS.jpg

And when it gets a little soggy...

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps1c9c8364.jpg

I like my Russell's, I also have used the Bean Hunting boot but you need proper inserts (arch supports) to wear them with comfort.

I bought a pair of Filson Highlanders (insulated) years ago and they are the best boots I have ever owned. They give great ankle support and the leather on the inside is buttery soft. The insulation is not very thick and adds to the comfort. Takes a while to break in though.
Charles

Danner Pronghorns ,8" ,400 Grams of Insulate ,I buy two pair at a time from Cabelas ,One pair always got walked heavily behind three Bird dogs and the other I wear in my Tree stand hunting Deer and Bear etc. ! Then after a couple of years the tree stand boots turn in to my Walking Boots the wore out boot to the trash etc.etc etc. ! Very affordable for the quality of boot in my opinion also Very Comfortable ,light weight and waterproof to a point as long as the water isn't over the top you are okay for the first year but then they seem to start to break down if you use them heavily !

To tell you how much I like my Russell boots, I ordered work shoes and casual shoes from them as well. I am wearing Russell shoes now. They are a great company. Filson is great too and I have thought about ordering a second pair of boots from them.

Russell Bird Shooters for most of my hunting from the dove fields to the prairies and Muck for those really wet days.

I wish somebody made a decent rubberized type knee boot in the US these days. I broke down and bought a pair of Muck Boots a few years ago out of desperation. It was literally a physical pain to pay that much for something made in China.

Destry

new boots
 

I bought a pair of Russel Mountain boots two years ago. They are rugged and there new bobbed soul has amazing traction. They fit well and are comfortable right out of box. They eliminated shin and foot problems that I was having.
Russel advertises, and they will tell you that the treated three vamp construction is water proof. It is not. I use gortex socks when I know it will be sloppy. I'll probably buy another pair in a year or two.
Dave

My Russells are not waterproof either and they don't advertise as being snake proof. I have some old snake boots I use in snakey conditions. Water usually means duck hunting for me and then I have waders.

Same as the Muck Boots, I hate the idea of my China made chest waders. I've been tempted to order a pair of these, they're not cheap but they have a good guarantee:

http://www.shopusia.com/waders/

Of course the actual boot foot itself is made overseas, because nobody makes anything like that here anymore.

When you have a 13A foot like mine, nothing fits unless you get custom boots from Russell. I now have their Birdshooter, their 3 eyelet Oxford, and casual loafers

John D,

Have you tried Allen Edmonds for dress shoes? They still make a narrow as well I'm pretty sure.

DLH

Irish Setter Wing shooters and LL Bean Maine hunting shoe for over 60 years. Tried others but always come back to these two. Setters last forever and Beans will replace worn out tops or bottoms.

Destry -Thankfully, I don't have to buy anymore dress shoes. My closet still has a number of pair of Edmonds and Johnson and Murphy's.

I've got a pair of Russell South 40 Birdshooters that haven't been out of the closet in three years. I can't get comfortable in them. I've gone back to -- a better description would be -- I've stuck with my 10" L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Shoes for decades now as I find them the most comfortable and best suited to my needs.

New boots
 

I went on Cabelas web and ran through all the boots looking over all the comments and they run across the board for likes and dislikes. I tackle tested 2 pair of Danner and came away with the uninsulated Pronghorn which someone has given the nod to. Insulated boots in Texas I don't need and quail hunting in Carlsbad NM is what I bought them for. Cabelas is good about taking trying and returning if don't work for you. Good luck.

The one thing that is clear is that the boots for one type of country is not the best for another. Many well respected members recommending a variety of boots. I would take the advise from members that hunt the same type of environment.
For here in AZ where I mainly hunt. You need solid leather uppers. Light insulation, boots with great arch support and a tough non slip sole. I like boots like Kenetreks that have a rubber toe cap and 1" rubber strip from the soles up along the uppers. Tough country with rocks that cut like a knife, and many types of cactus that penetrate thin leather or canvas boots.
As Chris Dawe can attest from hunting with me last fall, this area is tough on boots.

I have a pair of 'OLD " half worn out Russell boots that have gone back to Russell to be resoled and reconditioned several times. I put them on daily and I love them . One of the best investments that I have made !

Allan

Thanks for the advice. I'm leaning towards Danner mainly because they're available on Amazon and I have several hundred dollars worth of American Express points. But I may end up buying another pair as well and it sounds like Russel might be the way to go. Maybe a pair for early season hunting and another for late season. My current boots are Gander Mountain brand upland boots. I don't think they even sell them anymore but they took 3 seasons of abuse and just started literally falling apart towards the end of last year.

I forgot to mention-----Russell's "South 40 Birdshooters" with vibram soles

Allan

I also need new pair of leather hunting boots. In the past I have had great service out of bean boots but they to get more uncomfortable as time goes by. Ordered Russell' one time and that did not work. Have heard good things about Danner, may give them a try.

Truer words have never been spoken Phil ,I paid out good money for a pair of Miendle's (spell?) figuring from the pics Phil had sent me the terrain would be similar to what I hunt ,there's nothing up here but rocks ....but pics are deceiving... the rocks in Arizona were like razors ,took the side out of my 400 dollar boot in the first morning !

i do not know why phil but i find that amusing...charlie

I have always wondered, in the Westerns they always show the cowboys with pointed toed boots with heels. They sure were not walking very far in them. Bet they were not using those boots when they traveled by foot very far.