Which boots?

[TrapMan13]

Once again the time has come to trade in the old boots and get some new ones. Last night I learned my insulated gore-tex boots arent so warm and waterproof any more. I went out hunting and after walking to my deer stand and sitting in it for 3 hours I froze my feet so bad that I had to have a friend with a 4-wheeler pick me up because I couldn't walk... After sitting by a heater for about 45 mins I could finally stand, standing on my feet again. Even today they were still giving me trouble when they got a little chilly... So heres my question... Besides "bunny boots" what is the warmest pair of boots I can get for late season hunting and OF COURSE Ice fishing? Need plenty of warmth and forsure some quality water-proofing!... haha... Well thanks... Chad

[Bob Horn]

What`s wrong with bunny boots? Warm, waterproof, and heat your feet back up quick if you get for socks wet. Heavy for long walking but if a guy my size can wear them anyone can. Do a search and you find a ton one this subject.

[Ryan_V]

I second Bob on the bunny boots, or mickey mouse boots. best cold weather boot ever made, and you can get them reasonably priced!!!

[JoeTC]

I'd check out Lacross. I have the Iceman boots and have worn them in a cold deer stand and stood out on the ice with them all day and I can't recall a time when my feet have ever gotten cold. They also make and Ice King boot which i think is even warmer. They'll hold up for years and keep you real warm.

Joe

[Jim Hudson]

Last year, I picked up some Rocky Snow Stalker Extremes. Probably the best heavily insulated boot I have worn for the money, weight, waterproofness, and all around warmth. They were the 1600 gram thinsulate model, but I see they discontinued them but still make a 1200 gram model.

One model I did like, but since I found the boots I own on sale, I didnt buy them, are the Irish Setter Buck Trackers. They are lighter then the ones I own, and still have 1600 grams of thinsulate.

Also, Cabelas makes a boot that is a splitting image of the Rockys. Where they even have a 2000 gram model. And even with this much insulation, they weigh in at 5.7 lbs.

To me, these type of boots are the cadillacs of cold weather hunting or ice fishing footwear!! Sure, they are a bit pricey, but they are worth every penny to keep my feet warm in the coldest of cold weather!!!

[KidWalleye]

Blizzard stalkers, Rocky. I use them on cold days deer hunting and mostly ice fishing.

[Jay R]

Hey just a quick note to this, check out on-line Schnees boots. They are made in Montana, rubber bottom, leather upper and combination of thinsulate and wool/felt. Best part they can be completly rebuilt. If you use them for more than just weekend use I would go this direction saves money over time. I have an old pair of Justin ropers had them for 12 years, leather is in great shape and currently on my third set of soles and heels. So my initial expense of $125 looks pretty good now.

JMO!!

Jay

[FOOT]

Hey, I happy as h--- with my new (last year) Sorel Pac Boots. They are the first winter pac boot that I've been able to find in my size (17). I've been wearing 15's or 16's but most of the time I couldn't even wear a sock with them. My feet got cold and in fact a couple of years ago my toes have started to tingle and go numb. Hopefully they will come back. I've seen a couple od Dr.s but they all say the same thing "you got them too cold and hopefully the nerves will regenerate".

You guys with average size or small feet have got it made.

[Northlander]

I have had great luck with my IceKings. Foot I have 15's but never seen 17's either. Maybe call Stieger Muclucs in Ely and get a pair special made. Those babies are warm and comfy.

[fishtank]

Northlander and Foot.... I feel for you. I wear 12's, but the problem I find is with width. I wear EEE's (if I can find them). I've been to Cabela's, Gander, Online and I just wish they had a better way to search for boots. I wish I could go online or to a store, enter my foot size and have all of the available footware shown to me. Instead I have to go to Irish Setter, Lacross, Rockey, and dig for boots that are availabe in my size. I'm still looking, so if anybody knows of a 1200 gram+ quality boot out there, I'd be interested in finding them.

[fishtank]

I should also add- my wife bought me Lacross boots a couple years back that are like Sorrels, they are not that warm, and they look like snowshoes. They are plenty wide, just not enough sole for what a good boot should be.

[caseymcq]

Whatever happend to moon boots?

[PERCHJR]

I have a pair of the Cabela's Outfitter Series 12" 2000 gram boots and they are warm and dry!!! Kind of spendy at $170 a pair but well worth the money.!!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!

[JigginIsLife]

boots are really a thing depending on how you are going to use them, my opinion. If you are going to be up in nothern MN or canada and out for long periods ie. over night or 2-3 day stays in maybe a portable or a trip, then look for somthing withing the 1500 -2000 gram area. If you are going out for a day and arnt wanting to spend a bunch of money on a really nice pair then maybe somthing between 800 and 1500, depending on how you are. Im usually quite warm out on the ice so i just wear my work boots with some ice grips, but if you are a snomobiler or somthing and dont want two pairs of boots then buy a nice pair in the 2000 gram area, little more spendy, alot warmer.

[walleye_dog]

LaCrosse Ice Kings-waterproof, by far the warmest boot ever made. My buddy bought the Rocky Extremes that are supposed to be rated to -150,hes had them for 2 years and when ice fishing or stand hunting he gets his old pair of Ice Kings out, then gives me the old "What are you lookin at?". Mine are 6 years old and still keepin my feet toasty warm.

[Steve Foss]

For consumer boots, the Ice Kings will do no wrong, and a person can afford them. If you've got more money to spend, the Steger mukluks are the warmest footwear I've ever owned.

They do not come waterproof, however (well, after a trip or two the Ice Kings aren't waterproof, either). The outer shell is suede moose hide, with a soft rubber sole that comes up the sides. I bought the Expeditions a few years back, and even when my feet get wet from repeated washings from drilling power auger holes, the feet stay warm. The thing about the mukluks (they are copied from northern Canadian tribes) is that they keep your foot warm because they allow it to move around and maintain circulation. It is like wearing a pair of slippers. That's contrary to traditional lower 48 pac boots, which are big, heavy, clunky and encase your foot in stiff leather and rubber.

You can nearly waterproof your muks with silicone spritz spray or camp-dry. These are the mukluks that Will Steger's expedition took to the North Pole 20 years ago.

Some hints. Buy them big enough that you can use the standard wool-felt liner and the sole insert (both come with the boots, which they ought to, considering the price) with three layers of socks and still get your feet moving around nicely. I use a thin polypro liner, a medium-weight wool sock and a heavy outer wool sock. My size 9.5 feet needed size 12 muks to make it work right.

In fact, folks on expeditions buy them big enough so they can put in TWO of the wool-felt liners and all the other stuff I just mentioned, but heck, we're not going to the north pole, just to the fish pole.

When I opened for lakers with S.T. and Reefraker a few years back on Gunflint, I wore the muks. And I mean I wore nothing else, and only changed my socks out once in three days. Those muks eventually got soaked, though I waterproofed the heck out of them and my wet feet were wet with sweat, not slush water. The exteriors froze solid with slush until it looked like I was walking around in ice snowshoes, but (though to this day I don't think S.T. believes me) my feet NEVER GOT COLD. It got down to nearly -30. I have been out in these muks to -40, and my feet stayed warm. Mine come with light cotton-canvas uppers, which come to the knee, are easy to waterproof and are lighter than the other models with the moose-hide uppers.

Lest you think this is an ad, it is not. I hold no brief for this company. The owner (who treated Mrs. Catfish, a former employee of hers, like trash) is higher on my shnit list than anyone else in America, but she copied an excellent design and has kept it excellent. The muks are great.

Now, the image below certainly would not be approved by the company owner as a representation of the muks, but these have been worn hard for three winters, and are not worn out. The laces wrapped around the ankle traditionally are worn criss-crossed around the shin working up to the knee, as an additional measure to keep out snow.