Best ice fishing boots

[Jorgie]

I was thinking summer might be a good time to find good prices on some new boots. What are some good ones to look for? Naturally, I'm looking for the warmest boots possible. I've got some old Thinsulate boots now that don't really do the trick.

Also, if anyone knows a good place to buy them in the Duluth area, I'd love to know. Gander Mountain and Marine General are all I can really think of. I could buy them online from a place like Cabela's, but I'd like to try them on before I buy.

Thanks,

Eric

[love to hunt]

If you are fishing open ice it is hard to beat a pair of military vapor barrier boots, also affectionately known as Mickey Mouse or bunny boots depending on the color you get.

The down side is they are heavy and a little difficult to walk in but your feet will be warm.

You can find them at Army/Navy stores, hsolist, and sportsmansguide.com.

[bottomdweller]

I Wear lacrosse ice kings. Fish open ice alot and never had cold feet. They are a little heavy and bulky like the mickey mouse boots. But ohhhhh so warm. Gander is a good place to check em out. You want to try em on. Get them a size bigger than you normally wear and your feet will stay warmer. More space to keep the warmth in. gl

[SomethingFishy*]

I picked up an $80 pair of rockies from gander and they are awesome, warm and water proof.

[MN Mike]

Thats what I have too, just a good pair of Rockies, 800 or more on the thinsulate and Gore-Tex. I use them from fall hunting, thru ice fishing and snowmobiling and in the summer. Gotta like that Gore-Tex ! I don't even own a pair of pack boots anymore, haven't for 5 years or more.

Mike

[Captain B.R.K]

Jorgie - Those two spots in Duluth are good bets to look at a variety of ice-fishing boats. There is a place down in West Duluth too that has a good selection of military boots too (Can't think of the place).

I have the LaCrosse IceKing's, great boot. I have a inner sole that comes out that has super heavy insulation in it. I'm not sure how much insulation it has, but keeps my feet warm. However I've noticed that when the slush or ice comes up on my uppers, my feet tend to get wet.

Time to look for a water replent spray, replace with a new pair or look into the Mickey Mouse boots.

[hugonian1]

Another vote for the LaCrosse Ice Kings. Had the same pair for about 8 years with excellent results. If you treat them every year they will last longer and stay drier.

[jigging-matt]

One more vote for the Rocky. I have a pair of Rocky Lynx with 800 grams of thinsulate and love them. Easy to walk around in and keep the feet warm all day. Also my yak trax fit good on them.

[Jorgie]

The Rocky Polar-Tracs look nice. I'll head to Gander tomorrow and check out what they have.

[End of the Line]

I have the Mickey mouse boots, LaCrosse IceKings, and Muklucks. I prefer my Steger Muklucks to the other two any day and twice on Sunday unless I go snowmobiling. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the others but they are heavy to walk in and if you use a snowmobile my IceKings dont fit in the toe hole because they're to bulky. I have had my Muklucks get very wet but my socks never did. I always wear cotton socks under my wool sock with those though through the advice of Stegers. I tried my on right in Ely, MN and the gal that help me really showed me some things about them that I would have never known to keep them in tip-top shape, fit and keeping my feet warmer. Just my 2 cents.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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I picked up an $80 pair of rockies from gander and they are awesome, warm and water proof.

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Me too. I wasted years with Sorrels and cold feet....my Rockys keep me warm and dry....

[Gus]

I find a 1000 gram insulated gore tex huntign boot serves me better than my huge ice kings. I think I just sweat too much with the ice kings. That leads to clammy and then cold feet. I'm much more comfortable and mobile in the thinner boots.

[CNY Tim]

Rockies for running and gunning. The only thing I dont like is it doesn't hold an arctic spur well they tend to slide a bit on those boots. I love the boots though. For extremely cold days it's the black mickies and they do hold a spur nice and tight in the arch. The Rockies replaced my Ice Kings.

[fishing tech]

Ice King get my vote. Make sure to get a good pair of socksto wick the sweat away. I always check Gander in the spring for there clearance. The last 2 years I have picked up 2 pairs of $100.00 plus boots for $50.00 each the kids.

[stmichael]

running and gunning I use the rockies 1200 grams thinsulate with the ice cleats built in. In the permanent I use sandles along with shorts and a t-shirt. Nothing like being comfortable.

[Moose]

I switched to the Rocky Blizzard Stalker about 2 years ago and I will never own another pair of Pac boots. Their warm,light,and easy to put miles.

[Cheeser]

One more for LaCrosse IceKings - I don't even wear an insulated sock, they are that warm.

Got mine at Fleet Farm - $100.

[Jorgie]

Well after considering everyone's recommendations and prices (I'm a poor college student), I went with the Rocky Polar-Tracs. I wanted something fairly lightweight, but also warm. These have 800 grams and are waterproof. I found them for $60 on Cabela's HSOforum. I would have liked to have tried them on first, but I ordered them a size bigger and they fit snuggly with my wool socks. If I want more room, I can always buy some thin wicking socks.

Now I can't wait to get on the ice. I bought some Carhartt bibs last fall and they are awesome, but my feet were always cold. Now I should be able to stay on the ice all day.

Thanks for the advice everybody.

[Big D 1]

I have a pair of 17 year old LaCrosse ice mans....never, ever, ever once had cold feet in them (including snowmobiling at -30) All i ever wear in them is ankle sox.

So heavy though...last year, bought a pair of Rocky 1200 gram boots.....feet did get cold in them once (i'm a sissy with my IceMans I guess)

Both are serviceable. If I am sitting all day, no walk out...the IceMans...if I have to walk/move around..The Rocky's

[Northlander]

My Ice Kings (10 years old)never let me down as long as you dry out the liners at night and put snow seal on them every few years. They may be too warm because my feet sweat easy and my liners get damp often. As long as I dry them out though Im ok. I like the Ice Stalkers too.

[Down Deep]

When I first started ice fishing 25 years ago I bought the bunny boots. I junked them because my feet, although warm, were always clammy. Then I bought some Icemans and had great service from them for about 15 years. After that I bought some Ice Kings and wore them for a season. The Kings were warm, but way to klunky, so my son got a nice pair of boots. I bought another pair of Icemans and wore them until a couple years ago when I bought the Rockys with the ice cleats. The Rockys are very warm and comfortable. Either the Iceman or the Rockys would get my vote.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Quote:

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If you are fishing open ice it is hard to beat a pair of military vapor barrier boots, also affectionately known as Mickey Mouse or bunny boots depending on the color you get.The down side is they are heavy and a little difficult to walk in but your feet will be warm. You can find them at Army/Navy stores,

hsolist

, and sportsmansguide.com.

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I have to agree, they keep your feet warm, and my feet are hard to keep warm!

[Dock Boy]

I have a pair of Cabela's Saskatchuans. I know I know that's spelled wrong. Best boots I ever bought. Not only are they good for ice fishing, but for late season muzzleloading for deer. Warmest boot ever. I used to work at cabelas, so I got all the specs on these boats. They are awsome