North America is famous for its range of poisonous snakes, and virtually anywhere you go out hunting or hiking you just might end up stumbling upon one of the dangerous creatures. With around 20 different species of snakes, from a range of rattlesnakes to water moccasins, copperheads and coral snakes, venomous snakes can be found in every single US state with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska. So, no matter whether you're hunting in the desert, swamps or mountains, it's important to keep yourself protected from bites by investing in a pair of the best snake proof boots you can find.
Rank | Boots | Style | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 | Side Zipper, Laces | ||
#2 | Slip-on | ||
#3 | Slip-on | ||
#4 | Laces |
Avoiding Snake Bites
With such a large range of venomous snakes, it's no wonder that snake bites are one of the major dangers facing many North American hunters. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 8,000 people are bitten by vipers in the US each year.
Luckily, anti-venom treatments mean that few people ever die from these bites anymore, as long as they receive proper treatment within a specified amount of time. However, treatment doesn't mean the age-old method of trying to suck out the venom. In fact, you should basically just leave it entirely alone, as cold compresses, cutting into the wound and applying a tourniquet are also to be avoided.
Still, even if you're not likely to die if you do happen to get bitten by a rattlesnake or another venomous snake, you'll nonetheless be in for an incredibly unpleasant, terribly painful experience. As well, you'll likely be facing quite a large hospital bill for your treatments.
By wearing the best snake boots, you can rest assured that your feet and ankles will stay protected, just in case you do happen to encounter one of these potentially deadly serpents. Still, not all snake proof boots are made equal, which is why this guide will be focused around these handy boots, including what to look for in a good pair. As well, you'll also find short reviews for the top products currently on the market. Before we get into the details, its first important to provide a brief introduction into how snake proof boots work and what sets them apart from other standard hiking and hunting boots.
How Do Snake Boots Work?
Compared to your basic hunting and hiking boots, the best snake proof hunting boots feature a much thicker, protective material around the foot and ankle. This extra protective layer is designed to prevent the snake's fangs from penetrating through the boot into your skin should one happen to strike at you.
Most snake proof boots use a blend of denim, leather, nylon and other natural and synthetic materials, which are tightly woven together to create a nearly impenetrable layer. As well, many of the best boots even use an extra layer of bulletproof Kevlar to provide further protection. All of this adds up to provide only about a one-percent chance that the snake's fangs will penetrate through the boots, and even if they do break through, the fangs are likely to only scrape or barely piece the skin instead of sinking in with the type of full-on bite you'd experience without the snake boots.
What to Look For in a Good Pair of Snake Boots
There are a number of important factors you'll need to consider when buying snake proof boots. First and foremost are the construction materials, as you'll want to ensure that the boots provide ample protection from bites—especially in all of the most vulnerable areas of the design. Of course, it's also incredibly important that your boots are comfortable, as with any other type of boots. Just because you want full protection from bites doesn't mean you need to sacrifice comfort. While many snake proof boots are a bit stiffer than other hiking or hunting boots, you can still find a wide range of products that don't sacrifice comfort for quality.
Another factor you'll need to consider is the type of boots, as you can find snake proof boots with both zipper closures and standard laces, as well as a range of slip-on style boots. This factor generally comes back to your personal preference and what you feel most comfortable with, as each style has its own positives and negatives.
However, you'll also need to think about when and where you'll mostly be using the boots, as the best snake proof boots for hot weather probably won't be suitable for those days when the temperature drops a bit lower (which happens to be when you're more likely to step on a snake sunning itself on the rocks). Similarly, if you frequently hunt in swamps, marshes or any other wetter areas, you'll want to invest in the best waterproof snake boots you can find. Finally, like any other good pair of boots, a decent pair of snake boots needs to be rugged and durable, while also providing plenty of traction and support.
The 4 Best Snake Proof Boots Reviewed
Now that you know a bit more about snake boots, it's time to look into the products themselves to determine which ones are worth the price. Although you can easily find a range of decent options, all of the following products continually rank among the absolute best. Unfortunately, this list only includes the best men's snake proof boots, as very few of the top companies produce women's snake proof boots.
LaCrosse Venom Scent HD Snake Boots
Available in several different models, including the outstanding Venom Scent APG HD and several excellent youth models, these LaCrosse snake boots are often ranked by experts as being one of, if not the best boots currently available. LaCrosse has developed a huge reputation over the years for producing truly top-notch boots, and these snake boots continue in that tradition.
These 18-inch tall boots provide full 360-degree snake protection from top to bottom, while still remaining flexible enough so that you don't have to sacrifice any freedom of movement. At only five pounds, these Venom Scent HD boots are quite lightweight, while still providing all the protection you need. Better still, these boots have a few other special features that set them apart from most of the competition.
One such feature is the special Hyper-Dry lining that provides a waterproof, scent-proof barrier and actually helps to wick moisture away from your feet. Further enhancing their usefulness for hunting is the anti-microbial Scent Suppressing material woven into the liner, which helps to prevent scent causing bacteria growth and further masks your smell.
The size zipper on these boots makes them easy to take on and off, without sacrificing any protection from bites. On top of it all, these boots are super comfortable and offer plenty of traction, making them well worth their slightly expensive price.
MuckBoots Pursuit Snake Proof Hunting Boots
If you'd prefer a slip-on style snake boot, you need look no further than these excellent MuckBoots. A truly waterproof snake boot, the MuckBoots Pursuit line features a synthetic rubber exterior instead of the leather or fabric exterior found on most other snake boots. While this ensures that no water can seep into the boots, it does this without having to sacrifice bite protection in any way.
A special neoprene liner inside the boot helps to keep your feet warm in cooler temperatures, while the boots also utilize MuckBoots' patented XPressCool Technology that helps to wick away moisture from your feet to keep them dry throughout the entire day. These boots also feature a rugged, rubberized sole that makes them incredibly durable and provides excellent traction in any condition. Although it doesn't feature scent-blocking technology like the LaCrosse boots, it is still by far one of your best options—especially for swamp hunting.
LaCrosse Adder Scent HD Snake Boots
This boot is nearly identical to the excellent Venom Scent HD boot, albeit with one major difference. While the Venom Scent HD uses a combination of laces and a side zip, the Adder Scent HD boots are pull-on style boots like the MuckBoots listed above. However, instead of being made of rubber like the MuckBoots, these are made mostly from leather with a fabric upper and lower.
In terms of comfort, durability and bite protection, there's really nothing to separate this boot from either the Venom Scent HD or the MuckBoots Pursuit boots. All three products deserve top marks, meaning it again comes down to what style you'd prefer.
Rocky ProLight Snake Boots
Ranking slightly below the other three boots in terms of overall features, these Rocky snake boots are still a popular choice. At 16-inches tall, these boots are slightly shorter than the LaCrosse boots, which in turn means they offer that much less protection. On the other hand, this isn’t likely to ever be a problem, making them a good choice for anyone who feels more comfortable with slightly shorter boots.
A good snake boot needs to be at least a certain height in order to fully protect your calves from bites, but these 16-inch boots should still provide plenty of protection. After all, no boot will keep you protected should a snake strike above the boot.
Available in a range of different camo patterns, these lightweight boots are generally a bit cheaper than the others listed above. This makes them an excellent option for those on smaller budget.
In Conclusion
As you can see, choosing the best snake boots isn’t all that difficult, but it does mean investing a bit of your hard-earned money. Since the whole point of snake boots is to keep you protected from bites, this is definitely one area where you shouldn't try to be cheap. After all, you'll end up spending way more on your medical bills should those cheaper boots fail to do their job.
