As anyone who has ever hunted in extreme cold knows all too well, nothing can ruin a hunting trip quicker than cold feet. Sitting in a tree stand for hours on end eliminates the possibility of moving around or stomping your feet to help keep them warm, which makes it essential that you properly prepare yourself for whatever conditions you’ll face out on the hunt.
If you head out in the field with boots that aren’t warm enough for the occasion, there’s a high chance you’ll end up cutting your trip short after your feet start feeling like blocks of ice. For this reason, we’ll now present a quick guide that should aid you in your search for the warmest hunting boots.
Tips for Finding the Warmest Hunting Boots
Every person’s body is different, which essentially means that what might be the best hunting boot for one person may not be the best for another. In this sense, it is important that you carefully consider several important factors to ensure you end up with a pair of hunting boots that perfectly fits your feet and your specific needs.
Size and Fit
Comfort is obviously one of the most important factors—especially if you know you’ll be doing lots of walking or hiking. The fact that everyone’s feet are different means that you’ll want to pay close attention to both size and fit to make certain that your boots are comfortable. You should always consider choosing hunting boots that are a half or whole size larger than your normal shoe size if you plan on wearing thicker socks or more than one pair.
Intended Use
You’ll also need to think carefully about how you intend on using the boots, i.e. if you’ll be doing lots of hiking in rocky terrain, walking in wet or muddy conditions, primarily sitting in a stand, etc. Different types and styles of boots work better for different purposes, which is why most hunters end up having several pairs of boots in order to be fully prepared for various situations.
If you know you’ll be spending long hours in a stand or plan on hunting in the cold winter months or other extreme conditions, you’ll obviously need to find a pair of boots that offer enough insulation to keep your feet warm throughout the day. However, you’ll also want to make sure that your feet don’t end up sweating too much. This is why you need to think carefully about how you’ll be using the boots, as this will directly impact your needs in terms of insulation and ventilation.
Insulation and Ventilation
In this sense, choosing the warmest winter boots for hunting is actually quite subjective since it depends on exactly how you’ll be using them and how cold your feet typically get. If you know you’ll be hunting in extremely cold conditions or mostly sedentary like when sitting in a tree stand, you’ll obviously want to go with a higher amount of insulation.
The vast majority of hunting boots use Thinsulate insulation, as this generally provides the most warmth without adding excessive weight or bulk. For most fall hunting trips, you’ll usually be fine using boots with anywhere from 200 to 800 grams of Thinsulate, such as the popular LaCrosse Alpha Iceman.
However, most experts recommend going with at least 1,000 grams of Thinsulate for colder, winter hunting trips or times when you’ll be mostly staying sedentary. Still, if you’ll be sitting in a stand or otherwise sedentary during extreme cold, you probably want something as high as 1,600 to 2,000 grams of insulation.
Choosing the Right Boot Style
Your intended use is also important in helping you choose the right style of boot. Different styles of boots obviously work better for different types of hunting and in different weather and terrain conditions.
Although there are a huge number of different styles, most hunting boots can still be grouped into one of five different types—Upland, High-Country, All-Purpose, Hiking and Rubber.
Upland
This style of boot is designed for situations when you’ll be doing lots of walking over fairly moderate terrain. These boots tend to be quite lightweight with a sole designed to shed soil and mud. Although upland boots usually aren’t as warm as some other styles, you can still find plenty of insulated options that may work well for those later-season hunting trips.
High-Country
Designed primarily for hiking in rougher terrain, high-country boots are an ideal choice for late-season deer, elk or moose hunts. This style of boot tends to be stiffer in order to provide more support for foot and ankle support to help prevent injury in rocky, rough or uneven terrain.
All-Purpose
This style comes in an almost endless number of combinations, allowing you to find the perfect boot for any need. All-purpose boots are a good choice when you want a boot that works equally well for upland and high-country hunts.
Hiking
Hiking boots tend to be shorter and lighter weight. For extreme weather, you are generally better off choosing a different style. Nonetheless, you can easily find some well-insulated hiking boots that will work well for hunting if you prefer this style.
Rubber
Rubber boots are definitely the best choice when hunting in wet weather or if you know you’ll need to cross creeks, swamps or marshes. This style has the advantage of being 100 percent scent-free and completely waterproof. Although most people don’t tend to associate them with warmth, the warmest rubber hunting boots usually contain the same amount of insulation as the warmest high-country or all-purpose boots.
A Quick Note on Overboots and Boot Covers
Insulated boot covers, also known as overboots or boot insulators, can be a great option for mostly sedentary hunts or anyone who will only occasionally be hunting in extreme cold.
These products are designed to slip over the outside of your boot once you’ve reached your hunting spot in order to provide an extra layer of insulation to shield your feet from the cold.
However, you can’t hike with boot covers on, which means they’re mostly useful when sitting on extremely cold days.
The Warmest Hunting Boots for 2018
LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro 18-inch 1600G Insulated Rubber Hunting Boots
If you’re in the market for the best insulated rubber hunting boots, they don’t come much better than these LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro boots. With 1,600 grams of Thinsulate, these are easily among the warmest hunting boots on the market.
Furthermore, these 18-inch boots allow you to tackle deep snow, mud or water with no problems and without ever having to worry about your feet getting wet. As well, the boots make use of an embossed liner that is quick drying, provides increased ventilation and helps to wick moisture away from your feet. All of these factors make the LaCrosse Alphaburly one of the best and warmest hunting boots made today.
Kenetrek Men's Mountain Extreme 1000 Insulated Hunting Boot
Kenetrek boots have an excellent reputation for quality, warmth and durability, and this is fully reflected in their price. Nonetheless, if you have the money to spend, the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme is a fantastic boot for any cold-weather situation.
These 10.5-inch boots are perfect for both extreme weather and extreme terrain thanks to the 1,000 grams of Thinsulate, high-traction K-Talon outsoles and fully reinforced toe guard. Further adding to the package is a breathable, waterproof WindTex membrane that provides outstanding ventilation.
Danner Men’s Pronghorn RealTree Xtra 1200G Insulated Hunting Boots
If you prefer a shorter, hiking-style hunting boot, the Danner Pronghorn is a fantastic choice. These 8-inch boots are some of the warmest hiking boots available thanks to the 1,200 grams of Thinsulate, while the rugged outsole provides the traction and stability needed to tackle almost any type of terrain.
Hunters will also enjoy the benefit of an Ortholite triple-layer insole for added comfort and cushioning. If there’s a chance you’ll be hiking on deep snow or mud, you’d definitely be better off with a taller boot. Otherwise, this boot is definitely a good choice.
Irish Setter Men's 860 Elk Tracker Waterproof 1000 Gram 12" Big Game Hunting Boot
An excellent all-purpose boot, the Irish Setter Elk Tracker features a waterproof Gore-Tex lining and 1,000 grams of Thinsulate to ensure your feet stay warm and dry in any weather conditions. Hunters also gain the advantage of Irish Setter’s ScentBan technology that helps to kill off odor-causing bacteria.
All-in-all, these boots are a great choice for both high-country and upland hunts, but you might want to look for something a bit warmer if you’ll be mostly sitting in a stand.
Onyx-Arctic Shield-X-System Men's Arcticshield Boot Insulators
These Artic Shield boot covers are perfect for those extremely cold days in the stand. As soon as you’re in position, you can slip these insulated covers over your boots for an added layer of breathable, waterproof insulation. If you will only occasionally be hunting in extreme cold, there is really no reason for you to spend the money on a new pair of high-insulation boots when you can simply use these covers to provide that extra warmth your feet need.
Bottom Line
As you can see, you have many different options when searching for the warmest hunting boots. Therefore, it is essential that you think closely about how you intend on using your boots and how much insulation you really need. Few things are worse than having extremely cold feet on a hunt. Therefore, do yourself a favor and make sure that whatever boots you choose are warm enough for your needs. Otherwise, you run the risk of cold feet ruining your trip.
