No one drags their hunting boots behind the truck, smashes them into concrete or lovingly caresses them with dirty limestone gravel. Not intentionally, anyway. But hunting boots typically get put through the wringer during the season and, often, outside of it. They have to be tough, durable, reliable, warm and comfortable, to the point that they’re forgotten.
If you customer is not thinking about their hunting boots, that’s a good thing. In the stand, blind or walking around searching for upland birds and small game, boots are the last thing any hunter wants to think about. They’re the last thing a hunter should think about, at all. Good hunting boots should be the invisible partner, lending support and traction, every day in the field.
Customers often seek info from you, their friends and online forums for “the best hunting boots.” They want to know if the boots will be tough, if they can handle mud and rocks, sand and grit, climbing stand ladders and more. If they’re upland bird or small-game hunters, they want to know if the boots will handle briars, corn stobs, muddy and icy conditions, and thick hedgerows and thickets. They need partners who will be there day after day.
We wanted to find out what some of the most popular lace-up boots could take. LaCrosse, Danner, Irish Setter, Rocky and Muck sent gorgeous test models (see sidebar). These new-in-box beauties even smelled good, like when you get into a new car and just take it all in with one big sniff. Two are leather — the Danner Pronghorn and Rocky Trophy Series — while the Irish Setter VaprTrek, Muck Alpha Pursuit and LaCrosse Ursa ES GTX are designed with an abuse-shrugging combo of materials.
Time constraints prevented some tests we had in mind, such as dragging them through a mess of prickly pear cactus. Also, with the combo of boot materials, I didn’t subject them to fire. Some hunters stick their boots too close to a campfire while hanging out or to dry them, neither of which is good. Leather dries out near heat. Composite materials, such as with the VaprTrek or Alpha Pursuit, would end up like Dalì’s “Persistence of Memory.” Mud wouldn’t bother the composites, anyway. The mix of leather and composite is apples-oranges for some kinds of tests.
But all five got the same treatment to mimic — hopefully, in a worse way — some of what hunters do to them. These brands and boots are iconic and well-known by hunters. You’ve sold these brands in your shop for years and should continue to do so. When hunters ask whether these boots are tough or for “the best,” point to these to help them make a selection.
The Drag
With just a few weeks to give these boots their beatings, we wanted to try to replicate some conditions of walking through fields and pastures. I also wanted to find out if the pull-loop on the rear of the boot cuff would hold up. These loops are there to help hunters pull on boots. If they break, that’s not good. These need to be tough and securely affixed.
I connected each boot to a chain with a secure metal clasp and attached the chain to my truck. Then I dragged them for more than five miles through a pasture with briars, gnarly sumac and dried grasses, over a couple of rocky roads, and repeatedly over a pile of crushed limestone. On the rocky roads, I hit speeds of 35 miles per hour several times, with the boot chain bouncing along like a hillbilly wedding add-on.
The boots took only minimal fraying on the cuffs and laces, as expected. Scuffs and nicks in the leather toes were minor, easily buffed out with beewax and elbow grease. None of the pull-loops sustained significant damage. One on the Rocky was torn a bit due to the clasp twisting it, but it still was functional.
Toe, Heel Scrapes
The toe cap on boots helps prevent smashed toes if you kick something. It also helps prevent the sole from separating from the upper. A good toe cap should come over the front edge of the boot and be secured extremely well. On some boots, the toe cap extends further, over what would be the top of the toes.
The edge of the toe cap shouldn’t come off during regular use. I scraped the toe cap on each boot hard against the raggedy edge of a chunk of concrete to see if they would separate, peel or detach from the upper. Each boot got 50 hard scrapes, and I checked after each 10 scrapes. The soft composite edge of only the VaprTrek showed any smidge of separation. It wasn’t enough to be concerned about, considering what I’d just raked the boots against.
I did the same to the heel of each boot. Hunters typically will use the edge of the heel, where the sole is attached to the upper, to remove the boot. This pressure over time isn’t good because it can cause separation. It’s better, although we don’t always do it, to unlace the boots enough to remove them by hand. I raked the edge of the rear heel against the concrete 50 times, checking after the first 10, then at 25, and again after 50. Again, a little bit of the VaprTrek rubber was rub-scuffed but nothing more.
Rock Slam/Drag
Hunters rub, scrape and bang against rocks crossing creeks, in fields, at camp and on the trail. They kick rocks when they’re bored, like little kids do, and sometimes out of frustration.
I slammed the toes into the pile of limestone rocks, a good 20 whacks just like Lizzie Borden. Then I raked them across the rocks another 20 or so times to test the laces and grommets. Some of the laces frayed, of course, but nothing else happened (except for a sore hand).
At the Car Wash
Staying dry is a cornerstone of good boots. Hunters traipse through morning dew, rain, creeks and ditches, muddy fields, snow and ice. They get blood and other stuff on their boots at camp in the skinning shed. Sometimes, unfortunately, the boots may get a splash of oil or other engine fluids. Billy Ray may splash grease on them cooking fish at camp.
Boots must stay dry, too, other than normal sweat from walking. That’s simple to take care of with a good Peet boot dryer. If they get wet from walking through snow, rain or other sources, that’s uncomfortable. Boots should be weatherproof, at the least, and waterproof at best.
The car wash pressure wand would be a solid test. I zip-tied a zip-top bag around the top of the boots, to see how the tongues and gussets would hold up. High pressure? That’s nothing a hunter probably would encounter, but it’s quite a test. Downpours can be bad sometimes, and creek or ditch crossings happen. With the boots lined against the car wash wall, I hit them with two minutes of constant, soft spray, one at full blast and one back to soft. After pumping in another couple bucks for four more minutes, the boots got 3:30 or so at full blast before a final 30 seconds on soft.
The LaCrosse boots were barely damp inside at the top of the tongue gusset, but they dried quickly. As expected with its comfortably softer design, the Muck took more water (about a half-cup) but dried incredibly quickly. The Rocky’s thicker, softer tongue also was damp inside. The VaprTrek and Pronghorn were dry, shrugging off the blasts with ease.
Nothing really surprised me about these boots. I’ve worn different models from each of these brands over the years. I have a pair of Pronghorns that fit like a glove, and when they finally wear out, I’ll be sad. Any good boots should be that way, just like with a favorite shirt or jeans. Your customers likely are familiar with these brands, too, whether they’re veterans or younger folks starting out. All of these lace-up models are well-designed workhorses built to last and withstand tough conditions in myriad hunting situations. When your customers ask about boots, don’t shy away from singing the praises for these.
ABOUT THE BOOTS
Danner Pronghorn — Long a go-to for many upland and whitetail hunters, the Gen 5 version of the Pronghorn easily will pass muster with its legion of fans. The 8-inch boot features a full-grain leather design (Cordura-leather models are also available) with a Gore-Tex waterproof liner. Some models have 400g of PrimaLoft Gold insulation. A rubberized EVA midsole offers firm cushioning but is more durable than traditional EVA. It has an athletic, supportive design but with plenty of room in the toe box. $290, www.danner.com
Rocky Trophy Series — An excellent, stable and supportive lace-up at 9 inches designed with waterproof full-grain leather and 900 denier Cordura. It has 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation, perfect for early season and walking, stalking and rumbling. The Trophy Series is designed with Rocky’s Air-Port Lite Sponge PU footbed with memory foam, making for an enjoyable fit. Available in Medium and Wide sizes from 8-14. $155, www.rockyboots.com
Irish Setter VaprTrek — It looks radical, and it is. The new VaprTrek has a host of features, all of which offer comfort, protection and aggressiveness in the field. The Earth Field Camo full-grain leather upper incorporates abrasion-resistant ArmaTec XT material for enhanced durability. It has an UltraDry waterproofing system, ScentBan technology to kill bacteria, a memory foam insole and more. The wraparound outsole lugs are a great addition for more traction in slick, muddy or icy situations. $210, www.irishsetterboots.com
Muck Alpha Pursuit — The new Alpha Pursuit provides a tailored fit, and the Muckskin overlays give additional protection without unnecessary weight. The notched heel collar eliminates Achilles fatigue, and the rubber heel reinforcement adds more protection. The midsole is made from BioLite, a top-level, lightweight foam, and the Alpha Pursuit has an aggressive rubber outsole for better traction and debris dispersion. $185, www.muckbootcompany.com
LaCrosse Ursa ES GTX – This 8-inch hybrid combines a breathable nylon and suede upper that has a Gore-Tex waterproof liner. It has a 4-way stretch collar that includes a softer, flexible spot on the rear where the Achilles tendon flexes. That’s a great touch. Weight is reduced thanks to the one-piece shank, lasting board and midsole design. The Vibram MegaGrip outsole is a traction hog on mud, ice, dirt and sand. $250, www.lacrossefootwear.com
