So, I know this is very individualized topic.
I've got a pair of old REI hiking boots that have stood up to 12 years of use and abuse and are still in great shape (I've burned out 4 other pairs of hiking boots in that time). I use them for hunting occasionally, but they are summer weight and not waterproof.
I have some surplus desert weight boots that are a little large and the soles could practically take a land mine (IE too heavy) that I've used for hunting a couple of times, but mostly use for working in the yard.
I've got a pair of muck type boots with a good thinsulate liner (600g? 800?). I tend to take those. They are okay if only hiking 1-2 miles and they are nice and waterproof. Kind of hit in the early season and they suck if I end up still hunting 3-4 miles in a day. Also heavy.
So I am looking for some true hunting boots. I can't seem to find any good middle ground, use all season boots at a reasonable price. I realize I may be looking for a unicorn or need to pay big bucks. Cabela's (between cabelas brand and Herters) have some apparentlymfefrnt waterproof uninuslated boots and insulated boots (1200g, which seems awfully heavy for Maryland hunting). Bass pro (redhead brand) seems to have some also that are uninsulated and waterproof, but a bit low cut, and some that are only 1000g insulated and water proof (still seems heavy, but maybe okay for late season hunting)
I'd love to find something that is like 400g or 600g, which seem like I could use all season and just throw on the extra winter socks if sitting.
Thoughts? Should I be looking somewhere else (preferbaly under $100 or under $160 if looking at two pair, but I'd do $160 if I could find one set of boots that can do it all)?
Also how waterproof are these "waterproof" boots usually? I see some complaints on the waterproof failing in just rain. Maybe I need rubber boots, but I am hoping for something I could cross a stream with 3-4" of water, so up over the top of the foot, but not really up the calf. Just a couple of steps, not like crossing a 20 foot stream. A lot of places I hunt I have to be crossing streams and sometimes I can step on rocks, but often times I've gotta step once or twice in to the water to cross it.
I've got a pair of old REI hiking boots that have stood up to 12 years of use and abuse and are still in great shape (I've burned out 4 other pairs of hiking boots in that time). I use them for hunting occasionally, but they are summer weight and not waterproof.
I have some surplus desert weight boots that are a little large and the soles could practically take a land mine (IE too heavy) that I've used for hunting a couple of times, but mostly use for working in the yard.
I've got a pair of muck type boots with a good thinsulate liner (600g? 800?). I tend to take those. They are okay if only hiking 1-2 miles and they are nice and waterproof. Kind of hit in the early season and they suck if I end up still hunting 3-4 miles in a day. Also heavy.
So I am looking for some true hunting boots. I can't seem to find any good middle ground, use all season boots at a reasonable price. I realize I may be looking for a unicorn or need to pay big bucks. Cabela's (between cabelas brand and Herters) have some apparentlymfefrnt waterproof uninuslated boots and insulated boots (1200g, which seems awfully heavy for Maryland hunting). Bass pro (redhead brand) seems to have some also that are uninsulated and waterproof, but a bit low cut, and some that are only 1000g insulated and water proof (still seems heavy, but maybe okay for late season hunting)
I'd love to find something that is like 400g or 600g, which seem like I could use all season and just throw on the extra winter socks if sitting.
Thoughts? Should I be looking somewhere else (preferbaly under $100 or under $160 if looking at two pair, but I'd do $160 if I could find one set of boots that can do it all)?
Also how waterproof are these "waterproof" boots usually? I see some complaints on the waterproof failing in just rain. Maybe I need rubber boots, but I am hoping for something I could cross a stream with 3-4" of water, so up over the top of the foot, but not really up the calf. Just a couple of steps, not like crossing a 20 foot stream. A lot of places I hunt I have to be crossing streams and sometimes I can step on rocks, but often times I've gotta step once or twice in to the water to cross it.