Monday, May 23, 2011

A Great Pair of Hunting Boots!

A Great Pair of Hunting Boots

When it comes to hunting my feet are my Achilles heel.  If they're not comfortable, warm, and dry, then I'm miserable.  These boots don't look like much anymore and I have literally walked them into the ground, but come November, when the temperature starts to drop, I will slide my feet into these boots once again -- just like I have done for the past fifteen years.



I spend a lot of time outdoors.  Whether I am hunting, trapping, scouting, looking for sheds, mushroom hunting, or just on a simple walk-a-bout, these boots are usually on my feet.  The amount of miles I have covered in them is uncountable.  The Vibram soles on their bottoms are beaten and worn, but the boots still dig in tight when I'm climbing a steep hill.


I bought them in 1996 at the Cabela's store in Sydney, Nebraska.  Brand new they would have cost over $200, but I bought them as a returned item in the store's bargain cave for $120.  Even at that price it was hard for me to part with my money.  It was in fact the best $120 I have ever spent.  The boots are now minus a few quick strap eyes and I can't tell you the number of boot laces they have seen come and go -- the current ones are due to be replaced before next hunting season.

Even now, with the boots cracked and ripped, I can wade across ankle deep water and walk through snow all day and my feet remain dry.  The 800 grams of thinsulate lining still does its job.



The directions from the manufacturer said to never put any treatment or oils on the leather -- just wash off the dirt and allow the boots to dry naturally. Most years, when summer rolled around, I put them into the corner of the garage covered in dirt and forgot about them until November.


I doubt a better pair of hunting boots have been crafted!