Boots, all leather or no?

[50bowhunter]

Being an eastern guy I spend most of my time in rubber boots. I'm looking for some hiking boots boots for Wyoming this October. It's not a backcountry backpacking hunt, so I'm thinking a regular hiking boot will do. My question is would you suggest an all leather boot or something with breathable mesh sides. I've tried on boots in a couple stores and my favorites have been a pair of Merrell's and Salonans.

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[Theist]

With weight on my back I m a kenetrek guy but without I seems to always go back to Vasque breeze boots. They hold up well. They have mesh sides and the new model has a rubber rand on the toe. The have Goretex also and good long lasting vibrant sole. They are about 130 and I have had 4 pairs. I buy a new pair every the 3-4 years. I spend the most time in these and have plenty support even when they are worn. Give them a look. Keep in mind the mesh boots have a tendency to get fine dust and sand in them out west. They eventually get pressure points on them between the mesh, leather and liner. I usually just rinse mine really well between trips and it eliminates the problem. If you let the pressure spots stay to long you will get hot spots on your feet and wear a hole in your Goretex liner. I've done this on multiple boots so a good wash with the mesh and liner is always in the works after a trip. Leather boot don't need this step. If you go all leather I would do kenetrek hardscrabble boots. You will love them when it's a bit cooler. Archery go with Vasque and any later go with Kenetrek and pack some gators if it's October. Hope this give u some ideas!!


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[WY ME]

If you're gonna hunt in prickly pear cactus I would only consider leather and vibram soles. Anywhere else is just your personal preference. I prefer all leather for everything but my brother is just the opposite and only buys synthetic.

 

[Work2hunt]

If you're gonna hunt in prickly pear cactus I would only consider leather and vibram soles. Anywhere else is just your personal preference. I prefer all leather for everything but my brother is just the opposite and only buys synthetic.

+1 on the all leather if you will be around cactus. I had all leather last fall on my antelope hunt, but my buddies boots were a leather/synthetic blend. There was more than one occasion he was pulling needles from his foot that went through the synthetic sides.

 

[50bowhunter]

With weight on my back I m a kenetrek guy but without I seems to always go back to Vasque breeze boots. They hold up well. They have mesh sides and the new model has a rubber rand on the toe. The have Goretex also and good long lasting vibrant sole. They are about 130 and I have had 4 pairs. I buy a new pair every the 3-4 years. I spend the most time in these and have plenty support even when they are worn. Give them a look. Keep in mind the mesh boots have a tendency to get fine dust and sand in them out west. They eventually get pressure points on them between the mesh, leather and liner. I usually just rinse mine really well between trips and it eliminates the problem. If you let the pressure spots stay to long you will get hot spots on your feet and wear a hole in your Goretex liner. I've done this on multiple boots so a good wash with the mesh and liner is always in the works after a trip. Leather boot don't need this step. If you go all leather I would do kenetrek hardscrabble boots. You will love them when it's a bit cooler. Archery go with Vasque and any later go with Kenetrek and pack some gators if it's October. Hope this give u some ideas!!


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My last pair of hiking boots were vasque. I got them for a backpacking trip on the Appalachian trail. Very comfortable but a year later my feet would get wet walking through wet grass.


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[Colorado Cowboy]

I too like all leather, but it is getting harder to find them without taking a loan on your house to pay for them. I have a pair of all leather Brownings with Vibram soles that I have had for over 30 years. They have been resoled at least 3 times and have leather patches sewn on in several places where I wore thru the leather. They are so comfortable, I can't get rid of them. I SnoSeal them every year and they are still waterproof and pliable. Sure wish I could find another pair....oh and I paid 25.00 for them...new.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I wear the same all leather boots when I'm deer or elk hunting as I do when I'm quail or chukar hunting. We have lots of catus of all kinds here and there is no way I could ever wear low cut boots that were not all leather without great suffering.

 

[50bowhunter]

Is there cactus in Wyoming? I will be antelope hunting north of Douglas and mule deer hunting around the buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan area.


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[Colorado Cowboy]

Is there cactus in Wyoming? I will be antelope hunting north of Douglas and mule deer hunting around the buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan area.


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When you are crawling, sneaking up on a goat and you put your hand or knee on one of the suckers, you'll say...HELL YES

That's why I wear padded gloves and knee pads!

 

[buckbull]

Is there cactus in Wyoming? I will be antelope hunting north of Douglas and mule deer hunting around the buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan area.


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Yeah, the stuff is all over in antelope country. I'm an all leather guy. I've had issues with the seams between leather and non-leather. Either leaking or coming undone; just seams to be weak point on the boots I have worn.

 

[Tim McCoy]

When you are crawling, sneaking up on a goat and you put your hand or knee on one of the suckers, you'll say...HELL YES

That's why I wear padded gloves and knee pads!

I'm with CC. It is all over the west. I hate it. It has found me from OR to SD, MT to NM, ... its all over. The stuff I hate the worst and see the most outside the actual desert SW, is small, grows very low to the ground and very sneaky. It is almost impossible to avoid in some areas, especially the dead pads that are so well camouflaged as to defy description. If you are hunting high desert terrain, it's probably around somewhere.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4463487669_77b41fbcf3.jpg.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

That's the stuff!!!

 

[libidilatimmy]

Is there cactus in Wyoming? I will be antelope hunting north of Douglas and mule deer hunting around the buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan area.


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Yes, there is cactus in Wyoming

 

[Elkhunter96]

lol, no cactus in WY. I like a nice hiking boot for most hunts, but would go with an all leather on antelope hunting. Those prickly pears can be rough on nice breathable boots.

 

[Work2hunt]

Is there cactus in Wyoming? I will be antelope hunting north of Douglas and mule deer hunting around the buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan area.


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Plenty of it. And just because you don't see a cactus plant, it doesn't mean there are no cactus needles. Leather gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads are a must. After last year wearing those items I was needle free on my elbows, hands, and knees, but I want a leather apron or something because I was pulling needles out of my belly from army crawling.

 

[Winchester]

Yep. I agree ... cactus is everywhere. I definitely prefer all leather boots for everything.

 

[ivorytip]

When you are crawling, sneaking up on a goat and you put your hand or knee on one of the suckers, you'll say...HELL YES

That's why I wear padded gloves and knee pads!

that's also the same time you see that rattle snake all coiled up!

 

[50bowhunter]

Thanks for the advice, cactus never never even crossed my mind.


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[Theist]

My last pair of hiking boots were vasque. I got them for a backpacking trip on the Appalachian trail. Very comfortable but a year later my feet would get wet walking through wet grass.


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In October I would probably try the kenetrek. At 350 they are a lot more spendy but they last yrs. My kenetrek boots are going on 6 years. Longevity and leaking is my beef with any mesh boots. But for 130 I just use them for yard work when they start leaking ...usually yr 3.... And just get a new pair.


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[IDELKFVR]

I prefer danner in leather I have had a couple pair in the last 30 years and have always done good for me. But I will agree with knee pads for antelope and have run into cactus in Idaho chasing goats for sure.