Ok, so I am out of state on a four day mule deer hunt and I am stuck NOT HUNTING last night and this morning due to some untimely real estate jumbo. Hopefully it actually pays off. Anyways, to kill the time here is my opinion on a simpler subject. BOOTS.
Every time I run into another hunter in the field I find them wearing a good solid boot. Usually full leather and/or goretex with good soles. I on the other hand am wearing shoes...not gym shoes, but a good trail shoe. Vasque makes a couple really good ones with vibram soles. Now, don't get me wrong. I wear boots as well, but ONLY if the mountain is wet or snowy. If it is dry it is always shoes.
Here's why.
-I do a ton of hiking and shoes are much lighter...usually more than a pound or so. This does make a big difference especially when putting in a ton of vert.
-Shoes have a higher level of sensitivity. Which means I can feel branches or pine cones under my foot before crunching them and sending out a alert to those mulies. In other words, I can be much more silent.
-Shoes breathe better. My foot does not end up a sweat ball by the end of the day.
-If you get a good quality pair with a good sole they get as good or better traction. Better traction because a slightly more flexible sole will cling to rocks better than a super stiff boot sole.
-No break in period. A good boot may take a few weeks to break in and be comfortable. I can buy a pair of trail shoes and hunt in them all day out of the box and not a single blister.
-When the weather turn cold I simply wear a good wool sock and I stay plenty warm. Unless it is wet or snowy, then I am in my waterproof insulated boots. I prefer a good ski sock, not the lame hiking or hunting wool socks. They are usually way too thick and heavy and not designed around performance usually resulting in blisters from the sock not the boot. Definately go with a ski sock. I have never had one fall down and bunch up on my foot like some of the hiking/hunting socks.
The one draw back my shoes have is that because I prefer a low cut, on steeper terrain, I sometimes get dirt and small rocks into my shoes that cant when I am wearing my insulated danners.
Ok, so lets here your opinions on what you prefer. If you haven't tried a good pair of trail shoes, they are worth a shake down. Just be prepared to let your boots gather a little more dust.
Good luck in the field guys.
Every time I run into another hunter in the field I find them wearing a good solid boot. Usually full leather and/or goretex with good soles. I on the other hand am wearing shoes...not gym shoes, but a good trail shoe. Vasque makes a couple really good ones with vibram soles. Now, don't get me wrong. I wear boots as well, but ONLY if the mountain is wet or snowy. If it is dry it is always shoes.
Here's why.
-I do a ton of hiking and shoes are much lighter...usually more than a pound or so. This does make a big difference especially when putting in a ton of vert.
-Shoes have a higher level of sensitivity. Which means I can feel branches or pine cones under my foot before crunching them and sending out a alert to those mulies. In other words, I can be much more silent.
-Shoes breathe better. My foot does not end up a sweat ball by the end of the day.
-If you get a good quality pair with a good sole they get as good or better traction. Better traction because a slightly more flexible sole will cling to rocks better than a super stiff boot sole.
-No break in period. A good boot may take a few weeks to break in and be comfortable. I can buy a pair of trail shoes and hunt in them all day out of the box and not a single blister.
-When the weather turn cold I simply wear a good wool sock and I stay plenty warm. Unless it is wet or snowy, then I am in my waterproof insulated boots. I prefer a good ski sock, not the lame hiking or hunting wool socks. They are usually way too thick and heavy and not designed around performance usually resulting in blisters from the sock not the boot. Definately go with a ski sock. I have never had one fall down and bunch up on my foot like some of the hiking/hunting socks.
The one draw back my shoes have is that because I prefer a low cut, on steeper terrain, I sometimes get dirt and small rocks into my shoes that cant when I am wearing my insulated danners.
Ok, so lets here your opinions on what you prefer. If you haven't tried a good pair of trail shoes, they are worth a shake down. Just be prepared to let your boots gather a little more dust.
Good luck in the field guys.
![IMG_0143[2863].jpg](/xf/data/xfmg/thumbnail/26/26009-3c801117a080fd9d93549fa3bf667314.jpg?1658505755)
