Breathable hot weather hunting boot?

[Levajo]

Currently, I have owned a pair of kenetrek mountain extremes since 2017 and they have served me well in Montana. However, I just returned from a turkey hunt in Kansas and had blisters on my heels from hiking fields with temperatures in the upper 80s. During early archery elk in Montana, I usually am at elevations around 8,000ft and the temperatures were not as hot. I am looking for an early season boot that has ankle support, but is a bit more breathable. My feet tend to run pretty hot and these hot weather hunts are not fun when my feet are on fire and blistering on the b acks of my heels.

Any recommendations out there for a lightweight breathable early season hunting boot?

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Last year I picked up a pair of Altra lone peaks for hiking and my early season hunts. Definitely not what you want for side hilling steep crap with a pack, but they were great for an AK Moose hunt.

 

[TOGIE]

yeah, gotta get away from "boots" for the early season stuff if you ask me

i'd wear chacos for september pronghorn hunting if it wasn't for all the cactus

 

[andrew11]

 

[JohnCushman]

Kenetrek tall Bridgers

 

[klampson]

Crispi Thor, breathable and good ankle support. My favorite early season hunting boot when the temps are in the 80s - 90s. I’ve hiked through nasty lava fields with these and never worried about rolling my ankles.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

Yeah running shoes/light boot. I've killed a lot of stuff in September and October wearing Inov-8, Altra, and Hoka.

 

[deer_shooter]

No ankle support but I wear Under Armor Valsetz hikers for antelope when warm out. Just gotta be mindful of cactus. I also have a pair of Hanwag hikers that are not bad in warmer weather.

 

[SaskHunter]

For hot weather I wear Lowa Zephyr Mid-TF GTX, light and breathable. I've worn them from sub-Saharan deserts to rolling Saskatchewan plains and I have no complaints!

 

[jlong17]

Were your boots insulated? I have the non insulated mountain extremes and have hunted in 90 degree temps... no problems. I have a lame ankle, so I sacrifice a lighter boot for support and confidence. Otherwise I’d probably hunt in crocs

 

[Harrier]

Google “desert service boot”

 

[Levajo]

Were your boots insulated? I have the non insulated mountain extremes and have hunted in 90 degree temps... no problems. I have a lame ankle, so I sacrifice a lighter boot for support and confidence. Otherwise I’d probably hunt in crocs

Non-insulated. My feet run really hot.

 

[shannerdrake]

I like my Merrell MOAB Ventilators for warm weather dry hunts. However, I overall still prefer the waterproof MOAB as the morning grass is pretty wet even when it's warm.

 

[MinnesotaHunter]

I wouldn't waste your time looking for a hunting specific boot. Go to REI or some other store that carries a bunch of hiking boots and try a bunch on. Salomon used to make some pretty good ones but their quality has gone downhill. I would look at Scarpa, La Sportiva, Salewa, Lowa, Hoka, Asolo, etc. I would be looking for ankle support, heal lock, and a stiff shank. A good boot is going to cost you around to $200. The other question to think about is whether you want a waterproof boot, or not. If it is really hot weather, the waterproof liner is not going to breath nearly good enough to let the sweat out.

If you want a hunting specific boot, I would look at the Crispis. They seem to have some models that ride the line pretty well.

 

[noharleyyet]

These have been popping up on my feed....Zamberlan Lynx GTX RR BOA uninsulated...just over 400 bucks

 

[Hoodie]

Another vote for Altra.

 

[paulag]

I have been doing most of my warm weather hiking in Garmont T8 Bifidas lately. Good supportive sole, very comfortable after break-in. Fairly budget. Very breathable compared to lots of other boots. Dry fast. Only cost like $140. They are an Army approved uniform boot, so you do have the tactical kind of appearance.

 

[furness]

I’d look for an uninsulated non waterproof boot made of cordura

 

[Jason73]

I just picked up Zamberlan Boltoro Lite hikers. Damn comfortable boot. Not many miles on them yet but having usually spent around 2- 250 jumping up and spending 350 seems worth it. They were true to fit. A bit different feeling than traditional hunting boots, took a minute to get used to how locked in your foot feels. Think I'm a believer in the light weight hiker. Probably have a better review after September.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Buy a pair of light hikers. I live way down yonder mongst the cypress trees and alligators in the moist dank armpit of America and never had a hot spot, never had a blister. They don't hold up in hard daily use, but if you're just hiking or seasonally hunting you'll be fine.