Question:
I am hoping to get a CO muzzleloader Elk license for this fall and if
successful in getting the license I will need a couple pair of good
hunting boots for mountain terrain up to 12,000 ft I am told. I
thought one pair for colder weather and one pair for warmer weather.
I was wondering what anyone thinks about Lacrosse boots? I was
thinking of one with Goretex and with 400 grams of thinsulate. And a
warmer pair of about 1200 grams of thinsulate. What about height of
the boot? Eight inch, ten inch or? Should the size be big enough to
get a couple pair of thin socks or one thick pair and a thin pair??
Is the sizing accurate on Lacrosse boots. My shoe size is 8D so do I
need a 9E boot? Any reccomendations would be helpful and
appreciated. I am a flatlander so this type of hunting would be
totally new to me. Any thoughts on other clothing or equipment would
also be very helpful to me.
Answer:
I have been extremely satisfied with 8" Danner "Guides" or "Elk
Guides" or "something like that" with 200 grain thinsulite and Gortex
lining. I assume they are still made and Danner Boots are American
made in Portland, Oregon. I see little need for heavier insulation
for a Colorado elk hunt, though I am not known for getting cold feet.
I see no reason for wanting a higher top. They have been adequately
warm on my feet given still hunting in fresh snow on days with subzero
mornings and highs of maybe 14 degrees. They have also been fine on
days that have reached 70.
If I was going to sit in a tree stand in the dead of winter, I might
want something with heavier insulation. If there was likely to be wet
snow and my main boots were less well-made than the Danners, I might
want a pair of sno-packs with rubber lowers. Only consider a pair
with Vibram souls, however. Sno-packs with soles out of the same
rubber as the lowers make for deadly walking in elk country.
If your hunt is October or before, I would not be much concerned with
really cold weather.
As I have always done, I wear one pair of thick, high quality, wool
socks. There probably is something more high-tech and better now.
But wool works for me. I have about 12 years and probably 150 hunting
days on my current pair, the boots are easily good for another 10
years, They are badly scuffed and the Vibram soles show significant
wear. But heel and toe counters are still stiff and offer wonderful
support and protection. These boots are about as tough as they come
without being unduly heavy and are up to hunting across rugged
terretory. These are exceptionally well made, very comfortable, and
fairly expensive boots. As I recall, they were around $200 ten years
ago. So I imagine they list in the $250 - $300 range today.
None of the boots I owned previous to these were Walmart-type el
cheapos and none of these boots were anywhere near as good as the
Danners. I have a pair of Lacroisse sno-packs with felt lining and
Vibram soles that I have mostly used for ice fishing and shoveling the
driveway when I lived in snowy New England. They seem of OK quality.
For hunting boots, should I live long enough to need another pair, I
can not imagine buying anything but a Danner boot again.
Danner knows boots and western hunting and remains a relatively small
company specializing in quality gear. As to sizing, socks,
temperature ranges, I'd call them in Portland and ask their advice
regarding currently available models. They know elk hunters and elk
hunting and certainly know their boots. I'd also ask about whether
they mail order and offer return privileges if fit is not right. I
suspect they do. Also, once you might confirm what you want from
them, they have a "factory outlet" in Milwaukie Oregon. A call there
could save you some healthy dollars and I would guess they would
accept a charge over the phone and mail to you. Maybe even they have
a web site. But call for advice.
You do not mention how you will be hunting. If it is from a spike
camp, you probably will not pack the weight of an extra pair of
boots. It is worth packing some very light moccasins for camp use,
however, just to allow your hunting boots more hours to air and dry.
If you are not back packing in yourself and gear, I recommend a pair
of light weight, 6" height boots in a "hybred tennis shoe/hiking boot"
design as back-ups and camp shoes. As with moccasins at the end of
the day, I change into them to allow my heavier boots a few extra
hours to air and dry by morning. If home base is a wall tent and it
is likely to be snowy, take these as opposed to moccasins. Moccasins
kind of suck in the snow and it is really easy to land on your butt on
the way to the toilet facilities. These "tenniboots" are easy on and
off. And unless the weather is foul or the terrain is really rugged,
they are comfortable and sufficiently sturdy for hunting.
Be sure and get your boots early enough to put some miles on them
before the hunt. Also be warned that mountain folk are known to
sometimes subject flat landers to abuse. Any elk hanging out at
12,000 feet is probably safe from me.
Adding to my prior reply:
Danner boot does indeed have a web site: www.danner.com
The current model that would appear to be most like the boots I have
that I like so much is the "Hood Early Winter Light"
As Danner regarding recommended boot sizes relative to socks. I would
guess their sizes are relative to the feet and assume a suitable boot
sock.
