What boot is right for YOUR elk hunt? | 2024 Hunting Boot Comparison with Trail Kreitzer

[@hummervee3395]

I have Kenetrek Mountain Extremes 1000 g insulated and non-insulated. After 2 years, the non still wear on my heals, but getting better. They are great for ankle support in large rocks and great for shin protection in desert hunting. I had Danner Elk Hunters but gave them away. The person I gave them to said he wouldn’t take another pair! My go to boots most of the time-Zamberlans. They are comfortable right out of the box and give me good stability and comfort. Even though they are lined, my feet don’t sweat. The last two years I’ve had to buy a new pair each year because I like them so much I now wear them year around.

[@cepope]

Great and informative Missed getting the lowa gtx in there my go to boots

[@Lexidezi225]

Just get yourself a pair of kenetrek mountain extremes and call it a day. I use these for every hunt I do from August to December. I hunted December in -13 degrees with the non insulated and some toe warmers.

[@RenaissanceThinking]

Absolutely. Kenetrek Mountain Extremes are definitely the bar all others should be judged against when you are serious about your hunt.

[@theonygaard2003]

I have 2 pairs of these. One insulated and one non insulated. They are definitely a great boot. The only downside for me is stalking during archery season can be a bit loud. Other than that a great boot.

[@tannerk45]

Def awesome boots, but absolutely destroyed my heals for whatever reason. I put over 50 miles on them trying to work through it but finally had to give in.

[@spoterkill]

Hanwag trapper top for me

[@whiteyfisk9769]

​@@tannerk45its takes at least 55 miles, closer to 60 before the mid sole starts flexing. Until then they can destroy your heels pretty quick. I almost gave up on mine around 40 miles. Thank God i didnt

[@_emh]

Useful information! My cold-weather go-to boot is the Asolo TPS 520 GV, which are awesome, but I'm going to check out those Salewa Ortles for possible use in warmer weather. Thanks!

[@Spencer2513]

Schnee’s beartooth is the correct answer

[@benliebhaber7099]

No Crispis huh? Weird

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, we don't carry Crispi boots in the shop but they certainly make a fine boots and I'd recommend trying them on and giving them a look if you are in the market for a new pair and see if they work for you.

[@pco315]

Any Crispi I have tried are too tight in the toe box. They are like elf boots. I’ve tried many types, all suck if you have a wide foot or bunions

[@danielbethanyweltzin1918]

@@pco315 I have size 16, so finding normal tennis shoes, much less mountain elk hunting books, is a trick! After trying many types, I settled on the Crispi Nevada. It’s the only company that makes boots wide enough for me without having to go up in size and have them run too long. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about my Crispi’s!

[@mikehobbs7421]

Zamberlan for the win. IMO of course 🍻🇨🇦👍🏻

[@Aaron-pb5xy]

you mean "for the wealthy?"

[@mikehobbs7421]

@@Aaron-pb5xy nope, I am a blue collar tradesmen. A pipe fitter steam fitter/ with bills and dependents. I scored a deal from zamberlan when they had a sale and it was totally worth. I spend $300-$400 on work boots because I’m on my feet 50+ hours a week. When I have time to enjoy the outdoors and my passions of hunting and hiking/backpacking I spend the same on those types of boots because I know the importance of solid footwear. That’s all I’m saying.

[@scottcrawford3745]

@@Aaron-pb5xy Good boots are worth their weight in gold. You WILL depend on them from the minute you step outside, til the minute you peel your camo back off at camp. Skimp on boots and you will usually suffer along the way. Can make for a loooong walk home/ back to the truck. Good boots, breathable/ wicking clothes that can be warm or cool as you need, and a solid knife and compass. the rest are negotiable. Edit: BTW, I wear Zamberland 4014 Lynx Mid GTX RR with the boa closure. ~500 tax in, Cdn. Best early-mid season hunters I've ever had.

[@deanbrantley]

I’ve punished Salewa’s and they have just smiled and asked for more.

[@mjdoutdoors9170]

Nice video - I like this - helps me understand what other boots are out there - I’ve never heard of any of those except for kenetrex

[@adalebroux]

Any recommendations for wide or more "foot shaped" toe box boots? I normally wear Altra Lone Peaks for hiking and have Crispi's in 13 Wide that I use. Looking to see if there's anything out there that would work better.

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, we carry several models in a wide fit that would be worth a look. The Lowa Tibet would be a good option, as would the Hanwag Alaska in a wide. A few others might be the Hanwag Brenner Pro, the Lowa Camino EVO, and the Zamberlan 981 Wasatch. Hope that helps some!

[@aleksanderkurilenko4588]

Hey! Thnx for reviews ! Could you reccomend boots for people with higher arch ? Thnx !

[@GOHUNT]

Great question! And in regards to high arch, pretty much no boot manufacturer is going to make a boot specifically for a high arch. They make them pretty flat to fit the majority of feet, and then expect a customer to buy an insole that matches their foot. We sell a lot of different insole options. A good option is Tread Labs Insoles. They come in many different arch types, making it easy to customize a boot to your foot. You can check out our options here: shop.gohunt.com/collections/footwear-accessories?gf_90829=Insoles

[@jhford1234]

I picked up the Kenetrek Slide Rock Hikers and they still offered plenty of support and rigidity. I'd imagine they would come in on the 4 flex rating but still a bit lighter than the Mountain xtremes (and lighter on your wallet too). 😊

[@bootsandgear]

1 gm on the foot is the same as 5 gms on the back for energy expenditure while moving. If you are going to low height and have good ankles and not a clutz on the hill get some light weight flexible one part leather boots and you only need a rubber buffer on the toe cap. For hunting and doing it quietly..

[@perryknetter8577]

Thank you Trail for sharing this great information. I have always liked air Bob soles I like Merell boots very light and held up well God's Blessings

[@bjgg23]

When are you guys going to start carrying Crispi??

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, Crispi makes a nice boot and I have owned several pairs with good results and if that brand has a profile that works for your foot I certainly wouldn't suggest you change that. I have had good luck with the Hanwag boots though if you are looking to try something different. In terms why we do not carry Crispi boots is a business decision on their part and ours but I don't foresee us carrying them in the near future.

[@claytonrobinson4201]

What is the best way to determine your detailed foot profile? For example, I know that on average I have a pretty normal overall width but I am not sure if I have a wide or narrow heel comparatively.

[@miker794]

Great coverage on the boots. Just what I needed. The only thing is I have hobbit feet and need wide wide wide. You did not talk about this aspect of the boots and options. I do believe most boot makers only build boots for feet like yours. They don’t actually build a boot last in a wide. Other then kenatrek Like how you included the stiffness this helps a bunch.

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, your'e correct in that there are far fewer options for folks with wide feet. There are brands/models that offer a wide fit, including Lowa, White's and some of the Hanwags boots including the Alaska GTX. If you visit our shop page for boots you can scroll down on the left side of the page and click on the "wide fit" option under the "fit" filter. Hope that helps some.

[@miker794]

Thanks for follow up. Didn’t know your sight did this.

[@landonboomsma2594]

Zamberlan makes wides

[@gabrielhouston5660]

Just curious why the laces are always so long on these boots?

[@kyleimmel187]

Good for what it is but there's like 500 options out there and this is half dozen of them.

[@williamallan4735]

How do you battle keeping your foot in place(boots tight enough) and getting tingling on top of you foot or toes. I have tried different lacing techniques, some help here and there but I’ve found it’s always a trade off of if my tingling is less my foot is moving more. Feet are great while loving but I stop and they instantly go numb. Do you know of anyone that has ever tried adding additional cushioning on the top of foot/lower laces area. I wonder if this would help or not. I have really bony feet so this might be more of a just me issue. Welcome any input.

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, I'm not sure I have the answer for you that will take care of the issue but I can offer an opinion. I was talking to Paul Frame who works in our store front and takes care of folks walking into the shop to try on boots and he made a good comparison. He was saying a pair of boots should fit like a good handshake, they shouldn't be a dead fish where you are kind of swimming around and having to overly tighten them and they shouldn't be the handshake that feels like it's crushing your hand..the pair of boots for you should be secure..not too tight and not too loose. You should have enough room to laced them across the top of your foot but not have to really pull those laces in super tight. In saying that, it sounds like the boots you may have been using have too much volume for you and you're cinching them down tight across the top of your foot to take up the room and that is cutting off circulation. I'll link our footwear size guide that might be able to help you measure your feet and then you can compare that to the profiles for each boot that you are considering in the shop. It sounds like your feet might be a bit on the narrow to medium width which is what mine are. I have had good luck with the foot profile of the Hanwag boots, Salewa and La Sportiva. Some brands like Lowa, Zamberlan, or Whites feel like they have too much volume and width for my foot. Hope that helps a little, you can also always call in and get a chance to talk to Paul and he could answer some follow up questions and probably offer some further insight. Hope that helps some. shop.gohunt.com/pages/gohunt-mens-footwear-size-guide

[@jeffreybateham9527]

Love my Zam storm pros, took a bit to break them in. But they are going to be perfect for 2024. They dry really really fast my left heel took 4 wears with mole on my archilles tendon area.. pretty sure you will love them

[@blakedickson1040]

Is there a pair that you recommend for like a late season arizona/ new mexico elk hunt?

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, depends on your foot and what boots have worked for you before and even the area you are going to be hunting. Generally that country doesn't get a ton of snow, although it can depending on the year and location. I might suggest an all leather boot and maybe some light insulation in the 200gram range. I've had good luck with the Hanwag Alaska GTX, I also like the Alverstone II. If you need some insualtion, you might look at the trapper Top, the Zamberlan 1005 Hunter, or Kenetrek Mountain Extremes.

[@TheTyrider427]

Crispi lapponiaVS zamberlan Salalthe?

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, I would suggest those are similar in terms types of boots..both light, flexible, and comfortable for early to mid season hiking. Being honest, I like that the Cripsi has metal eyelets and they're a smidge cheaper. Like I said in the video, the Salathe is a really nice boot on the foot and I'd own a pair I think other than the price tag for what you get. I think it's worth considering though, if you have liked that type of boot in the past.

[@coltmedinger]

Can a guy come to your main shop in Vegas and try these on?

[@GOHUNT]

You are more than welcome to, our showroom hours are Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm

[@stephenkearny1504]

So half a grand for boots these days? Wow. $400-$450 not for folks on a tight budget. But then hunting in general is a sport of kings anymore. I think this partially why there are fewer hunters in the country anymore. Great for those who can afford it, sucks for everyone else who would like to hunt.

[@landonboomsma2594]

Don’t skimp on boots spend good money same with packs. Everything else isn’t important. I’d rather see somebody with Walmart gear in a pair of kenetreks then someone with Sitka Swarovski’s and a custom gun in Irish Setters

[@kee7678]

Schnees Beartooth and Granite.

[@williamsmith3173]

Between my wife and I we've had numerous of the boots mentioned. The Kenetreks literally fell apart. Junk imo. My wife had a pair of Uner Armour Speed Freaks that still look like new woth likely 3 times the wear her Kenetreks had when they were shot. I went back to Irish Setters. Less that 40% of the price and at least twice the wear of the big name overpriced boots.

[@tannerrogers5043]

Don’t bye the whites boots ! There waterproof liner they claim to be waterproof is not! They wetted out the first year of wearing them for late archery in Washington! And treated them after every trip with crispys waterproof wax! And since I purchased them in feb and didn’t get to use them tell late season when I contacted whites about them not being waterproof even though were brand new they said they can’t do anything for me but give me 15 percent off a new pair ! Horrible customer service! And whites was always know for great boots to all the loggers in Washington state! Won’t be getting any whites boots ever again !

[@reachedsurface]

I bought those last year for Western WA too. Mine stayed dry but nothing has ripped the skin off my heels like those boots. I suffered through 3 trips and 50+ miles but no more. All my friend said just go get Crispi's and I'll be good for the next 5-10 years