Boots for hunting: material and purpose

The main condition for successful and comfortable hunting is a well-chosen hunter’s outfit. And the concept of equipment includes not only weapons, ammunition, decoys, but also camouflage and shoes. And it is good boots for hunting that will ensure warmth, dryness and the possibility of long walking even in the harshest climatic conditions. We will try to find out what kinds of shoes are best for different hunting conditions, and how to choose the right hunter boots for yourself.

Even the best shoes can be useless if you are going to wear it in unsuitable weather conditions or on the terrain for which it is not intended. Therefore, in the first place, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that you choose suitable boots for hunting in your case.

For hunting in the forest

For hunting in dry terrain, for example, in forests or steppes, shoes are needed, in which it will be convenient to walk for a long time. In her legs should not “sweating”, shoes should not rub and be too heavy. Boots for the forest should be as tight as possible on the foot so that they do not fall off if the hunter suddenly stumbles over the snag. Therefore, a good option will be rubber or light polyurethane boots.

For hunting in swamps and lakes

For hunting on lakes and marshes there are special marsh rubber boots. Very high and strong, marsh boots have excellent waterproof properties and are suitable even for hunting waterfowl. Warm marsh boots also serve for autumn hunting.

For autumn hunting

In the rainy season for hunting, waterproof boots are needed. Good fit rubber or high leather boots, impregnated with special compounds. But the best option for “wet” weather are neoprene boots. They not only do not allow moisture, but also due to their solid sole and sufficient height are as comfortable as possible.

For winter hunting

In winter, hunting should be carefully selected winter hunting boots. The state of the whole organism depends on how warm and dry it will be to the legs. There are several important qualities that winter boots should have: high, warm, with good heat exchange and water-repellent properties. Also, boots for winter hunting should be light enough and with a strong anti-skid sole. High leather boots with fur lining, boots and polyurethane boots will be the best options, like neoprene boots.

Material Selection

The characteristics of the chosen footwear depend on the material. In general, there are five different materials, of which hunting boots are usually made:

Leather. The great advantage of this material is its naturalness and elasticity. High leather boots fit the leg well, and waterproof impregnations and fur lining can make them a universal hunting shoe.
Rubber. It is from this material that waterproof boots are made. But boots for hunting from rubber should be combined with socks or stockings of natural wool and fur, as rubber has a high thermal conductivity. The legs in these boots will quickly freeze.
Neoprene. Shoes made of neoprene have unique qualities: thermal insulation, moisture resistance, elasticity, strength. Neoprene boots will serve you long. Also neoprene boots have a very strong sole with a tread, preventing possible slipping. Qualitative neoprene boots for hunting due to the properties of the material will tightly fix the foot and provide a high speed of movement.
Polyurethane. Polyurethane boots have such qualities as lightness, strength and good thermal insulation. Sufficiently high and insulated from the inside with fur, polyurethane models will provide comfortable temperature for the feet. Winter boots for hunting from this material are also anti-slip.
Felt boots. Since ancient times, the peoples of the north and the inhabitants of the middle belt with severe winters wore felt boots, boots and ugg boots. Such shoes are very warm and comfortable, but require special impregnation and gentle care.

Tips for care and choice

In order to use the shoes as comfortable as possible, before buying, you need to take into account several important rules:

Choosing shoes for hunting is best one or two sizes larger, so that you can wear warm socks.
In light shoes, moving will be much faster, especially in winter.
It is better to give preference to high models to avoid not only moisture, but also snake and insect bites.
Lifting should either match the volume of your daily shoes, or be slightly higher.
Warm boots for hunting are best to choose those in which the lining is made of natural non-synthetic materials.

It is very important that the shoes are comfortable and comfortable, and has served more than one season. To do this, you need to know how to care for the material from which the shoes are made and how to store it properly.

Boots made of neoprene do not require much care, except for cleaning from dirt. Neoprene boots are even resistant to various acids, gasoline and alkali, so they can be stored in an ordinary garage.

Also do not require special care and rubber boots for hunting, they are easy to clean from dirt, but store better in a dry place. Polyurethane boots often have the property of self-cleaning due to their material and sole.

But the marsh, just like the rubber boots for hunting, require careful storage: when drying or strong freezing, the material becomes brittle and may start to flow through the water.

Such shoes, like felt boots, are inferior to socks than waterproof boots, so it is important to monitor the weather conditions during the wear of boots. Protect such shoes from moths, dust, moisture. Brush or a fine skin, wash boots in any case impossible. For storage, they can be wrapped in paper or cellophane bags.

If you follow all these rules, then shoes will not let you down even under the most difficult conditions. Have a good hunting!