Foot wear

[wapitimike1]

It seems to me that boot companys make them to be as loud as possible. I like LL Bs but they are sock removers. The rest of the boots seem to have giant cleats made to snap every twig in the woods. What do you folks use for silent and warm foot wear?

[VTer]

"Boots don't kill twigs, people do"  

[GingivitisKahn]

This is my first year with LL Bean Main hunting shoes and you are right about sock stealing.  I think I should have ordered mine with the sidecar option for a more comfortable place to store my stolen socks.

That being said, with a heavier sock and a sock liner AND with the cuffs of my pants tucked into the top of my boots, the seem a little less likely to pilfer my socks.

[dumluck]

i bought a pair of the Danner Jackals in june and i love 'em. took them to new mexico chasin mulies, and have used them since season opened. pretty quit for a pair of boots, and the price isn't to bad.

[sagebrush]

I mostly hunt elk. When I buy boots I first look to make sure they fit well because I have hard to fit feet. Next I want the nastiest, meanest looking tread I can find. Elk like steep mountains. I don't like slipping and sliding while hunting. Gary

[jhg]

I wear Mendals. What I do to make them quieter is ease the edges of the soles using a belt sander. Go easy-  ease the outside edges to about a 1/8th roundover. Don't go crazy and put a half-inch roundover on them or you will be sorry.

You will be surprised at the difference it makes. What snaps twigs is that hard edge and softening that a little goes a long way to quiet them down. At least yu can pull up off a twig before it snaps with the roundover where with  the hard edge it breaks them right away.

No, it won't make a stout boot with stiff soles super stealth but it will make them more forgiving in the woods without sacrificing performance. Where I hunt a soft support boot torsionally is next to useless and a liablility IMO and I have strong ankles (hockey player).
If I need to really stalk I take them off and go stocking foot. I have an extra pair of socks in the pack in case that gets my feet wet. In socks I am silent, like a Ghost Hunter!

Joshua

[wingnut]

Yep if you are hunting the mountains, stout is the way too go.  Not the greatest for sneaking but heck I'm 250# and not all that stealthy anyway.  I wear lighter and softer when the terrain allows.  Even go to walking shoes at times.

Mike

[straitera]

Get some Ortho inserts +/or Dr. Scholls. It stopped my sock stealing Beans.

[freefeet]

Originally posted by wapitimike1:
What do you folks use for silent and warm foot wear?

As to the silent bit... i don't ever wear shoes.

As to the warm bit... i moved south.

   

[WESTBROOK]

I have a wool felt insole in my Bean boots. Never had problems with keepin the socks up. Thought about getting a size 14 so I can get the whole felt pack in it, there not very warm but sure are comfy and great for sneakin' around.

Eric

[George D. Stout]

Learn to walk in the woods, then the boots don't matter all that much. 8^).

[amar911]

Russell PH boots with crepe soles are absolutely the quietest, but they do not have great traction. The thinner version of the Airbobs are pretty quiet too and have better traction than the crepe, but the crepe soles are far quieter. These boots are great for warm weather. They are expensive though.

Allan

[wapitimike1]

I pretty much have down the part that if you step on twigs they snap. It's going to and from stands in the dark you don't need a super agressive bottom. I thought about the sanding idea now I know I'll try it. I even do the three step rule. Look down at three steps and so on. It wouldn't hurt to have boots that are not as hard as 2X4s though.

[ChetterB]

Give a pair of muck boot a try quiet warm and very simple!!! Good luck Jerry

[George D. Stout]

Actually, buy yourself so extra large wool socks and pull them on over your boots.  They will make them very quiet.  If you can't find big enough socks, you could make some booties from an old wool blanket, or just tie them around your feet until you get to your stand.

[Warden609]

When I hang my stands I always try and clear a good trail to them. Little extra work but makes for a super quiet entry. I give a second vote for the Danner Jackals nice boot.

[Richard in OK]

I usually wear Danner Jackals -- light and quiet, and mostly waterproof. I have been wearing Bean's hunting shoe for 30+ years, got a new pair last week for my birthday. Like the old ones, they need a good footbed and socks of a thickness (with liners) to make them fit and comfortable enough to wear walking all day. The most comfortable boots I have are my 15 year old Danner Mountain Lights, but they stay home when I hunt.

Richard

[GingivitisKahn]

Originally posted by George D. Stout:
Actually, buy yourself so extra large wool socks and pull them on over your boots.  They will make them very quiet.  If you can't find big enough socks, you could make some booties from an old wool blanket, or just tie them around your feet until you get to your stand.

I'd hate to meet the guy for whom they make socks so large that I could wear them over my boots.  Bloody heck - if anyone out there sells Sasquatch socks, I wanna see them.

   

[Mudd]

I don't know how it's gonna work out as the weather turns colder here in the mid-west but I started trying to live without the use of store purchased shoes/boots about a month ago.
I have been wearing homemade mocs or going barefooted. I haven't been brave enough to go barefooted in the woods yet but I am hopeful.
It hasn't taken long for the soles of my feet to start becoming more like "living leather'.
OK I can hear the questions now, why? The answer is simple, my back feels better barefoot than with any of the many pairs of shoes or boots I own. I'm finding that I have better balance as a result also.
I hunted as many times as I could last week even with all the rain wearing my mocs and cotton socks on the warmer days and wool ones when it cooled off. I was much quieter in the woods and much to my surprise I got up the banks and hills much easier. I have more trouble going into stores and such because wet mocs and slick tile floors are apparently a bad combo. I'm really enjoying my life more and with less back and leg pain than I've had in years.
 I will be getting back surgery soon so maybe I'll go back to the "norm" afterwords but not if I can get along without them as good as I have to this point.

[todd smith]

I've been looking at the Main Hunting boot style, but even those seem to be not quite the ticket.

I've thought about the Tingley boot over a moccasin, but the Tingley's are a bit bulky.  Thin though for a good feel...

I wonder if there are any canoe or kayak boots of neoprene that might be good or I've even thought about getting some of the GoreTex socks and wearing those inside thin soled tennis shoes.  I remember the wrestling shoes I wore in high school had very thin bottoms...

Good thread.  I'm looking forward to reading what everyone else does.

Shoot Straight!  todd