Insulation
If you’re getting hunting boots specifically for cold weather, insulation is probably going to be the biggest factor you look at. Insulation prevents your body heat from radiating out of the boot so it stays trapped in, warming your foot.
The main downside of insulation is that it’s heavy. Plus, too much insulation for the temperature might cause overheating, which is a problem for hunting since sweat can mean body odor that scares away game. In other words, more insulation is not always better.
Let’s look at the main types of insulation and their pros and cons.
Types Of Insulation
There are four main types of insulation you’ll find in winter hunting boots. They all have advantages and disadvantages.
- Thinsulate: Thinsulate is a synthetic insulator that provides great insulation by weight. You’ll usually see it measured in grams.
- PrimaLoft: PrimaLoft is meant to be a synthetic alternative to goose down, one of nature’s best insulators. That means it’s lightweight, but unlike goose down, it continues to work even if it gets wet.
- Wool: Wool is a natural insulator that holds in a lot of warmth. Plus, it continues to insulate even when it’s wet. Its primary downside is that it’s heavy.
- Neoprene: Neoprene is an extreme insulator that traps in most of your body heat. As a result, it’s probably overkill unless you’re hunting in temperatures below freezing.
Warmth
Of course, if you’re hunting in cold weather, you need warm boots. This means primarily looking at the insulation, but there are other features to consider as well. Most notably, you should check the ankle and fit. A warm boot should fit snugly at the ankle so that cold air or snow and water don’t enter in through the top.
Warm boots will help to keep the rest of your body warm if you follow these tips.
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Comfort
You usually spend a lot of time in your hunting boots. Whether it’s hiking long distances in to your tree stand or just sitting in it, your feet are going to be in those boots for hours. You want them to be comfortable.
Comfort is not the same for everyone and has a lot to do with your foot and its size and shape. Before you choose a boot, measure your foot’s length and width so you can compare it to the brand’s sizing chart. Also make sure to go for wide sizes if you have a wide foot.
Another aspect of comfort is the step. Most everyone can benefit from features like support insoles or interior cushioning that help take some of the pressure off your feet by absorbing the impact of each step.
Waterproof
For most climates winter means water in some form or another. Whether it’s rain, snow or ice, your cold weather boots should definitely be waterproof.
Most boots accomplish this with some kind of waterproof lining like Gore-Tex or Windtex. Additionally, many boots have waterproof outsoles that keep any water from entering in the bottom.
That said, the best way to waterproof a boot is to make it entirely waterproof, or neoprene, like waders. That’s why boots designed for wading through standing water have full neoprene uppers. However, neoprene isn’t usually as tough as leather, so consider your needs.
Breathable
Even in cold weather, you want your boots to be breathable. Since hunting usually involves periods of intense hiking followed by periods of not moving, the temperature of your feet is going to fluctuate. In fact, they might even get hot.
In this case, breathability helps sweat moisture escape which keeps your feet cool and comfortable. Plus, it keeps sweat from building up on your feet which could lead to body odor that could give you away to your quarry.
