Great description of how a boot should fit in 3D on your foot. Took several attempts to find a pair of boots that I liked. I used those boots as my “unicorn” boots for a long time but am now finding that having several different types of boots for different seasons and situations more beneficial and increasing my comfort hiking and walking in the back country. Thanks again for a set of guidelines to help guide a more informed decision.
Thank you Jay!! Another awesome video. Every time I watch on of your videos it makes me very happy to be a lifetime member of the Mindful Hunter community. Always in-depth and unbiased!! Again Thank you.
I've found gaitors are pretty important; I've experienced the wicking into my socks from tall grass/brush - it'll soak exponentially after a certain point. Thanks for the tip about heating up the boot then applying waterproofing
Another tip is to find a shoe store ( typically a running shoe store) that has one of those devices that will 3D map your foot and give you a visual model of what it looks like. This helps you understand your foot volume in different areas.
This video was filled with great information and extremely helpful in making me think about what works for me. With that said, what are your thoughts on the Baffin brand? I primarily rifle hunt whitetail in Pennsylvania, during December. Big woods that are mountainous with swamps and glacier rock.
Meindl Taiga MFS I have found to be fantastic year round boots. Great for long range treks, climbing steep inclines, though wet areas as well as harsh jagged rocky terrain. Can't recommend enough.
Yes! When I was in special operations, there was so much variance on my teams as to what boot fit a person best. I've found that it can be quite challenging these days to find a boot without a waterproof membrane. I'm curious, for cold weather, have you ever tried using a vapor barrier sock underneath the thermal insulating sock?
To help getting accurate sizing across different brands, I’ve measured my food in mm/cm to get the actual length. A size 10 is typically slightly different between brands, so going to a company’s size chart and seeing what size corresponds to my actual mm/cm length has been helpful. Not perfect, but helpful
As far as break in goes, I tend to wear leather boots so do what you will with this info. But I treat boots just like gloves, I soak them when they are new, then wear them around the house doing chores or on a couple mile walk. With leather boots getting them saturated then wearing them as tight as you can lace them for a while seems to get most of them in shape rather quickly. Let them naturally dry when you take them off then a apply your preferred boot care product liberally.
Also, get measured on a Brannock device… while not perfect it gives a good starting point for length, width, and probably most importantly, your arch length…which is your foot length to your ball of the foot, which is typically where your foot flexes… many people will have a foot that measures long in the arch length relative to their overall length… for example I measure an 11 on the Brannock, but an 11.5 on arch length… and find that many times an 11.5 fits better because of where my foot flex point aligns with the boot’s designed flex point (even stiff boots have this…)… getting this measurement right many times helps with heel lift to…
Question only semi related to boots... I appreciate your comments on Gaters being a critical part of the boot waterproofing experience. I am going to try something new this year; I anticipate crossing creeks and streams in a near wetland (North Slope Alaska) and don't know if a gator will truly keep my feet dry if I end up stepping into the drink. I am wearing fairly waterproof pants, but I guess my question is, if I step into a creek to cross it, won't the water just come up the bottom of the pant leg and end up going down my boot, even with a good gator, or have you experienced a gator that will let you run across a creek deeper than your boot but shallower than your gator (knee high) without getting a soaked foot?
You’ve got two choices. Run really fast and or bring a roll of electrical tape and tape your gators tightly around your ankles. It works surprisingly well. Also if you know you’re gonna be crossing a lot of creeks I recommend a product called wiggy’s waders. They are ultralight waders. a pair only weighs 11 ounces and they come up to your hips and if you’re going with other people, you only need one pair because you can chuck them back-and-forth across the creeks.
Years ago I was buying a pair of boots and the salesman that I was working with showed me a way to tie your laces to help lock in your heel. Have you heard of this? I was given a tip on laces. I was told that you should also wax/waterproof the laces as well, he said when hunting colder and wetter conditions that prevents most of any liquid from freezing your laces. Have you heard of that?
So most modern boots have locks on the lace hooks on the instep that negate the need for the old method. Still valid though. And when I wax my boots I let some extra was collect in the lace hooks then when I am relaxing the laces naturally get waxed. Helps then stay tied tighter too. Both great tips man!
I've taken boots out of the box and filled them up with water, then let them sit overnight. If they leak outward, they will leak inward. I send them back, then retry, and most of the time, they do not fail with the returned boots.
![The Best Hunting Boot (Isn't What You Think It Is) - The Experience Project [EXP001]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GJeQwZ-oxUQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Another great methodology video Jay
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Great description of how a boot should fit in 3D on your foot. Took several attempts to find a pair of boots that I liked. I used those boots as my “unicorn” boots for a long time but am now finding that having several different types of boots for different seasons and situations more beneficial and increasing my comfort hiking and walking in the back country. Thanks again for a set of guidelines to help guide a more informed decision.
Great feedback and typical lifecycle example of getting to that place and adding more specific tools for more specific jobs.
Thank you Jay!! Another awesome video. Every time I watch on of your videos it makes me very happy to be a lifetime member of the Mindful Hunter community. Always in-depth and unbiased!! Again Thank you.
Appreciate the support man!
I've found gaitors are pretty important; I've experienced the wicking into my socks from tall grass/brush - it'll soak exponentially after a certain point. Thanks for the tip about heating up the boot then applying waterproofing
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Was a perfect time for this video I'm in the process of finding a new boot
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Do you have any recommendations or information on zero drop boots?
I don’t. Should do some research though.
Another tip is to find a shoe store ( typically a running shoe store) that has one of those devices that will 3D map your foot and give you a visual model of what it looks like. This helps you understand your foot volume in different areas.
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Whats a good recommendation for a guy with 2 hip replacements and arthritic knees...mostly hill climbs and wet terrain?
I’d still say fit is king regardless of other issues. Custom orthotics may be in order though.
This video was filled with great information and extremely helpful in making me think about what works for me. With that said, what are your thoughts on the Baffin brand? I primarily rifle hunt whitetail in Pennsylvania, during December. Big woods that are mountainous with swamps and glacier rock.
Baffin make great boots!
Meindl Taiga MFS I have found to be fantastic year round boots. Great for long range treks, climbing steep inclines, though wet areas as well as harsh jagged rocky terrain. Can't recommend enough.
👍
Yes! When I was in special operations, there was so much variance on my teams as to what boot fit a person best. I've found that it can be quite challenging these days to find a boot without a waterproof membrane. I'm curious, for cold weather, have you ever tried using a vapor barrier sock underneath the thermal insulating sock?
I have not unless you could plastic grocery bags as a kid lol
To help getting accurate sizing across different brands, I’ve measured my food in mm/cm to get the actual length. A size 10 is typically slightly different between brands, so going to a company’s size chart and seeing what size corresponds to my actual mm/cm length has been helpful. Not perfect, but helpful
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Any person who buys a boot based on a person word is a fool. Great instruction on how to go about find the right boot/boots.
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As far as break in goes, I tend to wear leather boots so do what you will with this info. But I treat boots just like gloves, I soak them when they are new, then wear them around the house doing chores or on a couple mile walk. With leather boots getting them saturated then wearing them as tight as you can lace them for a while seems to get most of them in shape rather quickly. Let them naturally dry when you take them off then a apply your preferred boot care product liberally.
Great info! I usually accomplish something similar unintentionally by walking through creeks.
Also, get measured on a Brannock device… while not perfect it gives a good starting point for length, width, and probably most importantly, your arch length…which is your foot length to your ball of the foot, which is typically where your foot flexes… many people will have a foot that measures long in the arch length relative to their overall length… for example I measure an 11 on the Brannock, but an 11.5 on arch length… and find that many times an 11.5 fits better because of where my foot flex point aligns with the boot’s designed flex point (even stiff boots have this…)… getting this measurement right many times helps with heel lift to…
👍
Question only semi related to boots... I appreciate your comments on Gaters being a critical part of the boot waterproofing experience. I am going to try something new this year; I anticipate crossing creeks and streams in a near wetland (North Slope Alaska) and don't know if a gator will truly keep my feet dry if I end up stepping into the drink. I am wearing fairly waterproof pants, but I guess my question is, if I step into a creek to cross it, won't the water just come up the bottom of the pant leg and end up going down my boot, even with a good gator, or have you experienced a gator that will let you run across a creek deeper than your boot but shallower than your gator (knee high) without getting a soaked foot?
You’ve got two choices. Run really fast and or bring a roll of electrical tape and tape your gators tightly around your ankles. It works surprisingly well. Also if you know you’re gonna be crossing a lot of creeks I recommend a product called wiggy’s waders. They are ultralight waders. a pair only weighs 11 ounces and they come up to your hips and if you’re going with other people, you only need one pair because you can chuck them back-and-forth across the creeks.
Years ago I was buying a pair of boots and the salesman that I was working with showed me a way to tie your laces to help lock in your heel. Have you heard of this? I was given a tip on laces. I was told that you should also wax/waterproof the laces as well, he said when hunting colder and wetter conditions that prevents most of any liquid from freezing your laces. Have you heard of that?
So most modern boots have locks on the lace hooks on the instep that negate the need for the old method. Still valid though. And when I wax my boots I let some extra was collect in the lace hooks then when I am relaxing the laces naturally get waxed. Helps then stay tied tighter too. Both great tips man!
I've taken boots out of the box and filled them up with water, then let them sit overnight. If they leak outward, they will leak inward. I send them back, then retry, and most of the time, they do not fail with the returned boots.
👍
Great info
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Good guidance on a pretty much impossible subject!
Thanks and agreed!
Jay do u plan to make hunting clothing too?
Nope
Zambis, or crispi..
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My son is 13.5 Xtra wide at 18 years old
If you've never had a pair of boots waterproof out the box you are a salesman not genuine.
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I have 600$ zamberlains, my 140$ rocks are every bit as comfortable.
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