Best Rubber Hunting Boots for Colder Weather - The Research
Shahid Maqsood
# How to Choose the Proper Boot?
Squeaky boots will ruin a stalk hunt. Thinly insulated boots will turn your toes into icicles. Low boots with a short shaft will flood if you are crossing creeks. There are many styles of hunting boots—even in the cold weather rubber style. To make sure that you get the right boot this hunting season, you can ask yourself a few questions. These questions focus on key buying criteria, and your answers to them will help narrow your choice of boots and help you find the perfect boot for you.
# How Cold Do Your Winters Get?
Are you living in Montana or Florida? We all know that the United States covers a lot of land and that winter in one place may be very different from winter in another. You need to assess your local climate (or the climate where you will be hunting) and make sure you get the appropriate boots. The weather can get cold hunting in Alabama, but wearing thick socks in a boot with less insulation might allow you to wear the same boot in early spring and fall as well. Know the usual temperatures during your hunting season, and know how much insulation you need to be comfortable.
# Do You Sleep With Socks On?
If you answer yes here, then you might want a boot with a lot of insulation. But let’s take a step back. This question, like the first, helps you dial in on how much insulation you need in a boot. However, instead of asking about the climate, you are asking about your body. Do you have poor circulation that leaves your feet cold all the time? Does your body temperature usually run hot or cold? You can also think back to your last pair of boots: if you’re warm enough wearing one pair of thick socks in leather boots, then you won’t need the highest level of insulation on the market. When you have your answers to these first two questions, you should know whether or not you need a heavy, medium, or light insulation.
# Are You Crossing Small Creeks And Mud Flats?
If you regularly hunt inmuddy and wet, or mucky areas, then you definitely want a boot with a high shaft. I suggest at least 16 inches. Of course, you will need waders if you are crossing larger streams, but a tall rubber boot will provide enough waterproofing for little creeks and general muck.
# How Much Do You Walk Around Per Hunt?
This question asks about durability. If your hunts consist of walking only a few hundred yards from the road to your stand or blind, then a budget boot might work for you. Conversely, if you stalk your game and walk several miles every hunt, then you will want a durable boot that will be dependable all season long.
The number of hunts you have throughout the season will factor in here as well. If you only hunt deer and usually hit your limits within a few hunts, then you can look at a lower cost boot if you are on a hunting budget. Of course, such a boot won’t be the most comfortable and don’t be surprised if its rubber squeaks a little. However, if a budget boot like the ArcticShield boot on our list checks off all of your buying criteria, and your hunts involve little moving, then go for it. A good thing about a budget boot is that you can get your money’s worth out of it in one season and not feel as though you are throwing money away if you buy a different pair next season.
# All in all . . .
You are here because you already know you want rubber boots this hunting season. Your selection is already greatly narrowed. So, once you decide how much warmth you need, how tall of a boot you need, and how much durability you need, you should be ready to select your next hunting boot! Continue reading below for an in-depth look at our five best rubber hunting boots for cold weather.
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