Topic: The Best Rubber Hunting Boots of 2022 (Read 49 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The original rubber boots. If you want a boot that will keep your feet dry and relatively warm at a reasonable price, look no further.
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Product Description
Besides LaCrosse, Muck Edgewaters are probably synonymous with rubber boots. You can find them everywhere from your local co-op to high-end shoe departments. These boots won’t keep you the warmest in below freezing temps (even though they’re supposedly rated for it), but they’ll get the job done in a pinch. Throughout high school, I’d wear these boots from the garden to the deer stand and everywhere in between. There’s no adjustable gusset, so make sure you get the right size, and these boots do run a little big. The traction on the Edgewater soles doesn’t perform well in especially muddy terrain. I tried climbing a ladder stand after walking through mud, and the lack of traction made it particularly slippery co*pared to other brands.
For most of the country, these make great budget rubber boots for the early season. I’ve worn these on opening day in Mississippi where temps sometimes hit 90 degrees, and they offer plenty of breathability. However, if conditions are especially wet, the uppers on the Edgewaters tend to soak instead of shed water. But if you want a boot that’ll get the job done on a budget and has versatility, these are the way to go.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
These are the most co*fortable and form fitting rubber boots money can buy.
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Product Description
Le Chameau is an almost century-old French co*pany that makes their Chassuer rubber boots by hand. If that sounds expensive, well, it is. This pair of boots costs about as much as a new pump-action shotgun. But for the money, you get the most co*fortable, form-fitting rubber hunting boot on the market. Le Chameau sizing options account for your calf size, so you can be sure to order a boot that fits you perfectly. The side zipper and tightening strap make for a secure fit when you’re walking long miles. And the leather insole and lining keep your feet and legs from getting clammy or cold. I’ve worn these boots for countless miles chasing turkeys, pheasants, early-season whitetails, and even blacktail deer in the mountains of Southeast Alaska. I can’t imagine wearing a different brand of rubber boot on a true mountain hunt. The Le Chameau Chasseurs have held up to the years of abuse and are still as waterproof as the day I got them. I hope to see at least eight to 10 good years out of these boots, in which time I probably would have burned through two or three pairs of lesser boots. —Alex Robinson, editor-in-chief
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Dryshod ViperStops provide excellent snake protection and moisture wicking for hunting seasons that require both.
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Product Description
If you spend most of your spring mornings chasing turkeys, especially in the south, you probably see you fair share of snakes. The Dryshod ViperStops not only keep your feet dry from spring rains, but they also help prevent snake bites in the turkey woods. And the VEIL camo pattern looks pretty sweet, too.
I tested these during turkey season this year, and the 5mm Desoprene insulation will keep you warm during the early part of turkey season when cool mornings still linger, but they didn’t run too hot when spring actually showed up. Though I wasn’t lucky enough to have a snake strike these, the uppers on the ViperStops are more than convincing. These boots fit true to size, and the traction on the out soles works great. I crossed a couple of steep creek banks after a week of showers, and these boots had some of the best traction, right up there with the Alpha Burly Pros, out of all the boots I tested. While a lot of rubber boots feel stiff out of the box, the ViperStops required a minimal break-in period, and I didn’t have any irritation or disco*fort the first time I wore them on an all-day turkey hunt.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
If you need a pair of JIC hunting boots to keep behind the seat of your truck, these slip-ons make a great option.
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Product Description
One day as I drove by a property I have permission to turkey hunt, I noticed a gobbler strutting along the back corner of the field. If it weren’t for the onco*ing traffic, I probably would have busted an instant U-turn. But I quickly parked, threw on my camo, and slipped through the overgrown part of the field. While I didn’t care at the time, it rained the night before, and by the time the hunt ended, my feet were bone-soaked. These slip-ons would have been perfect.
Now that I have a pair, I keep them in the back of my car for quick scouting trips and those sporadic, head-turning moments when I need to go from casual to camo at a moment’s notice. And they’re perfect for turkey season when spring showers occur as much as gobbles. But I also wouldn’t count them out for other seasons as well. You don’t get the traction of the Alpha Burly Pros, but these are still better than most. The 3mm neoprene isn’t too hot for this time of year either. And just because hunting season ends, doesn’t mean these boots have to go in the garage. Their versatility makes them even more appealing. Slip them on for those dewy mornings in the garden or dress them up on a rainy date night.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
From the adjustable gusset down to the grip soles, every detail about these DSGs makes this a rugged yet co*fortable hunting boot for women.
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Product Description
Women looking for a warm, true-to-fit rubber hunting boot will be pleased with the DSG 1200gs. My wife tested these boots—her feet tend to run cold no matter what type of boot she wears—and found these to provide more than enough warmth. She ordered a size 9, her typical boot size, and they fit perfectly. And these boots don’t feel heavy or have unnecessary bulk like other rubber boots, which my wife noted as one of her favorite things about these. She also didn’t have any problem climbing a ladder stand in wet conditions, thanks to the traction on the outsoles and found them especially breathable even while she tested them in mild spring conditions. While she doesn’t mind the lack of camo options, others might prefer it. You’ll have to sacrifice some insulation if you want a camo pair of DSGs, which they offer in Realtree Edge but only with 400g 3M Thinsulate.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Arctic Storm boots will keep kids’ feet plenty warm, and the traction on the outsoles are just as good, if not better than most adult-sized boots in other brands.
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Product Description
If there’s anything that ends a youth hunt quicker, it’s the cold, and feet are usually the first casualties. Most kid/youth hunts involve blind or shooting house sits that probably don’t require a lot of walking. The Arctic Storms will keep your kid’s feet warm, especially with a good pair of wool socks. And they’re easy to pull on/off when your half-asleep child is trying their best to layer up before dawn. My kid brother has a pair of these and wears them rabbit, squirrel, and deer hunting but also on during the summer when he bass fishes the neighbors’ farm pond.
At just over $100, the price tag might seem a bit steep, especially since kids change sizes overnight. And if you’re in the market for a pair of boots for a kid that’s a first-time hunter, there are cheaper options that will do just fine, especially if they don’t immediately catch the hunting bug. But if you have a kid or relative who tries to spend every waking moment outdoors, the Arctic Storms can withstand anything they’ll put them through.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Cascades are a great, affordable option that gives you the versatility to chase everything from ducks to whitetail and even allow you to wade fish.
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Product Description
Versatility alone makes the Cascades worth including on this list, not to mention the bargain price point. While frogg toggs designed these hip boots for fly fishing, they’re also an affordable option for duck hunting (in places that aren’t too deep) or sneaking up on elusive swamp bucks. I deer hunt several places where I have to cross creeks, and depending on the time of the year, regular rubber boots won’t cut it. But with the Cascades, this isn’t a problem. They’re lightweight enough that you can pack them for when you need to cross