Actual waterproof boots-do they exist?

[okie archer]

Just curious if there really is such a thing as a waterproof lace-up boot or is it a myth? Thinking about a boot for elk hunting among other hunts. I'm not meaning walking through creeks with boots fully submerged. Just a good boot that won't get your socks wet if walking through wet grass or if it's raining.
I realize you get what you pay for so I'm asking for suggestions.

 

[curhunter]

I have been using Kenetrek mountain extremes.
So far I think of them as waterproof as a rubber boot. If it's not over the top of my boot I can be in water for several minutes and come out completely dry.

 

[kwyeewyk]

I feel like walking through a creek is less of a test than walking through wet vegetation all day, the rubbing effect eventually helps soak through. Newer boots are better, lots of fresh waterproofer, good gaiters and rain gear to prevent wicking down from wet pants to wet socks is the best you can do.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I have 3 pair of Crispis, all have proven to be completely waterproof, but I treat them regularly with Crispi waterproof cream/spray. They are the Wildrock (400 g insulation), Idaho, and the Wyoming. The Wildrock is all leather but treated regularly with the Crispi cream. The Idaho and Wyoming are roughout type leather/and a waterproof membrane combo. They are regularly treated with the Crispi spray.

 

[WIbiggame]

good gaiters and rain gear to prevent wicking down from wet pants to wet socks is the best you can do.

This is probably what happens to most people and they think their boots aren't waterproof. Do yourself a favor get a good pair of gaitors.

 

[WVmike]

This is probably what happens to most people and they think their boots aren't waterproof. Do yourself a favor get a good pair of gaitors.

I agree with this. My wife bought me some OR gore tex gaiters a few years ago and using them in conjunction with my Zamberlans, I can walk through knee high grass and not worry about getting my feet wet. If I wouldn't be using the gaiters, my feet would eventually get wet from the grass. Waterproof boots are almost like waterproof jackets, gore tex and all can make a difference but if it's a torrential downpour for a little while, it's going to overwhelm the "waterproof" product, some things just dry out quicker due to the membrane they use. If you want completely waterproof, just wear rubber boots but then your feet will drown because there is no where to go for the moisture inside of the boot.

 

[shb]

A long time ago, in land far away, where tags were as many as stars in the sage scented night sky, and hunting was still a way of life, Cabelas sold a boot called the Guide series, or outfitter series.

It was the best boot on the planet, hands down, and only about $170.00

Air Bob soles, gore tex lined. They would last an entire season and still be waterproof at the end, even when pretty worn out.

Just an incredible value, and great product.



Then the bean counters decided to "new & improved" them. And if course the new and improved were worthless pieces of crap.


Wish I had known they were changing, I would have bought up a semi load full.

 

[peterk1234]

This is probably what happens to most people and they think their boots aren't waterproof. Do yourself a favor get a good pair of gaitors.

This.

 

[stealthy_bowman]

Been using Kennetrek Mountain Extremes for 6 years for elk hunting and they are totally waterproof. Also use Irish Setter Elk Trackers for local deer hunting, they are 10 years old and also still totally waterproof.

 

[44hunter45]

Any top end boot with a GTX inner liner. Then treated with liquefied Obenauf's until the leather will not absorb any more.


For me the moisture in the boot is from sweat. Quality socks are a must.

 

[hank4elk]

Love my Lowa's. Good merino socks and gaiters.
No water in NM, til there is. Rubber boots for mucking out.

 

[Doublecluck]

I’m on my 4th pair of mountain extreme/guide boots without any problems till they were completely worn out. Like holes thru them. I have one pair of non insulated I’ve never even sealed that are still waterproof.

 

[Robert N]

Part of what is needed here is an explanation of just how GoreTex works.

• GORE-TEX Membrane: The middle layer, the GORE-TEX membrane, is where the magic happens. GORE-TEX allows sweat vapor to escape through its microscopic holes while preventing rain and snow from entering. In scientific terms, the heat and moisture that your body generates during physical activity creates a partial pressure gradient that helps to transport your sweat through the GORE-TEX membrane. The warm, moist air inside the jacket wants to equalize with the drier, or cooler air outside the jacket. For a more detailed explanation, check out more from GORE-TEX.

See the Bolded part. Water Vapor takes advantage of pressure differences from the inside of the boot to the outside. That pressure difference enables the movement of the water vapor through the Gore barrier.

What happens when the humidity/heat inside the boot is the same as the outside of the boot? Like, here in the South? There’s little to no pressure difference…therefore the water vapor doesn’t have enough pressure gradient to pass through the gore-Tex barrier.

Further, If the outside of the boot gets saturated, then even if the vapor moves through the gore-layer, the vapor cannot move through the outside layer of the boot…and therefore gets trapped inside the boot once again. So, your feet start to stew in their own juices.

In other cases, the thermal difference is so great that the sweat vapor simply condenses into water before the vapor can pass through the barrier.

Long story short: just because you have Goretex doesn’t mean you won’t have wet feet issues because of simple human elements.

PS: Rubber boots - as mentioned earlier…100% waterproof. And within a limited amount of time your feet will just be soaked in sweat.

Best advice I can give: bring one or two spare sets of socks and swap them out once or twice a day, giving the worn socks time to dry out between uses.

 

[Montana_Wanderer]

I must have gotten a bad pair because my Kenetrek boots leak the worst of all. Unless I waterproof them every time prior to rain my feet get soaked.

Crispi’s have been the best, but started to leak after a couple years. This is with waterproofing and good gaiters. I think if you cover enough miles the “gore-tex” eventually gives up the ghost. Sucks to have wet feet in boots that cost so much!

 

[WVmike]

Part of what is needed here is an explanation of just how GoreTex works.

• GORE-TEX Membrane: The middle layer, the GORE-TEX membrane, is where the magic happens. GORE-TEX allows sweat vapor to escape through its microscopic holes while preventing rain and snow from entering. In scientific terms, the heat and moisture that your body generates during physical activity creates a partial pressure gradient that helps to transport your sweat through the GORE-TEX membrane. The warm, moist air inside the jacket wants to equalize with the drier, or cooler air outside the jacket. For a more detailed explanation, check out more from GORE-TEX.

See the Bolded part. Water Vapor takes advantage of pressure differences from the inside of the boot to the outside. That pressure difference enables the movement of the water vapor through the Gore barrier.

What happens when the humidity/heat inside the boot is the same as the outside of the boot? Like, here in the South? There’s little to no pressure difference…therefore the water vapor doesn’t have enough pressure gradient to pass through the gore-Tex barrier.

Further, If the outside of the boot gets saturated, then even if the vapor moves through the gore-layer, the vapor cannot move through the outside layer of the boot…and therefore gets trapped inside the boot once again. So, your feet start to stew in their own juices.

In other cases, the thermal difference is so great that the sweat vapor simply condenses into water before the vapor can pass through the barrier.

Long story short: just because you have Goretex doesn’t mean you won’t have wet feet issues because of simple human elements.

PS: Rubber boots - as mentioned earlier…100% waterproof. And within a limited amount of time your feet will just be soaked in sweat.

Best advice I can give: bring one or two spare sets of socks and swap them out once or twice a day, giving the worn socks time to dry out between uses.

Agree 100% with this. Also if you're elk hunting or doing any type of hiking you should be preparing to take multiple pairs of quality socks with you and depending on the temperature/time of year for the hunt/hike rotating your socks not only due to moisture but also due to bacteria/fungus so on and so forth. The majority of the quality merino socks have natural qualities anyways.

 

[PNWtrekker]

I am convinced a lot of the water wicks in when bushwacking through brush. Another vote for gaiters or rain pants. Also, the more waterproof your boots, they more they do not breath, so your feet are going to get sweaty. As my Captain once said as he marched by a bunch of us pouring water out of our (new back then) Belleville Boots, "Looks like those new boots are just as good as holding water in, as keeping it out." He was wearing the old-style jungle boots with drain holes.

 

[WVmike]

I am convinced a lot of the water wicks in when bushwacking through brush. Another vote for gaiters or rain pants. Also, the more waterproof your boots, they more they do not breath, so your feet are going to get sweaty. As my Captain once said as he marched by a bunch of us pouring water out of our (new back then) Belleville Boots, "Looks like those new boots are just as good as holding water in, as keeping it out." He was wearing the old-style jungle boots with drain holes.

I hated belleville boots that we were issued in bootcamp. I trashed them as soon as I got to the fleet and get what I liked.

 

[PNWtrekker]

I hated belleville boots that we were issued in bootcamp. I trashed them as soon as I got to the fleet and get what I liked.

Yep. I was stationed in a cold/wet place. We were actually issued some generic boots simply labeled BOOTS, INTERMEDIATE COLD/WET. But I was pretty sure they were Belleville because they started popping up shortly after. Most of us saved up for the Danner Ft. Lewis boots which were over half a paycheck at the time but oh so worth it. I was in the Marines in the black boot era. There are a lot of good options out there now for our fighting men. Back then, not so much.

For the OP I can verify my Danner Ft. Lewis boots were waterproof. I also had good luck with the Acadia boots but wet cordura nylon makes it feel like your boots are wet even though your socks may be dry.

 

[Gulf of America]

The problem with even the most waterproof boots is every single one has a big hole at the top. My Kenetrek Mountain Extremes will stay 100% dry on a creek crossing right up to the top of the boot, and they hold up well in moisture in general, but in heavy rain I always wind up with water making its way down my legs and into the boots. If you had a full PVC rainset above the boots, they'd probably stay dry, but that's not great hiking attire. There's always going to be tradeoffs, but properly conditioned Kenetreks are as good as anything I've used for water resistance.

 

[WVmike]

Yep. I was stationed in a cold/wet place. We were actually issued some generic boots simply labeled BOOTS, INTERMEDIATE COLD/WET. But I was pretty sure they were Belleville because they started popping up shortly after. Most of us saved up for the Danner Ft. Lewis boots which were over half a paycheck at the time but oh so worth it. I was in the Marines in the black boot era. There are a lot of good options out there now for our fighting men. Back then, not so much.

For the OP I can verify my Danner Ft. Lewis boots were waterproof. I also had good luck with the Acadia boots but wet cordura nylon makes it feel like your boots are wet even though your socks may be dry.

We were issued the belleville jungle and goretex model that had a super aggressive sole on it and they thought it was a good idea to make us do drill on the parade deck in those things. Part of me thinks it because they wanted to see recruits fall on their face and part of me thinks it's because they were making it as difficult as possible. We were issued the tan ones when I was in. I was saving up to buy some of the danners but actually got issued the Danner RAT boots prior to deploying which were really nice. Still have those boots and use them on the farm now. I think they can get multiple different types of boots now as long as they have the eagle, globe and anchor on it which is nice to have a better selection.