How to choose the right shoes for hunting and fishing in autumn and winter - practical advice

Those who are just joining this type of outdoor activity or sport (that’s how it is for anyone), focus on the issue of acquiring a gun . But no less important factor in determining how successful the hunt will turn out and whether it will turn into flour is the right choice of appropriate footwear, which, unfortunately, is not taken into account by many.

By what criteria should you choose shoes for hunting in autumn or winter, what to consider when buying, which manufacturers it is advisable to focus on - understanding all these nuances will help you avoid the most common mistakes made by novice amateur fishermen.

The general requirements for any footwear for hunting or fishing, even autumn or winter, are the same - durability (which implies increased resistance to wear), convenience, comfort and high-quality protection from negative external factors such as dampness and cold. But to consider this issue only from the point of view of the expediency of acquiring certain boots (boots, high boots) is not entirely correct. Rather, it is a kit, which also includes such elements of "equipment" as socks and insoles. This should not be forgotten either.

What to consider when choosing hunting shoes

Type of fishery

If hunting is carried out in a running way, then the requirements for shoes are somewhat stricter. And this is understandable, since it is often necessary to move along a rough route, to overcome sections with different types of soil. The specifics of the territory on which it is planned to hunt is also important - woodland, mountainous, swampy, and so on.

Season

For autumn, shoes are selected lighter and not as insulated as for winter fishing. In addition, thick socks are not required. Another thing is if shoes are purchased for all occasions, for any season. The selection criteria are discussed below.

Care products

What is good about a well-known brand? Large companies care not only about the quality of boots, boots, insoles, but also about the development and supply to the market of various preparations that can extend the life of hunting shoes. Therefore, it is useful to ask if there are any creams, ointments, and so on from this manufacturer. As an option - what he recommends using to care for boots or boots.

Hunting footwear classification

There are three main groups, depending on the intended use and performance features.

Rubber boots

Unlike traditional rubber boots, they are equipped with special liners that serve as both insulation and shock absorber. But they are only suitable for autumn and early winter, because at temperatures below -8 ºС they lose their elasticity, and the legs in them begin to freeze. As a rule, they are purchased for hunting waterfowl or in wetlands.

Canadian boots

Modernized version, consisting of two "constructive" parts. The bottom is a high-quality rubber galosh, the top is leather (expensive hunting shoes), tarpaulin or synthetics. These boots are ideal for winter, especially since you can choose the most suitable thermal insole for local conditions from the same manufacturer - woolen, synthetic, felt and even fur.

In such boots, the hunter will be comfortable, even if the temperature outside is extremely low - up to -45. Your feet won't get cold. Such models are popular with fans of winter fishing, polar explorers, ski tourists.

Boots

For hunting, not only specimens are suitable, in the documentation for which (or on the tags) such a purpose is indicated. Similar shoes are produced for climbers, skiers, military. The main thing is that it (and its equipment) meets the requirements for it.

The main criteria for choosing shoes for hunting

Boots

Possibility of their adjustment "on the leg". Even with the same foot size, two hunters will have the right shoes for one (which implies the convenience of wearing), and the other will feel some discomfort. If not in the store, then later, at home, after the next fitting. It is believed that this is not critical, and is often perceived only as a temporary inconvenience - nothing, they are spread (although it is not a fact that this will be the case). And now imagine that in such shoes you have to spend the whole day outdoors. How long will the hunter endure, will he leave the race in a couple of hours?

What is the reason for this discrepancy? Absolutely identical people do not exist. Even twins have characteristic differences by which their mother recognizes them. This fully applies to the anatomical features, including the foot. That is why hunting shoes should be purchased from well-known manufacturers who do not miss this nuance. Their boots have special lacing or Velcro fasteners that allow for a precise fit to the foot.

Protection against penetration of moisture inside. In this case, it does not mean the material from which the hunting shoes are made, but the location of the fasteners or lacing. It is this part of the boots that is the most vulnerable in terms of security. When choosing shoes for hunting, you should find out if they have so-called protective valves. Otherwise, even when walking across the field, the feet will quickly get wet, as the chain (with rare exceptions) lines up and starts moving early in the morning, when there is still dew on the grass. By the way, the neglect of this “detail” is one of the main reasons why novice fishermen quickly go the distance.

Air permeability. If autumn hunting is not carried out in wetlands, then you need to pay attention to the material. Natural rubber, a variety of rubber, is clearly not the best choice. In such sealed shoes, the greenhouse effect occurs quite quickly. As a result - sweating of the feet, wet socks, insoles and hypothermia. On running hunting in such boots, you can’t stand it for a long time, especially in winter.

Sole performance. An equally important component of high-quality hunting shoes, especially in winter, when there are often areas with hardened ground or ice on the way. The sole must have a tread pattern, and a distinct one, with deep cutouts. Otherwise, it is impossible to achieve reliable adhesion of shoes to the soil. If the boots have a smooth sole, then they are definitely not suitable for hunting, no matter how good they are in all other respects. Although there are shoes with removable spikes, in which it is convenient to move on any soil, be it rocky rocks or plowing.

There are a number of other parameters that affect the choice, but they are not decisive. For example, the color scheme of the product. Many hunters wear camouflage robes and overalls over their clothes. In this case, is camouflage footwear really necessary if it is hidden? To select the optimal model of boots for hunting, the criteria listed above are sufficient.

Boots

The main criteria (as far as they are concerned) have already been noted. What should be further assessed?

Height. For autumn hunting in wetlands, you should choose boots with tops above the knees. This ensures that even if in some area you have to walk on water, then it will not get inside. Such boots are also suitable for those who hunt in snowy areas, when periodically falling into the crust almost to the waist is a common thing.

Shaft construction. They should not fit snugly to the leg. This allows pants to be tucked into them, thereby providing additional shin insulation. And the bottom of the pants will not gradually get wet.

Ease of removal from the foot. In some situations, perhaps the main criterion. For example, if in winter a chain of hunters crosses a river (a wide stream) on ice, and someone falls through. The distance to a neighbor, as a rule, is at least 20 m. While he has time to come to the rescue, precious time will be lost. Therefore, high-quality hunter's shoes are also those that can be easily disposed of. For this reason, many experienced fishermen are rather skeptical about high boots - they are heavy (which means that the legs get tired quickly) and you can’t just take them off. Therefore, these shoes are purchased mainly by those who fish in the winter and on skis.

insoles

Regardless of the material of manufacture, the requirements for them are identical:

For people with flat feet, arch support insoles are preferable for hunting.

Socks

The best option for winter fishing is 3 pairs in the following sequence: woolen (to improve blood circulation, since during running hunting the villi constantly massage the feet), cotton (to accumulate moisture if the legs start to fog up) and synthetic (to protect the previous layers from increased abrasion ). In addition, such a complex "construction" creates air gaps that perform the function of additional thermal insulation.

A brief overview of the main manufacturers of hunting shoes and their cost

Prices are indicative, in Russian rubles.

As a rule, amateur hunters go out into nature occasionally, a couple of times a month, so it makes no sense to purchase autumn and winter options separately. It is much more expedient to buy shoes that are equally well suited for any season. But it’s hard to say whether it’s worth saving, or focusing only on well-known manufacturers. This is true for hunters-fishers who are constantly in extreme conditions.

With irregular trips, according to the author, you can limit yourself to buying budget shoes. Moreover, much is determined not only by the quality of the product, but also by the accuracy of the owner, the organization of appropriate shoe care, the conditions in which a person prefers to hunt, and a number of other factors. And since such models are relatively cheap, if they are unsuitable for further use, the next purchase will not become too burdensome for the family budget.

Moreover, branded models, along with pluses, also have some disadvantages. It is pointless to list them, since the footwear of each manufacturer has its own positive and negative characteristics, which determine the specifics of its use (in relation to hunting conditions). In addition, this article is not an advertisement, and more specific information is easy to find on the website of a dealer or manufacturer.

Among the "branded" products, one can single out products of North American companies, about which the reviews of professionals are more than laudatory - models under the brands "Baffin Trapper", "Baffin Titan" . The price of boots starts from 6,680 (42 r).

If you focus on cheaper hunting shoes, then products under the Lemigo brand (Poland) . Good boots can be purchased for 2,900 - 3,100.

Husky, ROKS, ARDT, NordMan, Jnt are in demand . In principle, the list of Russian manufacturers is quite impressive. For amateur hunters who go out of town only occasionally, shoes from the Russian Federation are even better.

• Firstly , domestic producers take into account the specifics of our climate, which they know firsthand, unlike foreign ones.
• Secondly , according to the main characteristics, “native” shoes are not much inferior to imported analogues. And this is not advertising, but a statement of fact - market relations have forced companies to think about the quality of the final product.
• Thirdly , the cost of domestic hunting boots starts from 780 rubles. Even if they survive only 2 - 3 seasons, then there is no tragedy in this.

For those who are interested in a more extensive list, the following brands of high-quality hunting shoes from the category of budget models can be cited as an example - ATTACKER, Patboots, BERKUT ZIPP, CORPORAL, AKU, ARAVI MULTICAM . There is a choice, and a very significant one. Moreover, the price for all these models is quite acceptable - ranging from 2,000 to 9,800 rubles.

Practical advice for beginner hunters

Asking someone to buy shoes for you is the biggest mistake . About the features of the anatomical structure has already been said. You should only buy it yourself, and preferably in a specialized store. If shoes or boots are taken only for a particular season, then you need to take the necessary paraphernalia with you - insoles, socks. Although it is better to still buy everything in the kit, along with shoes. Be sure to fully dress, and immediately a pair, and not just one shoe. Practice shows that if a cheap product is purchased, especially somewhere from a tray, then it is not a fact that the left and right samples are completely identical.

Now various online stores are becoming more and more popular. And this is understandable - the prices in them are somewhat lower than the market ones, moreover, with the delivery of goods to your home. But there are many such services, and not all of them, unfortunately, are trustworthy. One of the indicators of the reliability of the seller is the design of the site and the presence of positive reviews.

Experienced hunters always take spare socks and insoles when going out into nature. They don’t take up much space in the backpack, but when your feet get wet (and this is possible, even if the shoes are of the highest quality), you won’t have to sit somewhere on the edge or in the car, look at your comrades with envy and wait for everything to dry. And this still needs to be organized, which can be quite problematic to do outside the home in winter or autumn.