Best hunting boots & waders 2019
| Kenetrek Bridger Ridge High Boots kenetrek.com These boots offer superior traction through a grippy, beefy sole. The padding on the collar and tongue make for a super-comfortable fit. We also appreciate the reinforced toe and heel when hiking in rocky terrain. We wore the boots in some wet conditions on several fall trips and they did an admirable job of keeping our tester’s feet dry. These make good upland bird hunting shoes. |  |
| Kenetrek Safari Boots kenetrek.com For those that need sure-footedness when pursuing Alaska’s game, we strongly recommend these boots. Kenetrek’s Django outsoles provide awesome traction; the midsole is comfortable and provides extra padding which we appreciated when hiking out with heavy packs of meat. The 2.5 mm leather uppers have a Cambrelle lining that breathes, wicks, and keeps your feet from overheating when on the stalk. The boots are comfortable to wear and provide an incredible amount of ankle support in a 7-inch tall boot, which we find mission critical when carrying heavy loads. |  |
| Chota Tundra Hippies chotaoutdoorgear.com Contributing Editor Troy Buzalsky shared, “While gearing up for an 11-day float trip in remote Alaska chasing rainbows, Dolly Varden, and coho, I brought a pair of Chota Tundra Hippies along for some serious testing. The Tundra Hippies are a lightweight hip wader made with a neoprene stocking foot to accept standard wading boots or shoes. I wore the Hippies from dawn-until-dusk, crawling in and out of the raft, while fishing ankle to mid-thigh water, dragging the raft through shallows and around log jams, setting up and taking down camp, and trekking the tundra while viewing caribou, moose, and bear. The Hippies are 100% comfortable, 100% waterproof, 100% practical, and they are very compact, making them ideal for remote adventures.” |  |
| Koflach Degre Boots koflach.com Contributing Editor John Whipple had this to share: “If I could only have one hunting boot in Alaska, it would be the Koflach Degre plastic mountaineering boot. They have a full plastic outer boot, with an inner removable booty. Due to this design, they can do things no other boot can do. They are truly 100% waterproof. They are very stiff and strong, providing full protection against rocks and shale, while adding the needed support for hiking in the mountains, where I do most of my hunting. Because there is an inner booty, they prevent blisters, as the friction is between the booty and the outer shell, not your foot and the boot. At night, I can remove the booties and put them in my sleeping bag to dry (I sweat a lot and any boot I wear is damp by the end of the day). This means boots that are dry and warm every morning, a feature that is particularly nice on nights that are below freezing. Frozen boots are no fun. They are crampon compatible. They do not require a break-in period. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you can remove the booty and wear the shell to ford streams and rivers, then simply wipe out the plastic shell and replace your dry booty and carry on with your hunt! They are also compatible with the Glacier Sock, a lightweight hip wader that you can put on over the booty, but inside the plastic shell for a light-weight, convertible, hip wader.” |  |
| Kenetrek Alaska Super Heavyweight Over-The-Calf Sock kenetrek.com These merino-wool socks are awesome. They keep your feet warm even when wet, breathe very well, are very comfortable on the feet and lower leg. Our tester hiked many miles using these socks inside Kenetrek Mountain Guide 400 boots and remained blister free. These socks are available in a range of men’s and women’s sizes. |  |