Those that hunt steep terrain or hill country what boots are you wearing? I have had some danner pronghorns and i did like them but open to any other suggestions. I saw the crispi west river 2.0 at scheels that piqued my interest. $400 is steep but not counting them out. Reason im looking is i put in for a draw that is up in the river bluffs. Its very steep up and down ridges on top of bluffs. I am normally a flat land farm country and creek bottom/wetland hunter so im normally in a muck style boot. Never hunted much in the lace up style. Here is the topo. There is other open hunt areas so i plan on checking it out whether i get drawn or not. There are some giant deer in these parts
I like a light boot that fits close to my foot and go with Solomons now. If I was in shale or a lot of scrabble, I'd be looking for more foot protection and stiffer sole/shank. I also use an after market insole...
I’ve struggled for years finding a boot that didn’t give me hotspots in steep terrain. They were always great on flat ground but the second I was on elevation changes the hot spots show up. I bought a pair of Crispi Kenai GTX through Black Ovis two years ago and I finally have no issues. I’ve worn them on everything from mule deer hunts to Midwest bluff country and they have been great.
Ill probably go with a model of the crispi. Ive heard too much good. Trial always recommend them. The bluffs there at pere marquette are mainly exposed limestone and shale in spots with thin topsoil. Water in the bottoms of the steep ridges requires a goretex membrane at least. I think i made my mind up. Thanks for the feedback. Time to get in shape. 200ft elevation changes within 200yds is rough. From the guys that hunt there “dont shoot if you see a 150”. Makes me pretty excited.
If your not use to walking up and down steep hills ,start finding spots to work out. Where I live I joke I have one leg longer than the other just to get around. It will tear up your ankles, arches and knees if they aren't conditioned, thighs build those thigh and glute muscles. It's hard not to want to "toe" walk your way up a steep hill. Walking at even a slight angle and switching back and forth short distances may take a slight amount of time longer . That said it will save injury and soreness in the long run. Side stepping on steep descents will give you more stability and save you from landing on your back side. All this takes a build up of different muscle groups from "flatland " hikes I say this because you said you normally hunt flats. Get a foldable walking stick. Many uses and good in an emergancy
"200ft elevation change in 200 yards"... you midwest guys are adorable... lol. Thats a normal day here in the mountains to get out of the truck... lol. Crispi guy here. If you can, go somewhere that sells them and try them on. I had a heck of a time finding a model and size that worked for me. They're an Italian boot company so their sizing is off of what US sizing is. I could always get away with a size 12 in my early season boots but my Crispi's are a size 13. I also say to try them on in the store because each model fits differently and has different stiffness levels of the sole. I have an average proportioned foot and found most of the Crispi's narrow in the toe box for my liking. But, when I put a pair of the Nevada's on, I fell in love. I rock a pair of the Nevadas in a size thirteen. Tons of toe box room and they lock in your ankle better than anything I've ever owned. Its funny, but wearing them.. I feel like a race car in the woods... lol. These mountain boots certainly feel different walking in them. They're really stiff and have a full shank the length of the boot. So walking in them is odd at first I found. But my feet don't get tired in them. I love the Nevadas because Crispi has a thing called ABS in that model, which really supports your ankles well. I have no fear of twisting my ankles in the steep mountains here in PA. One other note. You WILL replace the insoles as soon as you get them. Almost all of the high end mountain boots have the crappiest insoles known to man in them. I went through several brands of insoles until I found the right combination for my feet/boot. I know run a pair of SOLE cork footbeds and love them. I also found the cheap Dr. Sholes insoles from Wal mart felt pretty good as well.
Yea i read this after i typed it and thought… “geez that sounds pathetic ” . Thanks for the feedback. I was going to order a pair eventually but i guess ill try to find a store that carries them.
Haha, na, I had to poke a little fun at ya but I've hunted quite a bit in the. midwest, Missouri to be exact and there are some real "hell holes" that are steep as heck. I get it! If you can find a store, that is best. They fit so differently from what we whitetails guys are used to. The Nevadas are Crispi's "flagship" so to speak in that they've been in their lineup forever because their so popular. I found the toe box area much roomier in them, while still having the really awesome locked in feeling of the heal/ankle area. I love them so much that I'm debating on trying the Wild Rocks, which come in a 800gram insulated version. My best friend bought the Guide Series, which is the Nevada but a bit taller boot. He loves the things. If you can't find a place close that sells them and you have to deal with online stores. I HIGHLY recommend Black Ovis. They're the Crispi US distro center and are phenomenal to work with. Plus, you can usually snag a deal with them.
Dude, I was so hesitant to buy them. I mean... they're 450 bucks and I never owned a pair of boots more expensive than about 200. But I have to say I'm a huge fan of them and if you take care of them, they'll last a long time. I also forgot to mention that their warranty is amazing from what I'm told. If you wear the soles out on them, they'll replace them for less than 100 dollars if I recall. Just take care of the leather uppers and use their boot cream on them regularly.
Yeah the price point is pretty bad, but I'll take a quality, expensive purchase over buying crap to replace in 2 years. I've used LaCrosse for years and they just don't stand up for what I've paid. Could've bought quality boot once and saved a bit.
White's boots custom made to fit your feet, they are expensive but rebuildable. I wore them for 20 plus years working wild land fire in many states and once broke in will keep your feet in great shape. The secret is a quality cotton sock and a smart wool sock over the top. Your feet are you money makers take care of them, powder, rehab, and well manicured toe nails.
I'm with ya. I tired rubber boots because that was the "in thing" for years for scent control, etc. I found out pretty quickly that they don't fit well enough for mountains and steep terrain and they ate my feet up. I went back to my tried and true Irish Setters. Those things are still serving me well and they're probably 10 years old or better. I just take really good care of the leather and they don't see any place other than the woods. They are an 800gm boot and sized a bit large for extra thick socks and air space. They're excellent in the warmth department. But the Crispi's from a fit perspective are on a whole different level. I'm on the fence on whether I want to get a pair of the Wild Rocks in 800gm insulation to replace the Irish Setters. A part of me is thinking about getting a set of boot blankets and wearing my Nevada's in cold weather. Thinking that might be the best of both worlds. But I don't know how well the blankets will work in a saddle. Sota is right, your feet are your "wheels", take care of them.
