Best Hunting Boots of 2024 To Traverse Mountains and Fields
Do you need a dedicated pair of hunting boots? Fair question. If you have a rugged pair of hiking boots already, maybe not, but the unique requirements of hunting means your comfy hiking sneakers likely won’t cut it. Hunting often involves terrible weather, off-trail bushwhacking, and lots of miles, so you want boots that don’t quit before you do.
That said, there’s nothing particularly hunting-specific about a solid pair of hunting boots unless you get them in your favorite camouflage pattern. For our picks below, we highlight a range of boots from mid-high trail runners to moc toe leather boots to handmade Italian mountaineering options.
The type of hunting, local climate, terrain, and season you hunt in will dictate which type of boot makes the most sense. Gore-Tex and other waterproofing is great for wet and muck, but your feet might prefer something lighter if you’re hunting Coues deer in the desert.
Read on for the boots we’ve tested that stand up to abuse and let you stay in the field long enough to give you a shot.
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Best Hunting Boots at a Glance
- Best Hunting Boots Overall: Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex
- Best Early Season Hunting Boots: Lacrosse Ursa ES
- Best Late Season Hunting Boots: Zamberlan 1106 Sawtooth GTX RR WL
- Best Upland Hunting Boots: Irish Setter Wingshooter
- Most Comfortable Hunting Boots: Danner Recurve Mossy Oak
- Best Lightweight Hunting Boots: Scarpa Rush 2 GTX
Best Hunting Boots of 2024
Best Hunting Boots Overall: Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex
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Salomon has captured a significant share of the hiking boot and shoe market with more athletic designs that deliver sneaker-like comfort with durability and support. The mid-high Quest boots have been in their lineup for over a decade and the Quest 4 boots continue the hybrid tradition with a boot that provides enough support for packing heavy loads and stability off-trail without being too stiff and bulky for quickly covering ground.
I’ve had several pairs of the Quest boots over the years and found the All Terrain Contagrip outsole a good blend of stiffness and flexibility that lets you feel the ground without beating up your feet. The outsole flares noticeably in the heel which provides stability in scree and other unstable terrain and there’s a synthetic shank for stiffness and foot protection.
The upper is mostly leather but it’s broken up by small fabric sections that make the high-top more flexible than full-leather boots which need to crease to tighten up and form to your foot. This also decreases the break-in time required and gives them a more athletic, nimble feel than traditional boot builds. While the textiles are less durable over years of hard use, I’ve found the material stands up to snags and scrapes and the sections are small enough that you don’t need to baby them.
Best Early Season Hunting Boots: LaCrosse Ursa ES
Justin Park
LaCrosse specializes in rugged hunting boots and even their hiker-style boots are usually built like tanks to withstand rugged terrain and last for years. While the Ursa ES (Early Season) still look like a traditional LaCrosse hunting hiker, they’re a lighter, more flexible take on the form ideal for warmer weather or just to serve hunters like me that prefer a more nimble boot.
The most palpable difference in the Ursa line is the more flexible bases that use a synthetic board layer (for protection and some torsional rigidity) instead of a shank which can make boots feel stiff and clunky. The wraparound rand comes up from the sole over the toes and entire lower part of the boot to ensure long-term durability but gives the boot a somewhat boxy fit if you’re used to softer, sneaker-style hikers. I added an aftermarket insole with arch support that served the dual purposes of eating up volume and upgrading the fairly flat included insole.
This is a year-round boot if you don’t hunt in true winter conditions or an early-season option that can be swapped out for winter hunting boots such as their new Ursa LS which comes either insulated or not. I tested the Ursa ES boots in sunburn-grade conditions and temps in the 70s and was surprised that my feet didn’t sweat despite the Gore-Tex and leather build. With the addition of the LS, there are early, mid-, and late-season boots in the lineup and while I can’t imagine anyone cycling through 3 different hunting boots in a single fall, combining the ES and LS boots is a system solution to wide-ranging hunting conditions.
Best Late Season Hunting Boots: Zamberlan 1106 Sawtooth GTX RR WL
Justin Park
I love lightweight, agile hunting boots whenever I can get away with them, but sometimes the season has other ideas. When temperatures and snow fall, you need tall boots and insulation if you want to stay in field long enough for the low winter sun to find your quarry and hope the low winter sun warms you up.
These late-season specialists don’t come cheap, but they deliver the height, waterproofing, and insulation required for cold-weather hunting in a handmade Italian boot with mountaineering roots but purpose-built for hunting.
The Sawtooths, like most insulated tall hunting boots, are going to be bulkier and stiffer than your average hiking boot, but for what they are, they’re surprisingly agile. The Nubuck leather upper requires some break-in but is soft out of the box and a subtle camo patterning nods to the boots’ purpose.
Fit-wise, the Sawtooths might feel roomy, but that’s by design to allow you to wear warmer, thicker socks or even add a second, insulating pair of socks for extra-cold days. There’s also waterproofing from the Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort membrane and insulating liner.
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Best Upland Hunting Boots: Irish Setter Wingshooter
Justin Park
I think of upland bird hunting as a gentleman’s brand of hunting and Irish Setter’s classic Wingshooter boots are the perfect classic footwear for the pursuit. These moc-toe boots have been in circulation since 1950 and their full-grain leather build an exterior stitching deliver a stylish, nostalgic look that means they can pull double-duty as a casual wear boot away from the field.
These are fully waterproof out of the box though there’s certainly no Gore-Tex membrane, but keeping the leather treated with oil helps to both repel water, seal seams, and ease the break-in process. That process takes time given the boxy fit out of the box and the thick leather used, but in time, the Wingshooters will form to your feet in a way that only all-leather boots can.
Most Comfortable Hunting Boots: Danner Recurve Mossy Oak
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While Danner is owned by Lacrosse, their boots tend to be lighter and more sneaker-like and are some of the most comfortable I’ve worn. Their lineup also isn’t as hunting-focused, but the Mossy Oak-patterned Recurves are a leather-and-nylon construction that balances initial comfort and light weight with durability.
The 7-inch height and full-grain leather might make you think the Recurves are a bulky, heavy boot, but everything about the boot is light. The Vibram outsole is more durable than sneaker foam but still very light. There’s substantial leather patterned with the durable camo nylon, but it’s a soft, thin leather that requires very little break-in and provides slipper-like comfort. The downside of this comfort if you prize durability and protection is that these are a lighter-duty choice that won’t last as long as heavier, stiff options.
Best Lightweight Hunting Boots: Scarpa Rush 2 GTX
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For highly active hunters that log a lot of miles in the backcountry, traditional hunting boots can be heavy and restrictive, especially if you’re used to trail runners or lightweight hikers. Thankfully, looking outside of traditional hunting boot brands opens up many more options and technical hikers such as Scarpa’s mid-high Rush 2 GTX boots are a great compromise option.
While there’s no leather in this fully synthetic modern hiker, the mesh is reinforced and rubberized in key spots around the outsole, sides, and heel for added durability. Sure, there are plenty of trail running shoes in this build style, but the mid height helps with stability and keeps out crud going off-trail. Gore-Tex membrane gives the Rush Mid breathable waterproofing, though they lack insulation and will be cold outside of early seasons. Otherwise, these deliver everything you get in bulkier boots besides a bit of protection and durability.
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What to Look for in Hunting Boots
Fit and Comfort
Fit is probably the most important and most subjective aspect of landing on your new favorite hunting boots. A boot that provides all-day comfort to one person can feel sloppy and even painful for another. Obviously, getting boots in the proper size is the first step, but if you can, trying on a lot of boots is your best bet to finding the brands and models that work for your feet. I have a fairly low-volume flat foot and often add Superfeet insoles such as the Hike Support Insoles to any boots, and adding a custom insole is a good idea for anyone
This tedious process is one good reason to spend more for a more durable pair of hunting boots. Once you’ve found a good fit and broken them in, you don’t want to have to shop for or buy another pair because they started falling apart.
Keep in mind that, like most boots, many hunting-oriented boots will feel stiff and clunky out of the box, so focus on the fit around your feet and know that things will get better. If you can’t try boots on in-person, make sure that whichever online retailer you buy from has a 30-day or better return period so you can check the fit and swap them if needed.
Durability
It’s not easy to assess build quality by just looking at a boot or reading specs online, but going with established brands and spending a little more is one shortcut. Visually, look for rugged outsoles that protect the toes and lower parts of the boot and avoid flimsy sneaker-like materials such as mesh which can tear and those kinds of damages aren’t usually covered by warranties.
Speaking of warranties, they can be another shortcut to finding a boot that’ll last or at least be repaired or replaced if they fail prematurely. All of the boots featured below have at least a 6-month warranty and most cover faults in workmanship for a year or two. This is insurance against a poorly glued sole or a mistake in stitching that should show itself within the warranty period if you use them sufficiently hard.
Waterproofing
Most hunters are going to look for a boot with Gore-Tex membrane or some other form of waterproofing. Wet feet can send you home early and you don’t want to have to tiptoe around the backcountry when you’re in hot pursuit.
There are exceptions, however, and if you’re hunting in a hot, dry climate, you may want to prioritize breathability over waterproofing and look for a pair of boots without that waterproofing that’s always hotter than non-Gore-Tex models no matter what they claim about breathability.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve been hunting since I was a kid in upstate New York and have since trudged boots through everything from hot, high deserts chasing pronghorn antelope to feet-deep snow and subzero temperatures. I’ve experimented with zero-drop sneakers, insulated logging boots, high-tech hikers, and trail runners in search of the perfect hunting boot for every season. Whether scouting, thru-hiking, or hunting, I test the latest and greatest from bootmakers throughout the year in the Rockies.