Heart and Sole
| Product Reviews - Clothing, Footwear & Accessories |
 One of the pleasures in my life is helping others get involved in the outdoors, shooting sports and hunting. My husband Jim and I along with our daughter Leah have been instructing archery and outdoor classroom classes for many years. Our main focus is women and children, we know that the more people we can interest in the outdoors the more our shooting and hunting heritage will live on for generations to come.Lately I have been asked repeatedly "What is your most important piece of equipment?" I am amazed at the look and comments I get with my answer. What would your answer be? Your bow, rifle, ammo, bino's, scent killer, cover scent or maybe your camo? I have had people ask the question and then try to guess my answer and assume that my response will be my archery equipment or rifle, and some say my hunting knife or the backpack I carry with me. I will admit that all of these things are very important but they are not my first choice. So what is the most important piece of equipment to me? My Boots. How many hunters or outdoorsmen and women do you know that will spend thousand and thousands of dollars on bows, rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and camo clothing but they buy the cheapest pair of boots they can find because they were on sale for $39.99. Their way of thinking is it's only a pair of boots and they don't see the purpose of putting a lot of money into something they are only going to wear a few times during hunting season, and the comment that "good" hunting boots are to expensive and are only good for one season. For the avid outdoors person a pair of boots makes the difference between a great trip to the woods and a miserable day. A "good pair of hunting boots will last for many years with proper care and not just one season. And as for the cost? How much are warm, dry, comfortable feet worth at the end of a hard week hunting? I really sympathize with ladies who are looking for a good pair of boots to wear afield. Women ask me what brand and type boots I wear because all they can find are men's boots and they are always too big, too wide and the top of the boots or shaft, hurt their legs, they can't find boots that fit properly. When women go into a shoe store or sporting goods store they never have any women's hunting boots in stock and the store clerks always try to sell us boy's boots or men's boots insisting that heavy socks will take up the excess room. This might be true, but they don't tell you about all the blisters you will get when your foot rubs every corner of that boot because they don't fit properly. When you have to walk a mile to your tree stand, by the time you get there you are in such pain you dread the walk out that evening. I wish I had a dime for every shoe salesman that has told me or one of my friends that Gore-Tex is over rated, as long as the leather is water resistant that will be all that's need. Maybe so if you live in the desert, but here in the mountains of North Carolina "water resistant only means that if my dog drools on them my foot will stay dry. The true test comes when you have to walk a fence line to your treestand before dawn and the dew has your feet soaked within 50 years of the truck. All I can say is G.L. Gore is one of my heroes. I have to be his biggest fan. While we are on the subject of what we need in boots let's talk a little about insulation. Insulation is extremely important, providing warmth on those extremely cold winter hunting days, but during early season you don't want 800 grams of thinsulate. In the middle of December though, it feels great. Most ladies boot only come with 200grams which is great for early season or hiking but sitting 30 feet up a tree in the prime of winter that 200 grams feels like sandals. In all fairness, most stores can not afford to carry a huge line of ladies boots. They don't sale enough to make a profit so they usually don't carry any of the higher end ladies hunting boots. They do however carry hiking boots for women which are great for hiking or wearing for everyday but not for women who are die hard outdoors people that need a boot they can depend on in any condition. So what are women to do? Should they have to settle for a pair of men's boot like they have always thought they had to? One of my reasons in writing this article is to let you know there are companies out there that value their female customers and cater to our little feet. Yes, they do make Gore-Tex women's boots and yes, you can select the gram of thinsulate you will need for your adventures afield. And yes, there are boots really made to fit women's feet. I could name several companies that offer a "women's" boot line, but most boot companies use men's last which are only size-down men's boots and they only carry a few styles. When companies size down men's boots you still have the same problem... poor fit, uncomfortable and often heavy! So the question is... "Are there boots out there for the woman who would rather spend her time stalking quietly through the woods than shopping at the mall?"  There are two boot companies that are leaders in women's hunting and hiking footwear in my opinion. The first is Danner Boot Company (danner.com) they have been in business since 1932 and are one of the most recognized names in the footwear industry. They are widely known and renowned for their men's boot line but they offer a fantastic line of women's footwear from light weight hiker to rugged extreme weather heavy duty hunting boots with a wide variety of thinsulate and of course Gore-Tex. Danner also offers a great limited guarantee and a boot rebuild program.My personal favorites are the Sequoia 8" hunting boot. It carries 400 grams of thinsulate insulation, it also features waterproof full grain leather and cordura upper and the great Gore-Tex membrane. These boots take me from early season scouting and bow hunting right up through cold weather. This boot only weighs sixty ounces and from the first time I put them on they were more like an old friend that a new pair of boots, I did not have to "break them in" as the fit and comfort is unbelievable.  I must also take my hat off the Danner's newest hiking boot, the radical 45 GTX with Terra Force technology. It can handle anything you can put it through and it's the most rugged hiker I have ever owned yet is feels like a sneaker when you put it on, seemingly weightless on your feet. They also come fully equipped with the 100% Gore-Tex guarantee and a never say die Vibram sole. They also carry a full line of Danner boot care products so there is no reason you can't keep you boot on the trail for many seasons. The only thing they don't come with is foot fatigue and all those painful blisters, which we all dread when we get a new pair of boots. I also highly recommend Georgia Boots (georgiaboot.com), they carry one of the largest lines of women's boots in the industry. They were established in 1937 and have been making quality boots for all your outdoor needs since. Georgia' line of women's boots are also made on a woman's last (form) with the shaft of the boots designed to fit a woman calf, as our calf's sit lower on our leg than men. This is the reason so many of the boots on the market hurt when they are laced up properly. Georgia builds their boots from the inside out and they offer comfort core insoles that fit and feel more like a well made running shoe than a boot. I can tell you that I have no foot fatigue or sore muscles with the Georgia boots and have never suffered from blisters. They also stand behind each pair of boots with a limited guarantee though I can't see why either company would need it because of the quality craftsmanship and care they put in each pair of boots. I am very apprehensive about ordering boots or clothing on line. I am never sure how it will fit especially boots, but Georgia has made this a no- lose situation also. They have a boot fitting guide that you can print off of their website, measure your foot and know the exact size you will need to order.As for price, you will pay anywhere from $69.00-$200.00 for a pair of "good" hunting boots. If you feel you can't justify the cost look at it this way. How much do you pay for a pair of athletic shoes? How many pair of athletic shoes do you buy a year? You hunting boots will last you for many years and even though the initial cost seems high just remember that with proper care they will last you many hunting seasons. You can also think of it like the difference between a well-made rifle and a cheap one. You know the cheap rifle will kick you like a mule every time you pull the trigger. So every time you raise it to your shoulder you not only dread it but you flinch when you pull the trigger. While the well made rifle is a joy to shoot with no kick, and the bullet flies perfect shot after shot. So what will it be? A cheap pair of boots you dread to put on or a great pair of boots that you can't wait to get out of the closet. They way I see it my boots are the most important piece of equipment I own. They are the heart and sole of all my outdoor adventures. |
