NOTE: Fieldsports Guardian articles can include affiliate links. If you purchase a product through our links, we may get paid a small commission from the retailer at no extra cost to you. Links in this article will direct you to Amazon.
There are few things that are more critical than a quality pair of shooting boots, besides your rifle or shotgun. If your feet are not happy, chances are, you are not happy, and we all hate having wet feet! Investing in a quality pair of shooting boots can make sure you remain comfortable in the field, whether that be stalking, beating or hiking. Choosing the right pair of shooting boots is not an easy task. You'll more than likely want to find a boot that can handle the terrain best suited to your requirements, they should keep your feet warm and dry, provide good insulation along with a waterproof build, breathable and be durable enough to last season after season.
If you're after a quality pair of shooting boots, we have compiled a list of some of the best performing shooting boots below.
Over a number of years the Fieldsports Guardian team have worn and tested numerous shooting boots in the field. This list is by no means exhaustive but it shows a range of quality performing shooting boots on the market that have either been worn by the Fieldsports Guardian team or we have gathered opinions from accomplished fieldsports enthusiasts.
The Crispi brand was established in 1975 and it feels like recently, their relatively new hunting/shooting design has taken the fieldsports network by storm with their excellent build quality. The first boot on our list of best performing shooting boots is the Crispi TITAN GTX https://amzn.to/3Xnbthk.
Features
Outer water repellent nubuck.
GORE-TEX lining.
Insole: Differentiated structure.
Removable footbed: CRISPI® Air Mesh + Felt Active Carbons. Outstanding breathability and anti perspiration - anti-odour action. The CRISPI® 3D construction moves moisture away leaving the foot dry in every moment.
Protection: Rubber toe and heel.
Sole: Vibram® with polyurethane shock absorbing midsole and CCF insert.
Crispi have been manufacturing excellent quality boots for numerous outdoor activities since 1975 and do not disappoint with the TITAN GTX. Crispi state that the TITAN GTX boots are ideal for use on uneven terrain, for hunting on the move on hills and plains. The thermoforming and high cut design of the boot gives adequate ankle support and thanks to the CCF insert in the midsole, provides precise foot wrapping, stability and comfort. A feature of the Crispi TITAN GTX that we really liked is the weight. Weighing in at only 750g they did not leave you dragging your feet after a long day in the field and from experience, felt comfortable from the moment you put your feet in them. Vibram soles is a feature that has become the norm in identifying a quality pair of shooting boots and the tread of the TITAN GTX certainly performs well in the field.
HanWag are a brand from Bavaria that was established in 1921, manufacturing quality, functional mountaineering and trekking footwear for over 100 years. Which is why we have included the HanWag Tatra Top GTX boot in our list of best performing shooting boots. https://amzn.to/4e6XqCM.
Features
GOTRE-TEX membrane.
Upper material: Nubuck leather.
Outer sole: Vibram AW Integral.
Lining: GORE-TEX.
Weight: 1700g.
Waterproof.
The HanWag Tatra Top GTX is a boot, according to HanWag, that is capable of coping with all sorts of conditions, including marshes, and bogs. The world famous Vibram soles offer excellent grip with quite an aggressive tread which ensures good traction. The boots have been designed with minimal seams and a GORE-TEX membrane to keep out the rain and mud which also reduces the risk of potential pressure points and seam wear. The innovative double stitched design of the HanWag Tatra Top GTX boots means that they can also be re-soled multiple times. A slightly heavier boot, weighing in at 1700g but provides excellent ankle support with its high design and durable build. The boot boasts shock absorbing capabilities in the heel area and ball roll loops made from rust proof metal for smooth lacing.
Meindl have been handcrafted in Bavaria since 1683. With over 300 years of experience in the industry, producing over 1 million pairs of boots every year, there is no reason why Meindl shouldn't be included in your list of best performing shooting boots. https://amzn.to/4ej64yb.
Features
Nubuck leather with wax uppers.
GORE-TEX lining.
Air-Active soft print drysole footbed.
Meindl Multigriff by Vibram.
Memory Foam System (MFS).
Digafix lacing system.
Waterproof Protection.
Meindl have been a leading brand for over 300 years in producing beautifully handcrafted quality shooting boots. The Meindl Dovre Extreme have been developed and designed specifically for hunting, although perform well in a variety of other activities, giving them the status of being a great all rounder. The Meindl Dovre Extreme are amazingly comfortable straight out of the box and require little to no breaking in. The high top design provides protection from the mud and water, whilst their rigidity provides excellent ankle protection and support. Weighing in at only 980g, the Dovre Extremes have been a best seller for a number of years now.
The Italian footwear company, Zamberlan, were established in 1929 and have been distributing their boots worldwide for over 40 years. Zamberlan have achieved numerous product awards and is recognized worldwide for its quality, comfort, fit, performance and striking Italian design, hence the reason they've made it on to our list. https://amzn.to/3KoKc6L.
Features
UPPER MATERIAL: Nubuck Leather With Hydrobloc® Treatment.
GORE TEX/WATERPROOF.
LINING: GORE-TEX Performance Comfort.
INSOLE: Flex 4mm + PE.
MIDSOLE: Double Density PU Wedge + Light TPU Layer.
OUTSOLE: Zamberlan® Vibram® Star Trek.
Resolable.
According to Zamberlan, the Wasatch GTX boots are the most rugged hunting boot they have produced to date, thanks to an all new beefy outsole, full rubber rands and added leg reinforcements. Users of the Wasatch GTX should expect little break in and comfort right out of the box. The GORE-TEX performance should ensure that they remain waterproof and breathable for lifetime of the boot. At 11 inches high, some might find them a little high depending on your personal preference but the high design intends to protect the legs from the elements and any undergrowth that you may encounter.
As we have said above, Meindl have been handcrafted for over 300 years, producing over 1 million pairs of boots every year. We have included the Meindl Glockner in our list of best performing shooting boots because they have a lower price tag than the Dovre Extreme and their design is suited to alternative terrain. https://amzn.to/3Rb8sNl.
Features
Nubuck leather uppers.
GORE-TEX lining.
Air-Active soft print drysole footbed.
Meindl Multigriff sole by Vibram (limited suitability for crampons).
Memory Foam System (MFS).
Digafix lacing system.
Waterproof Protection.
Great survivor for abusive hill use but not best suited to lowland use.
The Meindl Glockner GTX boot has been a consistent top seller and become a very popular choice amongst those who require a durable boot for hill walking. They have an extra rigid sole to prevent the boots from flexing across the toe, a common failure point in a more malleable style boot. The rigid design offers very good support but may mean that they are a little too rigid for lowland use, however, they offer the perfect requirements for abusive, demanding conditions on the hill. The rugged design does mean that they are a slightly heavier boot at 1040g, however, the boot features a Memory Foam System (MFS) which offers extra cushioning around areas of pinching and pressure and the foams provide a customised fit by moulding to the contours of the foot using body heat, meaning guaranteed comfort, support, and security.
The Red Wing Shoe Company has been building purpose-built boots for work since 1905 and hunting since 1929. The Irish Setter brand was born out of this legacy. Take a look at these Irish Setter Elk Tracker boots, they will not disappoint. https://amzn.to/4e88wqQ.
Features
Lace-up full-grain waterproof leather hunting boot featuring kiltie overlay at toebox and logo plaques at shaft.
Waterproof GORE-TEX lining.
1000g 3M Thinsulate Ultra insulation.
Bulls-Eye Air Bob Aggressive sole for traction.
In 1950, the first of many boots known simply as “Irish Setter” were designed specifically for hunting. By the 1970’s, workers started adopting the Irish Setter boots for every day use as well as in the field. New materials were introduced including highly waterproof kangaroo hide with a Vibram® sole and double-layered leather. The cutting-edge construction was the first of it’s kind. During the 1990's, the Irish Setter hunting brand expanded to 14 styles of shooting boot. These boots have been designed to be durable! The UltraDry waterproof membrane is guaranteed to keep you dry in the harshest environments. They also offer extra protection from low temperatures with 600g of Thinsulate Ultra insulation. They boast innovative technology with their exclusive ScentBan, which is added to materials killing bacteria that cause odours.
A relatively new brand on the scene in comparison, established in 1985 in southern Sweden, the Harkila brand has been designed for hunters, by hunters, and has become one of the leading brands in fieldsports in such a short space of time that we have decided to include them in our best performing shooting boots list with their Harkila Pro Hunter Light GTX boots. https://amzn.to/3Rc5s3n.
Features
GORE-TEX waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane.
Highly durable cordura fabric.
Vibram soles.
Only 790g.
A super lightweight, super quick drying and highly breathable boot in durable cordura, the Harkila Pro Hunter Light boots are definitely worthy of being on our list of best performing shooting boots. At only 790g, that makes them the lightest pair of boots on our list so they are guaranteed to keep you comfortable for long periods of time. The cordura material is quick drying, lightweight and requires far less maintenance than leather. The midsoles of the Pro Hunter Light boots have shock absorbing capabilities allowing them to remain comfortable for longer and over rugged terrain. The boots have been reinforced with full length rands made from a very robust material and have reinforced stitching. Importantly, Harkila offer a two year warranty that covers you in the unlikely event of any material or manufacturing defect in the boots.
Heading back over to Crispi, a brand that has been operating since 1975, we have chosen the Crispi Hunter GTX boot from their 'legendary series', as an alternative to the Titan boots, depending on the terrain of your personal shooting grounds. https://amzn.to/3X6RXFP.
Features
Water-repellent Nubuck.
GORE-TEX Insulated.
Insole: Differentiated structure.
Removable footbed: CRISPI® Air Mesh + Felt Active Carbons. Outstanding breathability and anti perspiration - anti-odour action. The CRISPI® 3D construction moves moisture away leaving the foot dry.
Protection: Rubber rand.
Sole: Vibram® with polyurethane shock absorbing midsole and CCF insert.
The Crispi Hunter GTX boots have been designed to suit a more intense environment in mountainous or a hill environment. The high design provides extra support and structure allowing more protection to the ankle in harsher environments or terrain. Due to the more rugged design of the Hunter GTX, they do require a little more break in. Initially the tongue was a little uncomfortable but after 2 to 3 days, the tongue wore in and became very comfortable to wear. As always the Vibram soles perform well and provide much needed traction when on the hills. Overall, a very good boot for more intense environments.
HAIX is yet another brand that was founded out of Bavaria over 75 years ago in 1948. HAIX have been a leading brand in functional shoes for firefighters, police and task forces world wide and have since developed a hunting/outdoor range of boots that match the success of their previous series of boots. We have added their HAIX Nature One High boots to our list of top performing shooting boots. https://amzn.to/3RbMhXv.
Features
Comfortable mountain and hunting shoe.
Waterproof and breathable thanks to GORE-TEX.
Non-slip and abrasion-resistant Vibram sole.
Clamping hooks and two different laces for individual adjustment.
Suitable for stalking and still-hunting.
The extra high design of the HAIX Nature One GTX boots provides extra support for particularly challenging terrain, however, if the high design is not for you they also produce these boots in a shorter design. Thanks to the three layer GORE-TEX membrane, these boots are guaranteed to keep your feet dry with the added bonus of being extremely breathable. As a top leading brand, they have once again chosen to add Vibram soles to their boots which ensure that the tread provides you with much needed traction whilst out in the field and has an optimal rubber compound that is particularly slip resistant. HAIX have gone the extra mile to ensure comfort with their HAIX absorption design, integrating a cushioned wedge in the insole. Overall, HAIX have been producing extremely high quality boots in numerous categories so they have almost certainly earnt their place on our list.
This brings us to our final pair of boots in our selection of best performing shooting boots, the Grisport Gamekeeper boots from Grisport. Grisport was established and produced in Italy. In fact, every aspect of developing these boots from the design, initial ideas all the way through to production, comes exclusively from Italy. We have included the Grisport Gamekeeper boots in our list as they have a very appealing price tag for the quality. https://amzn.to/3Kuflp6.
Features
Upper Made From Richly Waxed Leather.
Spotex Waterproof Lined.
Vibram Deep Cleated Rubber Sole.
Ankle Height Approximately 8 Inches.
Padded Collar With Full Bellows Tongue.
Protective Outer Scuff Rand.
Weight: 1660g.
The Grisport Gamekeeper has been developed to be a good all rounder in the boot department for all country pursuits. Quite a heavy boot in comparison to others on our list and slightly shorter in height. The Grisport Gamekeeper boots have become very popular amongst fieldsports enthusiasts due to the quality build and design. Fully waterproof, boasting the famous Vibram soles for maximum traction and a stitched protective outer scuff rand protecting the uppers from gorse and bramble. Unfortunately we have not yet personally tested these boots in the field, however, our team have gathered reviews from multiple users
of the Grisport Gamekeeper boots and the general feedback has been that they are a fantastic choice of boots for all outdoor activities.
As always we value your support here at Fieldsports Guardian. To help us continue to grow and bring you all the latest news, blogs and for exclusive access to future competitions, offers and giveaways, you can subscribe here completely FREE.
Kommentare