The Best Elk Hunting Boots in 2023 | Reviews & Buying Guide
Elk hunting is truly an adventure. You should know the best tricks and have the best equipment to make your hunt successful. If you are looking for boots for hunting elk, it means that you mainly need a pair of boots to hunt in cold weather and hilly areas or woods.
But there is much more than that to consider if you are going to buy a new pair of hunting boots. By considering all of the aspects, we can figure out what type of boots will be the best for elk hunting.
There is a variety of rubber boots that are reliable for different types of hunting and have varying features that add to the quality of those boots. But getting the right ones for yourself will be difficult for you if you don’t know what to look for in a boot for elk hunting.
We will guide you through it and recommend the best options available in this article. Also, we have reviewed each of the products with their pros and cons. Once you have read the buying guide, keeping your budget and hunting requirements in mind, choose the best of the best from the list for yourself.
- Best Insulated: Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400
- Best Boots for Elk Hunting: Danner Men’s Pronghorn GTX 8
- Best for Wide Feet: Danner Pronghorn
- Best for Cold Weather: Irish Setter Elk Tracker 860
- Best Mountain Hunting Boots: Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex
- Best Hunting Boot for Money: Rocky Men’s Bearclaw 3D LTT
Best Elk Hunting Boots for 2023
Elk hunting is mostly at its peak in the late season of hunting. While preparing for your hunt, ensure to get the best boots for yourself from the following list so that you don’t feel uncomfortable during your trip.
Best Insulated: Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400
Features
- Height: 8 inches
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
- Insulation: 400 grams Primaloft
- Lace length: 72 inches
- Sufficient warmth
- Traction is good
- Durable material and parts
- Comfortable
- waterproof
- Insoles are stiff
- A little expensive
Kenetrek Mountain Extreme comes first in the list of best boots made of leather for elk hunting. Having a rubber sole makes these reliable for walking or hiking on rough surfaces.
They don’t require a lot of time for breaking in, but you for sure would have to let them get comfortable by wearing them for 15 to 20 miles. However, the tongue will require some more time to break in. I bought one size larger for wearing insulated socks with them as I usually hunt in freezing cold temperatures prey elks, and it fits the best.
Keeping your feet warm and comfortable, the boots don’t get off the feet unintendedly, and also, the outsole provides sufficient grip for walking or hiking over slippery and wet surfaces.
The laces of these boots provide easy fitting and more support. And the tongue is designed to tuck into the side folds easily. Therefore, these boots secure your feet and are highly reliable.
To ensure sufficient warmth in cold areas and resist water from entering the boots, these boots have 400 gram Thinsulate. The leather is made waterproof with a durable windtex waterproof membrane. Even for the warmth they provide, these compete with many boots with 800 grams of Thinsulate.
Also, these boots are well-stitched and are made of high-quality material which ensures that they will last for a long time. I have been wearing these for over a year as a pro hunter, and the leather hasn’t gotten bad up till now. Besides, both the insoles and outsoles and no other part broke.
Although the boots are comfortable to wear, compared to many other boots I previously owned, I noticed that the insoles of these were hard. I replaced them with the ones I had with my previous boots, and they were perfect.
Best Boots for Elk Hunting: Danner Men’s Pronghorn GTX 8
Features
- Full grain leather
- Nylon upper
- Cushioning PU footbed
- PrimaLoft insulation
- Extremely warm
- Good traction
- Waterproof
- Quality parts
- lightweight
- Danner sizes are smaller than others
- Price is high
For hunting elks, I was looking for hunting boots that could keep my feet and toes warm even in freezing temperatures, and after thoroughly checking its reviews, I decided to buy Danner Pronghorn 8″ boots.
I wasn’t satisfied with my previous pair of boots as my feet get cold quickly, and even wearing more than one pair of socks isn’t helping me. But these boots solved my problem of cold feet forever. Even in extremely cold weather, my toes were considerably warm, and I was only wearing one pair of insulated socks with these.
Besides keeping my feet warm, these boots offer moisture-wicking performance and are 100% waterproof with the GORE-TEX waterproof lining over the leather and Nylon upper.
With one size bigger for socks, they fit the best with the 8″ height. I knew that Danner’s sizes are usually small as compared to others, so I ordered the size keeping that in mind.
These don’t require any time for breaking in, even for wearing them for the first time. It has comfortable and soft cushioning inside for protecting and offering a secure fit. For fitting properly, the grommets were difficult to work with at the start, but after two to three times of usage, they have gotten better.
Also, thanks to the insulation and cushioning PU footbed for the comfort it offers. On my last trip, I wore them and walked around for almost three hours, which didn’t cause any soreness or blisters.
If you hunt in the mountains, mostly like me, these will be reliable for you with the traction they offer and let you move carefree even on wet and slippery surfaces. These are even better than the Kenetrek Mountain boots in this regard.
Loved these boots and wore them this season on every trip. The quality of the boots is worth the price!
Best for Wide Feet: Danner Pronghorn
Features
- Height: 8 inches
- Weight: 3.3 pounds
- Insulation: 400 grams Primaloft
- Lace length: 72 inches
- Waterproof
- Warm and comfortable
- Reasonable price
- Durable
- No pull up tag
Danner Pronghorn GTX boots are one of the best boots for professional hunters. Elk hunting requires being prepared for the cold weather and extreme weather conditions. These boots do their job well for keeping your feet warm even when it’s snowing out there.
As these are made of leather with a rubber sole, they last for long without getting wrecked even if you wear them on rough terrains for hours. Also, you can move around without worrying about slippery surfaces as these offer high stability with the amazing outsole design. The tread design indeed offers the best grip for smooth walking and climbing.
Besides the outsole, the insole of the boots is soft and keeps your feet in comfort without causing any blisters or cuts on the toes. As the height of the heels and the forward part of the boots is almost the same, it doesn’t cause pain in the feet and offers stable walking.
To keep the feet dry and protect the boots from water, there is a GORE-TEX lining over the leather, which prevents water from entering the boots. Also, the height of the shaft and the insulation add to the protection.
I have been wearing these boots for every hunting season for 2 years every season for elk hunting, and they haven’t caused any discomfort for me ever. However, frequent climbing has caused some to wear out of the tread. But that is expected after years of use.
But still, the boots fit perfectly fine and keep the feet in their place. Moreover, the leather and nylon construction allows breathability. It would have been much easier and quicker to take these off if the boots had a pull-up tag. However, that is not much of a problem during the trip. Overall, the quality is fine in this price range.
Best for Cold Weather: Irish Setter Elk Tracker 860
Features
- Height: 12 inches
- Weight: 4.25 pounds
- Insulation: 1,000 grams Thinsulate
- Lace length: 108 inches
- Comfortable
- True to the sizes
- Moisture wicking performance and waterproof
- Durable material
- Affordable
- Not reliable grip for wet or slippery surfaces
Irish setter 838 Wingshooter hunting boots are ready to wear boots out of the box as they do not require much time to break in. Select the right size for wearing socks with them, and these will be the most comfortable boots you will ever own.
Made of 100% leather, the upper part of the boots, as well as the sole, is of fine quality and will last for a long. These are lightweight and have soft insoles to support the feet well with the underfoot cushioning. Moreover, the cushioning of the midsole and insole, as well as the lace, prevents the feet from getting out of the boots.
If you are going elk hunting in the winter season, these will be very reliable for you. However, the boots have a poor tread design which will not provide sufficient traction for wet and slippery surfaces. Therefore, I won’t recommend wearing these in the rainy season or for hiking.
Although they are waterproof and have moisture-wicking performance with the nylon lining, you don’t risk yourself falling over the mud or slippery surfaces during the hunt and hurting yourself.
But if you can compromise with that for doing most of the hunt other than the rainy season, these are one of the best pairs of boots for keeping your feet dry and warm with the 400g Thinsulate even in extremely cold weather. Not too hot for the feet with breathability and not too cold to make your feet freeze, just up to the marks.
For this quite affordable price, the boots’ quality is great. Also, I am amazed that these lasted for more than a year for a professional hunter like me. Never faced any leakage of water or leather getting rough up till now.
Best Mountain Hunting Boots: Salomon Quest 4 Gore-Tex
Features
- Eva foam for shock
- Gusseted tongue
- 4D advanced chassis
- Very comfortable
- Waterproof
- Grip is amazing
- Fairly priced
- The eyelets are not so durable
Salomon Men’s Quest 4d 3 boots are amazing quality synthetic boots at a fair price. You can go miles wearing these with comfort as these are light and cushioned boots.
Besides walking, these can be used for hiking and running as well. They provide the best support and fit for your feet. Also, as they are designed for maximum traction, you can have sufficient grip over rough or slippery surfaces.
The synthetic material makes them reliable for hunting on rainy days. Not only are they waterproof, but they also have moisture-wicking ability. Moreover, with insulated socks, your feet will remain warm for hunting comfort.
I have been wearing these throughout the elk hunting season, and they were sufficiently breathable and lightweight for wearing them for hours. Not only that, but they proved to be quite durable for supporting your feet over rough terrains.
Although they are lightweight, they are pretty sturdy, and the outsole, as well as the insole, keeps your feet well protected. However, these will require some time to break in. I walked for hours in my backyard before wearing them on my trip.
For the size, if you are going to wear thick socks with these, get one size bigger as these boots are true to the sizes. Also, they have a wide front compared to many other boots, which makes them more breathable and comfortable, allowing you to move your toes easily.
Your feet will fit the best in these, and you won’t feel any pain. With the sock, I never experienced blisters or wounds wearing these boots. But it once caused me some heel rub as I wasn’t wearing thick socks. And that issue was resolved with wool socks.
Have been wearing these for years, very happy with the purchase!
Best Hunting Boot for Money: Rocky Men’s Bearclaw 3D LTT
Features
- 100% Leather
- Imported
- Full-grain leather featuring Bearclaw 3D outsole
- Comfortable insole
- Durable quality
- Looks great
- Breathable and light
- Reasonable price
- The rubber sole is not durable
Rocky Men’s Bearclaw 3D LTT are amazing hunting boots, and the leather of these boots is very durable. With the rubber sole, they provide the best support for your feet and keep them comfortable for hours.
As these are specifically designed hunting boots, you can rely on them for elk hunting and walking around or climbing heights with these. It has a reliable tread design for providing easy grip.
Also, for the weather conditions during the elk hunting seasons, these boots give you the best experience. They will keep your feet sufficiently warm in cold temperatures.
With the best fitting, I never experienced pain or any blisters. Give them the time to break in, and you will be wearing them on every trip. The insole and outsole support the feet well. But they do not seem very durable to me, and it could have been better to match the quality of the boots.
I remember wearing these during the rainy season on my last trip, and they didn’t cause any leakage, nor did the water enter them. My feet remained completely dry, and I walked over the wet surfaces for hours.
They are not too heavy nor too lightweight, just the right weight as expected from any hunting boots. Moreover, they are breathable and offer moisture-wicking performance with sufficient insulation. So no worries about getting cold or sweaty feet.
I loved the looks of this footwear. The brown color looks amazing, and also, the height of the boots is just right. Indeed one of the best boots I ever got for hunting. They won’t disappoint you for this price and offering the same performance will last a long.
Things to Consider Before Buying Elk Hunting Boots
You do know your type/style of hunt and the weather conditions, so choose the one that will be most reliable for hunting elk. Consider the following features of the boot before buying it.
Material reliability and durability
Buying boots that will last longer and do not get worn out easily is very important if you are a hunter. As you will have to walk on rough surfaces, you will need to ensure that the boots can go a long way without getting damaged.
For durability, leather, rubber, and synthetic material boots are the best options. Also, the sole of the boots should be thick and made of reliable material for walking over rocky surfaces and protect your feet from getting hurt.
Warm and insulated boots
No matter which animal you are preying on, you will need warm insulated boots for hunting in cold weather. Choose the boots that have more Thinsulate insulation and are comfortable to wear around.
For hunting in cold weather, mostly 800 grams of Thinsulate is sufficient. But you can opt for more if you are about to hunt in low freezing temperatures. Also, it depends on each hunter whether or not his feet get cold easily.
If you feel that even 1000 grams of Thinsulate are not enough for you, choose higher or wear thick insulated socks.
Waterproofed
Going to hunt in cold areas obviously means that it can rain or snow at any time there. Therefore, you will need either waterproof or water-resistant boots so that your feet do not get wet inside the boots, making you feel uncomfortable.
Even if it isn’t raining, a boot should have the moisture-wicking ability to prevent moisture from entering your boots. Waterproof boots are never a wrong choice, even if you are not hunting in the winter season. Your boots won’t get wrecked due to moisture, dirt, or water and will last longer.
Usually, rubber material boots are considered the best waterproof boots naturally, but if you are opting for leather boots, you will have to try some techniques for making them waterproof.
Breaking in of the boots
You might not have heard about it before, but the ability of boots to break in easily is very important for hunting. If the hunting season is near and you are getting a new pair of boots. Make sure to find out how much time they will take to break in.
That’s because a pair of boots that can break in quickly will be more comfortable as compared to the ones requiring weeks. You obviously can’t compromise on the comfortability with boots that may hurt your feet throughout the hunt. There are various great options of boots that break in quickly and ensure comfortability.
Right size
Even if your boots break in easily, the right size matters more than that. Tight-fitting boots can cause pains and blisters and ruin your hunting trips for two to three days by making it difficult for you to walk around or hike in the mountains.
While looking for the right size, remember that you need to buy a size bigger for your hunting boots than your usual size. It’s because you will be wearing thick socks with them for hunting elk in the rainy or cold season.
Also, before going to hunt, it’s better to try them on with the socks that you are going to wear with them to prevent any discomfort later.
Weight
As you will be wearing the boots for hours and might be walking or hiking long distances, choose the boots that are lightweight. As for the material, boots made of Nylon as well as rubber material are light in weight.
Although winter boots do weigh a little more than usual boots, brands do consider this aspect of hunting boots and manufacture many lightweight boots for the comfort of the hunters. So before buying, do check the weight of the boots.
FAQs
Q: How much should an elk-hunting boot cost?
The best elk hunting boots will cost between 200$ and 500$. But there might be some options for less or more price. Check the reviews of a product before spending money.
Q: What are the best hunting boots for elk hunting?
Danner Men’s Pronghorn GTX 8″ Boots, as well as the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400 Insulated Hiking Boot, are great boots for elk hunting. They keep your feet warm and comfortable. And also lets you hunt in rainy seasons.
Q: How tall should hunting boots be?
A hunting boot should be 15 to 20 cm tall but even ankle-high boots can perform the same job if it has the proper insulation to prevent water from entering inside and sturdy soles for support.
Q: Should hunting boots be tight or loose?
The boots that will fit the best will support the best. But it should be breathable and wide enough from the front to let you move your toes freely. Therefore, don’t buy too tight or too lose boots, just a size bigger if you are going to wear thick socks with them.
Final Thoughts
If you want the best durable boots for elk hunting this season, Kenetrek Mountain Extreme 400 and Danner Men’s Pronghorn 8 are the best choices but are a bit costly. Also, Danner Men’s Pronghorn GTX 8” Boots are another great option for professional hunting. All are waterproof boots and keep your feet considerably warm even in freezing temperatures.
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