Headed to Jackson hole next September for an elk hunt. Need recommendations for good boots. It will be walking but also some horseback. Any suggestions would help.

Couple quick questions....

How into western hunting are you? As in every year or every few years?
I got the pack horses but do you ever plan on not having them?
What does your pack weight?
Bow or rifle hunts?

One time guided deal -danner high ground or even UA

Every year deal- Lowa, Zamerlain, kenetrek, scrapa, hanwag, crispi----> of those it depends on pack weight and if you need insulated.

Know this a boot that fits me great my fit terrible on you. Everyone has different shaped feet

first time elk hunt. going with a guide

It is the first rifle season and I dont know the pack weight

I prefer a stiffer sole. Non insulated but I normally only hunt archery season.

Danner high ground or UA boots will work for you, and won't be near the investment of a mountaineering type boot. You can go to Cabela's and try on the mendi western guide(mountaineering type boot) and the danner high ground. From there you can decide which stiffness you prefer. If you decide that western hunting is going to be a yearly deal I'd say invest in the mountaineering type boot like mendi, zamberlians, lowa, kennetrek, etc

Figure out your temperature range and where the same sox that you will at the time. I use my pronghorns in Colorado and they were tighter than normal because of my bigger sox

I would ask your guide/outfitter what you need out of the ones BOBO listed, or what they prefer. They will know exactly what you will be getting into, amount of walking, temps ect tra. I know uncomfortable feet is probably the worst hunt killer overall.

I have Elk hunted in everything from tennis shoes to heavy insulated Soral's, being on stand, or on the move, rocky and hilly terrain, makes a huge difference in comfort, I'd get the outfitters recommendations, since they have "boots on the ground" so to speak.

I take two pairs of boots on elk hunts: one pair of regular good quality hikers (like Merrell's, etc.) and one pair of stiffer traditional mountain hunting boots (Lowa, Kenetrek, etc.).

Then I let the weather and terrain conditions dictate which ones I wear. Where I elk hunt, some days are spent in lower elevation easier terrain and some are in steeper more rocky terrain. If the weather is not nasty (snow,sleet,rain) it's hard to get me out of the lightweight hikers.

But everyone is different. Some guys swear by the ankle support the stiffer boots provide. I am willing to accept that tradeoff for the lighter weight of the hikers most of the time.

I am now thinking I have found a good "best of both worlds" compromise for me in Kenetrek Hardscrabble hikers - a stiffer hiking boot with a tough rubber rand. But lighter since it's a lower cut hiker. Pair them with gaiters in bad weather and carry on.....

Choosing the right boots is really different for everyone based on their own personal preferences. If you opt for one pair, then 1)default to a good quality stiffer boot like those mentioned above and 2)make sure they fit YOU well/comfortably using the exact sock/sock combination you will be hunting in.

I highly recommend using a thin liner sock along with a quality hunting sock to reduce blisters.

Good hunting!

Danner....

Oops---Forgot about the Danner Gila. Sole Stiffness it would be between mountaineering and danner high ground.

There are folks here with much more experience and advice than me and I definitely agree with back-up hiking boots but I'll add Cebela's Perfekt by Meindl. They rate 4.7 out of 5.0 with 300 reviews and I was impressed with their comfort, support and ease of break-in. I'm a big ole boy with bad ankles from years of basketball and I was impressed with their support. I use Danner Pronghorns as back-ups but they simply are not comfortable for my feet. I think you can compare Danner's reviews on Cabela's as well.


Cabelas Perfekt by Miendl

Danner Pronghorns and wool socks. I prefer the Un-insulated version even for horseback hunts. They will fit in normal stirrups and unless you are going to be sitting for a long period of time they are plenty warm. Do NOT skimp on socks!

I like russels