I am currently looking to replace my hunting boots. For the past 2 seasons I have been comfortable in 200gram insulation boots. I am hesitant to make the jump to more insulation and also scared to go completely non-insulated.

I am looking at the Danner Vitals and cannot decide between non-insulated or insulated (400grams). I have nice wool socks and all of my hunting is sitting for hours in a pop-up blind or open-air tripod, not much relief from the elements. Looking for recommendations if it is too heavy for hunting in Texas where majority of the season is lows in the 40's with seldom sits in the 30's. Any recommendations are appreciated. TIA

I sit in Texas with a lot more grams than that and still get cold. I wouldnt dream of not having one insulated and one not.

I wouldn’t have insulated boots if I lived in Alaska.

I bought some extreme boots for sitting in a tripod in the panhandle (cold and windy). They were good for that. Anything else, not. Too bulky to comfortably walk and too hot if it wasn't super cold. I have only used them a few times as I got too uncomfortable in the tripod and bought a blind to get out of the elements. I did use the insulated ones to walk up and get the mail in the 8" snow we had the other day. Other than that, I haven't worn them. It just doesn't get all that cold.

I hunt the panhandle, have Danners with 400G and am very glad. I sit in the open about as often as I sit in an unheated blind. I hike a lot, put in the miles. My feet don't get hot or uncomfortable at all. Of course, these are for when it's cold which is about 1/2 the time during deer season.

I bought a pair of 400g mountain extremes and with wool socks my feet never got cold.

Then one day I looked real close at my boots and discovered they were, in fact, uninsulated.

With good wool socks most people are fine.

Since all you do is sit in cold blinds or tripods, then definitely get the insulation. Heck, I'd probably get some air-activated toe warmers too.

Gaiters are not just for water/snow/dirt/debris. They help with warmth.

Maybe check out some down booties (https://www.westernmountaineering.com/product-category/down-garments/booties/) as well.

Non insulated for me.

Non insulated for me

I have both

After decades of trying to keep my feet warm in leather boots, I learned the secret is to wear rubber boots that fit snuggly and hold heat starting at the calf. With the right pair of socks, I don't wear an insulated rubber boots until temps drop into the 30's.

I also have rechargeable boot heaters. Really comfortable insert, similar to an arch support you put in an athletic shoe. Charge them up and good for 4 hours. Fantastic product, I’ve sat in single digit temps many times with these, they work great.

I have one of each. A non insulated pair and a 400 gram pair. Both Danner.

I go non-insulated 99.99% of the time. I have a pair of 400g insulated that I wear maybe once every two years. I found that non-insulated plus a nice merino sock (like smartwool) covers all of my needs for the most part.

question for those that wear only uninsulated...
Are you able to sit still for 12 hours in 20 degree weather?
Same question for 6 hours.
Same questions for 30 degrees weather.
Now all the same questions for an enclosed but no heater blind.
I get cold easy, but If you can do any of those things then your body is different than mine.
Totally different if you just sit for 3 to 4 hours or if you are moving around all.

Yes, but under 15 and sitting I switch to SOREL pack boots, or Columbia bugaboo(I get major discount on both) , that’s more sitting in a tree in Okla. If out west I will run to single digits in non-insulated hiking, I’ll toss on over booties when glassing.

If I’m horse back, I would go back to a pack such as Schnees/kenetrek/hoffman/whites pull on or lace up pack. I use to have a pair I out grew, that I wore when in the panhandle @ feedlot. Great boots but I struggle to hike long distances in any pack boots but these types(mention above) fit firmer then the sorel style

In your case I’d look @ the Hoffmann pull ons or lace ups

Same, have a pair of Crispi and haven’t been cold in them yet.

For sitting on a stand in the cold I love my Kamik insulated rubber boots. Great price point, and very warm.