Best Waterproof Hunting Boots: 27 Lightweight, Insulated, Rubber and Snake Boots

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The best waterproof hunting boots for most hunters are the Irish Setter VaprTrek 8″: a lightweight leather boot with a waterproof liner that handles dewy fields, mud and creek edges from bow season into rifle season. If weight matters most, the Under Armour HOVR Dawn WP 2.0 weighs about 17 ounces per boot. For cold stand hunting pick an insulated boot such as the Danner Pronghorn 400G or the Rocky Retraction 800G. For marsh, flooded timber and deep creeks, nothing beats a rubber boot like the LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro or the Muck Woody Max. In snake country, wear a waterproof snake boot. Below are 27 waterproof boots for hunting, grouped by how you hunt, plus a guide to insulation grams, fit and keeping a boot waterproof.

My father hunts white-tailed deer from a plywood box blind on a family lease in the Texas Hill Country, and the walk in is a quarter mile of native grass that is soaked with dew before every sunrise. One November his old leather boots had stopped shedding water. By the time he climbed into the blind his socks were wet through, and two hours into a 35-degree morning he gave up and walked back to the truck. He still says wet feet end more hunts than bad shooting does. The same lease runs from 85-degree October afternoons, when rattlesnakes are still moving in the rocks, to frosty December sits. No single boot covers all of that, which is why this guide sorts boots by the hunt instead of naming one winner.

Best waterproof hunting boots at a glance

How to choose waterproof boots for hunting

Five things decide whether a hunting boot works for you: how it keeps water out, how much insulation it has, how tall it is, what it weighs and how it fits.

Waterproofing: membrane or rubber

Leather and nylon hunting boots stay dry because of a waterproof membrane sewn inside the upper. Gore-Tex is the best known. Brands also use their own: Irish Setter UltraDry, Danner Dry, Kenetrek Windtex. A membrane lets sweat vapor escape while blocking liquid water, so your feet stay drier on a long walk. It only works up to the top of the boot and it wears out over years of flexing. Rubber and neoprene boots are waterproof all the way to the top, often 16 to 18 inches, and never wear out in that sense. They do not breathe, so feet sweat on long walks.

Insulation: match grams to how much you move

Insulation is measured in grams per square meter of fill, usually Thinsulate or PrimaLoft. The more you walk, the less you need. A hunter climbing a ridge at 20 degrees makes plenty of heat; a hunter sitting still in a treestand at 40 degrees does not. Too much insulation makes feet sweat, and damp socks then chill you faster than thin insulation would. Scheels’ insulation guide and most boot makers use roughly these ranges:

Many hunters own two pairs: an uninsulated boot for early season and walking, and an insulated or rubber boot for cold sits.

Height

Six to 8 inches suits dry ground and steep hiking. Ten inches keeps out snow and shallow water and supports the ankle under a pack. Rubber boots at 16 to 18 inches let you cross creeks and walk through flooded timber. Snake boots run 16 to 18 inches because bites land on the foot, ankle and lower leg.

Weight

Every pound on your feet costs more effort than a pound in your pack. A light hunting boot weighs under 3 pounds per pair; a heavy mountain boot or insulated rubber boot weighs 4 to 6. Pick the lightest boot that still gives the support and warmth your hunt needs.

Fit

Try boots on late in the day, when feet are largest, wearing the socks you hunt in. Your heel should not lift more than a little when you walk, and your toes should not touch the front on a downhill. Hunting boot sizes vary between brands, so go by the brand’s own size chart. Break new boots in around the house and on short walks before opening day; GearJunkie’s boot testers give the same advice.

Best lightweight waterproof hunting boots

Lightweight waterproof hunting boots use nylon panels, foam midsoles and thin leather to cut weight without losing the membrane. They are the right choice for early season, bowhunting, upland walking and any hunt where you cover miles. Most are uninsulated, so they run cool.

Under Armour hunting boots

Under Armour hunting boots borrow running-shoe cushioning (the HOVR foam) and put it in a waterproof boot. That makes them some of the lightest and most comfortable boots for walking. Under Armour has cut its hunting line down over the last few years. Retailers list older models such as the Speed Freek Bozeman, Ridge Reaper Extreme and Brow Tine as discontinued. The two below are current.

Best insulated waterproof hunting boots

These lace-up boots carry 400 to 1,200 grams of insulation for stand and blind hunting. Pick the lowest number that keeps you warm. If you walk a mile to your stand, carry a dry pair of socks and change once you are settled.

Best waterproof boots for elk, mountain and upland hunting

Western hunts and bird hunts mean miles of walking, often on rock and side-hills. These boots trade some weight for stiff soles, ankle support and the option to resole. Kenetrek and Crispi are the two most searched mountain brands. Crispi sells mainly through specialty hunting retailers rather than Amazon; GearJunkie’s testers rate its Nevada GTX highly if you want to compare.

Best rubber hunting boots

Rubber hunting boots are fully waterproof to the top, leave little human scent on the trail and rinse clean. Deer hunters wear them for the walk to the stand for exactly that reason, and waterfowl hunters wear them because they live in water. Most use a neoprene core for warmth and flex.

Best waterproof snake boots

Snake boots are tall boots lined with puncture-resistant fabric. Hunters in the South and Southwest wear them for early dove, deer and turkey seasons, when snakes are active. About 7,000 to 8,000 people in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes each year, according to the CDC. On our family lease the October bow season runs warm, and rattlesnakes are still out in the rocks and tall grass, so snake boots come out before the insulated boots do. See our guides to swamp snakes and the most venomous snakes in the world for what lives where you hunt.

Best waterproof hunting boots for women

Women’s hunting boots are built on a narrower last with a smaller heel. Wearing a men’s boot sized down usually leaves the heel slipping. Several boots above, including the Danner Recurve and Muck Woody, also come in women’s versions.

Rubber vs leather hunting boots

If you hunt whitetails from a stand on wet ground, rubber is usually better. If you walk more than a mile or hunt hills, leather wins. Many deer hunters keep a pair of each.

How to keep hunting boots waterproof

• Clean off mud after every hunt. Dried mud pulls oils out of leather and grinds into the seams. Brush it off and rinse rubber boots with plain water.
• Dry them slowly. Pull the insoles, open the laces and use a boot dryer or stuff them with newspaper. My father learned this the hard way: a pair he left by the wood stove at deer camp came back stiff, with cracks across the toe flex. Direct heat dries leather out and can damage the glue that holds the sole.
• Treat the leather. Use the leather conditioner or wax the boot maker recommends, usually a few times a season. Treated leather sheds water before it ever reaches the membrane.
• Store rubber boots out of the sun. UV light breaks down rubber and causes cracks at the flex point.
• Check them before the season. Stand in a shallow creek or a tub for a few minutes in September, not on opening morning.

Waterproof boots keep your feet dry from the outside, but sweat soaks them from the inside. Wear merino or synthetic hunting socks, never cotton, and bring a spare pair for long sits. For more cold-weather ideas, see our list of Christmas gifts for hunters, which covers hand muffs, heated socks and blind heaters.

FAQ

What are the best waterproof hunting boots?

The Irish Setter VaprTrek 8 inch is the best waterproof hunting boot for most hunters because it is light, comfortable and waterproof from early season into rifle season. For cold stand hunting, the Danner Pronghorn 400G or Rocky Retraction 800G are warmer, and the LaCrosse Alphaburly Pro is the best rubber boot.

What are the best lightweight waterproof hunting boots?

The best lightweight waterproof hunting boots are the Under Armour HOVR Dawn WP 2.0 at about 17 ounces per boot, the Irish Setter VaprTrek at about 2.75 pounds a pair and the Danner Recurve at about 3 pounds a pair. All three use a waterproof liner and suit early season and long walks.

Are Under Armour hunting boots good?

Under Armour hunting boots are light and cushioned because they use the HOVR running-shoe foam. The HOVR Dawn WP 2.0 is one of the lightest waterproof hunting boots sold, and the Raider WP adds a leather upper and Vibram sole for steep ground. Many older Under Armour hunting boots, such as the Speed Freek Bozeman, are discontinued.

How many grams of insulation do I need in hunting boots?

Use uninsulated boots for early season and hunts with a lot of walking, 200 to 400 grams for cool mornings with mixed walking and sitting, 600 to 800 grams for stand hunting near freezing and 1,000 grams or more for late season sits in the cold. The less you move, the more insulation you need.

Are rubber boots good for deer hunting?

Yes. Rubber boots are good for deer hunting because they are fully waterproof to 16 or 18 inches and leave little human scent on the way to a stand. They give little ankle support and do not breathe, so they are best for stand hunting rather than long walks.

Can you make hunting boots waterproof again?

You can restore the outer leather’s water resistance with a conditioner or wax, which helps water bead off before it reaches the membrane. A torn or worn-out membrane cannot be repaired at home. If water comes in through the liner, send the boots to the maker if they are under warranty or replace them.

Do I need snake boots for hunting?

You need snake boots if you hunt in warm months where venomous snakes are common, such as early dove, deer and turkey seasons in the South and Southwest. Snake boots are 16 to 18 inches tall with puncture-resistant lining. In cold weather, when snakes are inactive, regular hunting boots are fine.

How should waterproof hunting boots fit?

Waterproof hunting boots should fit snug at the heel with room to wiggle your toes, and your toes should not hit the front on a downhill. Try them on late in the day while wearing the socks you hunt in, and use the brand’s own size chart, since hunting boot sizes vary between brands.

Sources

• GearJunkie: the best hunting boots for men
• Field & Stream: best hunting boots
• Scheels: hunting boot insulation guide
• Under Armour: UA HOVR Dawn Waterproof 2.0
• CDC NIOSH: venomous snakes