Winter Boots

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member
Location
Twin Cities
I need a new pair of winter boots this year.
I went to put my old Sorels on last February and the rubber bottom just shredded away from the leather upper.
I only got 20 years out of them...
Looking at Cabelas and Sorel.com I don't see the plain old Sorels like I had. They seem to have fancy, furry tops and talk about new fangled liners.
A lot of winter boots don't even have removeable liners. Not sure if I like that idea.
Was nice to pull the liners out and set them by the register and they'd be dry in the morning.
Or you could buy new liners when the old ones wore out.
The Sorels I had weren't a hard boot. That let you 'feel' what you were walking in/on a little better than a hard boot.
I don't need protection from falling objects or much puncture resistance.
Gotta be good for slush and snow but not wading through water.
Need a warm boot for hunting, ice fishing, snow plowing on the tractor, etc. Not really for working in.
What kind of boots are people wearing that meet those guidelines?
 
I have been wearing Wolverines for about 10 years now, super comfy, warm at below zero temps. Go to their website.
 
I had a pair of sorels & the sides cracked where they flexed when you walk. I took them back & they didn't have any sorel replacements in my size but they had some Baffins so I said that would be OK. I really like them. They are water proof, have removable liners, they are light & comfy. I would buy Baffins again if I ever wear these out.
 

I haven't thrown out my 35 year old Sorels yet, but I did buy a new pair last winter. The uppers are man made instead of leather. They seemed to work OK, they kept my feet warm and they have pretty much the same liners that you pull out to dry over night. But they are of course made in China.
 
I used to work outside on a shipping dock. Only boot I found that kept my feet warm were LaCrosse Iceman. Big and bulky with wool liners. Iceking is the same boot with a thinsulate liner. They made. My feet sweat then they got cold. About $100 for the Iceman. Used to get 10 yes out of a pair everyday for 10 to 12 hrs.
 
Sorels went the way of most good things in this world- to china. Best bet for winter boots I've found is surplus Mickey Mouse boots and a Peets type boot drier. Heavy, bulky, ugly, cheap (comparatively), WARM. I can buy 2 or 3 pair of MM for what Lacrosse or Red Ball cost. They are tougher by far than my last 2 pair of Lacrosse. There are no leather boots that come close to MM for warmth. I've had cold feet since the 60's and now, for the first time, my feet are warm in winter. Nothing else even comes close.
 

I finally bought a pair of good winter boots several years back. I picked Sorels and were happy with them (fit, warm etc.), except the rubber developed cracks after the first winter, cracked through where it flexed after the second or third winter. I bought a pair of Tingley low cut rubbers that use to hold the lower part of the boots together.

The leather uppers and liner is well made I just can't bring myself to throw them away - I would like to stick them some where. This will be the fifth and last winter.

My next pair will not be Sorels.
 
It's a shame to here that sorel boots have gone down hill. I have a pair that is 25 or 30 yrs. old and I wear them quite often during the winter. I have replaced the liners several times over the yrs. and now the tread is about gone but the leather and rubber are still in good shape no cracks just well broke in.
 
Our winters don't get as cold as yours but I wear Chippewa safety toe loggers that are thinsulate lined { 400 grams) and are waterproof (Chip-a-tex} If it gets below -10 and I am going be outside for a long time I wear Herman Survivors that are waterproof and have 1,000 grams of Thinsulate insulation. I have never had cold feet using these two boots and I have to be careful because Iam a diabetic.
 

While on the subject, I found out some time ago that you can add insulating innersoles and they help a lot at keeping your feet warm.
 
Whites or schneeze. I think that is how you spell schnesze. Either way they are great. Get ready to spend a little, but if you got 20 out of your last ones you should have a little saved up in the boot fund. I have whites and they are 5 years old and still look great.. A friend of mine goes with the schneeze with the same results.
 
I have 2 pair of the high top Schenees. One for work & one for Sunday go to meeting. I also have extra liner that I rotate everyday to keep the boot dry.
Schnees boots
 
bought a pair of Dunlop rubber boots about 4 years ago, still going, but leak now due to large (self inflicted) cut just at the top of the steel toe, wonderful and warm i need to wear a liner type sock over my regular wool sock to help keep my feet dry, they cost me $200 when i bought them, they are popular on the oil rigs here... and -40 isn't an issue as long as i'm moving around, my feet get cold in them if i am just standing about in them.
look here
 
Thanks for the ideas fellows.
I looked at the links you supplied.
Might just go back to the Sorels.
The writeup at Cabelas.com does say they are real leather uppers.
Who knows...
I was given a $100 gift card for Cabelas two Christmas ago and still haven't used it.
Ought to take some of the bite out of buying a pair.
They wont be in store till October so I'll wait till then.
these
 
(quoted from post at 02:09:17 08/20/14) Here's a link to the best USA made gear you can get. He won't play along with the advertising crowd so he doesn't get much press. You have to be an end user in the most inhospitable places on earth to appreciate what he makes. Look around and check it out for yourself. http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?category=3

I bet it's great stuff, but I can buy a LOT of surplus parkas for the $750.00 they want for their coats.
 

That is the pair I have. Yes, the uppers are leather and very high quality. I also, have an extra wool felt insole in mine which increases the warmth and improves the fit for me.

I suggest, within the warranty period you keep an eye on the rubber for cracks.

Enjoy
 

X3 on the Lacrosse. Have had a pair for 10 years still going well.
I do only wear them during bad weather though.
 
looks like ya found a good pair.
Funny about winter boots. I hunt a lot, cold here too.
Spent a lot of money on good hunting boots over the years.
Just puttering around outside, most of the year I wear unlined
muck boots I think they're called. ya know, cowflop boots.
(probably like where you live, you have 2 conditions year round, snow or mud...or both)
Saw a pair on sale once for some with winter liners. $25 or so.
Tried em for the yard, and they turned out to be warmer than the high dollar hunting boots. go figure
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top