We believe the best elk hunting boots should allow you to concentrate virtually on your hunt, with worry-free about blisters, foot cramps, brutally cold feet, and hot spots. That’s why we have been testing for over 2 years and here are 6 of the best to try:
Here are the best elk hunting boots (Dec 2024 Update):
- Best Overall: Kamik Men's Hunter Boot
- Best For A Bad Ankle Sprain: Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX
- Best For Cold Weather: Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker
- Best For Below Freezing Temps: Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek
- Best For A Bad Ankle: Kenetrek Women's Mountain Extreme Insulated Hiking Boot
- Best For Icy Snow: Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk
| Top 6 Best Elk Hunting Boots | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Kamik Men's Hunter Boot | Read Our Review |
Best For A Bad Ankle Sprain | Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX | Read Our Review |
Best For Cold Weather | Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker | Read Our Review |
Best For Below Freezing Temps | Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek | Read Our Review |
Best For A Bad Ankle | Kenetrek Women's Mountain Extreme Insulated Hiking Boot | Read Our Review |
Best For Icy Snow | Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk | Read Our Review |
Men’s Elk Hunting Boots
Best Overall: Kamik Men's Hunter Boot
- Eco-friendly – liner is made of recycled materials
- Breathable, warm, and easy to clean – feature an 8mm Thermal Guard removable liner & temperature rating of -40°F/-40°C
- Easy to wear but still keep out the elements efficiently - waterproof adjustable nylon collar
- Excellent traction and grip - EXPLORER synthetic rubber outsole
- A little stiff to start off with
- A bit clunky, not ideal for driving
We love durable and comfortable hunting boots that keep us stay focus the most while hunting elk. That’s why the Kamik Men's Hunter Boot receives our highest accolades.
This slip-on rain boot is made mostly of synthetic rubber material, known for its decent waterproof abilities with no sacrifice in breathability.
The reason is Kamik has added an 8mm Thermal Guard liner into it to help wick all sweat and moisture off the skin, keeping a dry interior with no bad smell or annoyingly damped feeling.
The liner gets lots of praise for its wonderful heat retention for warmth to wear during cold weather, even when the temperature drops down to -40 degrees F. It is also removable for easy hygiene and more significantly, made completely of recycled material.
| Kamik Men's Hunter Boot Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 12 ounces |
Material | 95% Rubber/5% Nylon |
Heel High | 1 1⁄2 in |
Highlight Features | Recycled material liner 8mm Thermal Guard removable liner & temperature rating of -40°F/-40°C Waterproof adjustable nylon collar |
With the most waterproof upper of any boot we tested, in addition to the amazingly moisture-wicking liner and snugly fitting collar, the Kamik Men's Hunter Boot deserves the best overall option here.
Best For A Bad Ankle Sprain: Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX
- Ideal for long-way hunts - Lightweight, just 640 grams
- Ultra-comfortable & supportive – feature foam cushioning & technologies applied
- Waterproof, cool airflow, and protective - The Techno fabric
- Not ideal for wider feet
- Not recommended to walk in rocky terrains - Soft soles
- A bit pricey
The Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX is particularly designed to help you get to the next elk hunts with happier ankles.
It is very lightweight – weighing 640 grams – but equipped with lots of foam cushioning as well as adapted technologies for supreme comfort and support for backpacking. In other words, the boot is effective in reducing fatigue over the duration of your treks.
The Techno fabric is another big plus, as it gives a nice balance between breathability and weatherproof to meet most terrains, allowing you to hunt all-year-round with the best protection.
| Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 640g. |
Material | Nubuck leather/textile upper Rubber sole |
Highlight Features | 640 grams Foam cushioning & technologies Techno fabric |
Designed to handle day hunts with no packs to carry, the Salomon Quest 4D 3 GORE-TEX is way overkill, making it incredibly perfect for a bad ankle sprain.
Best For Cold Weather: Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker
- Toasty warm yet breathable and dry - Ultra-thick insulation lining, high-ankle design with customizable shoelaces
- Supportive & waterproof - GORE-TEX fabric lining & EVA footbed with memory foam
- Odor-free - ScentBan technology
- Wear out a bit fast
- Need time to break-in
Ultra-thick insulation material and high-ankle design are essential features of the best elk hunting boots for cold weather.
The Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker also boasts a waterproof GORE-TEX fabric lining and EVA footbed with memory foam, which we found to make it toasty warm to wear in the winter. No issue with the 0 to 40 degrees F swing in temperature and our feet had never been wet.
We also love the moisture-wicking ability of these nylon liners, even if you’re heavily sweating, the adapted ScentBan technology ensures to keep the interior odor-free.
| Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2 pounds |
Material | 100% Leather |
Heel High | 1-2” |
Highlight Features | GORE-TEX fabric lining & EVA footbed with memory foam ScentBan technology |
As being of durability, high quality, and amazing warmth, we definitely recommend the Irish Setter Men's 882 Elk Tracker for people who are looking for ultra-warm hunting boots to survive during frost-bite winter.
Women’s Mountain Hunting Boots
Best For Below Freezing Temps: Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek
- Extremely lightweight – weigh just 400 grams
- Decent endurance and comfort to wear - the RPM technology
- Ultra-warm in under 0 degrees C of environment
- Lack of traction
- Not ideal for wider feet
- Less wiggle room
Don’t let the clunky look of these Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek!
It weighs just 400 grams and is incredibly lightweight to wear on days’ hunt, all thanks to the RPM technology – a special breakthrough composite material blend – that’s known for decent endurance and comfort.
Compared to the traditional materials, it is much stronger and more durable whereas adding no weight.
The boot also receives plenty of compliments for its warmth.
According to one elk hunter on Amazon, she didn’t feel cold in the toes – if not saying very warm - when walking this Irish Setter boot in below freezing temps. The same review with our testers’ reports.
| Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 400 grams |
Material | 100% Textile and Synthetic Rubber sole |
Heel High | <2” |
Highlight Features | 400 grams RPM technology |
The Irish Setter Women's 2881 Vaprtrek is created for providing warmth on below freezing temperature ranges, and despite its bulky silhouette, it feels amazingly lightweight for days of hunt.
Best For A Bad Ankle: Kenetrek Women's Mountain Extreme Insulated Hiking Boot
- Super comfy and supportive to reduce fatigue nicely - 5 mm nylon midsoles
- Abrasion-resistant - reinforced rubber sole guard, the seamless tongue design, and the 2.5 mm thick premium full-grain leather uppers
- Waterproof and wind-proof - Wind-tex waterproof breathable flexible membrane
- Expensive
- Narrow
Eight out of ten testers in our team said that their legs, ankles, and feet weren’t sore after wearing these Kenetrek hiking boots all day. They also worked like a champ when we walked them through rugged terrain with hefty loads behind.
On the other hand, the boot resists abrasion very well.
We endorse the reinforced rubber sole guard, the seamless tongue design, and the 2.5 mm thick premium full-grain leather uppers using a one-piece vamp had done their excellent jobs.
Plus, they’re waterproof and windproof to keep your feet cozy yet dried all day long.
While packing tons of features, we appreciate that these boots still keep its slim-profile design for a neat look, with lightweight K-talon outsoles for nice traction.
| Kenetrek Women's Mountain Extreme Insulated Hiking Boot Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2 pounds |
Material | 100% Leather Rubber sole |
Heel High | 1 1/4" |
Highlight Features | 5 mm nylon midsoles Reinforced rubber sole guard The seamless tongue design and the 2.5 mm thick premium full-grain leather uppers Wind-tex waterproof breathable flexible membrane |
If your bad ankles usually end up feeling painful after hunting a day long, the Kenetrek Women's Mountain Extreme Insulated Hiking Boot will be your incredible life-saver.
Best For Icy Snow: Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk
- Waterproof & arch supportive
- Toasty warm in frost-bite conditions
- Stylish and cute
- A bit bulky
The Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk stands out as an extraordinarily warm hunting boot but still breathability to keep your feet dry and cool during the warmer season. Plus, they are waterproof and supportive of the arch.
It would save your ankles against potential injury in some cases on rocky and uneven hunting terrains, as well as keep the feet toasty warm in icy snow situations.
While being a workhorse in harsh weather conditions, the boot is also cute enough to wear in restaurants, with style, over your skinny jeans without awareness that you’ve just from a hunt. Wonderful!
| Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 2 pounds |
Material | 100% Leather Rubber sole |
Heel High | 1.25" |
Highlight Features | 100% Leather Shaft measures approximately 8.25" from arch |
This functional and cute Irish Setter Women's 2886 LadyHawk is a nice pick for people who want versatile footwear to help them survive during icy snow weather with no sacrifice in style.
How To Choose The Best Elk Hunting Boots?
Boot Materials
- Pay attention to the upper material of your elk hunting boots as this part directly affects your ankle and the entire foot against impact, like sticks, rocks, wire, barbed, and thorns.
- For the highest durability and protection, leather is our recommendation based on its unrivaled strength and waterproof in tough conditions.
- Either purely genuine leather or a blend of synthetic/nylon fiber and leather is nice, depending on your budget and hunting needs. Of course, boots made of 100% full-grain leather will be pricier but they give extraordinary durability and longevity while the split leather is cheaper but less durable.
Insulation & Breathability
- Insulation is an important feature to considering if you’re about to hunt during the cold seasons or in the winter. It refers to the ability of your hunting boots to keep the feet warm.
- Among many materials that strap warmth, we find the synthetic rubber outperformed. But if you’re an all-year-round hunter, it’d better for you to have two pairs of hunting boots – one insulated and one isn’t.
- While looking for a reasonable insulation level for your boots, don’t forget to consider if they can keep your feet cool or not. Or, the breathability grade.
- This feature is a must if you’re hiking a long distance before arriving at the hunting spot. It’ll be better if your boots are also adapted to odor-free technology.
Outsole
- Experienced elk hunters know that terrains will be wildly varied over the course of a day’s hike, from traversing shale slopes to navigating deadfall. There would be countless obstacles awaiting, such as dust, gravel, mud, sand, streams and creeks, briars and thistles, yucca, and cacti.
- The outsole of your boot takes a big role in providing comfort to your feet under such rough terrains, in addition to the traction, lateral stability, and shock absorption.
- We highly recommend choosing outsoles with lug shape and multiple tread patterns for extreme traction. While a deeper, more aggressive tread pattern works well in rugged terrains, the shallower design limits debris and mud accumulation.
Which Brands Make The Best Elk Hunting Boots?
Kamik
- The longest-standing family-owned brand specializing in footwear. Currently, the company is located in Canada with over 400 employees. After more than 120 years’ experience in the industry, they know how to rule this realm.
Salomon
- Solomon is a footwear France-based company, founded in 1947 and has become part of Adidas since the 1990’s. This global manufacturer has been spread over 45 countries with an emphasis on their multiple lines with functionality.
Irish Setter
- The brand has been manufacturing purpose-built boots for hunting since 1929. What sets it apart from other competitors is the distinctive materials and design, alongside with excellent services.
FAQs
How many grams of insulation do I need for hunting boots?
It depends on the weather on the days you go hunting.
- For evenings with high activity levels or mildly cool days, 200 grams of insulation is nice
- 400 grams will work for slightly cooler days with tree-standing hunts or moderate activity
- For frost-bite weather or below freezing temps, 400-600 grams is a nice choice.
Should I buy insulated hunting boots?
Insulation is worth considering when you intend to hunt in mild conditions, mid-season to late-season hunts.
Should you size up in boots?
We highly recommend going half size up on those hunting days when you have to walk more because, at the end of the day, your feet start swelling up.
Besides, a half size up of your boots makes it versatile to use all year round as in the winter, you will have to wear ultra-thick socks for warmth.
How do I protect the boots from odor?
Here are some tips to protect your boots from bad smell:
- Charcoal insoles
- Rubbing alcohol and spray bottle when cleaning the shoe
- Put in a freezer or resealable bag when your boots aren’t in use
- Use coffee filter and baking soda
- Wash your feet regularly
- Apply a foot powder before wearing them
Do hunter boots loosen up?
They do break-in, but not loosen up.
Normally, new hunting boots will feel stiff in a couple of first weeks wearing but afterward, they start breaking in and feel more comfortable.
Conclusion
Every model we cover in this review fills a unique niche. Each has been tested in different rounds and multiple terrains before jotting down the final reports so all these 6 best elk hunting boot reviews are reliable to consult.
From men’s to women’s boots, our top list can help you pick the right one.
