Looking at either a pair of Irish Setter Vaprtrek or Danner Vital for spring turkey this year and early season bow hunting in the fall.
My lacrosse aero sports are great but my legs get hot in them and get uncomfortable after a lot of hiking, chasing birds.
What's everyone's thoughts or experience with either of these boots?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Danner Vital. Definitely waterproof, comfortable, come in wide sizes, lightweight. This is my 2nd pair, my first pair lasted 15 years. Highly recommend Danner...
I started hunting the russell moccasin snake
Boot a few years back man they have out performed all the nethers i used in the years before
I had Irish setters for a few seasons. Water proof for 1 season after that, my feet would get wet walking across a grass field. Switched to lacrosse rubber boots. Yeah they aint as light or comfortable but no wet feet from creeks or grass.
Sent from my SM-S918U1 using Tapatalk
I have been wearing the Irish Setter Vaprtrek boots for several seasons now and have been happy with them. I have found them to be comfortable and with good ankle support, which has always been an issue for me.
I rarely hunt where water infiltration is an issue, but the times I have, my feet have eventually taken a bath. Now, if I regularly hunted somewhere that I was subjected to water issues, I would probably just coat the heck out them with a waterproofing spray and hope for the best. Regardless, I am not one that gets too excited over hunting with wet feet. It is a ways down my list of concerns while hunting. Then again, if I WAS regularly hunting where my feet would get wet, I might change my tune about it. ;D
Danner Vital are good, also look at the Danner Recurve... I have been liking them even more.
I'm on my second or third pair of Vaprtrek's. Very comfortable and last several years for me. But they do lose waterproof after season 2. I have looked at the Danner Vitals but I think they may be heavier? Not sure on that.
I have a pair of Chene zip up rubber boots arriving today. Looking forward to my feet staying dry on the wet days. I hope.
Another vote for the Irish Setters.
I call them my 17" running shoes. My current pair (first pair had a TON of miles on 'em when one came apart) is going into its 4th season and they are still waterproof.
I owned one pair of Danner upland-type boots about 20 years ago. They started coming apart after about 3 weeks. Maybe it's changed....but, at that time, I couldn't just take 'em back to the store for an exchange. Had to send them back to Oregon and wait 6-8 weeks for a decision to fix or replace. Last pair I ever bought.
I had an issue with a pair of Irish Setter Rutmaster rubber boots. A manufacturing defect. Took 'em back to the place I bought 'em. Walked out with a new pair in under 5 minutes....no questions asked.
I bought a pair of crispi Valdres GTX. Boots. Wear em snow or 95 degrees. Paired with darn tough socks everything else is my focus. My feet aren't. Purchased in 2018 I believe or 2017. Keep em oiled. Buy once cry once
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Prohunter3509 on February 24, 2025, 08:37:48 AMI started hunting the russell moccasin snake
Boot a few years back man they have out performed all the nethers i used in the years before
x10, and I wore a pair of Danner lace-ups for a few years that were definitely comfortable.
My Russells were pretty comfortable brand new (found them on eBay for $350), yet once they became very broken in, they've been the most comfortable pair of boots I've ever worn by far.
I'm running a pair of danner snake boots currently. My previous pair was Vaportrek. Danners have a Gortex lining and the Vaportrek are some kind of membrane, possibly sprayed on. The vapor treks waterproofing didn't last a season. I correlate it to the my boot dryer affecting the membrane as I've read in researching waterproof socks that most spray on liners melt with heat.
The Danners have made it through their 1st season unscathed can't say nearly as much for the vapor treks but man were they light.
My my choices for boots don't have a name brand attached to them other than they must have Gortex.
As for waterproofing, they all seem "decent" at best no matter what brand. Morning dew in tall grass is always the worse it seems. I found boot gaiters to be the real game changer to really keep your feet dry.
I vote Crispi. Yeah I know they are expensive. I also know how well they have work out for me.
They WILL leak, it's only a matter of time.
I've worn Crispi Nevadas for 6 years now and they are yet to leak. I keep them treated with boot wax but they don't leak.
Lots of good boots out there... Not every boot is good for every person, which is why there are so many choices.
I have a high arch and narrow heel... I do not order online.
My current boots are Irish Setter EnerG, due to them being on sale and fitting me. So far so good. Made in Vietnam.
My previous pair were Browning's and they were very comfortable... Soles came off both boots after several seasons... Before that, Rocky (same thing)... While most everyone I know loves Danner, they just have not fit me comfortably.
I am hard on boots... I figure 4 seasons, and if I get 5, they are pretty good.
Most comfortable boots I had were expensive hiking boots... Waterproof, light weight, and very comfortable. Hiking boots are made for trails, and they did not hold up for hunting (in which I am rarely on a trail). I went through several pairs during my 2 year warranty with them. I believe I am now banned from REI.
Danner, Rocky, Irish Setter, Lacrosse, Browning, and other companies make good boots. If you are covering ground while hunting, good boots are paramount... But good boots for me, might not be good boots for you and vice versa... If the fit me comfortably, I would get Danner... Leather has held up better than synthetic, but leather tends to be heavier, and there seems to be more choices with synthetic lately.
I will say that for rubber boots, Lacrosse have been hands down the best I have used.
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on February 24, 2025, 04:26:59 PMI bought a pair of crispi Valdres GTX. Boots. Wear em snow or 95 degrees. Paired with darn tough socks everything else is my focus. My feet aren't. Purchased in 2018 I believe or 2017. Keep em oiled. Buy once cry once
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
These are what I wear. Great boots!
I wear Crispi's as well. They are "the only" boot that has ever kept my feet dry other than a lacrosse rubber.
Quote from: Dhamilton1 on February 24, 2025, 08:05:50 AMLooking at either a pair of Irish Setter Vaprtrek or Danner Vital for spring turkey this year and early season bow hunting in the fall.
What's everyone's thoughts or experience with either of these boots?
My understanding is that both of these American company boots are made in Vietnam... Similar pricing... Danner a bit more pricey but not much...
All else being equal, I upland hunt, and the
In my experience, waterproofing is to some degree subject to the terrain and the abuse you subject them to. I have not had any (non-rubber) boots stay waterproof without treatment (hunting rocky/brushy country).
My advice, is get the ones that fit you best... I would rather pay more for comfortable boots I can walk all day in, than ones that do not fit as well... I would also rather have "cheaper" boots I had to replace more often that I could walk all day in, than ones than do not fit as well.
Both boots are reasonable choices... Get the ones that are more comfortable on YOUR feet.
All else being equal (similar comfort), the Vaprtrek have an uninsulted option, and upland hunting in insulated boots has been unpleasant for me (too hot). I would get the Vaprtrek for that reason alone.
Here's another question regarding the need for waterproof footwear. Depending on where you hunt, at what point does having waterproof footwear become irrelevant? The reason I ask is that the few times I have hunted somewhere where my feet got wet, I was getting wet almost up to my waste due to the high vegetation combined with either heavy morning dew and/or regular rain.
I would have to have been wearing chest waders to keep from getting completely soaked every day I hunted. I would assume a guy would have to wear waterproof pants, at least, to prevent the eventual soaking of everything below waste level under those conditions.
Personally, I'm just glad I mostly hunt where I don't have to deal with that problem on a daily basis...which is why I am generally not prepared for it when I do go to places like that. :angel9:
Contact the boot manufacturer, a full goretex bootie is required and there are some companies that construct the bootie with additional layers of protection that makes them last longer!
I have a pair of Asolo that are still waterproof and probably 10 years old, more miles than I could guess on them, I wear them when I know it will be wet with gaiters. Have had 3 pairs of their boots over the years, they last and stay dry.
Crispi are fine boots but did not work for my feet at all, need to try boots on in my opinion!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: GobbleNut on March 01, 2025, 08:42:42 AMHere's another question regarding the need for waterproof footwear. Depending on where you hunt, at what point does having waterproof footwear become irrelevant? The reason I ask is that the few times I have hunted somewhere where my feet got wet, I was getting wet almost up to my waste due to the high vegetation combined with either heavy morning dew and/or regular rain.
For me it only becomes irrelevant if I am wading in water... And the water level is over the top of my boots.
I know my pants will dry after walking in the dew (once the sun is up for a bit), but once your feet get wet, they stay wet, and uncomfortable... And one foot infection will make you a lot more cognizant about wet feet.
For rain, I have some light camo rain pants, and of course a good rain coat. I have hunted, and will hunt turkeys in the rain, but I do not like it... I will generally hunt with diaphragm calls only, and I use an umbrella, and tend to be a lot less mobile (as getting a nomadic bird to answer is a lot less likely).
I have killed some nice birds in the rain... The joy of doing so, is more that I can now get out of the stupid rain, rather than the joy of a successful hunt. :goofball:
But... As you know, hunting in the West, and often putting on miles on a hunt, dry and comfortable feet are paramount to the enjoyment of the whole experience (at least for me). With today's technology, being comfortable is a lot more easy... I do all I can to stay warm when it is cool and cool when it is warm, but the last thing I want to worry about is my feet hurting when I am walking.... Boots are still a challenge to me, cause I have a very narrow heel and high arch, so I appreciate comfortable foot wear.
I used to wear Russell boots. They are very comfortable, durable, decent on keeping your feet dry, but are heavy.
I wear Crispi Lapponia Lite boots now. They only weigh 1 lb 2 oz per boot, are very comfortable, durable and I've had zero issues with wet feet.
They required virtually no break in and I've never even had a hot spot despite as much as 11+ miles of steep up and down terrain.
Quote from: roberthyman14 on February 24, 2025, 08:41:48 AMI had Irish setters for a few seasons. Water proof for 1 season after that, my feet would get wet walking across a grass field. Switched to lacrosse rubber boots. Yeah they aint as light or comfortable but no wet feet from creeks or grass.
Sent from my SM-S918U1 using Tapatalk
I have had the same experience with leather "Gortex" boots. I switched to Lacrosse rubber boots.
Just got home from six days of hunting in Fl. The Chene light rubber boots kept me dry walking in lots of standing water daily. Averaging about 5 miles per day, no blisters at all. Plantar fasciitis was also kept in check. I am quite pleased and they are priced about the same as LaCrosse and other similar boots.