Cabela's, Irish setter, Wolverine boots?

[thelefthand]

Does anyone have any experience with any of the "Cabela's" boots? I know they don't make their own, but I don't know who does. I suspect that it depends on which model a person buys, and you get what you pay for.

Same question for Irish Setter and Wolverine. I know that Irish Setter is made by Redwing, and I've been wearing and have liked redwing work boots for a long time. I've heard a lot of guys who really like Wolverine boots too.

I've been using Danner boots for several years, but the last pair I bought started leaking after only 2 years. I only wear them when I hunt, and to me 2 years isn't very long. Especially since I rotate through two or three pair at a time. My dad had similar problems with the last pair of Danner hunting boots that he bought, and a co-worker had the same problem with a new pair of Prong Horn boots from Danner. My first pair of Danner boots were very good, but have finally started to wear out an I need to replace them. Given the recent track record that I've witnessed with Danner, I'm not willing to pay top dollar and get a questionable boot. To be honest, I've got a 4 year old pair of Rocky boots that I wear around the house, and out cutting wood and I feel they have held up better, and have been more comfortable than my last pair of Danner boots.

Specifically, I am looking to get a pair of 8" or 10" boots that are water proof, and have 200 to 400 grams of thinsulate. I'll use them mostly for bird hunting (lots of walking, very little standing still, sticky mud, standing water, frozen fields, ravines, snow, the whole gambit), Turkey hunting, and deer hunting (stand/blind) in above freezing temps. I use a pair of boot covers when I deer hunt, so warmth is not a huge factor. I'd prefer 200 gram. I want them to be tough as nails, and water proof. If I were to wear them all day, every day, I would expect them to last at least 2 years. My budget is about $200, but I prefer to stay around $150. I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks,
Mark

[rossman40]

I always liked Chippewas since I used them in the military. I wore out two pair of the arctics and a pair of the loggers. But like everyone else nowadays they even have half their stuff made overseas.

[Dave W]

The first pair of Cabelas boots I bought probably lasted 10 years before the sole came loose at the toe. They never leaked until I started using them for kicking rabbits out of briar bushes.

Had two pairs of Cabelas Rimrock hikers that I wear at work. The soles only last about a year on the concrete. Did a lot of wet saw and wet grinding, never leaked.

Currently using these for hunting.
www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20564-cat601928&id=0005217810075a&navCount=6&podId=0005217810075&parentId=cat601928&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=QL&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true
Guessing three or four years on this pair, no leakage to this point. I only use them for deer hunting and I'm a stand hunter so they do not see a lot of wear and tear so I don't know how well they would hold up to your type of hunting. I have been very happy with Cabelas boots to this point.

[tar12]

My LAST pair of Rockys lasted a grand total of 2 months before the soles starting coming off.Their quality has really went down hill in recent years.You used to be able to count on them.No more.I am currently wearing Fishers by Wolverine.They are a uninsulated lined work boot that have been a pure joy to wear as they have the dura-shock sole.I just recieved a new pair of Danners with thinsulate for winter activities.Danners have never failed me.Mark you may want to rethink your Danner option. I have bought them used off of e-bay for the kids for wood cutting boots and they just keep on running strong.The last pair for "Q" lasted him 3 years and now his sister is on her 2nd year.Nary a leak. also Danner is the only company I am aware of that has a boot refurbishing program that allows different levels of choices to the consumer.

[rossman40]

The thing with Danners are if it has a molded sole, it's made in China. I think half the ones with stiched soles are made in China also. That was the thing back in the old days if you had a tour at Ft Lewis you made the trip down to Danner for a pair of boots.

They use to make the Rockys over in Nelsonville, OH. Now the plant is a "distribution center".

[whyohe]

I have always had good luck with Rocky boots. I use them for work and i walk on railroad ballast all day. the soles last about a year to a year and a half, but with what im walking on i consider that good. I had a pair of Bear claw 1200 gram thinsulate for hunting and lasted 6 years with no leaks and sole in good shape but insoles broke down and starting to smell . I did get creek water in them when i crossed and it was deeper than i thought. ;D

[mountainam]

Lefty, Did you try to contact Danner to give them a chance to make it good? They are an old company and maybe that's all that anybody has anymore is a good customer service dept.Sounds like you have a legitimate gripe. I've never been disappointed with any Browning boots. Good Luck.

[rossman40]

The Browning boots are made by the same company that makes Carolina, Matterhorn, H&H, Corcoran and a bunch of others.

Danner always treated the troops from FT Lewis right in the past.

[thelefthand]

The last pair of Danners that I bought didn't see much use for a while as I was still wearing out the first pair, and I had 2 more pair of 600 gram boots to go into the rotation. That was before I started using boot covers when stand hunting and ice fishing. By the time I started having problems with them, it had already been two years. Even though I hadn't worn them much, it had still been two years so I didn't bother. I just used them for more of a general purpose boot. I'll give them credit, the soles do last a long time, I was just disappointed that they started leaking with such little use. They have still made a good pair of walking boots so long as either the ground is frozen, or dry. But if it's wet out, and I'm going to be busting through the brush, mud, and who knows what else with my bird dog, then my feet are going to be miserable for several hours. My dad's last pair had problems the first few months, and Danner sent him a new pair. No doubt their customer service is great, and that does mean something to me. Bad thing is that he ONLY wears his when he's deer hunting or ice fishing. This means that they see very little actual wear and tear, and the replacement pair started leaking at about a year old. I think his boots are around 1000 grams of Thinsulate and they cost him almost $250 from cabela's. More Thinsulate doesn't add much to the cost of a boot, and I know I can get good boots for $150, so for $250 I would expect the level of quality and dependability to be absolutely perfect. Everyone makes a lemon now and then, but Dad got two in a row in my opinion (although he doesn't complain about it). That combined with my pair, and a co-workers pair of prong horns has just left a really bad taste in my mouth. The coworker didn't try to get his issue resolved, but still, I expect a Danner boot to be better than that. They cost a premium price, and I expect a premium product.

I don't bird hunt a ton, but when I do most of it is done while camping for a week, and I won't take new boots with me. I can't afford to be breaking them in when I'm going to be out all day, every day for a week. I also can't afford for them to start leaking in the middle of a hunt when they are only a year old. I think I'm going to give someone else a chance to earn my money this time.

Not sure what I'll do. Thankfully, I'm trying to plan ahead right now, so I still have plenty of time to make a decision. I just want to get a pair that I can break in this year.

Thanks!
Mark

[tar12]

Well I just got in from a 2 hour jaunt running my dog.Set down here and logged on and was reading Rossmans post then yours Mark as I was taking off my new pair of molded sole Danners! I hope they hold up as I almost wear my boots 24/7! I weigh 280 and I am hard on boots.Time will tell in short order.I will say they are very comfortable with no break-in needed,but that matters not if they fall apart and start leaking prematurely.As Rossman stated earlier so much now days is getting farmed out over seas it is depressing.Is there anything left that is all American made?i have a pair of Cabela brand boots that I bought some 7-8 years ago that justed started leaking.I sure got my money out of that pair.....

[youp50]

Irish Setters....

Made in China for Redwing.

Several years ago I needed a pair of light boots, quick. I got a pair of Redwings. Thinsulate, goretex and kangaroo leather. To me the 280 bucks was a considerable investment. Some bean counter must have agreed. He decided a seam in the leather right at the ball of the foot would get more boots per kangaroo hide. A boot maker would have known that you cannot put a seam there, too much stress and it will tear. A bean counter decided to make those boots one year.

The seam tore and Redwing stands by there boots. Except we don't make that boot anymore, but we will give you wholesale credit. A replacement was selected, and the 80 dollar loss accepted. And the replacement had some cheap glue holding the goretx booty seam waterproof. Oh, did I say we do not manufacture that boot anymore? Wholesale credit though. Another 80 dollar loss on a pair of boots that lasted less than one year.

I have worn Red Wings most of my adult life. I expect I will do just fine with out another pair of Red Wings. I lament another great company that has sold its heart and sole (pun intended) to some Harvard money grubber's idea of what you need.

I am out of time to post any other bad things about Red Wings. There are many.

[deadeye]

i too have experienced good & bad lately from what we call hunting boots such as rocky,danner etc. i have logged over 2,000 miles (approx) in the mountains in pursuit of elk over the last 17yrs. the best footwear bar none was raichle hiking boot which lasted me 10 + yrs in the mountains only.this year i bought another pair of raichle & mammut/links attached. in my finding;s i look to the hikers(pro's) & i dont think elk or deer really notice camo footwear ,if so your already busted. the hiking boot scene i find more quality,comfort,heal room etc & lately these are great reduced prices. the problem is finding them in stock in your size
www.climbhighoutlet.com/mammut-granite-gtx-hiking-boots-mens
www.campmor.com/raichle-mens-explorer-gore-tex-waterproof-hiking-boot.shtml?source=CI&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11205

[deadeye]

an update on these 2 boots. just returned from 3 weeks in the rockies chasing elk. while the weather was extremely dry but still found marshy areas. we put approx 50mi in 1st 3 days,somewhere around 200mi total,my feet are in great shape with no blisters,etc. i will give these 2 both a "10" rating

[deadon]

Sept 25, 2010 8:26:00 GMT -5 deadeye said:

an update on these 2 boots. just returned from 3 weeks in the rockies chasing elk. while the weather was extremely dry but still found marshy areas. we put approx 50mi in 1st 3 days,somewhere around 200mi total,my feet are in great shape with no blisters,etc. i will give these 2 both a "10" rating

Deadeye, walking 200 miles, your feet ain't the only thing in great shape Rusty

[gunny]

I to have a pair of Danner Pronghorns started leaking after a couple years .Really like the Pronghorns just gunshy to pay that much and leak in a couple years. gunny