Hello Coldpak and welcome. This is a question that comes up often and garners a huge variety of responses and opinions, a good thing. I’ll start the voting in favor of the L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Shoe (their hunting boot is similar but not as good). It’s in fact a high-topped, leather upper/sealed rubber bottom, uninsulated boot. It’s extremely light and while the soles are substantial enough to protect your feet through just about anything, they are thin and soft enough to allow you to feel small objects, like sticks, before you put full weight down. Short of mocs, which have limited application, the Bean boots are the quietest you will likely find. If you keep the leather uppers treated with Montana Pitch Blend, they are absolutely waterproof, and scent-proof if the outsides are clean. Cost about $100 and last for many years. One thing I don’t like is that they have eye laces all the way to the top, which is slow and requires removal of gloves. But now you can request speed laces for no additional cost. Because they are thin and uninsulated, they aren’t warm. I order a half-size large to allow wearing heavier socks when it gets chilly, but in CO in Sept. you aren’t likely to encounter snow or deep cold so it’s no biggie. Some folks with weak ankles say they don’t supply enough ankle support, but that’s a personal physical thing. I have been packing elk with them for decades and simply by tightening the laces I get all the support I need. So there are the pros and cons of my favorite elk hunting boot. I totally avoid the popular over-ankle leather and/or fabric boots because the waterproofing doesn’t hold up, they are heavy, stiff and loud, and spread the smell of sweaty feet everywhere you walk. 😛 IMHO

Coldpack

I vote with Dave. The LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes are unbeatable. Request speed laces, get some warm wool socks, and you are set. They are the best hunting boots that I have ever owned. Very comfortable, soft soles for quiet walking/sneaking, and very affordable.

Happy Turkey Day…

Dave,

I was looking at the maine hunting shoes and boots. Is the difference in the leather uppers or are the soles thicker in the boot? Do you have any recomondations on sizing? The site said to order a size smaller then you normally wear but some of the reviews said otherwise. Thanks for your insight.

Brennanherr

LL Bean suggests that you pay close attention to the size your purchase. They have recommendations for choosing your size on their website. I wear wool socks with mine deer hunting. I ordered a half-size smaller than the boots that I usually wear and they still fit perfect even with the wool socks. If my memory serves me correctly LL Bean recommends that you order one size to a half-size smaller than your normal shoe/boot, as they are made a little big.

Jody

Jody has it right. By ordering your usual size, thus, you are ordering a half-size large, which is how I like it. I don’t mind a bit off looseness in my shoes (like the old blues song says :lol:), and the extra room allows for foot swelling on a long hot hike and plenty of room to adjust sock thickness and layering. The Bean hunting boot does have a different sole and other minor differences and is a good boot, but not so fine-tuned to the needs of trad bowhunters as the legendary “shoe.” If properly maintained, they are so waterproof that even with older boots I can blast them off with a water hose when they’re particularly muddy, and still not get my feet wet.

I concur with the LL Bean Hunting Shoe as the lightest most waterproof all around selection. My very first pair were the 6″ version that I used for early bowhunting. We rarely have snow in NC during deer season and I could only afford the 6″ boots. I wore out 2 soles on those boots until somehow my feet grew and I grew too. So my next 2 pair were 8″ and 10″ in a size larger. I bought my normal size because now I need an athletic heel support in them along with my wool socks. The 8″ers are the Bean Boot Dave spoke of and the 10″ers are the Maine Hunting Shoe. There may be a slight difference but I really can’t tell that much difference. Maybe the support shank is diferent. I know the Bean Boot is marketed more to urbanites and the Hunting Shoe is marketed toward hunters and outdoors folks. Both are solid waterproof with the leather kept dressed and warm enough with wool socks in winter. The EVA foot beds they come with today are way better than the old leather and wool beds they used to come with.

Thanks for the info fellows

I have the Schnee uninsulated boots that are similar to the Beans. I got them a 4 years ago reason #1 was because of the speed laces #2 I have landed on my butt using the chain tread sole more than once. I like the bob soles of the Schnee’s. They are stiffer so they are not are quiet. But I also use mine canoeing in the Boundary Waters and Quetico wilderness areas and I like the traction I get when I am carrying a canoe & pack.

Very interesting info!! I have flirted with getting a pair for years, but coughing up the cash was my downfall. Sounds like you get what you pay for here and I think I must have a pair!!

Also, I was worried that they didn’t make them as well as they did in the old days because I don’t think the ads mention “live rubber” anymore.

Thanks guys!! todd