Consider which shoes are best for hunting

What kind of shoes do you choose for hunting? Walking along rough mountain roads with guns, carrying heavy game, juggling through rivers, and walking on slippery snowy roads.

Depending on the hunting ground, there are many things to go on the road where the feet are not sure. The most important thing is the choice of shoes. If you choose the wrong shoes, your feet may slip and you may get a serious injury.

There are probably some hunters out there who have had a bad experience with their choice of shoes. In this article, we will consider which shoes are best for hunting.

hunting shoe types

First of all, there are three types of shoes used for hunting. The first is boots, the second is tabi, and the third is hiking boots. Let's take a look at the characteristics of each type.

1. Characteristics of boots type

It can be said that it is the most orthodox hunting shoe. Since they are boots, they are completely waterproof even when walking in rivers at a certain depth. In addition, considering that the hunting season is winter, one of the advantages is that it is highly resistant to the cold.

On the other hand, it can be said that it is a disadvantage that it gets stuffy during summer work such as harmful extermination. In the case of boots, the fit varies from person to person even if the size is the same. If the fit is poor, the shoes may come off unintentionally, the feet may move in the shoes, and the ease of walking may be impaired.

As a countermeasure, for example, if you actually wear it and it is baggy, it would be a good idea to adjust it well with an insole or socks. In addition, safety boots with plates have excellent protection. You can also prevent injuries such as unintentionally stepping on bamboo or branches.

normal boots

If you don't hike in the mountains and mostly use flatlands, you can wear boots without spikes without worrying about slipping.

In that case, it can be done cheaply, so it can be said that cost performance is also good. However, if it is too cheap, the core will break or the rubber is thin and will tear easily, so be careful.

spike boots

The types with spikes (metal pins) on the soles have a particularly good grip and are hard to slip. On the other hand, some people don't like the bumpy feel of the spikes when walking.

Also, some people avoid metal spikes because prey dislikes the clicking sound that metal spikes make when walking.

There are also boots with felt soles. The rubber sole type is slippery on uneven rocks with moss, but the felt material is very slippery.

On the other hand, felt is slippery in mud and grass, so it is necessary to use it according to the situation. There is also a type with spikes on the felt sole.

2. Tabi type features

The toe of the tabi is divided between the big toe and the other toes. Therefore, you can support your feet with four points, thumb x 2 and other fingers x 2. Of the three types introduced in this article, the tabi type is the most stable.

Like the boots type, there are many types with spikes. There are metal spikes that have excellent grip, and rubber spikes that have less grip but do not make a clicking sound when walking on gravel or pavement.

Since the foot is fixed with hooks* and Velcro, the fit is better than boots, and especially if it is the type that is fixed with Velcro, the foot will not wobble or slip out of the shoe. I don't think so.

* Kohaze: A nail-shaped metal fitting attached to the back of the ankle.

On the other hand, compared to the boots type covered with rubber material, waterproof and cold protection performance is inferior. Boots are particularly suitable for walking in swamps and hunting in areas with a lot of snow.

For example, some hunters use tabi in the season before it snows and boots in the season when it starts to snow.

Since jika-tabi are often used in the forestry industry, there are many types of safety shoes with cores in the toes and instep guards to prevent cuts and shock resistance.

If you want to wear tabi, you will of course need to prepare tabi socks instead of ordinary socks.

3. Characteristics of mountaineering shoes and boots

In terms of ease of walking and appearance, climbing shoes are the winner. It's lighter than other types and has good breathability, so if you don't care about grip, waterproofness, or protection, I think it's a good choice.

If you are going to walk on a mountain path, we recommend a high cut type. It is best to avoid low-cut shoes, as they can make your ankles unstable and things can easily get stuck in your shoes.

Also, if it uses GORE-TEX, which has excellent waterproofness and moisture permeability, it will have moderate waterproofness and reduce stuffiness. However, it is less waterproof than the boots type, so we recommend using gaiters (spats) together.

In addition, some hunters who mainly walk around wear military boots. Military boots are very durable.

Which type should you choose?

In conclusion, each type has advantages and disadvantages. Which one is best depends on the climate, topography, what you value, etc.

It's a silly conclusion, but I think you'll be less likely to make mistakes if you choose the same gear as your master or senior who has a similar hunting style. By wearing it, you will create your own needs (e.g. easier to walk, stronger grip, etc.).

However, in my experience, too cheap things often lead to a loss of money. I think it would be a good idea to look at the reviews of people who have actually used it and the reviews on Amazon, and choose the one that has a lot of positive opinions.