Any outdoors enthusiast will tell you that the most important preparation you can make before heading out is getting yourself the right pair of boots. Without a good set of outdoor boots you’ll be hard pressed to keep your grip on rocky terrain, keep out the water in swampland, and stay comfortable for more than an hour. When shopping for boots, you’ll find that they fall in two broad categories hiking boots and hunting boots.
Although there are similarities between hiking and hunting boots, hiking boots tend to be designed for mobility, while hunting boots are heavier and designed for protection from the elements. A good hiking boot could be used for hunting, but a hunting boot may be too heavy for hiking.
It can be hard to tell the difference between the two at first glance. Maybe even on second glance sometimes too. Still, there are some essential differences in the two categories. But that doesn’t mean that a hunting boot won’t be good for hiking, or vice versa.
Differences in style
When browsing hiking and hunting boot listings, you’ll notice right away that the boots can look very different. Hiking boots come in variety of colors, patterns, and materials. Fashion sense and personal taste can play a role in the selection of your boot.
For hunting boots, the style is more functional. You will tend to find hunting boots sporting green, brown, and gray camouflage patterns. Hiking boots aren’t often used by someone sneaking up on wary prey or moving unnoticed through the brush and foliage, so they can stand out more in their designs. However, hunting boots are made with all of that in mind, so they’ll tend to be covered in camouflaged patterns with forest or other biome colors for stealth.
Differences in Shape and Construction
Hiking and hunting boots will have different shape and construction that reflects their different functions. Hiking boots are designed for the hiker who is constantly moving, covering many miles in a day. Hunters cover much less ground than hikers, so the boots can be designed with more bulk and greater protection.
Differences in height
Hiking and hunting boots come in different heights, which trade off the breathability of the boot versus protection of your body and clothing.
Hiking boots typically in a mid cut, which comes just above the ankle. (A low cut will be found in hiking shoes, as opposed to boots.) A mid cut provides support for the ankle while trekking over rugged and uneven terrain. But it doesn’t extend up the calf, which contributes to the breathability of the boot. That helps to keep your feet from overheating or becoming too clammy.
Breathability isn’t as much of a concern for the hunter, who is not covering comparable distances. Hunting boots will be taller than hiking boots, ranging from 8 inches to as much as 16 inches in height. The purpose of a tall hunting boot isn’t so much for ankle support, as it is to keep out debris, water, or insects. When the weather is damp or when you’re crossing low water, pants can be tucked into the boot to help keep you dry.
Differences in material
Hiking boots will often come in lighter, breathable synthetic material, such as synthetic polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate. Synthetic materials help to make the boots more breathable, but also faster to dry and more flexible and easier to break even.
Hunting boots are made of materials that offer greater durability and protection. Leather hunting boots are rugged, but provide some degree of durability. Hunting boots can also be made of rubber. Rubber boots will be scent free, which helps to prevent detection from animals. Of course, rubber boots will also be waterproof.
Weight
A significant difference between hiking and hunting boots is in their weight. Hiking boots tend to be lighter than hunting boots. Lightweight hiking boots let the hiker move faster and more comfortably over the miles, while the greater protection of the hunting boot will make it heavier.
The weight of boots doesn’t matter a whole lot when you’re only planning for a short day hike. You will only be wearing them for a few hours maybe over a day or two. Weight will matter to you if you embark on longer treks that last all day or multiple days. Wearing heavy boots for longer hikes can be draining, and afterward your feet will likely complain to you about it for days. This is why most hiking boots are built to be lighter than average, making them less of a chore to wear on the longer, more strenuous hikes.
Generally speaking, boots that are considered ‘lightweight’ will weigh around two to three and a half pounds. Boots that weigh more than three and a half pounds are considered to be heavy.
An example of a good lightweight hiking boot would be the Salomon X Ultra 3, while an example of a heavier boot would be the Danner Mountain 600.
On the other hand, heavier hiking boots will do a much better job of absorbing the shocks of walking over rough or uneven terrain, and also lend better support to your feet. Hiking boots that are built out of leather will usually be more heavy than boots that are instead made out of synthetic materials like polyurethane or EVA.
If you know anything about hunting though, then you probably already know why they tend to be heavier. When you’re on the hunt you aren’t moving very much, if at all, for most of the day. Having a lighter boot will end up being more harmful in that situation as it means less insulation and protection against the dirt, mud, swamps, and rough terrain. This is why heavier hunting boots are a must on long hunting trips in order to keep your feet warm and protected.
An example of a quality lightweight hunting boot would be the Northside Crossite boot, while an example of a heavier one would be the Rocky Men’s Sport Utility Pro.
Of course, sometimes it’s important to break this general rule. If you’re a hiker who wants more cushioning for their ankles or warmer boots, then you’ll likely want to grab heavyweight hiking or hunting boots. If you’re a hunter who is after game that needs you to be quick on your feet or track them down, then you’ll want to get lighter boots. A good pair of hiking boots may be just right.
Something else to note about lighter boots is that they are usually shorter and therefore offer less ankle protection and support. For a short day hike with minimal gear, this is not a problem. However, for trekking or hunting up in the mountains over very uneven terrain with a heavy backpack over your shoulders, this will definitely not be preferable.
Heavier boots will often use rubber bands or ample rands around the upper parts of the shoe in order to absorb the brunt of abrasion. Heavier boots will also make use of a more pronounced heel and superior traction on the outer soles to give you a better grip over rough terrain. The fact that they offer higher protection over your ankles as well reduces the odds of pebbles getting into your feet.
Product Organization and Marketing
When shopping for hiking and hunting boots, you’ll see that they are categorized differently. This isn’t so much a reason why the two boot types are different so much as a difference in how they are sold and organized for purchase. While this might not affect your purchase itself, it can help you better understand what to look for and where to look for it when you decide on either one.
Hiking boots are organized rather simply. Essentially, you can buy casual hiking boots, which are lighter and more breathable, or you can get heavyweight hiking boots, which are built to withstand harsher terrain and colder temperatures.
If you’re looking for a lightweight pair for your afternoon hike on vacation, then you can check out the lighter hiking boots. If you’re planning on a much longer and perhaps more adverse hike in colder weather, then you’ll want to check out the heavier hiking boot options as they provide the best insulation and ankle support.
Hunting boots on the other hand aren’t organized around the duration of the hunting trip, as that likely won’t matter as much as it would for hiking. Instead, they are generally sold around the type of terrain and biomes where they will be worn. For instance, if you’re planning on a hunting trip in a colder climate with fewer rivers or creeks, then you might look for a sturdy pair of leather hunting boots to keep your feet warm. If you’ll be tracking game through marshes and boggy areas though, you’ll want to buy a solid, high cuff pair of rubber boots to keep out the water and muck.
Price
Perhaps the most pressing concern with buying either a hiking or hunting boot is just how much it’ll cost you. While there isn’t a hard line on pricing between either of the categories, there is a general difference in the price that can clearly be seen just by browsing the first search results. More often than not, hunting boots will put a bigger dent in your wallet than a hiking boot will.
While there aren’t many obvious reasons for this, considering that most hiking and hunting boots are designed for some of the same conditions in the outdoors, it isn’t something that you can ignore. The difference is most likely due to their intended purposes. Since most everyone is able to go hiking, even if it’s only up a small hill in the neighborhood, hiking boots are more readily priced for average consumers, while hunting is a different activity and less available to everyday people. If you’re looking at the more heavy duty hiking boots on the market though, you’ll see that they tend to be in the same price range as hunting boots, which means that it is also partly due to the sturdier construction of hunting boots.
Should You Get a Hiking Or Hunting Boot?
After all of this you may be wondering whether all of these differences matter in the end. Do you have to use a hunting boot for hunting and a hiking boot for hiking? The answer is no.
While both hiking and hunting boots have certain things that are designed for their intended purpose, this doesn’t mean that you’ll have to use them only for that intended purpose. Most hiking boots are sturdy, insulated, and protective enough to go on warm and dry hunts. And a lot of hunting boots can easily double as heavyweight hiking boots for colder or wetter hikes. However, the split isn’t perfect; just about all hiking boots will make good hunting boots, but not all hunting boots will make good hiking boots.
When you’re considering which you ought to buy, you shouldn’t focus too much on whether a pair is put under the hiking or the hunting category. Instead, you should figure out what you’ll need when heading outdoors, such as ankle support, insulation, breathability, etc., and the price to find the perfect boot for your trip. Usually, though, this will lead you to buying a much cheaper hiking boot.