Posted on: August 3rd, 2009Kenetrek Mountain Boots
The plans were finalized for my first late season mule deer hunt in Idaho. My gear was ready, my shooting was spot on, and my body was in excellent shape. I had one slight problem though. While I had footwear to cover most conditions, footwear required for a 5 day mountain hunt in November I did not, and I only had a week to go!! Cheap boots would not do on this trip, and all my research was pointing towards a great boot company from Montana. Kenetrek boots were my choice, and what a great choice that was!
I called Kenetrek and discussed my options with their great employees. I told them what type of hunting I was going to be doing and what I expected the conditions to be. They told be the 10″ 400 gram thinsulate Mountain Hunters would be a perfect fit, and who was I too argue! The boots arrived a day or two after ordering, and I wore them everyday for at least 5 hours to break them in. Hardly enough time, and it had me a little worried that my feet would be hamburger by the end of my hunt.
Arriving in Idaho with my new and now great friends Chad Baart and Richard Besendorfer, we immediately drove to the hunting grounds and set up camp. The next morning we geared up and hit the mountain. It was a week this flatlander from Wisconsin will never forget. I averaged 3,000 feet of climbing a day chasing rutting mule deer bucks. While the buck of my dreams eluded me, it was a successful trip nonetheless. A big reason I thought of it as a great success was the newfound confidence I had in my gear. Everything I planned for in terms of weather happened, from snow, wind, rain, cold, etc. My gear performed flawlessly. The big surprise to me was that throughout the week of up, down, side hilling, cold and wet, my feet never bothered me once. In fact, I never even had a hot spot, cold toes (which I always get), or had a drop of water get in my boots.
I cannot say enough good things about my Kenetrek boots. The quality of construction is out of this world. I’m not sure how they do it, but a stiff mountain boot should not be that comfortable! Somehow the boot builders at Kenetrek pulled it off, and I’m sure glad they did. I wholeheartedly endorse these boots, and suggest them to anybody looking for the ultimate in footwear.Kenetrek 10″
By: Jerod Fink Founder, Back 40 Outdoors, Hunters Journey Field Editor