Minimalist hunting/hiking boots?

[dito]

Been doing the "barefoot running". Was wondering if anyone else does and what hunting boots you use?

[Huntinguy0120]

Closest thing to it, Danner Jackals, but your feet will get wet.. In terms of comfort and weight they feel like sneakers, but provide ample ankle support to cover miles in rough terrain

[dito]

I finally found some! Feelmax Kuuva boots. They are supposed to be water resistant. Will see how they stack up against cactus this week for my Mom's pronghorn hunt.

[Montana]

I finally found some! Feelmax Kuuva boots. They are supposed to be water resistant. Will see how they stack up against cactus this week for my Mom's pronghorn hunt.

Keep us posted on those boots... Those are my style... Lov'n them.

[dito]

Used them on my Mom's antelope hunt this weekend. They are really light and not too hot. Not the most impervious stuff to cactus. But only had two poke throughs. One got just right in the seam the other was a stout spine that went all the way through the sole. But so far I am happy with them. Will try them out elk hunting this weekend.

[twp1224]

I enjoy barefoot running, but when I have a pack on my back full of meat, I dont want to have barefoot/minimalist boots on. It's hard enough on my feet and joints with regular hiking boots on. Just my 2 cents though. Keep the post going though, I wantto know how the boots perform and how your body holds up if you have to pack and elk this year.

[mnhunter]

I concur with twp1224. I think walking downhill with a pack full of meat in minimalist boots could cause some damage to your feet.

The point of the minimalist shoes is that they accentuate the natural way the body is supposed to run, IE: No Heal Strike, and shock is absorbed in your calf and quad. Now when you look at how the body is supposed to walk, this movement includes a heal strike and the shock is absorbed in the arch and heal pad of your foot.

My thought is that the arch and heal pad are able to absorb the shock associated with walking under one's body weight, but not with an additional 60-90 lbs of pack and gear.

I have been running in barefoot shoes for a couple of years (ran 6 miles over lunch today), and I still wear regular boots for work (Army Infantry officer) and hunting. I think the barefoot shoes do alot more to condition my legs, and have improved my overall performance out in the mountains.

[Murdy]

"I still wear regular boots for work (Army Infantry officer)"
You don't have a choice on footwear, as I recall, do you? lol.

[dito]

Good points. I will find out once I have a loaded pack on. I did have some Inov 8's I used last year but the way they were built really made me pronate bad. But I didn't have any real issues with pack weight. Didn't kill anything so can't comment on a completely loaded pack. But I did have knee issues with my ankle rolling in.

[mnhunter]

Murdy-

Things have changed a little bit there are quite a few aftermarket boots you can use now (I currently rotate lowa's and nike's). When I was is AFG I actually wore civilian model hiking boots. I am sure as we quit fighting we will revert back to the strict uniformity. When I came in it was four pair of green jungle boots (2 spit polished for garrison and 2 pair with toecaps removed and Sierra soles for the field).

I really like my meindel denalis for hunting.