The 5 Best Lightweight Summer Hunting Boots for 2022
Spring is here and even though I’ve relined my reels my heart is never far away from hunting.
There is something about the instinctive traits that hunting brings out of you, the ancient and primal traits we all have inside us, that separates hunting from fishing.
By all accounts both are venerable art forms as old as man, but the discipline and control it takes to hunt effectively are a cut above the more nonchalant sport of modern angling.
There are many species to hunt, and it can pretty much keep you occupied year round if you choose. If you live in a seasonally varied climate, it is important to invest in appropriate hunting attire for the changes from hot to cold and in between.
If you do not acquire the proper hunting garments whichever season you are skimping on will leave you pretty miserable, trust me I know from experience.
Most people who hunt are well equipped for the cold, because many species are pursued during the cooler months for the bulk of the country.
What I want to focus on today is what you need to hunt for summer game, and there is no better place to direct that focus than proper foot care.
What is A Good Weight for Hunting Boots?
Keeping it under three pounds per pair is ideal for making sure you don’t soak your feet in sweat and risk blistering or some other minor injury. If you live in a warmer climate, you know all too well how important a lightweight pair of hunting boots are.
I’m sure that like myself, many of you have a hearty pair of insulated hunting boots that can tackle some pretty frigid temperatures. However, you would be wise to get a good pair of lightweight hunting boots to hunt in warmer weather.
If you, again like I have, wear those heavy insulated boots while hunting coyote in June, or if you happen to go out in September with your bow to get a buck in velvet, you likely will regret it because it will zap your energy as you encounter temps that could come close to or reach triple digits.
How Tall Should Your Hunting Boots Be?
Most standard hunting boots range anywhere from 4 to 8 inches tall. If you are staying true to cutting the boot’s weight, then you will likely be looking in the lower end of that range (though some boots will surprise you).
There is one big caveat though, and that is the prevalence of venomous snakes in your area. If you live in a region where encountering venomous snakes is a routine occurrence, then you will likely want to consider snake boots; particularly as we are discussing summer hunting, which coincides with reptilians’ most active season.
If you live in Florida and hunt python, you are probably a little more freaked out at the thought of encountering a cottonmouth than a python.
Likewise if you are ranging through the forest, especially this year with the 17 year cicada emerging, you have a pretty high chance of encountering a copperhead or rattlesnake.
Most snake boots for hunting are 15 to 18 inches tall, which is a lot of protection over an area normally exposed by standard boots. The dangers posed by these snakes, which include major health trauma and in some cases death, are serious reasons to look into snake boots if you confront any of the aforementioned species often.
What Can You Hunt in the Summer?
Most states offer at least one or two species in just about every month of the year. In my state you can hunt coyote day and night, the whole year round. In most areas of the U.S. you could go hunting for something every day if you want, so hunting season is never really over.
You may be asking yourself, “I can hunt in the summer?” or “What species are in season around here during the summer?” If you grew up like I did, you associate the warm season with fishing and cooler season with hunting, so don’t feel bad if you’re just getting in the know about warm season hunting.
Wild hogs are another species that typically have a year round designation, particularly in places where they are overpopulated; and in many areas small game like squirrels and raccoons and avians like collared doves, pigeons and crows are allowed to be pursued all or most of the year.
If traveling far and wide is no issue for your hunting passions, you might be pleasantly surprised at the amount of traditionally cold weather game available to hunt in the summer months.
For example, Idaho has a spring black bear season that goes into June and even pronghorn and whitetails are seeing some states extend their opening days back into mid August!
If you have never been summer hunting I highly recommend it! As you start to plan your spring and summer excursions take a look at The 5 Best Lightweight Summer Hunting Boots for 2022 to help make those warm weather excursions the best that they can be!
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Danner makes really, really good boots. For just about anything from working to hiking to hunting, Danner produces terrific footwear for the occasion.
The DANNER MEN’S VITAL HUNTING SHOES are not an exception. These boots are perfect for warmer climates and warmer seasons.
At 8” from bottom to the top of the ankle, it is at the higher end of the standard hunting boot dimension, but these boots are not insulated and the pair clocks in at 2lbs 15oz. This means that you can enjoy the comfort of a quality, lightweight hunting boot while also having the ankle support to tackle the most rugged terrain.
The textile material is available in brown, REALTREE EDGE and MOSSY OAK BREAK-UP COUNTRY, and both the textile and rubber on the boots are abrasion resistant for added durability.
The DANNER MEN’S VITAL HUNTING SHOES are Danner Dry waterproofed, but not all the way up to 8 inches, somewhere in the 5-6” range these will allow water and the tough slot will eventually create an opening. This is standard for most lace up hunting boots and if they were to leak below that zone, Danner offers a one-year warranty on all products sold.
My favorite feature about the DANNER MEN’S VITAL HUNTING SHOE is that there is virtually no break in period. They will “break-in” a little, but not much and you don’t have to go through a phase of discomfort at all.
These boots are ready to hit the backcountry right out of the box.
FEATURES & SPECS:
All rubber and textile are abrasion resistant
Danner Dry waterproofing
Mesh layer over Danner Dry protection on tongue, this allows better venting of the ankle and foot
Multi-Density foam patterning and the molded open-cell PU footbed create and evenly comfortable support and helps regulate temperature
Danner Plyolite midsole
TPU heel clip for increased support
Danner Vital outsole is great for gripping on earth, wood, and rock whether wet, moss covered or leaf littered
2lbs 15oz per pair
8” from bottom to top of boot
Danner 365-day warranty
Danner Mountain 600 Hiking Boots
“Comfort”
The worst thing to do is get hung up on needing a “hunting boot” or needing camo on your boots to feel like you’re prepared to hunt. You don’t. I promise you the game you are pursuing will not notice your boots.
Since we are focused on summer hunting and warmer climates, it makes even more sense to expand into what is designated “hiking” boots.
The DANNER MOUNTAIN 600 HIKING BOOTS are worthy of your hunt. The comfort level is unmatched and the Danner quality that we just discussed in our first entry has proven itself again.
These are suede leather, but the Danner Dry waterproof liners ensure these boots keep your feet safe from moisture coming from both inside and out.
Because of the leather construction, you may generate a bit more sweat than a more breathable boot, but the Danner Dry liner and Ortholite footbed help you wick that sweat right away.
The reason I will sacrifice a bit more sweat for a leather waterproofing is simple. There are high tech socks and other methods of mitigating sweat, but if the skies open up I have no way of keeping my feet dry if I am wearing non-waterproof boots.
At 4.5” from bottom to the top of the ankle, it is among the shorter boots which is something you may be considering if speed or freeing up your ankles are what you are looking for.
I have hunted in 8” boots and 4” boots and can tell you that both have their purpose-based luxuries. The shorter boot tends to strain the calves less than a high cuffed boot, so that may be something to consider if you are looking to do a lot of trekking on your hunt.
Any stress you can take off of affected muscles is without question the path you should take. The shorter boot also tends to be lighter, and The DANNER MOUNTAIN 600 HIKING BOOTS are only 2lbs 5oz!
These boots are designed to trek with you through mountains and forests, there’s no reason you shouldn’t bring back dinner when you go.
FEATURES & SPECS:
37oz per pair!
4.5” from bottom to top of boot
Non-insulated
Ortholite(™) footbed for tremendous comfort
Danner Dry waterproof lining is designed to wick away internal moisture while protecting from external moisture
Vibram (™) Fuga outsole designed for no slipping on wet or dry terrain
Danner 365-day warranty
TPU heel frame for maximum support
Merrill Men’s Moab 2 8” Tactical Waterproof
“Workhorse”
The MERRILL MOAB 2 8” TACTICAL WATERPROOF boots are simply put, Rugged.
It only seemed appropriate that this list have a pair of boots noted for its durability and toughness.
What makes this pair of boots even better is that they are based off a hiking boot design. If you have ever owned a pair of MOAB hiking boots you know they are pretty comfortable. I had a low top pair for years that served me well on many excursions.
The MERRILL MOAB 2 8” TACTICAL WATERPROOF brings that comfort to the tactical boot game. They are waterproof PU coated and ripstop, which is to save pretty impervious to whatever terrain you may encounter.
These boots have a side zip feature, which I have never been a huge fan of, but the heavy-duty YKK zipper system is well constructed and durable and there are certainly many safety advantages to having a backup method to free your foot from an 8” boot.
This boot, like our previous two featured boots, sports the TPU heel support system for comfortable stability. The Vibram TC5+ outsole sports a 5mm lug depth which is how deep the rubber cleats go on the bottom of your boots.
Combine all that with a 2lb 11oz weight per pair and you have boots that are ready to take on a long day of stalking game.
These boots are designed to work well in warm conditions and are great if you live in a warmer climate region.
If you live in an arid region, like the southwest, then the MERRILL MOAB 2 8” TACTICAL WATERPROOF should be a finalist for you.
FEATURES & SPECS:
MERRILL M SELECT(™) DRY impermeable membrane keeps water out while allowing moisture to escape
Waterproof PU coating
Ripstop upper
Heavy-Duty YKK Medial zipper
Molded TPU Heel counter for added stability
Breathable Mesh Lining
KINETIC FIT(™) EVA contoured footbed with zonal arch and heel support
MERRILL air cushioning in heel for added shock absorption
Vibram(™) TC5+ outsole with 5mm lug depth
8” from bottom to top of boot
2lb 11oz in weight, per pair
Lacrosse Men’s Venom 18” Waterproof Hunting Snake Boot
“Bulletproof”
I thought it was appropriate to add a good pair of snake boots since I mentioned them earlier.
To be fair, if you do not live in a snake prone area, these may not become a finalist for you, but they are well worth a look.
We are breaking a couple of rules here at 18” in height and 5lbs per pair, but if you are hunting the lowlands or river bottoms they may prove worth the effort.
The 100% grain leather and 1000 denier nylon construction is reinforced with a 100% waterproof scent dry lining, which helps make sure you stay dry in those lowland environments.
The steel shank and waterproof lining are accompanied by the 360 degree snake guard protection, which is a flexible fabric layer between the liner and the exterior of the boots.
The LaCROSSE MEN”S VENOM 18” WATERPROOF HUNTING SNAKE BOOT is equipped with a side zipper as well as a full lace up. The polyurethane footbed and Lug Sole sole are designed for comfort and protection.
LaCROSSE partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation on the Mossy Oak camo patterns available and donates a portion of each sale for Turkey conservation, so if you are looking for a high quality pair of snake boots, you can get the added bonus of helping to preserve turkey hunting for future generations.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Lug Sole sole
18” from bottom to top of boot
5lbs per pair
100% Full grain leather and 1000 Denier Nylon upper
Abrasion resistant
Side zipper and full lace system
Waterproof scent dry lining
360 degree snake guard lining
RealTree APG(™), Mossy Oak NWTF Obsession(™), and RealTree Edge(™) camo patterns available
Irish Setter Men’s Vaprtrek Hunting Shoe
“Versatility”
I am not really ranking these boots against one another because they are all excellent boots, and have advantages depending on your locale.
However, the IRISH SETTER VAPRTREK HUNTING SHOE is my current spring and summer hunting boot.
I have owned multiple pairs of Vaprtrek series from Irish Setter, and they typically are among my favorite boots to wear.
Comfort may be my personal focal point and they are immensely comfortable for the size and durability.
The rubber RPM composite sole plays a big role in the comfort for the simple fact that it contributes to how light this pair of boots are. To give you an idea of how light they are, the packaging does not quite weigh 3lbs!
At 8” it is another normal high ankle, and offers great stability protection despite it’s austere weight.
The polyurethane footbed is removable and these boots are equipped with memory foam. Yes, over time the cushy-ness of the memory foam will wear out, but when it does it forms a mold to your foot allowing you to continue to step in comfort long after.
All of the Vaprtrek series boots are equipped with scent ban technology and it seems to be effective.
The exterior ARMATEC XT is an improvement from the original ARMATEC abrasion proofing and it led to slight water leakage, the new ARMATEC XT corrects this problem.
The IRISH SETTER VAPRTREK HUNTING SHOE is waterproof and it has held up well for 3 years now.
The CuShin comfort tongue is designed to give relief to the high ankle/low shin area which can get stressed, especially if you are holding a still position for an extended period.
These boots perform and I like that I can wear them fishing, hunting and hiking without it being an inconvenience to my feet, and affords you the ability to reduce your loadout if you’re planning a multi-adventure weekend.
FEATURES & SPECS:
Rubber, RPM composite sole- extremely light weight
UltraDry waterproofing
Polyurethane footbed- removable
Memory foam
Scent Ban technology around the high ankle
Side zip and full lace system
ARMATEC(™)XT abrasion resistance
CuShin(™) comfort tongue for ankle and shin relief
8 inches from bottom to top of boot
Approximately 2.5lbs
Full grain leather along with nylon construction
“The old man used to say that the best part of hunting and fishing was the thinking about going and the talking about it after you got back.”
— Robert Ruark, The Old Man and the Boy
Any one of these pairs of boots should deliver an exceptional quality and comfort, and provide you with a lot of fun in the sun.
Always remember your hunter’s orange if you’re hunting in firearm season, because nearby fellow humans are always your biggest liability when in the field.
Remember if you’re new to warm weather hunting, bring more water and less coffee; and never forget that you can’t bag your quarry if you’re leaning against a tree asleep.
Happy hunting my friends!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Smith is an avid angler and outdoorsman based in central Kentucky.
Ryan spends between 60 and 110 days fishing each year.
He is a carpenter by trade.
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