Ice Fishing
What are the best Ice Fishing Boots?
This is an addition to my earlier post- my Baffin Titans have kept me warm and dry this winter with just regular cotton socks. They feel lighter and more comfortable than my old Lacrosse Icemans, but I just weighed my boots- Baffins Titans size 12 one boot- 3. pounds six ounces- Lacrosse icemans 3 pounds 3 ounces- Red wing Irish Setter 600 gram (just use for regular bowhunting season). 1 pound, seven ounces. My striker ice bibs fit around and snap over my Baffins titans
The Korkers arrived today and upon inspection I am duly impressed. My left foot has issues with osteoarthritis in the big toe knuckle and boots can be a PITA to put on or take off. Ordered a size larger than normal and I was able to slip into these with the thickest wool socks that I own, even with that toe problem. The BOA system allowed me to tighten the laces easily enough (they use rubber-coated steel cables). To loosen up the laces was a snap. The boots weigh 2lb 2oz each and they are pretty stiff, almost like a ski boot. Not much flex in them. The ice soles that I ordered have plenty of deep lugs and plenty of carbide studs. Cannot see myself taking a header with those on glare ice. These aren't cheap boots and I will report back in 10yrs if I'm not pushing daisies.
Just got the baffin apex boots last year and they are great so far very warm and well made but the best boots I've used that have never made my feet cold or wet are the black lacrosse boots In the pic which I got like 15 years ago at gander on clearance for $50 but they don't make them anymore but they still work great next to them are the ice kings that are 20 years old and just like others said the toe of the sole cracked and leaks. The new ice kings are nothing like the old ones. I do wear the black lacrosse in the pic the most.
Every pair of pac-boots that I have owned, except one, has cracked across the toes, on top off the rubber part of the boot. That includes LaCrosse Iceman, LaCrosse IceKing & Muck Arctic Pro. The only rubber boot that hasn't cracked yet is the black Mickey Mouse boot from Sportsman's Guide for $39 a pair years ago(Like 30 years) All other pairs lasted about 4-5 years before the crack would appear. It must be my style while kneeling down & bending over for a tip-up, where the boot bends right at the toe. My feet tend to sweat in all of these boots, whether it be cotton sock or wool sock. Sometimes I think about wearing tennis shoes out to the ice or deer stand and then put on my pac boot. And my feet always get cold in any of these while on long sets in the deer stand, but the Mickey Mouse is probably the best for me. Looking forward to try the Baffin's that others have posted on. Have worn out multiple pairs of liners on the LaCrosse boots, and ripped the upper part of the Muck Arctic Pro crossing through barbed-wired fence. Things we go through to have fun........ :) but it is funny, well my crew laughs, when I pull my foot out of a boot to readjust my sock, the way my foot STEAMS for quite sometime during cold temps. An obvious sign that my feet sweat.......
I got a pair of Baffin Titaans a couple months ago. Awesome boots!! Alot lighter than my old Lacrosse Icemans. Waterproof, comfortable, warm. I have only been using regular cotton socks so far and my feet have stayed warm. With colder temperatures next week, I may need to put on a mid- thermal or silk sock
Once upon a time I had Ice Kings, Icemans, a light pair of Pac boots with Vibram soles that I could put carbide studs into, the black Buddy Boots and the white Mickey Mouse boots. Then I moved to an area where I'd never need them again and sold them all. I currently have a set of LaCrosse 800 gram winter boots and they have not seen temps below zero. They seem to be pretty warm considering what they are. Going to invest in a set of Korkers Vortex 1200 boots with replaceable soles. On other big boards, these get very good reviews. No negatives thus far. The boots come with an aggressive lug sole for use in snow, but I believe that I will also get the Icetrac sole for condition we are seeing right now on many lakes. Hoping these will last 10-15 years. Hoping to get that many seasons in after 5 back surgeries.
https://korkers.com/collections/outdoor-footwear/products/polar-vortex-1200?variant=24522012917860