What are the best Ice Fishing Boots?
I have the Artic Pro model and love them.I'm on my third winter and no issues so far.I think the Pro Extreme is rated a little warmer than the Artic Pro and has the lug sole.I would have gotten that one had it been available at the time.They are waterproof.I have waded through 10in.of water and no leaking.
I wear the Baffin Apex and have walked through water/slush plenty of times and have never had wet feet. Now I’ve never measured how deep the water was, but I can safely say it was over 4 inches. They're super nice, but the guy I fish with a lot has the Striker Ice boot and is super happy with them as well.
I had Lacrosse Ice Kings for probably 15 years and could still wear them now if needed. So from a longevity standpoint those may be the best bang for your buck. I switched because they’re so damn heavy, and walking as much as I do on the ice wasn’t always fun with 12lbs of boot on.
Best boot is always going to be dependent on the person. I walk a ton so something that would breath a bit was what pushed me from the all rubber style. My feet actually sweat quite a bit normally. Some folks sit in one spot all day then something like the Ice Kings or the Alphaburly would probably be a better choice. One big thing is the socks. Stay away from cotton as they hold moisture and will speed up getting cold.
BTW Kvan, we killed on Red. We had to pull the lines at night so we could sleep. We actually came off early today, so we could go to a buddies to eat them tonight. That way we could keep some on Winnie if we want.
I have both Mickey Mouse boots and Baffin Icebreakers. The mickey mouse boots are great, extremely warm and 100% waterproof. I can not wear them when its over 20ish because me feet get way too hot. I usually wear my baffins when its over 20.
kvandehei33 they say 100% waterproof for my baffins but i dont believe it. i walked through some heavy slush and my feet got a little wet.
They look like they would be and I've never heard a bad review about Baffins. I wear Lacrosse Alphaburly 1600g which are nice and warm and completely waterproof but no air flow and they aren't the most comfortable on long hikes. If they ever fail on me I'll probably go with the baffins, but it would be tough going back to something not completely waterproof.
hmmmm, "best"....???? Thats a loaded question! :) Depends on the weather and activity in my opinion. I have a pair of lighter Columbia's that are absolutely fantastic that I wear often. Have no idea about the thinsulate rating though. I find that I wear them more often than not but I generally find myself moving alot. When I go with a bunch of people and its tip-ups and shoot the crap drinking beer with the buddies kind of a fishing day then I will wear some 2000g thinsulate Sportsmans guide boots. (wouldnt want to do a 20k ruck march in them but they are light for the bulk of them) Heck sometimes I wear my old sorels. Boots like clothing comes down to the activity. Sweat is the killer. Breathability I think is key. Sweaty feet=cold feet. Its hard to find that versatile boot for all situations. I think a dry pair of socks for a quick change after a long hike at times is the best answer. If yer not doing alot of walking might not be an issue. I just try to match the boot with the activity. Bottom line, waterproof, can breathe to help dry the sweaty tootsies and a comfortable level of insulation. (just my 2 cents) be safe out there.
Just thought I'd chime in on this. I bought Baffin Eigers last year. After one season I will say they're awesome boots. My feet never get cold and the boot is really lightweight. It is a large boot but very comfortable to wear. I bought a new striker suit this year and they fit over the boot, but not by much. Also I wear a size 10 but purchased a size 12 in the baffins. Allows for sock room and not tight as that's what always makes my feet cold. They also don't rub my heel from being too large, even at two sizes larger.
