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Hunting boots are arguably the most important piece of hunting equipment besides your compound bow or shotgun. If your feet aren’t happy, you won’t be happy. Fortunately, similar to a good hunting jacket, investing in a strong pair of hunting boots can make sure you remain comfortable throughout your entire hunt.

The best hunting boots are the ones that can handle the terrain that the game you’re chasing lives in, letting you move along as effortlessly as possible in that pursuit. They should keep your feet warm, dry, and comfortable. And they should be durable enough to do the job season after season.

If you’re after the best hunting boots, we’ve rounded up the toughest pairs below.

I spend several months in the field each year as a hunter and outdoor content creator, and I’ve been doing so far as long as I can remember. Throughout the years, I’ve worn many different hunting boots, testing some and hunting with others. I drew on this experience to create my list of best hunting boots. In addition to the things to consider listed above, I kept the following in mind:

Why It Made the Cut: The Kenetrek Corrie 3.2 Hiker is the culmination of 20 years of testing. The result is a hunting boot that exceeds standards, giving it top honors as the best hunting boots overall for men.

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Kenetrek makes some great hiking boots, so it’s no surprise the Kenetrek Corrie 3.2 Hiker takes top honors as the Best Overall Men’s Hunting Boot—we also dubbed it the best turkey hunting boot out there. The company started with their Mountain Boot and made modifications to bring you this new-and-improved model. Some 20 years of testing culminates in what might be the ultimate boot for hunters that put on serious miles over serious terrain.

Though these boots only stand 7 inches tall and weigh only 3.2 pounds, they offer plenty of support. Some of this comes courtesy of K-straps that tie the base to the heel, which prevent your ankles from rolling without being intrusive. For even more support in rugged topography, Kenetrek tucked 5mm nylon insoles into the build.

The Windtex membrane keeps the boots waterproof, while offering a high level of breathability. Durability ranks highly, too. The Corrie 3.2’s feature reinforced rubber toes and heel guard, which boosts abrasion resistance. Reinforced double and triple stitching in high-wear areas also add to the long life potential.

Why It Made the Cut: The new DSG Women’s Insulated Rubber Boots are the best hunting boots for women who want a hunting boot designed with their feet in mind, providing plenty of support, warmth, and durability.

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The DSG Women’s Insulated Rubber Boot is new to the DSG lineup, but it’s already proven itself as an excellent cold-weather hunting boot for women. Unlike many designs that are built on scaled-down versions of men’s lasts, these were built from the ground up with women in mind. These provide a true women’s fit that will remain comfortable mile after mile.

This 100% waterproof boot is made from neoprene and rubber with 1,200-grams of Thinsulate insulation, so it’s great for colder hunts. It also includes a moisture-wicking 5mm wool felt insole to help increase warmth while afield but removes easily to dry quickly as soon as you get home. An aggressive lug sole provides plenty of traction, keeping you sure-footed on even slippery surfaces like ice or loose gravel. A shin guard overlay adds durability and protection.

Why It Made the Cut: Though it’s not the absolute lightest boot on the market, the Vaprtrek by Irish Setter offers an ideal mix of comfort and support while still not weighing you down making it our pick for the best lightweight hunting boots.

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The Irish Setter Vaprtrek is the king of the featherweights. The boot is tailor-made for deer hunting, with a ScentBan lining that helps prevent odor-causing bacteria that can spook deer from building up in your boots. An aggressive outsole features tapered lugs that bite hard, but easily release mud. Wrap around outsoles are designed to grip tree-stand rungs and ATV footholds, so you won’t have to worry about losing your footing on the go.

To keep weight down but maintain waterproofing, Irish Setter combined full-grain leather and nylon honeycomb ripstop in the boot’s upper. This 8-inch lace-up design has a removeable polyurethane memory-foam footbed and is fitted with a nylon shank, which offers enough support for hunters that will encounter moderate terrain but is a bit lacking for those that tackle the steepest inclines.

Why It Made the Cut: The Danner Pronghorn provides incredible comfort and durability, among other features. It’s crafted with some of the best leather in the hunting boot category.

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The Danner Pronghorn is a top-end boot, with specs to match. One of Danner’s longest-running lines thanks to a loyal customer base, the Pronghorn includes a polyurethane footbed, bi-fit board shank, waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex lining, and 400 grams of PrimaLoft insulation. Though it only has a height of 8 inches, it provides the support needed for rugged terrain.

The support begins at the bottom, with an internal/external shank system that provides optimal arch support and torsion control. The Pronghorn also has a Vibram rubberized midsole. This maintains the same cushioning properties as traditional EVA for comfort over long distances, yet it’s more durable for a longer life. This boot also features a rugged Vibram outsole, which does well in varying terrain.

Possibly the only knock against the Pronghorn is the insulation. The 400 grams of Primaloft are good for moderately chilly mornings and won’t overheat your feet on the go, but may prove a little light for long sits. The Pronghorn fits great, comes in camo, and has a 365-day warranty.

Why It Made the Cut: Guide Gear’s Giant Timber II Men’s Waterproof Hunting Boots keep feet warm and dry, thanks to its waterproof and breathable Guide Dry membrane and 1,400 grams of Thinsulate Ultra insulation.

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Comfort rated to -58 degrees Fahrenheit, Guide Gear Giant Timber II Men’s Waterproof Hunting Boots are designed to keep you warm on stand in the coldest conditions making them the best cold weather hunting boots. With 1,400-gram Thinsulate Ultra insulation, even all day sits in the coldest temperatures are no problem. Sneaking in undetected is aided by the ScentMask technology, which limits the scent you put in the air and leave on the ground. You’ll stay dry too, thanks to the Guide Dry waterproof and breathable membrane contained within the waterproof suede and 900-denier nylon upper.

The downside to all this insulation is that the boots can feel bulky. And, they are quite stiff until they are broken in. The hard rubber compound used in the outsole bites into tough surfaces such as ice, but limits feeling below your feet which can make stealthy stalking a little difficult. Still, these boots will fend off frosty feet and toes, with extra padding in areas that need it, such as the calves and shins. And the moisture-wicking mesh lining helps keep feet dry.

Why It Made the Cut: Virtually all rubber hunting boots are waterproof, so the category for best waterproof hunting boots came down to superior design and standout features. The Bogs Blaze II offers exceptional comfort and scent0control technology that lets you get close to game, and they can be worn in a wide range of temperatures.

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The Bogs Blaze II not only keeps water out but also uses technology to keep sweat wicked away on the inside, too. This helps keep you blister-free and comfortable, while also combating scent that can keep game away. The wicking properties and 1,000 grams of Thinsulate give this boot a comfort rating all the way down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, though that might be a bit unrealistic if you’re not moving.

The exterior is constructed from a combination of rubber and neoprene, which makes them 100% waterproof. This pairing is also more durable than neoprene alone, helping them fend of briars and barbed wire. You pay for this in weight, though, as they are heavier than models made from just rubber or neoprene. Still, the Blaze II will likely remain waterproof long after other market options begin leaking.

Why It Made the Cut: The Thorogood Infinity FD Rubber Boot is not only one of the best insulated hunting boots on the market, it provides plenty of comfort for long days in the stand.

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Thorogood’s Infinity FD Rubber Boot offers some of the best insulation on the market with 1,600 grams of Thinsulate and NASA-inspired SOLARCORE aerogel lining in the toe and bottom of the boot. While there are some boots on the market that offer up to 2,000 grams of insulation, these are made for extremely cold situations that most American hunters won’t experience, so they end up being too warm for typical hunting scenarios. These are generally clunkier, heavier, and less comfortable — making the Thorogood Infinity FD Rubber Boots the best insulated hunting boots.

The Infinity FDs also sport a multi-traction, self-cleaning tread pattern to help keep you moving. Their flex-drive, anti-fatigue, energy return system absorbs shock and helps propel you forward. A composite shank helps keep you comfortable, too. Scent-free rubber construction helps keep you concealed while on stand. This model is waterproof, of course, stands 17 inches tall, and has a round toe. An ample calf gusset gives you enough space for all the layers you’ll need in serious cold. Those seeking a well-insulated hunting boot should consider this model. It outperforms in this category and gets high marks across the board.

Why It Made the Cut: Hunters looking for the best rubber hunting boots that receive high marks in all metrics should consider the Irish Setter MudTrek. It sets the bar.

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The 17-inch MudTrek rubber hunting boot is great for those looking for all-around rubber hunting boot. Of course, it’s 100% waterproof, and it keeps feet warm with 1,200 grams of ThermoBoost insulation. Its TempSens technology reacts to the foot’s body temperature and sweat level, helping keeping feet dry. And the ScentBan odor-control anti-microbial coating helps reduce bacteria and eliminate odor.

It’s also a very tough and durable boot, sporting vulcanized rubber that lasts. And don’t forget about this boot’s comfort level. It has a 3D fleece lining interior, and a design that hugs the foot, yet allows it to move as you ease across the landscape. And it’s the little things that make the difference: a well-designed heel kick lets you take the boot off with ease.

Why It Made the Cut: The Kid’s Hale in Camo by The Muck Boot Company are the best youth hunting boots because it excels at what you need a pair of boots to do — keep feet warm, dry, and comfortable. It comes in kid’s sizes from 2 to 13.

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The Kid’s Hale in Camo by The Muck Boot Company is designed to protect feet from getting wet, muddy, or cold. This pair of boots is comfort-rated from subfreezing temperatures to 65 degrees. It incorporates heat-retaining, 4mm flex-foam neoprene for comfort and longevity. And a high-grade rubber exterior increases durability and waterproofing, too. Thanks to a self-cleaning ribbed outsole, it’s easier to keep the mud and muck from building up on the boot.

The exterior keeps water out, while the inner mesh lining helps wick sweat and moisture away from the foot. And an anti-microbial footbed insert helps reduce scent, so you won’t need to keep these outside if the little ones get to running in the summer heat. It also has a back tab for pulling the boot on and off, and a wide opening so the kid’s won’t need your help.

Keeping the following things in mind will help make the correct selection for you and your hunting needs.

How and where you hunt plays a big role in selecting the correct boots for you. Think about how you hunt, the terrain you cover, and then review the following criteria.

How the boots are constructed, and what they’re built from, go a long way into how they’ll perform. When looking at boots, consider the following.

Those who are looking to buy a pair of hunting boots should consider what the best hunting boot is for them. This will vary from person to person. Finding the right selection is entirely dependent on the style of hunting you participate in, and will influence what you ultimately choose to purchase and wear.

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.