Lightweight hiking boots are perfect for turkey hunting. Since Turkeys forage flat terrain, lightweight boots and even sneakers are fine choices. Dark earth tones or camouflage are the best colors for turkey hunting footwear. Good options can cost $60 to $160.
I’ll cover popular turkey hunting boots, then I’ll cover the more affordable, simple options.
MuckBoots Scrub Boot- $60
MuckBoot makes a less traditional but very popular hunting boot. They have heavy bottoms and are rubber foam above the ankle. If you’re not familiar with MuckBoots, it might not sound durable, but they hold up pretty well. A lot of people, myself included, gladly wear MuckBoots into the woods.
These are my personal favorite waterproof outdoor boot. They are completely watertight from head to toe. If you want to keep out the rain or early morning dew, I recommend these hands down. They are comfortable, affordable, and not too hot for summer wear.
When you’re talking turkey hunting, it’s usually implied somewhat warm weather. At least compared to other hunting seasons. Spring and Fall turkey seasons mean often warm weather and a good chance of rain. These boots are the ticket.
MuckBoots are very popular among farmers too. In fact, a nearby Amish community predominately wears MuckBoots for farm work. That’s a pretty good advertisement right there. How durable are MuckBoots? If worn every day on the farm, they tend to last just over a year.
The classic MuckBoot is a good year-round option for most areas. The MuckBoot Scrub Boot is shorter than some, but still well above ankle height. It’s a bit taller than an average work boot, but not so tall that it’s uncomfortable to walk in.
A lot of rubber boots don’t last very long because the rubber breaks down even if you aren’t wearing them much. That doesn’t seem to happen with muck boots, at least not nearly as fast.
Muck Boots can be prone to tearing. The rubber foam is similar to neoprene and can tear if it gets caught on something like fence wire or hawthorn bushes. I wore muck boots in the woods for years and never had an issue, but I suppose if you charge headfirst through briars, you might want to take it easy.
The MuckBoots Scrub Boot has a few insulative properties to them, but not a lot. They work well on a chill day, but for snowy winters, you’d better be sure to wear thick socks too. The rubber foam uppers are a bit insulative, but the rubber lower is not. In my opinion, they are not too hot even on 90-degree summer days.
Muck boots can be uncomfortable if you are walking all day or trying to cover ground quickly. They don’t do well with harsh, rocky terrain either, but fortunately, you won’t find turkeys on rough terrain.
Danner Vital Trail Waterproof Hiking Boots -$140
If you have a larger budget, these boots are an awesome option. They are heavy-duty, but lightweight hiking boots, and waterproof. It’s hard to get an actual waterproof hiking boot for that price, but these are actually waterproof. Your toes will thank you.
These boots have a very sturdy rubber sole that protects your feet and gives some serious foot support. They do have leather sides, but they are still waterproof. The leather is polyurethane impregnated, meaning literally soaked in liquid plastic. The result is durable, flexible, permanently waterproof leather that doesn’t need oil or grease.
My favorite part about these boots is the eyelets. Sound silly? Well, it’s not. I’ve gone through a lot of different boots in hunting and work and have had a lot of trouble with eyelets snapping off or falling out of the leather. The eyelets are strong and easy to thread up.
These won’t split like so many of the leather boots out there do. The main flex points are not leather, but are 900 denier polyester; In other words, a really tough really flexible material. Thick leather is nice, but it doesn’t flex well at some points and tends to tear. Not so on these boots.
The part of the boots that tend to rub, like the back of the ankle, has a foam cushion to limit the chance of abrasion and blisters, something that the rubber boots do not have. They also have a solid but supporting footbed with a design to help keep your feet dry from perspiration.
The colors are great for hunting. It comes in various dark earth tones, just like dirt. Danner Vital boots have a GORE-TEX liner which is somehow both waterproof and breathable. I still don’t know how that’s possible, but I know it works.
These boots are on the pricey end, but if you want a dedicated hunting bot that you’ll be walking in a lot, I’d recommend saving up your money for these boots.
RedHead RCT Warrior Ultra Mil-Spec Tactical Boots -$100
Military-style boots are absolutely perfect for turkey hunting. Lightweight, breathable, and not overly expensive. Modern military-style boots are tan suede leather and polyester. They are water repellent and take in waterproofing spray quite well.
These are designed for all-terrain, but I’ve found that extreme mountain terrain is pretty harsh on them, but that’s hard on everything. Once again, we don’t find turkeys in harsh terrain. They prefer fairly level fields and forests. These boots are very comfortable and wear great across fields and forests.
RCT Warrior Ultra Mill Spec boots are made to exact military standards, which means an interesting combination of cheap and high quality. I wore a pair of these on a Mule Deer hunt across the rugged mountains around Bad Canyon Montana.
I love how breathable and lightweight these boots are. They look and feel very much like the General Issue military footwear. Mabey it’s a tad better. The color is a bit light for many woodland environments, but in my experience, they will soon take up the color of the dirt in your area.
If they look too light for your woods, you can literally rub a handful of dirt into them to darken the color and make them blend into your surroundings. That’s actually a military sniper camouflaging trick.
Cungel Men’s Hunting Boot 8-INCH Camouflage -$60
this is one of the most popular and functional hunting boots for under a hundred dollars. These boots come in three different camo patterns including a classic hardwood timberland pattern. You can choose a color pattern that best reflects the common colors of your hunting area.
These are the least expensive of traditional styled, waterproof hunting boots you’re likely to find. I’ve looked them over and have to say, they look alright. I don’t think they’ll fall apart anytime soon. I feel confident that you will get your money’s worth out of them.
Hey aren’t as sturdy as a pair of $300 Redwings, but they are good as a basic hunting boot. They are lightweight and breathable. They also have decent reinforcements in the main flex areas of the boot to keep it from tearing or splitting at the seams.
They have a nice, aggressive tread pattern that will help you keep your footing in slick, muddy areas, and have a bit of a rubber toe cap, which helps them to last longer. They do last pretty well. I bought a used pair that I had for 8 or 9 years of off-and-on hunting before the glue finally let go and the sole started coming loose.
For the price, they are hard to beat. I wouldn’t feel bad about buying them again anytime or recommending them to my friends.
Irish Setter Men’s 838 Wingshooter -$160
Arguably the most popular traditional hunting boot, the 833 Wing Shooter had to make my list. I haven’t handled them personally, but when I asked around the hunting club about favorite boots, these were the most commonly used.
Irish Setters set the standard a long time ago for a durable, dependable, and comfortable hunting boot built for long-term use. They are designed with upland bird hunting in mind and though turkeys are technically upland, think pheasants and grouse.
Not that they can’t be used for turkey hunting, I mean you can hunt with whatever footwear you want, including bear feet if you want (I’ve done that in an emergency). 838 Wingshooters are made to handle miles upon miles of walking in hot, sweaty weather.
They have sewn soles, not just glued ones. Sewn soles hold up well in use, and in storage. Often, hunting boots break down more in storage than in the field. Glued on soles eventually call ossa f the glue crystallizes and falls apart. Sewn soles tend to last longer.
They are full leather boots, meaning that to maintain waterproofness, they need either a leather oil or grease or waterproofing treatment spray once in a while. They have nylon liners for moisture wikiing and have a foam pad around the cuff to reduce rubbing at the ankle.
These boots will last a long time if you take care of them. Keep them oiled with a leather/boot oil or grease, and let them thoroughly dry out after wearing them. Water is the biggest enemy of leather. It softens and breaks it down. leather needs to be oiled ad dry to be long-lasting.
Do I need expensive boots for hunting?
Hunting can be done in any type of footwear. Protection from thorns and rough rocks is the main concern. Sneakers and tennis shoes make good hunting shoes for quiet stalking and fast-moving hunts on easy terrain. If you have stability concerns, boots with ankle support are a good idea. Waterproof boots can be an added benefit.
When Hunting, it’s wise to match your gear to the terrain. Turkeys prefer easy terrain, so simple footwear is allowable. I hunt Turkeys in my sneakers, and here’s why.
Most of my turkey hunting is the sit and call method. I walk out, maybe a few hundred yards from the road put out decoys, and sit down. That doesn’t require specialized footwear. The only real downside to that is rain and morning dew.
When I shot my first turkey as a kid, I was wearing lightweight gym shoes. There were blue and silver, with some mud on them. I remember getting wet toes from the dew, but it didn’t phase me because I was going hunting with my dad and everything was perfect.
I just made a point to keep my shoes covered by the grass I was sitting in. My toes eventually dried, and I made a poor shot on a turkey. Still a memorable hunt.
I am a big proponent of telling people they don’t need to spend a lot of money to go hunting. Expensive gear can be nice, but that’s not what equates to success. It’s usually more of a fine comfort thing. Money spent is not nearly as important as time in the woods.
The most important aspects of success are patience, persistence, and skill. None of that money can buy.
