"Made in America" hunting boots

[Wile E Coyote]

Could anyone point me to an American Made boot manufacturer? One who builds a boot that will last. I've been hesitant to buy this kind of product online and have unsucessfully looked in just about every outlet and outfitter with a brick and mortar store. Everything I have seen in the past year has been made in china or some other country that would stab us in the back yet smile while taking our cash. They're not gettin' my money; not willingly.

Last summer, I brought my well broken in, 25+ year old, re-soled a half dozen times Danner leather boots to my friend's Grandfather, an old world cobbler, for yet another repair/re-sole job. He has brought them back to life more than once. To make a long story short, they are too well broken in for any meaningfull repair.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[JUDD]

Chipewwa .... I have yet to get cold or wet feet in mine....

and they will last

[winmag]

Whites & Hawthorne, out of Spokane Wa. I won't buy another brand.

[noalibi]

Wesco boots. Aka west coast boots. I have been wearing them for over a decade. Kinda a rough time breaking them in, but after they fit like socks.

[FAL Shot]

American boots are easy to buy. Danner, Wellco and Belleville sell direct to the public as well as through many stores. I think Matterhorn will as well. There is also Red Wing, Whites and Chippewa.

If you can't find American boots in a retail store, it's time to quit patronising that store.

The current military boot made by Danner, Wellco and Belleville make exceptionally good hunting boots in mountain terrain, they were made to survive in Afghanistan. Mine is called the Danner Combat Hiker, which is now replaced by the Danner Improved Combat Hiker (ICH). The Wellco version sells for about $100 less than Danner.The Belleville version will be probably even less, after they fill military orders. Danner and Wellco now sell their versions direct to public. They all use the Vibram Bifida sole, and that sole climbs like a mountain goat. You see it on many of the very best European mountain hiker boots costing $300+.

I have long used the Danner Ft Lewis for hunting in cold weather as mine are insulated. Danner will custom build in extra wide sizes on special order.

The Ft. Lewis and ICH are used by elite military forces, are made in the USA from premium materials, and like the Acadia, the RAT, and several other military boots, are at the top of the recommended list by military personnel who live in them.

You may not have heard of Belleville or Wellco or Cove Shoe (Matterhorn, Corcoran), but check them out. They have concentrated on military/police/agency sales, but sell to the general public as well.

[winmag]

Originally Posted by noalibi

Wesco boots. Aka west coast boots. I have been wearing them for over a decade. Kinda a rough time breaking them in, but after they fit like socks.

Ok i was wrong about Whites/Hawthorne being the "only" brand I'd buy. Wesco's are freakin sweet as well. Maybe even Goldenretrievers too. Awesome boots, & perfect for working in the woods.

So far the Hawthorne smoke jumpers fit my foot the best, but my buddies wear Wesco's & absolutely swear by em. They call my Hawthornes "weekend warrior boots" haha
But I paid about $100-150 less than they did, & I still love mine.

[jmden]

Have used US made Danner Raptor's for 8 years of big game backpack wilderness hunting. Hard to beat.