Kenetrek's leak?

So I bought some Kenetreks after a friend recommended them. We hunt much the same way, covering lots of ground, all day and in wet weather. I broke them in slow, going on some short walks at first. After several hikes, they were beginning to break in proper. I greased them with some Wax I had bought from the manufacturer when I first got them, and a couple more times before going hunting. Bow season rolled around last month and we had some heavy rains one of the days I was out. I started in on my mountain bike in the rain around 6 AM, and started hiking an hour later. After tracking a bull for 3 hours, my feet were soaked. I couldn't believe it. I lifted up the pant leg of my Kuiu Yukon rain pants to see if maybe water was going down the boot itself. Nope. In fact the top couple of inches of the boots were hardly wet. I spent the whole day hunting with soaked feet. When I got home, my feet looked like a couple of prunes. The next day I wore rubber boots with good insoles (no support) and killed a bull. After a long day of hunting and a hard pack out, at least my feet weren't soaked.
The next day I called Kenetrek and asked the lady who answered if this was normal. I'm not the type to call and raise a big fit. She was really nice and said absolutely not and they would perform a leak test. I boxed them up and sent them priority mail.
After 2 weeks I hadn't heard anything and called. The guy who answered said there was a note to contact me, though no one had. With more hunting ahead, I needed my 450$ boots. He said they performed a leak test and everything was fine. I also performed a leak test, and after 3 hours of hunting in the rain my feet were prunes. Just got them back and greased them up. Gonna be hunting in the rain starting tomorrow. We'll see how she goes. I guess I just wanted to share my experience with some other hunters and see if there were any similar experiences.

Well I do wear their boots. Have 2 pair. Grease them up once a year. Just before the start of archery season every year. Please understand that I only wear these boots for hunting. One pair is about 5 years old the other pair is probably 3 years old. Neither pair has ever leaked. Probably get 40 to 60 days per year on them. So guess I don't really have anything that is helpful to you. Other than the fact that it's possible to have boots that don't leak and I'm not greasing them as much as you. I'm not one to raise a big fit either, but when a person puts out the kind of money they want for those boots. I believe they have the right to expect them to perform as advertised. Hope they work out for you or they at least do the right thing by you. Good luck

Mine Leaked within the first year I wore them. Called them up and sent them back. They said their test showed there was nothing wrong. They did mention that they were not treated. I explained that I was under the impression that they did not need "greased" the first year. Grease them every year.
They don't do as good of job as they say they do.

Interesting. I'm not looking to bash their company. Guess I just expected a little more. That's the most I ever spent on a pair of boots. I wear $300 caulks working in the woods every day and all winter long. Here in Oregon it rains a lot and my feet are dry at the end of the work day. Going hunting in the rain today so we'll see.

I'm guessing the "leak test" has nothing to do with with putting stress and strain on the boot such as walking/flexing or bearing weight.

Mine started to leak this season as well. I bought them 3 days before archery season. Ive probably put 50 miles on them since. My buddy's tanners that are 350 less than my mountain extremes didnt even leak. I'm going to give them a call this week

Please keep us posted on how your treated and the customer service. I am considering purchasing another pair, but if I just got lucky with my first ones and your just taking your chances with future purchases I won't be purchasing another pair. Thank you

This is my first year with their boots, and I recently put alot of stress on them. Had a 5 mile pack out with an elk, through a winding trail in a bottom of a canyon. In that 5 miles each way there was pronably 20+ river crossings, so 40 or more river crossings in and out, and I did it twice in two days. The first day my feet stayed completely dry, until I stepped a little too deep on the walk out and flooded my boots, that sucked. I had forgot my boot dryer in a camper at my parents house, so they set over the vent for the night. The next morning they were not dry, I wore a thick pair of socks driving out to the trail head then changed them in hopes that I would absorb some of the moisture. By the end of the day, probably 60-70% of my socks were wet, with portions of dry.

I oiled my boots with the kenetrek brand stuff the day I got them, then again after a 25 mile break in period, and will do so again after season. My experience so far on my first year.

I sent mine back to Kenetrek this year for refurbishment, which included sole replacement, repair rand and fix leak. Came back looking like new and does not leak. I am well satisfied in their services.

Wore the boots today but the rainy forecast didn't materialize. Put an easy 10 miles on them. Real comfortable as always but not another leak test. The only moisture was from perspiration. I appreciate the feedback.

Since we're on this topic, has anyone had a real hard time with rolling their ankles in these?

For some reason, maybe I'm just not real use to them still, but I roll my ankle everytime I go out it seems like. Archery season, rolled it atleast 2 times during the 9 days. Then a rifle elk hunt for 8 days I rolled probably 3 times. Then deer season 2 times... Its not enough to have to need help off the mountain but enough to pop or get that "butt pucker" lol

Maybe I'm just uncooridinated lol

So we finally had a bit of weather here today. Not as much as the first time my feet were soaked in the boots. It seems that the excessive amount of grease I used the other day helped a bit. Got back to my truck around 3 and my left foot was wet, and the right only damp. Took the insole out and put it on the defrost, changed socks and back out to hunt some more. Back to the truck at dark and the left foot was wet again. Pulled the insole out and the inside was visibly wet around the bottom to side connection. They're on the boot dryer and in front of the fireplace now so I guess thats how it's going to be. 8 days of buck season left and then my wifes elk season so not much I can do. Funny. When I bought these boots I can remember thinking "I'd pay $450 to have dry , comfortable hunting boots.

Yeah...waterproof....only from the inside out....cause once it gets in it stays in.....
I once was so tired of wet feet i put small trash bags between my sock layers....and at the end of the day....no wet feet.....
Putting that grease on them...you better cover the ENTIRE BOOT....if not you guide the water straight into the leaking spot.....sucks....

Hunted in the rain today. Left foot wet by 10. What a crock. I used a ton of grease on them the other day. Hunted the rest of the day and packed my wifes buck out in x-tra tuffs. Not what I had in mind. Back to the boot dryer.