John
.300 member
Reged: 23/01/07
Posts: 114
Loc: Manitoba, Canada
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A question for those of you who have hunted in swamps and wet lands. What are the best boots to wear? Don’t say water proof as I assume the water level will be way higher than my boots. I don’t think my leather boots will take 10 days in the Zambezi delta.
John
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rscott
.333 member
Reged: 21/03/08
Posts: 328
Loc: wyo., USA
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i think a light weight cordura boot would be best or even converse all stars high tops. bring two pair and then leave em with the boys. whats your outfitter suggest?
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bigmaxx
.375 member
Reged: 13/06/07
Posts: 660
Loc: Bowling Green KY U.S.A.
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I would be hesitant to wade in very deep water there. Crocs are commonplace. I saw some huge ones up river. Some tennis shoes or lightweight nylon hikers might work. Be careful! Most PHs and trackers leave their shoes in the boat.
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One day at a time...
Edited by bigmaxx (07/02/09 08:01 AM)
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3707
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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I sometimes wear neoprene boots for swamp-hunting. I have even walked ~8km on dry land in 100-degree heat here in Australia's Top End on one occasion, and was surprised at the fact that my feet didn't cook right off! The soles held up perfectly!
Just throw a pair in your day-pack.
Mine are Mirage TTZ, and when shopping for them I noticed a huge variation in quality among brands. If you go this route, buy the best you can afford.
BTW, Mirage also make a neoprene 'workboot' and a 'rock-hopper all-terrain' model. Might also be retailed under the Mares brand-name in some countries. Check 'em out here
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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In Australia we have Dunlop Vollys which are a short Canvas shoe similar to the old converse canvas shoe.
I use them often for wading whilst fishing the weed beds.
They would be my option for this type of hunt.
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Marrakai
.416 member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3707
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
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Yes, the ol' Volleys work OK, but they don't protect the ankle from submerged sticks etc. Also they fill up with sediment and small stones fairly quickly.
Pop-trivia: they are called Plimsolls everywhere but Australia, apparently...!
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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au
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thorshammer
.300 member
Reged: 27/12/08
Posts: 150
Loc: USA
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Try out Teva or Keen Napali hunting sandals while hunting the wetlands ive used them before and they worked great
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ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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Columbia make a wading shoe that would be worth looking at.
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AfricaHunter
.224 member
Reged: 27/12/08
Posts: 17
Loc: California
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I've used a boot designed for salt water flats fly fishing with good luck in the Mozambique swamps and delta as well as the Bangwelu in Zambia. There is a type of U.S. Navy SEAL boot and a French Foreign Legion style desert boot which I would guess would also work well, if you can find them.
Edited by LionHunter (09/02/09 11:11 AM)
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Der_Jaeger
.375 member
Reged: 09/10/08
Posts: 607
Loc: SE Pennsylvania
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Lighweight, packable, ankle-high flyfishing boots would be my preference.
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JLS
.224 member
Reged: 25/07/04
Posts: 17
Loc: Co
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...give the Blackhawk light assualt boot a go. Model: #83BT00
www.blackhawk.com
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Michael
.275 member
Reged: 28/07/05
Posts: 69
Loc: Darwin, Northern Territory
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After many years hunting pigs in the tropical swamps of the Northern Territory the one boot that held up the best and provided much needed ankle support through the rutted ground are the canvas jungle boots that are obtained cheaply through most disposal stores, check this link:
http://www.mitchells.net.au/wholesale/footwear/boots&shoesfiles/FT0008.htm
The only negative is that they don't have too much cushioning but if your slushing in swamps this is no big deal and I also use orthodic inserts in mine as the arch support is not there. But they stay on your foot after sinking in the mud and they pack flat as the entire upper is made of canvas.
Even after moving south to Melbourne I always have a pair or two of these boots to pack in my backpack for my trips home. I have tried various sports-shoes, runners including the famous volleys but these boots offer the same light weight but added ankle support. Nothing worse than rolling an ankle on a hunt miles from anywhere.
After hunt maintenance of these boots is nothing more than hosing the mud off and hanging them somewhere to dry, add a set of spare boot laces and you cannot go wrong.
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JLS
.224 member
Reged: 25/07/04
Posts: 17
Loc: Co
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John:
Along with Blackhawk boots, you might give the OTB series of boots a look. I think their web site is www.otbboots.com
Good hunting
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