My all-time favorite boots
My "Mimimalist Country Squire Signature South 40 Birdshooters” (that’s gotta be a record for the longest name of any boot) are several years old now. They have been worn mostly to hunt birds, small game and deer in New England, with annual trips out west for anything from doves to elk, and I’ve backpacked good portions of the Appalachian trail and similar in them. The Newporter soles provide protection from sharp rocks while maintaining good feel of the ground. With my feet close to the ground, there’s no tendency for my ankles to roll. I feel more secure on most rough terrain in these than in stiff boots with heels. I had the uppers made of kangaroo leather, and it’s proven light, breathable, and water-resistant. After extended hiking in slush or wet grass, my feet have been damp, but never outright wet, and I can’t tell if it's due to the leather becoming saturated or to perspiration. In either case, I keep a spare pair of wool socks drying and warming inside my jacket, and find that alternating every few hours will keep me happy indefinitely. In other words, they’re about as waterproof as leather boots can be. Above all they’re comfortable - the first I’ve ever owned that I wasn’t relieved to take off at the end of the day. My heels don’t slip, yet my toes can splay as if I were barefoot. If you like stalking in moccasins, imagine moccasins that protect your ankles, stay dry, don’t wear out, and aren’t slippery. The only issues with these boots have been that the toes have abraded a bit against rocks and thorns, and, with no heels, wearing gaiters to keep snow out is problematic. Hopefully I’ve just resolved those problems by ordering a second pair with toe caps and taller uppers. Those will be my fifth pair of Russell footgear, so I guess I’m a fan.
