Tip 1: Buy The Best You Can Afford.
Good boots are seldom cheap. Cheap boots are seldom good. That’s a problem. Years ago I splurged and bought a pair of Browning leather boots. It took the better part of a decade, and I went through three sets of soles, before they were finally unrepairable. It was a killer when I paid more for those boots than I had ever paid for any item of clothing, but I finally believed what my wife always told me; quality clothing is cheaper in the long run.

Tip 2: Need Versus Want.
I wore those boots for everything – hiking, hunting, canoeing, winter, summer, in hills, in swamps, and working in a printing plant. I couldn’t afford to buy different boots for different purposes. So I figured out what I needed next, saved my money, and finally bought a pair of Sorel pack boots for winter weather. I’ve now owned those same Sorels for more than 20 years and have gone through five sets of liners.

Tip 3: Be Prepared.
My boot supply has increased dramatically over the years, and it’s not because I hit it rich. I prowl sales, factory outlets, and discount bins. I found a pair of LL Bean duck boots at 80% off, and a pair of Filson leather boots for $70 at a factory outlet when we were passing through Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. I keep a mental list of things I think I need, and stash away a few dollars in a slush fund so I can take advantage of opportunities.

Tip 4: Don’t Be a Stick in the Mud.
I’ve finally admitted what is obvious to my kids – I’m a dinosaur. I like leather boots, and those newfangled, camo, synthetic fiber boots just seemed wrong. Until I tried a pair. I paid full retail for a pair of Rocky boots, because they were the most comfortable things I’d ever worn. But even they aren’t perfect – they are great in the fall and spring, because they have a layer of Thinsulate in them; but they’re a little hot for me in the summer. If you remember watching the moon landing live, you may be like me – unnecessarily resistant to change, but it’s time to join the 21st century.

Tip 5: Pick One From Column A.
I spent a fascinating hour one afternoon talking to a design engineer with Rocky Boots. This guy loves his job. Engineering footwear is like engineering a bridge, or a rifle, or a rocket – you can do one or two things well, but everything else is a compromise. You can make it lightweight, or cheap, or durable, or have excellent support, but you can’t get all of them at the same time. Determine what you need the most, and then look for the product that does that best. When I was young I had a choice – brown or black. Footwear today is highly specialized, and the choices are myriad.

Tip 6: Remember The Basics.
You can have great footwear, but if it doesn’t fit, you’ll still be miserable. If you have blisters, athlete’s foot, or an ingrown toenail, you won’t be happy in the woods. Use foot powder, good socks, and properly care for your feet and your boots. Remember what your mother, your father, or your drill sergeant told you – they were right.

Tip 7: Be Willing to be Wrong.
I have the bad habit of thinking I know everything. It’s congenital. I don’t apologize for it; but the problem is, I keep finding out I’m wrong. This year I tried a pair of Rocky Broadhead SiQ Atomic boots. I never imagined I’d want a separate pair of boots for bowhunting, but I was wrong. They’re more like sneakers than boots, but they are incredibly comfortable, light, have a scent control technology, support my high arch, have waterproof Gore-Tex, and are quiet. You can feel the ground, grip on slippery terrain, and still be very comfortable. Sometimes it’s good to be wrong.

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