Page 68 - GUNS Issue n.01

OutdOOr gear The beST hunTIng booTS

Keep your feet

on the ground

Six boots from six Italian and foreign manufacturers tested in the field,
to provide hunters with all the useful information to choose one of the most

important elements of their gear

Written by Marco Caimi, photos by Caterina Radice and Marco Caimi
ften, we realize the usefulness
of an object only when we
Oare forced to do without it. A
thought that perfectly sums up my
experience with one of the accessories
that many hunters are often led to
underestimate: boots. Not that I
considered them not very useful, but I
learned to appreciate them in a special
way on the occasion of a demanding
morning spent hunting woodcocks in
the mountains, when, having reached
the area of the hunt, I realized that I
had forgotten my boots bag and its
precious content. Finding myself a
hundred kilometers from home, the
hypothesis of going back to retrieve
the boots was not feasible. All I could
do was try to tackle the mountain
using sneakers, trying to keep my
ankles in one piece. Not an easy feat,
especially on steep and humid terrain.
With a sole that has no grip on the
ground, no waterproof membrane and
no ankle support, I was able to escape
a series of ruinous falls only thanks to
my collapsible trekking pole which,
fortunately, I had left in my backpack.
It was a dreadful experience but it
made me think about the importance
of being able to count on a good pair
of boots and, above all, about the
choice of the most suitable product for
your needs. The market offers many
products and prices range from less
A quality boot is essential to have a good grip on any type of terrain, than one hundred euros to several
even with steep slopes and slippery surfaces. hundred. However, boots are not

66 OutdOOr gear_The besT hunTing booTs