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L.L.Bean Men's Maine Hunting Shoe

rated 4.5 of 5 stars
photo: L.L.Bean Men's Maine Hunting Shoe footwear product

Rain boots suitable for walking in wet and muddy trails. not so good for hard core steeps and rocks. Comfortable and built to accommodate heavy socks. Love the bison leather and retro brick red sole.

Pros

  • Keep your feet dry
  • Comfortable to walk in
  • High-quality leather molds to your legs easily
  • Should have outstanding durability

Cons

  • Limited support
  • Limited protection for feet in rocky conditions
  • Soles are sticky for wet weather; unaggressive tread pattern
  • For really cold weather, uninsulated boots are not the best

Quite possible the ultimate wet weather shoe. the last time i bought a pair of Bean's maine hunting shoes (8 inch brown leather upper) was nearly twenty years ago.  the design hasn't changed much in the last fifty years, though.  rubber bottom is absolutely waterproof, leather uppers also keep your feet dry if properly treated.  comfortable if you don't need lots of support or foot protection.

i received these as a gift because the soles on my old pair are well-worn, and because the insides are (a) pretty smashed up and (b) not roomy enough to use with really warm socks.  these new ones are great, having done some flat trail-hiking in wet weather, and after plowing 3 inches of wet snow off my parents' driveway and walkways for a few hours this morning.  why?

-bison leather uppers - appreciably softer than the leather on my older pair.  too new to need waterproofing yet, but very supple and form-fitting.

-rubber bottoms on these have a mild shank, which provides more support than my older pair.

-rubber bottoms built to fit with very thick socks, increases the temperature range quite a bit.  i wore them with expedition-weigth Bridgedale socks today while sloshing around in inches of snow and slush, and my feet were peachy.

-the just plain cool factor of the bricky-red soles, which Bean apparently offered early in the company's life, according to stock photos that were unearthed as the company approached its 100th anniversary.

if you need traction, not ideal, get something with a real lug sole.  if you need true cold weather shoes, get ones insulated with felt or some kind of synthetic like primaloft. 


Maine-Hunting-Shoe.jpg

Source: received it as a personal gift

I love LL Bean gear. This footwear especially shows the benefit from decades of making gear for the most rigorous expeditions.

Pros

  • Durable and stays waterptoof

Cons

  • Tend to be on the heavy side

These boots are waterproof in standing water and very durable. I depend on them for all kinds of scouting and high adventure outings. I know I never have to worry about my feet.

There are lighter boots but I have found them less durable and the waterproofing doesn't hold up.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $129

L.L. Bean Maine Hunting Boots only are made in Maine. All other boots are made in Vietnam. Surprising!!!!

Hunting boot is excellent.

rated 4 of 5 stars All Maine Hunting Shoe versions

In addition to the 3 men's reviews above, there is 1 review for another version of the Maine Hunting Shoe. Read all reviews »

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Specs

Price Reviewers Paid: $129.00
Product Details from L.L.Bean »

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