Kenetrek Hunting Boots Review: Boots that Travel by Word of Mouth
These boots sprang from a failure. Jim Winjum says this about the origin story of Kenetrek hunting boots:
“We first started designing and building boots after an eight day hunt in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories in 2002. The merciless country tested us in unimaginable ways, and I was winning the fight, until my feet made me want to lay down and die. After chasing a Dall Ram 10 miles straight up, we caught and killed it, and started back down. That's when my muscles screamed and my pack straps felt like they cut clear through me... but that didn't stop me. My boots did. What were once blisters became almost freakish gashes that took me down for the count. That's when I knew we had to design and build a better boot that could keep up with me, a high-country mountain sheep hunter.”
These boots are used by hunters and hikers the world over. In our experience, good hunting boots travel by word of mouth.
Here's the selection of Kenetrek boots we have online.
If you read the reviews we have in this buyer’s guide, you will see that many times a hunter will hear from a friend or a peer that their Kenetrek boots are their favorite piece of gear. Like Tanner VanPelt says, “I looked to my peers to see what they recommended, and that was Kenetrek.” When we hear from Brady Bigford below, he says the same thing, “My family and friends wear Kenetrek because I recommend them.”
You can order the boot you see above and get free shipping right here.
What boots did you first start hunting in? Tanner VanPelt—Idaho Mountain hunting
I started out before the war wearing Danner boots—I can’t remember the model; we are talking decades ago, but at the time—these boots were awesome, better than a cold drink on a hot day. I can still remember how happy I was to have them back then.
When was your “ah-ha” moment—that moment when you decided it was time to make the switch to “expensive” hunting boots?
After I came back from the service—about 2006, I started to really look around at my peers in the industry, and ask them what gear they thought was critical to success out in the field. The top five things are as follows in no particular order:
- Pack
- Weapon
- Boots
- Glass
- (This one always varied depending on hunter, season, geography, etc.)
No matter what #5 was in that list, across the spectrum of my peers who I knew to be successful, boots showed up every time. What kind of boots? Kenetrek hunting boots.
What are you hunting in now?
Since the first time I tried Kenetrek boots on, I have always had a pair on hand. They were incredible right out of the box, the fit was immediately the most comfortable of any hiking or hunting boot I have worn. There was no “break-in” period—they fit perfectly right off the shelf.
These are some of the most well-built pieces of equipment that I have worn, and, for me, spending the money on these boots is justified because if I am on a hunt and there is an opportunity for me—I don’t want the failure of my boots to be the reason the hunt is unsuccessful. There’s a saying around the shop, “Success is always just after the next ridge.” If you can’t get past the next ridge, how do you ever think you’ll find success?
These boots qualify for free shipping. Click here to check available sizes.
What boots did you first start hunting in? Brady Bigford—Montana Plains/Mountain Hunting
When I was younger, I wore Danners. I would spend $60-$120 for a pair of boots every season because I put a lot of miles on my boots—I still do, but now I wear Kenetrek hunting boots.
When was your “ah-ha” moment—that moment when you decided it was time to make the switch to “expensive” hunting boots?
I’ve played sports and hunted since I was a kid. I have broken both of my ankles doing something active, and about 7 years ago, I was on a solo elk hunt when that happened again. I was about four miles from the trailhead early in the morning chasing a herd of elk and moving fast to try to get in front of them. I jumped over a log and landed on a rock on the other side. I snapped my ankle right there.
Luckily I had a pack saw in my pack, and I was able to fashion a crutch out of a branch. I didn’t get back out of those mountains until midnight that night. I went straight to the hospital and got casted up. That was when I knew I needed a boot with more ankle protection than was offered by higher-end hunting boots.
I went down to Carter’s where they do all the repairs on Kenetrek boots and talked to a sales rep. I walked out with my first pair of Kenetrek boots.
What are you hunting in now?
I bought my first pair of Kenetrek boots in 2010 and haven’t looked back since. In fact, I’ve got my dad, my uncle and my brother all wearing these boots hunting because I want to make sure they are protected when they are out there. Plus, having the right boots on makes a world of difference on the hunt—especially when side-hilling with weight.
I have packed out elk, bear and deer in these boots. They have withstood everything.
You can put these boots on right out of the box and go hike up a mountain. They are that well-built and comfortable. In fact, I own 4 pairs of Kenetrek boots now—I get at least 3-4 seasons out of one pair of boots, and this year I have two “good” pairs of boots that I will rotate out over the season. I can almost guarantee these will last 5+ years a piece.