About.com Rating



The Bottom Line

Bogs Copperhead boots took a little getting used to for me, because I'd long worn lace-up boots almost exclusively - but once I got used to them I found that I liked them quite a bit. I appreciate their waterproofness - especially when stomping around in swampy woods - and the snake-resistant feature was a bonus as well, since I usually hunt in the southeastern USA, where venomous snakes abound.

The main question is one of durability, which I'm still trying to nail down completely - read on for more details - but with a lifetime warranty, I think it would be tough to go very far wrong. You may have to wait a while for replacement boots, though - I did.

 

Pros

 

• Insulated, but not too hot for warm-weather use in hot climates.
• Snake resistant.
• Comfortable, with very good arch support (which I need, and can be hard to find).
• Easy to put on and take off.
• Waterproof.
• Lug soles provide good traction.
• 100% guaranteed.
• Helps keep lower legs warm.

 

Cons

 

• Loose fit was initially aggravating and took some getting used to.
• They squeak together, sometimes at inopportune times.
• I found it tough to slip my britches over the boots to keep leaves and other debris from falling into the boots (but the boots themselves help keep debris out).
• One boot leaked, and it took 4 months to get a replacement pair.
• Made in China.

 

Description

 

• Bogs Footwear item number 52273.
• 18" high, insulated, snake resistant, waterproof, slip-on hunting boots.

• Mine have Realtree AP camouflage.
• Insulation: 3mm waterproof Neo-Tech + 2mm Airmesh.
• Insulation is rated "temperate to cool conditions." I have comfortably worn mine in cold weather with good hunting socks.
• Puncture protection: +400 Snakeguard from Emtexglobal
• Removable insole.
• Treated with Aegis microbe shield ("controls odor, staining, deterioration").
• Weight: 6 pounds per pair.
• Available in sizes 8-14 (no half sizes).

 

They are Good Boots

I have been tromping through the woods for most of my life - included when I was a kid wreaking havoc in the woods around our country home. I have worn many kinds of shoes during that time, and have naturally formed some opinions on them over the years.

One of my biases has been against slip-on or pull-on boots. They are typically difficult to remove, and often don't provide very good ankle support. They also often go over my long pants instead of inside them, which means that leaves, twigs and other debris can fall into them, which is aggravating to say the least.

First Impressions

Enter Bogs footwear. I decided to give some of these boots a try during my 30th deer season, and at first I was put off. I had visited a local Bogs dealer to determine which size would be best for me, and settled on size 11, although I often wear size 10 or 10.5.

When the boots arrived and I started wearing them in the woods, I didn't like them. They fit my feet too loosely and walking in them was awkward - and when sitting on a chair, without having my boots/feet in any kind of bind, my feet began to go to sleep. Weird. But I'd kept the boots outside of my hunting pants, and no sticks or leaves had gotten into them, and that was a bonus.

Getting Used to Them

On my third trip to the woods with these boots, things were improving. No numb feet, and I started to get used to the loose fit - unlike what I'd been experiencing for years with my lace-up boots - and walking in them was comfortable.

One day, I made an unplanned trek through the woods of 2.5 to 3 miles, much of which was through tight, thick brush and over downed trees. The Copperhead boots treated me well through that, and I was pleased.

Extending the Season

I took my Copperheads to the Florida panhandle, on a hunt with my uncle. The weather varied from frosty to hot & humid, and the Copperheads treated me well throughout. I was glad to have them on when I shot a hog that died in a mud hole, and they kept my feet plenty warm when I killed and blood-trailed a buck the following frosty morning.

When skinning and quartering both of those animals, I was glad to be wearing the Bogs boots. They were comfortable, and easy to hose off when they got muddy or bloody.

Squeaky!

They are rubber, and although some portions of them have exposed Cordura Nylon, lots of the outer layer is not, and these boots will squeak together - when I cross my ankles in a chair, sit Indian-style on the ground, or just rub the backs of them against the front of my hunting chair. Kind of a bummer at times, but not a deal-breaker by any means.

Keeping the Crud Out

The very tops of these boots seem to be made of neoprene, and they hug my legs just enough to prevent almost all twigs and leaves from getting into the boots. This is a big bonus, because one of the worst things about slip-on boots is their tendency to collect debris.

Springing a Leak

The most disappointing thing about my Bogs Copperheads was when the left boot sprung a leak while I was wading on April 10. It was on the top of the foot, where the boot flexes the most, and the leak was tiny. I contacted Bogs and was told that they would happily replace the boots - but that they were backordered until mid-July!

I kept using the boots, but the leak slowly got worse and I didn't see my replacements by mid-July. After an email reminder, I finally received replacements in the middle of August. So Bogs definitely made good on their guarantee, but they didn't get in a hurry about it.

Easy On-Off

The full-length rear zipper means the boots are easy to take off and put on, which is a big deal when it comes to pull-on boots. Some of them can be very difficult to remove, which can make things tough at the end of a long day's hunt.

Conclusion

I like these boots, and I'll keep wearing them to the woods. I like how they feel now that I've become accustomed to the way they fit, they offer much-needed arch support, I appreciate their waterproofness, and the snake resistance is a big bonus here in the Deep South. The rear zipper makes for easy on and off, too.

They are well-made boots, but I never thought I'd like them as well as I do. I guess they just won me over.

- Russ Chastain

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Disclosure: A review sample was provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.