LaCrosse has been building top quality hunting boots for over 100 years and shows no signs of slowing down. LaCrosse started as a rubber company in 1897 and made its first pair of boots in 1906. Since then, they have been known for making hunting boots able to tackle the coldest weather. I had the opportunity to try out their new line of Ursa hunting boots for the past hunting season and was not disappointed.
I spent the summer wearing the Ursa ES GTX uninsulated boot. This is a super comfortable boot that gives you a great combination of support with flexibility. It features a waterproof GORE-TEX liner that keeps water out but lets the sweat escape. The suede and nylon upper allows it to be light and still durable while the Vibram Megagrip outsole keeps you from slipping on any terrain. I wore these boots while hiking the hills and fishing back country ponds in southern California all summer. They never felt too hot but sure made me feel I could tackle any terrain.
When I ventured out to Wyoming for an elk hunt in the late fall, I figured an insulated boot would be a better option so I stepped up to the Ursa LS GTX 10″ boot. This is a serious boot for cold weather hunting. With 400 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation, it was plenty warm for hiking around snow covered hills in search of the elusive wapiti. The boot has the same GORE-TEX liner along with the lightweight nylon and leather upper as its little brother, but it is 2″ taller. This extra height is nice to have when hiking in snow. The outsole features LaCrosse’s Vibram Traction Lug technology which they claim has deep, self-cleaning lugs and gives you traction in any terrain. I can’t say I tried the boot in every terrain but I did use it in snow, mud, sand and even some elk blood and it kept me stable everywhere I went. This boot is very comfortable and very stable. It is designed to keep you upright while traversing steep hillsides. My feet were always comfortable whether I was in the warm truck or the freezing Wyoming wind, I was never too hot or too cold.
The Ursa boots feature a black 360-degree mud guard around the base of the boot above the sole. This gives the boot extreme durability and abrasion resistance. I know some people don’t care for this look on a boot, preferring to have the leather go all the way down to the sole. I, however, have always been hard on my boots and really like a mud guard. It will actually keep your boots looking and wearing better longer. If you haven’t owned LaCrosse boots, it is high time you tried some. They are a great value for the quality, features and comfort and you won’t be disappointed either!