In the last seven years, I’ve gone through three pairs of snake boots. I wore out the first pair, the second pair was damaged in an accident and got tossed, while the third pair ended up being torture instruments for feet.
Now, I’m always trying out new, as in just introduced, new to the market, etc. It’s part of my work and I do tend to focus on new.
But I spend a good deal of time in places like Texas where poisonous snakes are a reality, and so, I told myself, this time my “new” snake boots would be from an established brand making and selling an established snake boot. Old school because it was a proven boot. And I found a really good one: Rocky Waterproof Snakeproof Hunting Boots (Style #1570).
These 16-inch boots have been made by Rocky since 2009. They are of the lace-up variety, come in the Mossy Oak Breakup pattern with full-grain leather trim, and the sturdy nylon protecting your calves and shins incorporates Rocky’s own Thorn and Briar Guard technology.
I broke-in my Snakeproofs by wearing them around the house and on short walks. They were very comfortable, but, of course, the field is the real test.
That test came in West Texas in April 2020, chasing Rio Grande turkey and wild hogs with Hargrove Hunts near Rotan, Texas. I hunted turkeys mornings, later afternoons to evening, and for several hours every night after dinner pursued wild hogs; I wore my Rocky Snakeproofs on each and every hunt.
The boots were very comfortable on uneven, rocky terrain, and provided solid support to my ankles and feet. Thankfully, no snakes gave the boots the supreme test, but the Waterproof Snakeproof boots protected me from prickly pear cactus, and all the other thorns and briars West Texas can throw at a hunter—and West Texas can throw a heck of a lot!
The aggressive lugs and treads on the Waterproof Snakeproof boots provided great traction in mud, when fording small streams, and even over “sugar sand,” that very-fined grained, very light sand that causes many a 4WD to bog down.
The lacing on these boots also allowed me to easily, and quickly loosen them when my lower legs needed cooling.
Rocky lists the sizes on these boots as “unisex.” I was just glad to see that Rocky still makes and sells half sizes and my 10.5-sized Rockys fit fine. Many, many boot makers, I’ve found, do not offer half sizes, and I end up getting either a 10 Wide or an 11 Regular. Sometimes they fit well. About half the time? The 10’s are too tight and the 11’s too loose.
The Waterproof Snakeproof Hunting Boots are good-looking footwear, too. Not that the snakes and the cactus care. But there’s nothing wrong with looking correct while hunting!
The Rocky website lists the suggested retail on the boots at $135.00. I found them online for $10 to $20 less than suggested retail, but the prices didn’t include shipping and handling. If you hunt snake areas, do yourself a favor and consider these classic snake boots. Your life could depend upon it—literally.