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Crispi Shimek GTX Highlight
Growing up hunting in Northern California, and now predominantly in Arizona, boots with insulation never felt necessary. With a good pair of socks and a water-tight, uninsulated boot, I’ve been able to stay reasonably comfortable through just about everything. My needs changed once I began planning my first hunt on Kodiak Island this November.
Knowing I would be hunting in far colder and wetter conditions than usual, I chose the Crispi Shimek GTX, mostly for its 400g of Gore insulation. Straight out of the box, these boots were like a warm hug that needed no introduction to my feet. I wore them for several days before the hunt to make sure they were going to work, but immediately it was as if the boots were saying “Relax, I know what to do.”
When my feet finally touched ground on Kodiak Island, the design of this boot really proved itself. With only a 2-flex rating (I’m used to a stiffer, 4-flex boot) and a pleasantly lightweight and flexible frame, I felt agile and mobile – a big advantage when negotiating the maze of alders and salmonberry thickets on the island. Moreover, my feet stayed dry through repeated stream crossings and seven days of hunting the drenched, snowy, and soggy island of Kodiak.
As for warmth and comfort, my feet only got truly cold a time or two after standing still in the snow for a little while. Once we started moving again, they heated right back up. I suspect there is a combination of sock weight and boot insulation I need to figure out that will allow my feet to breathe better, sweat less, and thus stay warmer when standing still.
I’m going to continue putting miles on these boots in a much more arid place when I hunt Coues deer a short week from now. The warmth and dynamic comfort of this boot is a combo too good to leave at home. After my Coues deer hunt, I will be writing a more detailed review on the Western Hunter website. For now, I can confidently say that I chose the perfect boot for hunting Kodiak Island, and I strongly suggest you consider it for your mid-late season hunts.