Written and field-tested by hunter Gary ( Western Maryland Hunting)
When I received the Kalkal 800g Insulated Hunting Boots, I was looking forward to getting them out in the woods and putting them to work.
I spend a lot of time outside walking my dogs, covering uneven ground, and hunting, so I wanted to see how the boots felt in real conditions, not just standing around in the house.
Quick Take:
- Warm: my feet stayed warm on a 34-degree sit in the stand with thin socks.
- Dry: no wet feet crossing streams or walking through wet ground.
- Light and grippy: good traction on wet leaves, mud, and rocks, including downhill.
- Roomy: space for thicker socks without the boots feeling sloppy.
First Impressions
My first impression was that they had a good fit and felt lighter than I expected for an insulated rubber hunting boot. There was enough room inside for my feet, without the boots feeling sloppy.
That extra space is useful to me because I like having the option to wear thicker socks when the temperature drops. With these boots, I have room to do that comfortably.
Test in a Western Maryland Mountain Hunt
A couple of days ago, I went to a hunt in the mountains of western Maryland. The area has steep hills, hardwood forests, and uneven ground, with leaf-covered slopes, rocks, mud, and wet spots to work through.
I wore the boots while moving across that terrain, including on downhill sections. I also wore the boots while sitting in the stand when it was around 34 degrees.
With thin socks, my feet stayed warm, which is exactly what I want from an insulated hunting boot on a cold sit.
For hunters who spend time in a stand, the insulation and room for thicker socks are both useful features.
Dry Feet Through Streams and Wet Ground
The waterproofing has been a strong point so far. Crossing water and walking through wet ground didn’t leave my feet wet.
My feet still stayed dry, even while walking through streams. They didn’t feel sweaty at the end of the hunt.
That matters when you’re moving through the woods, checking an area, or walking dogs where you don’t always get to choose the driest route.
I want a hunting boot that lets me focus on what I’m doing instead of worrying about every puddle or wet patch, and these have done that for me.
Traction on Wet Leaves, Mud and Rocks
I’ve put them through a variety of terrain while walking the dogs. That included crossing water and moving across dry leaves, mud, rocks, and wet ground.
I was especially paying attention to the traction when walking downhill over wet leaves, since that can be slick.
The boots gave me good traction across the ground I covered, including on that downhill section. I felt comfortable moving through the terrain instead of having to pick every step carefully.
Great Comfort and Weight
I also wore them in the summer, so I’ve had a chance to use them in different conditions, rather than only trying them during one cold-weather outing.
Comfort has also stood out. The boots are a great weight for walking. Once I’m moving, I don’t even notice that I have them on my feet.
That’s a big deal when you’re covering ground, because a boot that feels heavy or awkward can wear on you over time.
I’ve found these comfortable to walk in, and the fit has worked well for me across the terrain I’ve tested.
Who These Boots Suit: Stand Hunting and Walking the Woods
For someone like me who also walks dogs and moves through the woods, traction, waterproofing, and weight matter just as much.
These boots have worked well for both kinds of use so far: sitting when it’s cold and walking through wet, uneven ground.
For mountain hunts, I usually prefer leather hunting boots because they feel more supportive on steep, uneven ground and long walks.
But I’m happy to choose these Kalkal rubber boots for especially wet or muddy areas, or when I expect to spend a lot of time in standing water. These boots kept my feet dry, and they worked well for the conditions I hunted in.
Durability: What I Still Want to Test
I haven’t run into a major issue with them during the time I’ve used them. I’d still like to keep putting miles on them and see how they hold up over a full season, but my experience up to this point has been positive.
Final Verdict
Overall, I’ve been impressed with the Kalkal 800g Insulated Hunting Boots. They feel light on my feet, have given me good traction on the terrain I’ve walked, and have kept my feet dry crossing water and moving through wet ground.
They’ve also kept my feet warm during a cold sit in the stand. Based on my experience so far, I’d recommend them to hunters looking for an insulated rubber boot that can handle both time in the stand and walking through the woods.
