Comfort is the
first word that came to my mind when I opened the box that held the Wolverine
12-Point boot.Removing them from the
box and upon inspection, comfort was still on my mind.Putting them on and walking confirmed my
overall impressions.This is the first
boot, right out of the box that was flexible like a running shoe with the
comfort to boot.No pun intended.
The 12-Point boot
that I received from Wolverine is lightweight coming in at around 2.5 pounds
per pair.The upper is made of 100
denier Cordura nylon and surrounded by full grain pigskin leathering.Each seam is sealed, double stitched and
boasts 100% waterproof for those wet mornings or stream crossings on the way to
your stand.
For those hunts
where the temperature starts to diminish a little bit the boots are insulated
with 200 grams of Thinsulate.I look
forward to using these on those frosty October and November mornings where the
temperature hovers in the 30’s and 40’s.Now for those pesky noses that tend to pickup your scent trail, the 12-Point
features a Scent-Lok liner to absorb human odors before they can escape.The inner soles of the 12 point consist of a
hidden EVA mid-sole and a removable cushion insole which are more than adequate
for all day comfort as well as support.
Traction to me
is very important as I tend to climb creeks and streams with fairly steep
banks.I hate the thought of slipping
and falling back into shallow water, especially when I plan on hunting all
day.The spider web design of the 12-Point
assures you of good traction but at the same time doesn’t clog up with
dirt.The webbing is spaced far enough
apart so you don’t have to worry about dropping dirt clogs from your treestand.This tends to cause unnatural and disturbing
sounds as it hits the leaf covered forest floor.
The 12-Point comes
in either a 6” or 8” height versions depending on your preference for ankle
support.I tested the 8” version and
like the taller support.I also want a
taller boot for the reason mentioned earlier of crossing streams.There is nothing more miserable than having
any part of your body soaked during a hunt, especially your feet because long
walks tend to cause major rubbing and the onset of blisters.
The 12-Point’s heavy
duty laces are secured through four pairs of nylon holders.The lace holders are secured to the boot with
double stitching through four fingerlike leather extensions.These extensions then meet the lower leather
base where they once again are double stitched.This not only adds extra strength but also aids in a snug yet
comfortable fit when the laces are tightened.
The upper lacings
of the 8” boot are secured with three hooks which enable quick on and off.The first of the three hooks once again uses
a fingerlike leather extension to secure a snug fit just above the ankle.On the back of the boot is a nylon hoop to
aid in quickly pulling on the 12-Point boot.It also makes a nice place to conveniently tie on a drag rag as well.
Each time I
slipped on the boot, they did just that, slipped on very easily.I hate having to wrestle with a pair of boots
trying to get them over a medium to heavy weight wool sock.With heavy socks just loosen the laces and
make sure to spread the boot open and your foot will slide right in.The lace hooks are deep enough to securely
hold the laces and the nylon lace holder make for a very quick tightening. My only concern of the nylon is how well will
they hold up over time.Will briars and
brambles tend to snag the nylon and weaken them?We will find out over the long haul but I
feel they should have no problem holding up for a season of big game hunting.
The Realtree
Hardwoods HD camo covers the leather as well as Cordura.The camouflage and boot surface should
adequately blend in to any surrounding, especially those early season turkey
hunts just before “green up”. For
whitetails the Scent-Lok liner is an extra bonus in order to alleviate foot
odor.I would however like to see a
removable Scent-Lok bootie in order to reactivate the liner by throwing it into
a dryer.
Design 4 of 5
The Wolverine 12-Point
is extremely comfortable and easy to get on and off.The spider design traction is a real plus and
debris doesn’t stick in the design.The 100%
waterproofing will keep your feet warm and dry on those cool crisp fall
days.The Scent-Lok though not a bootie
should give you the added benefit of scent control.
Comfort 4.5 of 5
Comfort is a
feature of fit and support.As long as
you initially get the boot fitted correctly this is one of the most comfortable
and lightest boots on the market.The
200 grams of Thinsulate is the reason for warmth without adding bulk.The EVA mid-sole combined with the removable
full cushion removable liner should respond for all day comfort.
