I usually do as much portaging as I do paddling and just hike in wet boots or wear chest waders - would love to try these out this season!

There was an old thread on here, but I wanted another run of opinion and some suggestions for alternatives. Trying these on at home I feel they would do better with some proper laces instead of the bungie laces.

My wife and I both use the NRS Boundary Boot. We love them.

I'm guessing they use the bungee laces to prevent the neoprene from ripping or wearing prematurely. Regular laces might add too pressure on the neoprene. Not sure.

One thing we did was replace the factory insole with a more quality insole with a bit more support and rigidity. The factory insole was okay but I felt like I could feel the stones on a portage through the sole of the boot a bit. It wasn't a deal breaker but the quality insole insert was a big improvement for us

I’ve had my pair for two seasons now. Loved them up until my trip last fall when the sole of the right boot started separate from the boot. I was able to Gorilla glue them and they held for the rest of the trip. I’m not sure if I will trust them this spring. Another thing about them is they really have no ankle support if that matters to you.

I have Boundary Boots and like them for what they are. For regular canoe tripping with numerous and especially longer portages I would not choose them for that type of trip. Instead:

Astral Rassler 2 paired with NRS Boundary Sock. Just get a size or two larger to fit the sock - I got one size larger. This is the best overall system I have found. I have a total of over 50 wilderness canoe trips, many of which are across all kinds of terrain (soil, mud, rock, underwater, bog, steep slopes, downed tree riddled, wetlands, lining river rapids, beaver dams, etc.) and I always wet foot. The tread does not look like much but it works very well.


And Astral’s customer service is excellent. I had pairs in the past that had started to unglue in a spot or two. I told the rep and they found that unacceptable and gave me a brand new pair each time. Note I shoe gooed the minor deglued spot and have kept using them, saving the new pair.

RoundRiver: "I have Boundary Boots and like them for what they are. For regular canoe tripping with numerous and especially longer portages I would not choose them for that type of trip. Instead:


Astral Rassler 2 paired with NRS Boundary Sock. Just get a size or two larger to fit the sock - I got one size larger. This is the best overall system I have found. I have a total of over 50 wilderness canoe trips, many of which are across all kinds of terrain (soil, mud, rock, underwater, bog, steep slopes, downed tree riddled, wetlands, lining river rapids, beaver dams, etc.) and I always wet foot. The tread does not look like much but it works very well.



And Astral’s customer service is excellent. I had pairs in the past that had started to unglue in a spot or two. I told the rep and they found that unacceptable and gave me a brand new pair each time. Note I shoe gooed the minor deglued spot and have kept using them, saving the new pair."

that gave me an idea - i've got the patagonia lightweight wading boots that I really like. I could just run those with a waterproof sock or neoprene sock.

I know I'm going to sound old school, but I've been using LL Bean Maine Hunting boots, 12" for about 40 years in the BWCA. I keep reading about newer boots, neoprene socks, etc., but I keep wearing the LL Bean boots and I'm happy with them. I don't mind that I can feel some of the rocks along the portage trails, because I have a 40+ lb pack on while carrying a 40+ lb canoe on my shoulders. I'm no longer the 20 year old I used to be, but I still single carry.
I'm a gear junkie, so anyone who has a better mouse trap, especially when it comes to wet-foot unloading a nice kevlar canoe, I'm all ears.