Gear Review: Cabela's Perfekt 10" Hunter Boots by Meindl

Finding the perfect boot for hunting is no small task. Luckily for us consumers, the marketplace is incredibly diverse and competitive, and with the ease by which reviews and customer ratings (such as this one) are found online - it would seem relatively easy to get yourself into a great pair of boots. I do not deny this. However, as a budget conscious hunter that can't afford a different pair of boots for every situation - I had one silver bullet to throw at new footwear. My requirements were simple: I needed a boot that provided adequate ankle & foot support for treacherous terrain while carrying heavy packs without compromising flat ground comfort, waterproof, durable, and most importantly - versatile. I wanted a boot that could be worn while hunting mulies in early September or elk in late November.  A tall order, no doubt.  Enter the subject of this article: the Cabela's "Perfekt 10" Hunter Boot by Meindl.

Here are the specs for the Perfekt 10" Hunter Boot as provided by the Cabelas website:

• Ideal all-around big-game hunting boot
• Cork molds to your foot for custom support
• Multigrip rubber outsoles offer no-slip traction on loose terrain
• 100% waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX membranes
• 400-gram Thinsulate Ultra Insulation
• 10" height
• Leather Construction
• Weight 4.4 lbs

I'll call out the two elephants in the room immediately - the weight, and the insulation. For an all-around hunting boot, I typically prefer an uninsulated boot because I find most of my hunting takes place in September and October when the temperatures are more mild. For the later months it's easy to add a layer of wool socks and get the warmth that I need. I was hesitant about the 400 grams of Thinsulate Insulation. With advancements in full length warm weather sock materials and the assurance of multiple salespeople that it wouldn't be an issue - I went for it. The other elephant is the weight of these boots.  Weighing in at 4.4 lbs, they're over half a pound heavier than other boots I was considering - such as the Kenetrek Mountain Extreme, the Cabela's Denali Hunting Boots by Meindl, or the Danner Ridgemaster Boots. The insulation is a big part of this, but weight is weight. 

After speaking with several trusted sources and pouring over review after review - I steered away from the Kenetrek boots for one simple reason: consumers either absolutely loved them or completely hated them. They were simply too polarizing to throw over $400 at compared to the other two options in the $280 range.  I eliminated the Danner boots for several reasons - I simply couldn't find a Danner boot that fit my foot exactly the way I wanted it to, they weren't as robust and allowed to much torsional movement on the sole, and they didn't provide a heel locking lace like the Kenetrek & Meindl boots did (evidenced by a further back set lace studs located between the ankle and to of the foot which helps anchor the heel back in the heel pocket). While the Denali boots were more comfortable initially, they provided less ankle support and weren't as sturdy as the Perfekt boot, so I elected to buy the Perfekt 10's.

My boots arrived the first of April, so I had two full weeks to break them in prior to the first hunt of the year - my week long mountain turkey hunt.  This hunt takes place in some surprisingly rough terrain with timber choked steep canyons between rolling grassy knolls - a perfect proving ground for both my new Eberlestock backpack & my new boots.  Mid April in that part of the state, even with moderate elevations, can still be a cold proposition - deep snow and sub freezing temperatures are the norm, so it proved to be a good test of warmth as well.  For the maiden voyage into the mountains I paired them with Smartwool Hike Ultra Light socks.  Temperatures consistently hovered in the low 20's in the early morning hours (even dipping into the low teens on 2 of the days) and climbed into the mid 40's during the daytime.  Even with only a lightweight merino wool sock, my feet never got cold once despite many frigid mornings waiting for turkeys to fly the roost in the pre-dawn darkness.  They performed flawlessly.

After 5 long days and countless miles with sparse turkey action, this jake felt taking like the biggest tom in the woods.

The heel locking lace studs ensure there is absolutely NO heel movement, even when hiking up extremely steep grades that can wear your heel raw in no time with a lesser boot.  The cork footbeds did take about 7 days to break in around the house, but I don't mind the break in period when I know the end result is a well fitted and sturdy boot with outstanding torsional support.  The boots do come with an insole spacer, which I initially tossed aside after breaking the boots in for a couple weeks around the house, confident I had a good fit.  My first morning while climbing up and down steep canyons I noted a small amount of heel movement, and luckily I had brought the spacers with me.  After placing the spacer under the main insole I had a PERFECT (or should I say Perfekt?) fit for any terrain.

I have since run these boots through the ringer.  I have thrown every terrain imaginable with every weather condition - in the past 8 months I have logged 50 days and well over 200 miles in the field.  I spent 14 days in Spring bear season packing heavy loads of bait up steep and impenetrably thick undergrowth with temperatures at times soaring into 70's - and with the right sock (I found Under Armour Heat Gear Ignite socks to be best for warm temperatures) my feet didn't overheat 95% of the time. During a grueling 6 day elk hunt in late September I was in either knee high foliage sopping went from incessant rain or ankle deep in snow every step of the way and my feet NEVER got wet or cold - and there's definitely something to be said about the confidence of substantial ankle support provided by these boots when throwing an 80 pound elk quarter on your back to hike out.  On a recent high country archery mule deer hunt when I found myself at 9,000 feet in elevation during late November glassing atop a windswept mountain pass - even after punching throw the ice on a frozen stream and sinking into water ankle deep - I never got cold or wet.  I have found these boots provide outstanding versatility in almost every element, the key is pairing the boot with the right sock for the elements.

On uneven terrain and shale rock they provided enough torsional support to allow me to confidently traverse hillsides that normally would have been far more worrisome for fear of rolling an ankle.  The soles are so rigid that they're uncomfortable on flat ground either, allowing enough flex to make it easy to forget you're wearing a mountain boot.  As I mentioned earlier, I put these to the test as well while packing out 2 large bull elk across steep and unpredictable terrain.  With an elk quarter strapped to your pack, these hikes out can be a minefield - one small misstep can lead to a broken ankle or worse, depending on the terrain.  This is where the rubber really meets the road, and these boots shined.

Mule deer hunting with a bow is one of the most frustrating things on the planet.  This tremendous buck strode
right down my tracks from earlier that day as I watched from afar.  At least my feet weren't cold.

The only two vices I have found thus far with this boot are the weight and overheating in exceptionally warm conditions - both of which I am easily willing to live with given the benefits.  Could weight be saved by going with an uninsulated boot?  Yes, but typically only 6-8 ounces between both boots if you comparing to other 10" tall sturdy leather boots.  Could a synthetic uninsulated boot be better suited to higher temperatures in early season - and lighter as well?  Yes, but the bottom line is this: these are an outstanding choice for 90% of all hunting scenarios, and as for that 10%?  No other boot (I believe) is going to get you 100% for under $300 - and even in the ultra high end price ranges, I seriously doubt it.  You'll just ending up buying a second pair of boots for a different purpose.  All things considered, spending a few hundred bucks on a pair of boots can be a daunting thing - but it's the best money you'll spend to keep you in the field longer.  For my money, I don't see a better boot on the market.

Spring Fever

Early spring is always a season full of anxiety for me.  With so much to look forward to in the coming months, I find myself spending more time THINKING about what I'm going to do, rather than actually DOING anything.  With spring turkey and bear season just around the corner, it's time to start shooting my bow more regularly and making the endless number of small adjustments I regularly do to ensure my equipment is in perfect operating condition.  Oddly enough, no matter how many small adjustments I do to perfect my system - I will inevitably be awake until the early morning hours rechecking everything before my first hunt of the year.  The same holds true for my first spring steelhead trip of the year.  I make checklists for my equipment, and plan every aspect of the following day - where to go in inclement weather, where to go if there's pressure, the list goes on and on.  Therein lies the essence of my early spring cabin fever - I regularly suffer mild to moderate outbreaks of obsessive compulsive disorder.  One thing that I regularly obsess over, that I feel is a very worthy cause, is researching my hunting locations for the coming fall.

One of the best things about spring to a hunter is that there is always a wealth of information about the previous years' hunt that are invaluable.  The hours I spend in the early spring researching data from the previous fall dictates what hunts I apply for in several states, but most importantly here in Idaho. I think too often sportsmen overlook the mountains of data relating to their home state that can help uncover the next "honey hole."  I have known too many sportsman, myself included, that have hunted the same areas for years without ever attempting to expand into new areas.  All too often the population shifts, predation changes, hunting pressure spikes, or recreational development can alter the outlook on a favored hunting area in just one year.  Without a contingency plan - or several for that matter, one can be left very discouraged.

The first place I always turn to when researching new hunting areas, or even old ones, is the Idaho Department of Fish & Game website.  Their website has multiple reports and data compilations that can help quickly isolate an area of interest - and perhaps the first one I look at is harvest data, which is a sub-section in the Big Game Species Info section.  Both controlled hunts (special permit hunts) and general season harvest information is available, with each being broken down by year - and further yet you can view the number of hunters per unit, number of animals harvested, average days hunted per hunter, antlered vs. antlerless harvest, and % of trophy animals taken.  Comparing that data to drawing odds available in the controlled hunt information will help locate a good permit to apply for.  Any hunter that isn't utilitizing this tool in planning their hunts every fall is short changing themselves.  When analyzing unit data for deer, another great page to view is the whitetail distribution map.  Note that in the harvest data, mule deer vs. whitetail deer harvest is specified.

The second thing I do when researching a new area is to view topographic or satellite imagery of the unit in question.  Google Earth is an extremely valuable asset, particularly "Terrain View," as this enables you to see the contour of the geography, and when paired with satellite imagery, provides a wealth of information about likely holding areas for trophy animals.  As they say, to kill a giant you must hunt where giants live - and giants often live in the most remote and inaccessible locations in a given unit.  Animal survival statistics and age spikes dramatically only 1 mile from the nearest road - most hunters only venture to these areas briefly in their hunts, and almost never at times when animal activity levels are at a peak.  Most hunters simply aren't willing to work hard enough to get back into these areas, or only briefly hunt them.  A dedicated public land trophy hunter should almost EXCLUSIVELY hunt these areas.  This often requires beginning your hike long before sunrise and returning long after sunset, remember; the vast majority of your hunting day should be spent in the more remote areas you are hunting.  More on this topic will follow on future articles.  Targeting these specific locations to hunt is crucial before putting in the time and effort to scout on foot.  You can either work harder, or work smarter.  Utilizing satellite imagery and topographic maps will enable you to pinpoint these areas with far greater accuracy.  The major criteria in play for determining a potential trophy area are accessibility, water sources, bedding grounds, and feeding grounds.  The majority of these elements can be determined with relative accuracy prior to scouting trips.  Google Maps allows mapping hunting areas with phenomenal detail. My maps with all my notes are printed each time I go on a scouting trip so that I can detail any new information with pinpoint accuracy.

I happened onto this buck right before dusk in late July.  Poor lighting conditions and distance prevented a good picture, but it was great to see the fruits of my labor materialize after months of research.

These photos have enabled me to hunt this buck for 3 seasons, during which time he has grown from a respectable 160" buck to a tremendous 180" buck last season.  I'm yet to loose an arrow at this monarch.

The final step in developing a new area is obviously getting some boots on the ground.  Leg work can't be substituted by any other activity, you have to get some time on the ground to learn the geography and animal movements.  Avoid pressuring animals when doing preseason scouting, this means going to the same lengths to cover scent, be mindful of wind direction when approaching likely bedding areas or travel routes, wear full camo, and most importantly - USE OPTICS.  Optics may be your greatest asset when scouting a new potential area.  Try to view animals from a distance and minimize any time spent in or around bedding areas.  Blowing a trophy buck or bull out of his bedroom can upset his entire routine and invalidate hours of scouting.  Too many times scouting trips result in bumping an animal, only to never lay eyes on him again.  If it does happen - back out for a few days and note the location so the same mistake won't be duplicated.  On these scouting trips, remember to record information you gather.  Mental notes are not enough!  I regularly use Google Maps to mark bedding areas, feeding grounds, travel routes, water sources, rubs, wallows, etc. This information allows me to make informed decisions when trying to locate an animal that seemingly disappeared into thin air, as well as branch out into adjoining territory.

Finally, don't give up!  I often hear hunters talk about spending a few days in a new area give up because they simply aren't seeing the animals.  If the elements discussed prior are present, and animal sign indicates there are animals in the area - stick it out!  Just because there aren't many animals, doesn't mean there aren't trophy animals.  In some of my best locations I can go days without seeing an antlered animal, low animal density doesn't equal low trophy density.  Also bear in mind that hunting pressure will change an animals habits, and if you've done your research it may be possible to relocate your animal(s) using information you already know!  Another critical aspect of scouting - particularly in hunts with a short duration or early season when patterns are still predictable - arrive a day prior to the opener.  Your hunting time is too valuable to be wasted hoping that nothing has changed since your last scouting trip.

With turkey season just around the corner, the hunt is already on...