SITKA has made a reputation for itself by pushing the bounds of consolation and efficiency with gear that really performs within the discipline. The model’s jackets, pants, and base layers are high-tech and fashionable, however not fussy. It’s simply the type of gear hunters can depend on day in and time out in just about each situation Nature throws our manner.
SITKA took the identical method when the corporate designed the Back40 Boot. Removed from the everyday rubber boot, these really feel virtually like sneakers underfoot. That’s, if sneakers had been robust sufficient to sort out swamps, creeks, and muddy timber.
Briefly: When you’ve ever wished for a boot that may hold your ft dry with out making you dread the hike, the Back40 is SITKA’s try and hit that candy spot.
SITKA Back40 Boot Assessment
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Extraordinarily comfy for a rubber boot -
Nice traction on mud and slopes -
Straightforward to get on and off -
Waterproof and breathable efficiency
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Heavy for lengthy hikes -
No half sizes; match runs roomy
First Impressions
Out of the field, the SITKA Back40 appears like a heavy-duty rubber boot. They’re tall, thick, and look extra like they’re constructed for mucking stalls than sneaking by timber. However as soon as I pulled them on, the match tells a distinct story.
SITKA designed these to really feel extra like athletic footwear underfoot, and one way or the other virtually pulled it off. The EVA midsole and molded footbed give the boot a shocking quantity of cushioning and rebound, which I observed as quickly as I began strolling.
However these are nonetheless hefty beasts. Every measurement 7 boot tipped the size at 2.6 kilos. They aren’t light-weight, and I positively received’t be operating any path races in them. However that’s not what they’re for. Just like the ag boots they resemble, these items are constructed for mud and muck. And I wouldn’t need to wade by both in cross trainers.
SITKA doesn’t make half sizes, so I went up from my common 6½. That left a bit additional room, even with thick wool socks. My ft slid round some, however the general consolation was stable proper from the beginning. They’re not glossy or versatile. They’re nonetheless tall rubber boots, in any case. However the consolation degree places them a step above most others within the class.
Discipline Testing within the South’s Spring Turkey Season
I initially put SITKA’s Back40s by their paces within the coronary heart of the South’s spring turkey season, which is a mixture of thick black mud, swollen creek beds, and dew-soaked grass that may be brutal in low-cost boots. The Back40’s 18-inch shafts stored water out by repeated soakings, protecting my ft impressively dry even in severely sloppy terrain.
Even with 800 g of Thinsulate, the boots stayed comfy on cool spring mornings that warmed into the 60s. The liner and footbed depraved moisture effectively, and although my socks ended up damp by the tip of the day, the breathability places each different waterproof rubber boot I’ve used to disgrace.
However I discovered the boot’s restrict after I carried them into the early North Carolina archery season. Afternoon temps routinely climb into the 90s, and whereas airflow was respectable, the insulation and weight made them an excessive amount of boot for hot-weather searching.
By the tip of these mid-September sits, my socks felt just like the swamps I’d slogged by again in turkey season. I’ve since shelved them till the primary November chilly snap, when that insulation will earn its hold.
The boots’ heel kick pad is a small however appreciated characteristic that makes it straightforward to peel off muddy boots on the truck. It’s the type of characteristic you don’t take into consideration till you’re drained and coated in swamp muck.
Match and Consolation
SITKA constructed the Back40 round a sneaker-inspired final, and it’s straightforward to really feel. Out of the field, it feels extra such as you’re standing in an athletic shoe than a boxy rubber boot. These boots are cushioned underfoot, cosy by the midfoot, and surprisingly versatile within the step.
Since SITKA doesn’t supply half sizes, I sized up from my common 6½. That left additional room even with thick wool socks, and whereas my ft slid a bit on steep terrain. However the additional house ended up not being a deal breaker.
I got here away from multi-mile hunts with no blisters or sizzling spots. The EVA midsole and molded foam footbed absorbed shock effectively and helped forestall foot fatigue on all-day hunts.
Every boot weighed 2.6 kilos in response to my kitchen scale, so these are removed from light-weight. I observed the heft on longer hikes, however for a rubber boot, these are fairly darned comfortable. They’re simply a number of the most supportive, well-cushioned rubber boots I’ve worn.
Stability and Traction
The Back40s rubber outsoles actually impressed me throughout testing. They bit into slick, muddy floor with out that ice-skating feeling you get with cheaper boots. Additionally they stayed planted in sandy soil and shed particles over blended terrain with out caking up with grit, mud, or leaves.
The tread sample gives loads of grip on uneven floor. I used to be in a position to sidehill by damp leaf litter and mud-slick creek banks with no bother.
Traction feels extra like a lightweight mountain boot than a standard rubber pull-on, with loads of chew the place rubber soles like to slip. The additional mass would possibly require robust leg muscle groups on lengthy hauls, however it lends some steadiness and stability when the footing will get unpredictable. These won’t ever determine as light-weight mountaineering boots, however they keep stable underfoot and encourage confidence in sloppy situations.
Sturdiness
After greater than a full season of trudging by muck, mud, sand, and the occasional creekbed, the Back40s nonetheless look mainly model new. There’s no cracking or fading, and the molded EVA midsole nonetheless offers stable help. The outsole treads have simply as a lot chew as they did on day one, and I can’t detect even minimal put on regardless of repeated use in slippery situations.
And after miles of moist grass, creek crossings, and journeys by swampy river bottoms, the boots are nonetheless repelling water like moisture-fighting tremendous heroes. Even the heel kick pad had held up.
The place They Excel
The Back40s are rockstars in the case of waterproofing and traction. They hold ft dry in mud, swamps, creeks, and dew-soaked grass with out baking them in gentle temperatures due to their breathable development. The rubber outsoles supply loads of grip, biting into slick creek banks, sandy soil, and uneven terrain.
These boots are additionally surprisingly comfy and straightforward to put on, even on lengthy, lively days within the discipline.
The place They Fall Quick
However like most rock stars, these boots have their vices. At over 2½ kilos per boot, the Back40s can begin to really feel like a exercise on lengthy hikes. The 800 g of Thinsulate make them too heat for searching when the temps rise to about 70 levels.
Match is one other consideration. I actually want they had been provided in half sizes. Sizing up left extra additional inside room that I favor, even when paired with thick socks. These usually are not light-weight, all-day mountaineering boots, however they don’t fake to be, both. For cold-to-moderate temperatures in moist or muddy situations, the Back40s actually ship.
Last Ideas
The SITKA Back40 Boot is a welcome improve to the traditional rubber searching boot. It’s comfy, retains water out, and gives severe traction, all wrapped up in a package deal that feels extra athletic than agricultural.
They could be on the heavy aspect and are too heat as soon as the mercury climbs, however they actually shine in cool, moist situations. For hunters chasing spring gobblers, waterfowl, or anybody who spends time in mud or water, the Back40s make a wise addition to your searching package.
