I was helping with a youth hunt in Mississippi this past season when I had one of those experiences that truly awaken your body from head to toe. My son and I were stomping our way out of a swamp bottom after the morning hunt when we decided to cut across the edge of a foodplot on our way back to the four-wheeler. My son, Aidan, was tagging along some 10-15 feet behind me and further out in the plot. With enough hunting gear and equipment for two people on my back, I was glad to be making the final approach to the four-wheeler. And then it happened.
I was mid-stride when a rattlesnake bowed up and began to buzz with everything he had…right between my legs! I don’t remember much of the deal. My son says I screamed like a girl and jumped backwards 10 feet. I simply know that for one brief moment in my life, God gave me cat-like reflexes, and I dodged a mess from a big Mississippi rattler. That hunt reminded me of the need for better preparedness when hunting in snake country. I soon began to research some of the top snake boots across the industry. One of the standouts was the Venom snake boot from LaCrosse.
.JPG)
Out of the Box
The Venom is an 18″ boot, so it provides great coverage up to the hunter’s knee. Technology built into this boot by LaCrosse include Scent Dry, a highly engineered, waterproof, scent-free barrier that lines the entire boot for 100% protection. The boot also contains, Snake Guard, the venom protection that will keep you covered no matter what kind of mess you walk into with a snake. The Venom boot is available in Realtree APG and weighs in at 5.0 pounds.
.JPG)
The Venom boot offers rugged snakeproof protection right out of the box.
The Skinny on Comfort
A couple things that I’ve noticed as being deal breakers for many of the snakeboots on the market over the years revolve around comfort. Many of the snakeboots on the market are simply uncomfortable to wear for any extended period of time. This obviously won’t work for the warm-season hunter that could potentially be wearing these boots all day long. Some other styles of snakeboots are designed like a cowboy boot. And unfortunately they are about as comfortable as a tough-walking cowboy boot. From the moment I slid my foot down into the Venom boots, I realized they were built for all-day comfort. The EVA midsole and PU footbed give added cushioning and will no doubt help with all-day comfort. The footbed is solid and secure. It’s honestly more like wearing a tennis shoe than a boot. This fact alone make them a great choice for me while running timber and fields in pursuit of spring turkeys. The boots lace to the toe, providing a solid fit and great support for your feet and ankles. The Low Country outsole increases traction with improved surface contact underfoot on varied surfaces while it quickly sheds debris and mud.
.JPG)
Scent Dry protection make these boots a great option for warm weather hunts.
.JPG)
The Low Country outsole increases traction with improved surface contact underfoot on varied surfaces while it quickly sheds debris and mud.
Easy Come, Easy Go
Another element of comfort for me is the ability to get into, and out of, your boots without a major ordeal. If it takes two people to help get your boots off, you got a problem. The Venom boots have a side-zipper that allows you to easily slip in and out of the boots. I honestly didn’t think I’d like the zipper feature on a boot. But after trying them out, I’ve realized it is definitely a great option and goes a long way towards comfort.
.JPG)
The Venom features a side-zip that allows you to easily slip in and out of your boots.
Don’t find yourself snakebit this season. Snakeproof boots are cheap insurance when it comes to walking around in the places that poisonous snakes call home. Be prepared with comfortable snakeproof protection from LaCrosse when you hit the woods in the warmer months of hunting season. Check out the lineup of snakeboots from LaCrosse at www.lacrossefootwear.com.
