The Meindl Eurolight Hunter Insulated Boot is exactly what it claims to be: a lightweight boot designed for cold-weather hunting and similar activities.
If, like me, you have never heard of this brand before, you might be interested to know that Meindl is a renowned German footwear manufacturer established in 1683 by Petrus Meindl in Kirchanschöring, Bavaria. How many footwear companies can talk about their legacy in terms of centuries? The company is now run by the ninth generation of the Meindl family, continuing to blend tradition with innovation.
SPECS
Meindl is known for its durable and comfortable boots, which have been used by adventurers, hikers, and military forces around the world. This is the first footwear from Meindl I’ve ever owned and I fell in love with them the first time I tried them on, but more on that later…
First, let’s look at the Meindl Eurolight Hunter Insulated Boot specifications:
- Height: 9 inches
- Weight: 3.3 lbs per pair (uninsulated version is lighter)
- Insulation: Gore Air-Fibre 300
- Waterproof: Gore-Tex liner
- Upper Material: Waxed full-grain Nubuck leather with a reinforced toe cap
- Insole: Air Active for cushioning and support
- Midsole: Polyurethane for durability and comfort
- Outsole: Duo-Dur III for excellent traction and flexibility
- Lace Length: 72 inches
- Available Sizes: 7-14 D/8-14 EE, including half sizes up to 12
IN THE FIELD
The website descriptions say these boots are designed to be lightweight yet durable, making them suitable for various outdoor activities such as hunting, hiking, and everyday wear in colder climates. The combination of insulation, waterproofing, and breathable materials ensures comfort and protection in diverse field conditions. So, how accurate is that description? Well… to find out, I took them hunting in the Idaho Desert to put them to the test.
This was my first year Elk Hunting in Idaho. It was going to be in the low 20’s, which is near average for this time of year, with variable winds gusting to 20 mph, definitely cold enough to appreciate quality clothing. The first time I slipped these boots on, I could feel the quality. My feet slid in quickly and comfortably without having to wiggle or force them in. I laced up the top portion and noticed I didn’t have to wrap the laces around the top of the boot, they were sized correctly to tie without the extra step. There was plenty of support. They were a little stiff for the first 10 minutes of walking around in them, but they broke in within an hour of wearing them around the house. The next time I wore them was for my hunting trip.
The desert terrain in eastern Idaho is a wide, flat valley of volcanic basalt, covered with grass and sagebrush. It has cactus and plenty of other sharp plant life, not to mention rattlesnakes and a diverse scorpion population. The uneven, rocky terrain gives the unwary plenty of opportunity to stumble, trip, and roll ankles. A tall, supportive boot is essential when spending time in this environment.
Over 7 hours of hunting, my feet were about the only thing on me that wasn’t cold. The insulation in these boots does its job quite well. They are lightweight, which facilitates running, and I’m glad of that, because right as we were about to call it a day, we saw a nice cow elk in our hunting area, running hard along a fence-line. I was able to take a position right in her path and when she saw us, she turned west towards the desert. I followed on a parallel path, unable to take a safe shot as she was running along the top of a small hill with blue sky behind her. After a 50-yard dash, she was finally in an area where I could see safe area behind and I dropped into a prone position. When she was about 180 yards away, she slowed for a moment to jump a short fence. As she lept, I fired, and heard the .300 Win Mag round make solid impact just as she cleared the fence. She was down definitively about 50 yards from where she was hit.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What features do we really want in a hunting boot?
Durability – to resist the rugged terrain
Weight Savings – to permit running when needed and save some strain on the knees,
Comfort – boots that go on easy and stay put so they don’t cause blisters or hot-spots,
Warmth and water-resistance – cold, wet feet is just a formula for misery.
The Meindl Eurolight Hunter Insulated Boots check all the boxes in my opinion. Our footwear are the foundation for everything we do. For strenuous outdoor activities in cold weather, a high-performance boot makes a difference. These Meindl boots have proven themselves and I give them my full recommendation.
Material Disclosure:
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
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