snake boots?

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ballsagne

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Jun 14, 2009
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I understand that this is very off topic but I assume that you all have had your share of experiences with snakes. I am originally from Buffalo NY but now am living in Mississippi and as a student worker for the forestry department here at school I have come into contact with several poisonous snakes recently including Cane break rattlers and copperheads. I have a good pair of leather boots but am not confident that they would protect me enough should I step on one of these beasties (I do look very close at where Im stepping) any suggestions or recommendations? anyone else use snake boots or are leather boots generally good enough protection?
 
Off Topic? Psh. Just means you'll get some hopefully helpful responses and then the thread'll be hijacked.

Hmm...forestry department worker. And you'll be trekking around the swamps and woods, and you've already run into several poisonous snakes.

First, I'd ask the other guys you're working with, and see what they're doing. That'd be the first step.

I can't see that a comfortable pair of snake boots would hurt anything. In fact, if you get a nice waterproof pair, it'd probably help out a lot with swampy terrain.

So, for 1)Ease of mind, 2)Number of Snakes in Area, and 3)Waterproof ability I'd say go for it.

I've never really had a problem with snakes, I just kind of took alternate routes when I found them. But, if you're going to be trekking through swamps, and in the area for a prolonged period of time, it couldn't hurt.

In the end, the Boy Scout rule wins out, Always Be Prepared.
 
I have two pair of snake resistant boots: Chippewa and LaCrosse. The Chippewas are pull-ons with a smoother sole for desert terrain but they are not waterproof. The LaCrosse are lace-ups, have a Gore-tex lining, and lug soles. I also have some thigh-high snake-resistant chaps that can be worn over regular boots.

My recommendation is to get some boots rather than chaps or gaitors. In my experience, if I don't have snake boots on I'll often neglect to put the chaps on. The boots are in place from the start of my day and don't require extra action.

In MS, you'll probably want water-resistant boots with lug soles designed to shed mud. They cost a few bucks and aren't as comfortable as shorter leather boots but they provide peace of mind. I wear them when hunting because when you are looking for game, it's harder to concentrate on where each footstep is placed.

DancesWithKnives
 
i've got a pair of lacrosse snake boots, guaranteed snake proof up to 18 inches high. they're fairly comfortable, and water proof. they aren't insulated, but then snakes usually aren't out when the weather's cold.
 
+1 for da Chippewa's. My first pair last 15+ years of hard abuse, and stopped dog bites twice, no problem. Mine went sold as "snake boots" presay, but they were freakin great. Held up to the Cold Vermont winters, and working on a road crew paving (120+ degree pavement) and my feets stayed comfy. Great choice in footwear.
 
Check out Russell snake boots. Handmade, good construction, pricey. Picked up a pair for 2.00 and they fit. Was going to cut them up for the leather till I saw how much they were.
 
I have a pair of Chippewa 17" Snake Boots I got from Boots USA. My company has a hunting ranch south of San Antonio and before I got the boots I had an encounter with a rattler. Lucky it was early in the morning and cool. That prompted me to get them.

There are a lot of waterproofing agents you can put on the boots. Maybe not complelely water proof, but certainly better than nothing.

Good Luck.
 
thanks a lot for the advice, I had considered looking at a pair of those chaps but wasnt sure about them. I will probably go get a pair of boots either today or tomorrow. Or I could follow the one guys advice..."stop lookin for em! if you dont see em they aint there!" haha
 
Back in the spring time I was out in the field working with one of the field crews and we were working near a large lake, when a big, fat, water mochasin slithered over the top of one of the crew member's boot. I've never seen a 260 pound ex-college football player scream like a girl but I saw one that day.:D

Needless to say, we all decided that we needed protection if we were going to continue working near this lake. After a bit of research and some convincing, I got approval from corporate to buy everyone in the department a pair of snake leggings. I came across the Snake Guards brand and decided to buy them. We have used them all summer, in all kinds of terrain and they are holding up just fine. Here is a link to their website. There is a video on this web page showing them in actual use against some real snakes:


http://www.snakeboots.com/snakeguard_snakebite_protection.htm

_____Rat Pack #106_____
 
One thing I like about the chaps is that if you are walking next to a hillside (where a snake might strike higher than your knee), they give you extra protection. Same with rattlers in a bush---they sometimes get up on the lower branches pursuing game. Unfortunately, I found that I'm a lazy bastid and just wouldn't put the chaps on consistently. If I put the boots on in the morning, the problem is generally solved.

DancesWithKnives
 
FYI leather boots pretty much do nothing to protect from a big rattler. I have used the Lacrosse boots and like them alot. Never been struck in them but have seen footage and they held up to big diamondbacks very well. I did get struck by a 6 footer and it caught the edge of my jeans about 7 years ago at a dove hunt. damn thing never made a sound all i heard was the pop of my jeans and then saw him coiled up around my bird bag.... Well after a 5 min wait BANG! never had a snake taste soooo goood!
 
I have Chippewa knee high laceups, kinda heavy, but very very snake proof, also you could look into chaps which I have, when I gear up to go cut my firewwod in the fall of the year I am snake proof from the waist down, all kind of creepy crawles here in the swamps of south georgia!
 
Get the boots for extra protection but don't put absolute faith in them. From what I have heard snakes can still get through. It seems to be like wearing pads in martial arts. They mitigate some of the blow but getting punched in the head is still something you want to avoid.
 
Good point: Avoidance first, boots as backup.

I must admit that one time I was in a part of Aridzona where a friend had seen several Mojave Green rattlers (supposedly the hottest of all rattler venom) and I wore my chaps over my snake boots. Overkill undoubtedly but I know a guy who was hit on the hand by a Green and the consequences were severe. Even though he survived, his hand is still a mess.

DancesWithKnives
 
This is all my personal opinion. Even in those “snake infested” areas both with and without snake boots, basically, I judge it on the terrain/activity. I don’t think I’ve ever had a tag on the boot of one I didn’t know about. If I were looking for Diamondback in chest high palmetto scrubs, I tend to go with the boots. While running around in the everglades, I also put on the 17” wonders, and noticeably I do not get too hot. All day long, half the day in the car, and you just get use to ‘em. Mine are Rockies, and are falling apart, but they feel like moccasins. Now I like to wear them because they are damn handy to hold snakes on the road with for photographing. I only wear them when I am in the thick of diamond back territory. While snake hunting in the Sandhills, I just wear normal boots. But to each there own, my buddy who basically eats, lives and sleeps snake hunting, wears keen sandals almost all the time. He’ll put on the boots or chaps when they go to Parris Island to do Diamondback Inventory. They are all over the place out there. But for the most part, he is a Keen enthusiast. There have been a few close calls, but he does just fine with them. My advice, just stick with some tall hiking or boots unless you are actively look for ‘em.


Look, a shameless boot comparison shot! As you can see, its basically to each their own.
burm.jpg
 
I use to wear snake-leggings. I tell you, you don't need them. Steve did not wear them. :D
 
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