Boots that stay dry and quiet in the worst conditions
I was GM of Outdoor Footwear at Under Armour, working with partners including Gore-Tex, PrimaLoft, Realtree, and Mossy Oak, and I provide senior footwear guidance to Chêne Gear today.
Hunting footwear lives in cold water, mud, and long sits. The details that matter are rarely visible on a product page: how a waterproof membrane is sealed at the seams, how much insulation the boot carries and where, how a rubber boot flexes at the ankle without cracking, and whether a camo pattern is licensed and printed to hold up.
- Constructions: rubber and neoprene boots, hand-laid rubber, cemented and direct-attach leather and textile boots
- Watch for: seam sealing, insulation weight against activity level, outsole compounds that stay flexible in cold
- Testing: flex and waterproof testing, cold-weather field wear in real blinds and timber
Grip on a wet deck, comfort all day, dry by the next trip
I was VP of Footwear at Huk from 2016 to 2019.
Fishing footwear is judged on a moving, wet, often fish-slimed deck. Traction comes from the rubber compound and the siping pattern working together. The shoe has to drain and dry fast, resist salt and sun, and never mark a boat.
- Constructions: deck shoes and boots, hybrid water shoes, sandals and slides
- Watch for: non-marking compounds, siping and channel design, drainage, salt and UV resistance
- Testing: wet slip testing, saltwater and sun exposure, on-the-water wear tests
Support and protection without the weight
Outdoor footwear has to balance stability, weight, and waterproofing for long days on uneven ground.
Hikers notice weight and blisters before anything else. The last needs room for real socks and swelling feet over a long day. Midsole firmness, shank support, and lug depth decide whether the boot feels stable under a pack. Waterproof membranes add protection and heat, so the use case decides whether they belong.
- Constructions: cemented and direct-attach boots and shoes, waterproof membrane builds
- Watch for: last volume, torsional stability, lug geometry, membrane breathability
- Testing: abrasion, bond and flex, waterproofing, multi-week trail wear tests
Building something else?
Work boots, wading boots, snow boots, and other rugged footwear share the same fundamentals: the right last, the right factory, and a calendar that holds. Tell us what you're building and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
Tell us what you're building.
Share the brand, the category, and where you are today. If it's a fit, you'll talk directly with me. We're glad to sign your NDA before the first call.
- Phone
- (615) 229-6265
- Based
- Cannon County, Tennessee
- Factories
- United States and Asia