For part of last fall and this winter I wore Under Armour’s Ridge Reaper boot. I received these boots on November 15th, and stopped wearing them on January 20. So, I put about 2 months of wear on them. I didn’t hunt with them about 8 days of that time period, so they hunted approximately 55 days.
Crazy comfortable. Like tennis shoe comfortable. I opened the box at 4:00 one morning, put them on, and left them on for a 5 day Mule deer hunt. Wet, blustery conditions in Central New Mexico, and rough, rock Mule Deer country were the perfect proving ground.
I did put in some green SmartFeet insoles. One of my favorites. The ones they came with were junk, as they usually are. In December, I switched those out with a pair of High Country Footbeds from Lathrop and Sons, as usual, they are awesome.
These boots hunted 2 states, 5 species and took 14 Trophies in 55 days
2 Months? That’s pretty darn good for a boot in this country. 200-250 miles is about what I get out of most boots (there are exceptions). For most guys, thats about 2-3 week long hunts each fall, that equals about 4-5 years of use. These boots were not designed for what I put them through. Shale and volcanic rock, heavy loads, and constant abuse took their toll on them.
Disclaimer: I love these boots. Not pleased with the lifespan, but I didn’t expect them to do as well as they did. Had I been hunting in more forgiving terrain, they would have lasted much longer. I would buy these boots again, for hunts like early season elk, archery deer, antelope. They are great for covering distance (light), and hold up well to an occasional pounding in the rocks. Preferably somewhere other than the Sonoran Desert.
The speed lacing system is slick, sturdy and well designed. I pick these apart, because they tend to bend in the rocks. The Ridge Reaper’s speed laces are first class. They still look brand new. The blue/grey synthetic material between the leather is bomb proof. I don’t know what they call it, but it resists abrasion well, and I like it! It’s showing minimal signs of wear.
The full rand toe box is gets about an 8 out of 10. Minor de-lamination on the rear part of the rand, it’s still waterproof, though! The heavy duty rubber pad on the toe, and thinner, flexible rand are integrated well, and did not separate at all. I did blow out the leather at the toe hinge point, on the inside. The leather dried, cracked, and eventually opened. I think a different leather conditioner or more use of a conditional would prevent or decrease the cracking. My boots were soaked most days, inside and out, and dried by a camp fire or propane heater. They were not allowed to dry slowly, as they should have been.
Here you can see the blown out leather at the hinge point
Blowing the hole in side was the death of these boots. Maybe expensive leathers hold up better? I don’t know. The rest of the boot still has some life in it. I treated these boots twice with NikWax. Once, when I first got them, then about a month later. The Gore tex waterproofing worked perfectly until I blew open the side of the boot, and trapping moisture inside the boot.. I hunted in snow and rainy conditions for 14 days in these this winter, and my feet stayed dry.
The stitching held up well. I hate exposed stitching in general. This boot had all front-end stitching cover by the rand, thumbs up. I blew threw quite a few stitches in the sidewalls, and these would have ruined the boot, if the leather would have given out.
I thought the soles on the Ridge Reaper held up very well...
This is a not an insulated boot, my feet stayed dry, but they where not warm! Blowing sleet in New Mexico, and deep snow in Central Arizona are not what this boot is made for. Again, I didn’t use them for what they were designed for.
I do not recall having a single cactus spine penetrate these boots. Solid.
Why do you buy this boot? Archery Elk, Western Archery Deer, Antelope, October Coues in AZ. Warm and cool season hunts. 25-90 degree hunts.
Who buys this boot? The athletic hunter. Not a stand hunting boot (cold!) Good ankle support. After a severe sprain last fall, I’m on the lookout for stiff boots, that are still flexible enough to cinch tight around my ankle when needed. These fit the bill. They are not a sheep country boot. If fact, I’ll say they are not a coues boot, either. Just not “mountaineering” stiff. Awesome support for hunting hard in the mountains, but when your mission is deep, rough, and heavy, there are probably better boots for the job.
Verdict: Great western hunting boot. Not a mountaineering boot. Being under $200, makes it a fantastic boot, and a great choice.
Check them out here: http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/pid1226086
Next up is the Hanwag Cheyenne and the Under Armour Caliber boot!
