doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Turkey season is almost upon us.

I'll give a +1 on the Lacrosse Grange(s). Hard to believe an inexpensive rubber boot can be so comfortable, and long lasting. I've got two pairs of them. I've been wearing the first pair, Mossy Oak Breakup pattern, for at least 20 years. Last year, in Mack's, I bought another pair of Mossy Oak Bottomland pattern, thinking the older ones would certainly go bad soon. No chance. I believe they will outlast me.

SRH

I've also got a pair of Chasseurs I've had since the mid '90's that I absolutely love, have worn them during the cold months here for days on end. The average redneck looks at them like a mule looking at a new gate, but I couldn't care less, They are a good bit heavier than a Grange so They stay in the closet during turkey season.

You're probably right about who's seen who when it comes to me and snakes.
JR

Snake story, sorta: About 25 years ago I took a 11 year old boy turkey hunting, the son of a good friend. He had grown up with guns and knew his way around shotguns and had his own auto. We found one in the tree. The boy was to my right sitting with his back to the same tree I was on. I was calling and he was the shooter. With the bird within 50-60 yards, but unseen, the boy's gun went off and the shot hit about five feet in front of us. Mud flew up about head high in the air. Startled the bejebus out of me. Wish I could say I was the picture of calmness but after my soliloquy which was shorter, but bluer than the Gettysburg Address, I feel assured that won't happen again. I told him to be still and wait. Within 5 minutes, the bird started up gobbling and was walking off from us. We wide circled and set down trying to get in front of him. As we set down, I saw a copperhead about 8-10 feet away, crawling away. Word must've gotten out about the boy and his gun. "Let's leave it alone" I said and we set down on another tree. "I got to pee" said the boy. "Roll over on your side and do it." "I'll just do it in my pants" which he did. We never saw the bird or heard him again and that was enough adventure for me; we rode home; him with wet pants. It was a miracle mine weren't or worse. Gil

Chasseurs may be worth me buying just for the ease of getting them off. My older pair of Granges has a vacuum chamber hidden somewhere in the footbed. I haven't been able to find it, to disable it, and every time I try to get them off it comes on and sucks at my feet. The newer pair have a slicker finish on the inside fabric lining, and come off pretty easily.

Think I'll start watching ebay.

SRH

I've owned Alpha Burlys and Grange boots. For me at least, they both start to stretch out around the ankle and then they start to give me blisters. I've successfully used camouflage duct tape to 're-tighten' the ankle area, but that makes them near impossible to remove.

Are the Chameau boots worth almost 4 pairs of Granges? If they would last, remain waterproof and maintain their form/fit, I would consider them in the future. For me, at present, I look at the Granges as disposable footwear - wear for a year maybe two then buy a new pair.

I've heard that the older Lacrosse boots were made from better rubber here in the states and lasted much longer. But alas, this is not the world we live in now.

LaCross and LaChemeu Chasseurs are no comparison. I wouldn't trade my wore out Chasseurs for a life time supply of a the LaCross granger boots...no real comparison one is a battle to get on and off and in hot weather wet and clammy inside the leather lined LaChemue is neither. Gil them zippers look cool....Russell talked me into letting them put a zipper in mine...guess what when I got them I put them on and laced them up un zipped them and they would not come off without unlacing them.

As for waterproof, anything but rubber, is a joke. I've had numerous "waterproof" "breathable" snake boots that get soaked inside walking through dew covered grass, boots from Rocky to LaCrosse laced, zip ups.
In the early years of turkey hunting, I just went ahead and got used to having wet feet with with Vietnam era jungle boots. I couldn't wear the LaCrosse lace-ups as they aggravated plantar fasciitis in my right foot regardless if I had orthotics in them or not. If foot comfort and convenience have value beyond dollars and cents, Chameau can't be beat. They can't be left in a hot attic as they are rubber. Leather lining helps defeat moisture build up from sweat. With two pairs of quality boots, you can spend as much on boots as what a set of truck tires cost, but then you never have to rotate your feet. Gil

I put a pair of the green Superfeet inserts in mine and it perfects the LaChemeu

When I was a young Indiana quail hunter (we don�t have any quail to speak of now) I wore the LaCrosse grange. It is oftentimes muddy and wet in Indiana. If my feet got sweaty those boots were an absolute bear to get off. They did seem to offer some ankle support, however. I have a pair of LeChameau boots....NO ankle support in my opinion. I rarely wear them. I�ve gone to pretty much leather even when it�s wet. In the grouse woods, I�ve found ankle support is a must at least for me (and now that I�m older, for quail too).

I have Pure Stride Red inserts that do the trick for mine.