Stay Warmer, Hunt Longer: Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX Boot Review

It doesn’t matter if my body is warm. If my feet are cold, I start squirming like a worm and can’t stay still. This doesn’t bode well for something like sitting in a treestand trying to go undetected in the whitetail woods. Insulated boots are your friend. 

I recently met the Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX. We got to spend a week together, traipsing through the snow and sitting in treestands. Suffice it to say, I’m glad we met, and I’ll explain why. These boots are a late-season, winter-hunting savior.

In short: Hunters looking for a comfortable and durable insulated hunting boot — and who don’t mind purchasing a different boot for the early season — will do well with the Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX.

Shopping for hunting boots? Check out our guide to the best hunting boots of the year.

Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX Boot Review

Overview

Consider the Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX boot, the big brother to the original Wild Rock GTX. It’s the same full leather upper, rubber rand, and all, just in a more insulated package.

This is a 10” boot that comes in at 2 pounds, 3 ounces (size 9). As far as stiffness goes, the Wild Rock Plus has a flex rating of 3 on the Crispi Flex Scale. That puts it right in the middle. Not too stiff, not too pliable. 

On the bottom, you’ll find a trusty Vibram sole with a dual-density midsole, which helps on the comfort front. And like many other Crispi boots, the Wild Rock Plus comes with the Crispi ABSS (ankle bone support system) to aid in support on the mountain. 

Features

Full Leather

Having a full leather boot says two things. One, it increases the durability and longevity of the boot, giving you a long-lasting boot you can trust. The second is protection. Leather far and away beats out other materials on the protection front. Especially when it comes to things like cactus thorns and sharp rocks, these boots are built to last.

800g PrimaLoft

This is a late-season hunting boot, and it wouldn’t be one without insulation. Crispi uses 800g of PrimaLoft in the Wild Rock Plus, as opposed to the 400g of PrimaLoft in its little brother, the Wild Rock GTX. PrimaLoft is a tried and true ultralight synthetic insulation. This stuff is engineered for repeated wear to insulate your feet from cold, wet conditions.

ABSS (Ankle Bone Support System)

If you’re a mountain hunter, you know a thing or two about the importance of ankle support. Steep technical terrain with jagged drop-offs and boulders will work your ankles around the clock. 

The ABSS is made to gently contour around your ankle, giving even pressure and long-lasting support. Their goal here is to not only increase support without giving up comfort, but also to decrease foot fatigue in the field. 

My Experience

Just this past November, I embarked on a whitetail hunt in the eastern plains of Colorado. It would serve up much colder conditions and a more stagnant style of hunting (treestand) than I was used to. This called for an insulated pair of boots. I turned immediately to the Wild Rock Plus GTX.

Upon first receiving the Wild Rock Plus boots, they reminded me of the tried and true Nevada that Crispi is so well known for: a full leather boot with a full rubber rand. In terms of looks, it was killer. It screamed “classic hunting boot,” and I couldn’t wait to get them dirty.

Call it irresponsible, but based on many previous experiences with Crispi boots, I honestly did not take the time to break these in at all. The only thing I did was install an aftermarket insole. They fit and felt fantastic in my home. My real question was how they’d feel walking through the snow, and most of all, would they keep me warm?

For 7 days, I sat in a bitter treestand day and night. My hikes were rather short, lasting 15 minutes at the most, but all of them were through snow in the 7-12” range. The temperatures were around 16 degrees in the morning, with highs in the high 30s and low 40s during the day. I wore one pair of Smartwool socks, and that’s it. 

Did I feel the cold on my feet? Yes, but only enough to make me realize it was cold. My feet weren’t numb at all, and I wasn’t squirming around in the treestand trying to get them warm. So, overall, I was very happy with the performance, and I now know what these Wild Rock Plus GTX boots can handle. 

What’s Wrong?

These Wild Rock Plus GTX boots are going to cost you a pretty penny, but that’s not what I found wrong with them. Well, kind of not. You absolutely get what you pay for, and these boots are great. Nothing short of it, either. 

With that said, they are not what I’d call a do-it-all hunting boot.  What I mean is because of the insulation, you’ll have to hang these up after the late season and have a totally different pair of boots for more early-season pursuits. 

This might sound like a no-brainer, but for someone like myself who literally will only use these once a year, it’s a little bit of a bummer looking at the price tag in relation to how much use they’ll get. I used these boots for 7 days this year, and that’s all the game time they’ll see. If you live somewhere much colder, then this won’t be an issue for you, of course. 

Closing Thoughts

Certain tools excel at certain jobs, and the Wild Rock Plus GTX is a shining example of that. Is it going to give you 365 days of possible use? Probably not, but that’s not what they’re for. They’re for late-season hunts when your feet need extra insulation. You wouldn’t bring long-john bottoms on a 90-degree hunt, would you? Didn’t think so.

All of that aside, I really do love these boots. They’re comfortable, warm, and look great. I will be using them again come next late season. The Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX is gonna be an absolute go-to for me when the temps dip.