After a century of building boots, we know what it takes
to make them stand the test of time. We know what you need because we're
out there in the elements testing them. Whether it's to make the boots
more comfortable, waterproof, durable or warm these features are meant
to help you perform - in the woods, the blind, at work or in the cold.
Insulation [Go
to LaCrosse Footwear]
LaCrosse uses a variety of insulations in
our boots and waders. Decades ago we pioneered
interchangeable liners, double and triple insulation and
you'll still find these in our product line today. In
addition to these standards we also use Thinsulate™
Insulation and a combination of other synthetic
materials.
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DOUBLE
INSULATION
Double insulation was introduced by LaCrosse in 1981 as
a way to increase the warmth of cold weather pac boots.
Double insulation includes a removable felt liner and
insulation in the rubber shell consisting of foam and a
wool felt midsole.
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TRIPLE
INSULATION
Triple insulation uses the technology from double
insulation and adds Thinsulate™ to the rubber boot
shell. Triple insulation provides superior warmth not
available before.
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| THINSULATE™
INSULATION & THINSULATE™ ULTRA INSULATION |
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Thinsulate™ insulation is important in boots because
it's thin, light and warm. It allows us to keep our
boots less bulky and light-weight. It's breathable,
moisture-resistant and stays warm even when wet.
Thinsulate™™ Insulation is made up of thousands of
tiny microfibers that trap miniscule pockets of
insulating air space that provide the ultimate in cold
weather protection.
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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?
You will notice through out our product information that
we say Thinsulate™ Insulation and Thinsulate™ Ultra
Insulation. Thinsulate™ Insulation denotes boots that
contain less than 400-Gram, while Thinsulate™ Ultra
Insulation is for all levels above 400-Gram.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT LEVEL FOR YOU
The LaCrosse product line uses a variety of Thinsulate™
Insulation levels from 200-Gram to 1300-Gram. How do you
know which level is right for you? Everyone's body
temperature reacts differently to the elements, but as a
general rule, the more active you are, the less
insulation you will need. 200-Gram, the lowest level we
use, is best for cold conditions where you will be very
active like working or hiking. 400-Gram is best for
moderate activity levels. 600- to 800-Gram is best for
very cold conditions when the activity level is low. You
should have boots with 900- to 1300-Gram Thinsulate™
Ultra Insulation for those times when you are
stationary.
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LACROSSE
COLD TEMP RATING SYSTEM
The LaCrosse temperature rating system is a general
guide for cold weather protection. Range levels are
based on activity level from stationary to high. The
more activity the more protection in colder temperature
ranges. Other variables affect protection, including
circulation in the feet, presence of moisture, body
temperature, wind chill and outerwear quality.
| +20° to 0° |
Provides basic cold-weather insulation and
protection for general winter activities.
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| 0° to -20° |
Provides medium cold-weather insulation and
basic protection for winter recreation
activities.
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| -25° to -40° |
Represents heavily insulated boots for harsher
cold weather conditions where activity level is
varied and temperatures dip below freezing.
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| -45° to -80° |
Represents heavily insulated boots for extreme
cold weather where activity level is minimal and
temperatures are well below freezing.
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| -85° to -150° |
Our warmest boot with multiple levels of
insulation and heat-retaining materials for
stationary activities and extreme conditions. |
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Waterproof
[back
to top]
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GORE-TEX® works
just like your skin. It allows moisture to escape, but
doesn't let water in. Its wafer-thin membrane is made up
of billions of tiny pores that allow the extremely small
molecules of water vapor (perspiration) to escape. At
the same time, the pores are too small for liquid water
to penetrate. The result? Your feet stay warm, dry and
comfortable. |
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Hyper-dri® from
LaCrosse is a barrier that lines the entire boot for
100% waterproof protection. In addition to keeping water
out, Hyper-dri® absorbs moisture and transfers it away
from your feet, keeping you comfortable and dry. |
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Camo [back
to top]
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ADVANTAGE® MAX-4™ HD
- The pattern incorporates cattails, corn stalks, dead
sunflowers, leaves, limbs, plus a variety of other plant
life. It melts into marshes, grasslands, deserts,
broomsage, croplands ... even the open canopy of a
treetop. It's ideal for deer, turkey, waterfowl and
western big game.
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REALTREE® HARDWOODS™ HD
- Its 13 natural colors, life-like shadows, and
photo-realistic limbs and leaves blend with a wide
variety of hunting habitats. Realtree Hardwoods also has
extreme contrast from light to dark. This creates
maximum visual disruption for animals, whether they can
see color or not.
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REALTREE® HARDWOODS™ HD
GREEN - Realtree Hardwoods Green offers all the
elements of the forest – tree trunks, large and small
limbs, a variety of leaf types and colors, large open
areas, and extreme contrast from light to dark. Its
Hardwoods pattern and green leaves blend with a wide
variety of habitats. It has obvious application from
early fall through mid-winter, then again in late
spring.
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ADVANTAGE® TIMBER™
- Life-like color reproduction, unmatched definition,
exceptional contrast and improved three dimensional
effects. The pattern also offers more leaf colors,
ensuring versatility across a wide range of habitats.
All of these combine to create a uniquely realistic and
effective camouflage pattern.
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MOSSY OAK® NEW BREAK-UP™
- There are three key elements distinguishing NEW
Break-Up from the original: Extremely life-like images
of leaves, bark and limbs, added ghost shadows for a
more three-dimensional quality and a completely new
background of textured bark.
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MOSSY OAK® BREAK-UP™
- An innovative layering of perfectly shaped branches,
leaves and limbs over a distinctive series of bold, dark
shadows delivers an incredibly effective all-distance,
all-terrain pattern for woodland and bottomland hunting.
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MOSSY OAK® SHADOW™
SHADOW GRASS - A highly detailed reproduction of
grass blades and naturally occurring shadows that
delivers total concealment at any distance and is ideal
for waterfowl hunting in marshy areas, hunting dove in
open cornfields and big game in the open sage. |
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Premium
Rubber [back
to top]
ALL RUBBER BOOTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.
Our premium rubber formula is a careful balance of rubber and
clay with advanced protectants to extend the life of the boot.
We always use the maximum amount of raw rubber possible, 51%, to
maintain the integrity of the rubber for compound performance,
flexibility and durability.
Since UV rays and the ozone are the most damaging elements to
rubber, our compound includes protectants to minimize UV damage
and color fading; counteract the brittleness and cracking
effects of the ozone; add tensile strength; and increase
tear-resistance.
We’ve spent the past 100 years perfecting the manufacturing,
engineering, and chemistry of rubber boot making. We’ve
perfected the formula and won’t compromise on quality. In
short, your LaCrosse premium rubber boots will last for years
versus another rubber boot that will only last months.
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Back
Gusset & Cam-Loc Buckle [back
to top]
We designed a Back Gusset & Cam-Loc Buckle to accommodate
bulky clothing or larger calves. The Back Gusset gives extra
room in the calf area and the Cam-Loc Buckle is adjustable to
get a more precise fit. Today the Burly® Classic and Grange®
boots still have the side gusset, but all new Burly®'s,
including the AlphaBurly® Sport have the Back Gusset &
Cam-Loc Buckle.
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Construction
Methods [back
to top]
CEMENT
Boots made with cement construction are lighter weight and have
a narrower profile for a sleeker looking boot. The construction
takes the boot upper and cements it to the midsole/outsole with
a special, long lasting bonding glue. This method is used
throughout the LaCrosse product line, for example the
Trailblazer HD is built using cement construction.
WELT
Leather boots made with welt construction are extremely durable
and can be re-soled. The construction process includes
stretching the leather over a last where a welt strip is sewn to
the upper. The midsole is then sewn onto the welt plate and the
outsole is cemented onto the midsole. This construction is used
in a moderate amount of the LaCrosse product line, for example
the Gamemaster™ II is built using a welt construction. Boots
with a welt construction can be re-soled a your local cobbler.
SLUSH MOLD
The slush mold construction process is used for boots made of
PVC or polyurethane compounds. The liquid material is poured
into a boot shaped mold, and heated from the outside causing the
material to coagulate against the sides of the mold. The excess
material is poured out to be used again and the remaining
hardened shell of the boot is removed and trimmed. Packers and
Pack-Lites use this construction method.
INJECTION MOLD
The injection mold process involves forcing a PVC compound into
a mold with extreme high pressure and heat. The pressure forces
the material throughout the mold and the heat causes the
material to set. Injection molded boots can be found throughout
the LaCrosse PVC product line, like the Buffalo.
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Safety
Toe [back
to top]
All LaCrosse safety toe boots have been tested and meet or
exceed all ANSI and EH rated requirements.
STEEL
Steel toes have long been the standard in the industry because
of their strength, low profile and ease of manufacturing.
TUFF-CAP™
Tuff-Cap™ is LaCrosse's non-metallic composite toe cap that
gives you the protection of steel without the weight.
- Weighs 60% less than conventional steel toe caps
- Dissipates energy from impact and retains original shape
- Corrosion, abrasion and chemical resistant
- Non-conductive: Will not transmit heat or cold
- Will not activate metal detectors
- Non-magnetic and static free
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Fabrics
& Linings [back
to top]
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CORDURA®
Rugged, durable boots made with Cordura® are made to
last. Cordura® is a high performance fabric resistant
to abrasions, tears and scuffs. Cordura® offers extreme
toughness and maximum protection while reducing the
weight and improving the breathability of your boots.
LaCrosse uses Cordura® on many of our hunting and work
boots for it' lightweight toughness.
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CAMBRELLE®
Cambrelle® draws moisture away from the foot keeping
your feet cooler, drier and more comfortable.
Cambrelle® is made of a mesh of bi-component fibers,
that allows the lining to conform to the constant
motions of the foot to prevent chafing while also
providing high levels of abrasion resistance.
Cambrelle® can be found in many LaCrosse pac, work and
hunting boots.
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AGION™
AgION™ antimicrobial compound limits odor-causing
bacterial growth and reduces human odor, a must for
scent-proofing boots.
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FLEECE
Many LaCrosse waders and Alpha boots use a fleece lining
for moisture management and added warmth. Fleece is
naturally moisture wicking, which helps to keep feet dry
and comfortable. |
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Snake
Proof [back
to top]
GUARANTEED PROTECTION FROM NORTH AMERICAN VENOMOUS SNAKES
SNAKE-BITE TESTED TOUGH!
Live Pit Vipers were used to test LaCrosse snake-proof boots in
two rounds of testing. LaCrosse snake-proof boots utilize a
lining of Snake-Guard material that stops even the sharpest
fangs from penetrating the boot.
In the first test, a latex balloon was inflated inside the boot,
and snakes were provoked into striking it repeatedly. The test
is simple: if the balloon pops, the snake-proof lining material
failed the test. After more than ten strikes, the material never
failed.
In the second test, the same boots are subjected to bites from
hand-held snakes. The technique approximates the more vicious
and dangerous close-contact snake bites as opposed to the quick
bites of a striking snake. Even with significant pressure of a
hand-held bite, the material did not fail.
LaCrosse snake-proof boots are tested by independent labs in the
United States.
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Shanks
[back
to top]
A shank is a part of a boots construction that provides arch
support, protection and stability. LaCrosse uses three different
kinds of shanks in our boot construction.
Steel
The long time standard in support and stability. Steel is
hard-wearing and durable.
Fiberglass
A lighter weight option than steel, but still provides the same
benefits.
TPU
Extremely light weight and flexible. TPU can be molded to
provide arch support.
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