While rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and other venomous snakes haven’t changed much over millennia, the boots that guard against bites by these reptiles have evolved significantly during the past few years. Manufacturers now offer affordable, effective snake boots for outdoorspeople who have very specific needs besides the main one—to prevent the fangs of a venomous snake from penetrating your foot or leg. Here are some surprising facts about modern snake boots:
Some snake boots do more than put a fang-resistant layer between your lower leg and a snake—they also are manufactured with neoprene, a flexible synthetic rubber material that provides excellent insulation. That's why fishing waders and dry suits designed for use in cold waters are made of neoprene. Such snake boots can serve double-duty for anyone who needs a pair of warm, waterproof boots for hunting, hiking, or traversing cold, wet woods and fields.
While snake boots are necessarily tall, modern manufacturing methods have allowed makers to produce lightweight, comfortable snake boots with speed laces so that you can easily adjust the fit all the way up to the knee (as well as put the boots on quickly). Such boots are ideal if you're going to be doing a lot of hiking in snake country.
Not all snake boots are thick, clunky, and sport a camouflage pattern. Some manufacturers make surprisingly attractive, smart-looking snake boots in a western style, which would fit right in walking around town or even on a dance floor. If you're planning on going right from snake country to a honky-tonk, these are the boots for you…though they won't guard you against any dangers of the non-venomous variety in that other wild place.
