Schnee's Beartooth 0°
Editor's Personal Pick — This is gear our editor carries afield.
Editor's pick: the American-made resoleable hunting boot that earns its slot through fifteen-year service life.
Why we picked this
Schnee's is one of the few American boot-makers still building the way it used to be done — Goodyear-welt construction, full leather uppers, real cobbler-grade craftsmanship coming out of Bozeman, Montana. The Beartooth 0° is their lighter late-season hunting boot, and it's earned a permanent slot in the editorial rotation because it does what the most expensive boots do without the European fit issues — and Schnee's customer service is, without exaggeration, the best in the outdoor industry.
Quick specs
| Category | Boots |
| Brand | Schnee's |
| Made in | Bozeman, Montana, USA |
| Construction | Goodyear welt (resoleable indefinitely) |
| Upper | Full-grain leather, 9" height |
| Liner | GORE-TEX (waterproof, breathable) |
| Insulation | Minimal (0g — hence "0°") |
| Sole | Vibram |
| Approx. weight | 3.8 lbs / pair (size 10) |
| Price | around $420 ($$$$) |
| Use case | Hunters who buy boots once and rebuild them |
| Editor's verdict | The American boot the European boot makers should be measured against. |
The full review
The Beartooth's value proposition is straightforward: it's a Crispi-quality boot, built in America, with a customer service team that picks up the phone. Schnee's has been making boots in Bozeman since the 1940s; the Beartooth is their flagship hunting boot in the modern lineup. Goodyear-welt construction means the upper is stitched (not glued) to a midsole strip that's then stitched to the outsole. When the outsole wears, you ship the boot back to Schnee's (or take it to a competent cobbler) and they replace the outsole and welt without touching the upper. We've put third soles on Beartooths; the leather upper looks like it has another decade in it.
The 0° refers to the insulation rating — these are uninsulated, which is the right call for NorCal where temperatures rarely warrant true insulation. For genuinely cold late-season Sierra grouse or January pheasant in single digits, Schnee's makes the Beartooth Insulated (200g) and the Granite (also uninsulated, lighter) — the 0° is the all-around pick.
The fit is more American than European. The forefoot has more volume than a Crispi Wyoming, the heel pocket is generous without being sloppy, and the Beartooth accommodates the wide-footed hunter that the Wyoming punishes. If you've struggled with European boots not fitting, try the Beartooth.
The 9" height is a notable design choice. Most hunting boots run 7" or 8"; the Beartooth's extra inch provides ankle support that translates directly to less fatigue at mile ten. The trade-off is slightly less ankle articulation — for hunters who do a lot of kneeling and squatting (e.g., dressing birds in the field), the height occasionally feels restrictive.
The Vibram outsole is identical-grade to what Crispi uses. Lugs grip NorCal terrain — decomposed granite, basalt scree, oak leaves, frost — reliably. After 4-5 seasons of hard use the lugs round and traction degrades; that's when you ship them back to Schnee's for a $150 resole. The math on lifetime cost-per-mile is dramatically in your favor compared to throwing away $200 boots every two seasons.
What we love
- American made — Bozeman, Montana, full traceable supply chain.
- Goodyear welt — resoleable indefinitely. Real lifetime construction.
- Schnee's customer service — call them. They will pick up. They will care.
- Generous American fit — wide-footed hunters welcome.
- 9" height — ankle support without going work-boot heavy.
What to know before you buy
- Real break-in required — 3-4 off-season hikes before opening day. Less than the Wyoming, but not none.
- Heavy out of the box — 3.8 lbs/pair. Disappears once broken in.
- Resole through Schnee's takes 6-8 weeks — plan ahead, don't ship them in October.
- Sized in standard US widths — D (medium), EE (wide), 4E (extra-wide). Confirm width before ordering.
- The Beartooth Insulated is a different boot — make sure you're buying the 0° unless you specifically want insulation.
Where to buy
- Buy direct from Schnee's (brand-direct — recommended)
CaliforniaUpland.com earns affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases at participating retailers. Schnee's brand-direct purchases support a Montana family business directly.
See also
- All Boots picks
- Schnee's Granite — the lighter Schnee's for warm-season hunts
- Crispi Wyoming GTX — the European alternative
- Russell Moccasin Joe's PH II — the heritage custom alternative