Every boot has a place in your footwear quiver. From uninsulated early-season boots to all-in, heavy-packed snow machines, year-round hunters tend to change their proverbial tires, pending the chase and conditions.
Billed as your new EDC boot, the EuroLight will get you in the field fast and cover enough adventure categories to clear out a few old boot spaces in your closet. While not built to cover your pursuits afield across the entire spectrum of opportunity, the Meindl EuroLight Hunter 300 boots comfortably address many needs smack in the middle of higher-frequency and medium-to-lower-demand hunts.
In short: The Meindl EuroLight 300 scratches the itch for a well-built traditional leather boot that covers many light-to-medium duty cold weather hunts and everyday wear in colder climates. They might not be your first choice for a mountaineering-level hunt, but they’re a great option for lovers of a comfortable all-around boot.
- Weight: 3.4 lbs.
- Insulation: 300g GORE-TEX AIRFIBER
- Uppers: 9" waxed full-grain Nubuck leather
- Lining: GORE-TEX
- Venting: Flex-Zone
- Rating: AB Flex
Pros
- Lightweight for a leather boot
- Comfy out of the box
- Sturdy and well-built
Cons
- Pricey for a lighter-duty boot
Meindl EuroLight Hunter 300 Review
Overview
The Meindl Eurolight Hunter 300s simplify the rugged, mountaineering spirit the brand is known for. It provides a utilitarian upgrade for those stepping up (pun definitely intended) their boot game from Grandpa’s classic leather hikers.
The EuroLight Hunter 300s are listed at 3.4 pounds on the Meindl website. The insulated 300s I tested weighed 3.5 pounds for the pair. In fairness, I didn’t get all the stones out of the sole and mud off the sides before they hit the scale.
They feature the Meindl Duo-DUR III sole and get their name from the 300 g of GORE-TEX AIRFIBER insulation that gives these boots their lightweight loft. The 9-inch waxed full-grain Nubuck leather uppers laced up easily and provided plenty of support, especially for a boot with a lot of flex in the sole.
The EuroLights are an “AB” on Meindl’s flex-use rating scale, its “light hiking” rating. I noticed immediately how comfy they were. These boots didn’t require any intensive break-in and were up for lower-impact adventures straight out of the box.
I wouldn’t say these boots fit loosely, but I was surprised by how much room they allowed in the forefoot while still remaining supportive. I’ve seen a lot of Euro-built boots lean into the squeeze-the-hell-out-of-your-foot design for the sake of support. These maintain the expectation of quality for a European boot while also allowing your foot to function more naturally than it would be crammed into a wannabe rock-climbing shoe.
The GORE-TEX lining performed exactly as expected (no need to reinvent a damn good wheel), and the Flex-Zone venting was surprisingly noticeable. I was impressed at how well these boots both breathed and provided warmth when activity slowed down.
My Experience
I traditionally operate on a three-shoe system during hunting season:
- A light, synthetic hiker or running shoe for the early season
- An uninsulated leather boot once temps stabilize and the miles increase
- A heavy pac boot when temps plummet
I haven’t left much room for reinterpretation in the plan over the last few years. So, I was excited to get out of my shell and run these boots through their paces.
Montana had a frustratingly weird weather pattern this fall. We got blasted with snow in late October and early November. Then, most of it melted off and didn’t return for months except in glimpses. A few late-October bowhunts and an early-November pronghorn hunt stand out to me when these boots really shined.
The EuroLight Hunters were the perfect fit for a mixed-activity hunt. I spent quite a few hunts on my mountain bike, and I was pleasantly surprised that the boots breathed enough that my feet weren’t soaked when I reached the blind.
The 300g of GORE-TEX AIRFIBER kept my feet warm once I settled into my chair for the evening sit. They offered enough support while packing out my wife’s antelope, and even after hunting season wrapped, these boots crushed cold-weather family hikes on mixed terrain.
Where the EuroLight Hunter 300 Could Improve
This boot really does everything Meindl has made it for. The only real gripe might be at the register. Ringing in at over $300 might sting for those hunters who may require higher demand or those chasing game in harsher conditions.
That being said, for those of us who don’t have side-hilling mountains to climb in our pursuits, that price tag might be an easier pill to swallow. If you’re a primarily rugged mountain hunter, these might not be the best boots for your buck.
Meindl EuroLight Hunter 300 Boot: Conclusion
If I had to do it over, I’d opt for the uninsulated version. I’d get many more days out of them. I’ve historically been a zero-insulation or all-of-the-insulation guy. For me, I feel like there is more versatility in this kind of boot without insulation.
However, for the niche these boots filled in my hunting season, they filled it well. These would be a great option for lovers of an insulated all-around boot. Looking at you, cold-weather flatlanders …
