I would go by your hunting situation and worry less about rubber vs lace up. I use knee high rubber because the terrian I hunt has drainage ditches, creeks and wetlands I need to slosh through on a regular basis. So I like to arrive dry especially when its cold. : ) If you just keep them for hunting, a good pair of rubber boots can be had for $100 or less on sale can last you 5+ years. I don't think scent control matters when it comes to rubber versus lace up but rather how you care for them. Use them just for hunting and douse them with some sort of scent killer every now and then.