Need some advice on some good wool socks. Feet tend to get cold after a few hours sitting in a stand. What do you use?
I have some way old army issue. Jim
Filson makes a great wool sock....great fit and wear like iron.
I recently bought some WoolPower (Ulfrotte) 600 over-the-calf socks and some WoolPower liner socks. They are the warmest I have ever worn.
Mark
Hey Craig,
I have always had a problem keeping my feet warm. Gotta tell ya, its a combination of having the right sock and boot. And in some really cold temps an overboot. I currently am really liking a couple of socks by Bass Pro, one is a wader sock and the other is a hunting sock that is a little shorter. I have tried to look the socks up on line but cant find them. I bought them while visiting the store. The wader sock is an olive color and comes up to my knee (then again I am only 5'8" so its probably a calf sock for most). The second sock is labeled a Hunting sock by Bass Pro. Its charcoal grey/black with chocolate brown on the heel, toe and on top. Sorry for the silly descriptions. Next time I am there I will check the exact name. They are both high in wool content, like 85%, with some other products thrown in for stretch and warmth. I have attached a picture of the sock for reference.
Another consideration is your boots. Depending on your walking/hiking distances, consider buying a good quality pack boot (such as Sorel or Schnees), and they cant be to tight. If so, it will inhibit the circulation in your feet.
Good Luck on your quest. Its been a 35 year
battle for me. Jack
(http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb308/GooseBreath/IMG_0646-1.jpg)
Ive heard good things about the bass pro socks above mentioned. I havent had a chance to try them. I have a pair of smartwool socks a pair of those and a lighter military wool sock as a liner and is usually good for me.
I couldn't believe it myself but I found some of the best wool socks I've ever worn at Wally World.
The older I get, the more I like wool.
God bless,Mudd
I like the wool socks that Smart wool makes-I'm wearing some right now!
Don
Ingenius, best sock ever made imo wicking built right in no need for a wicking linner under neath. they last forever had the same pair for five years hardly look woren. Smartwool is good too but done last nearly as long good luck
These work well for me.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0033980812448a&navCount=3&podId=0033980812448&parentId=cat600967&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCat cat470076-cat600967&catalogCode=XK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600967&hasJS=true (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0033980812448a&navCount=3&podId=0033980812448&parentId=cat600967&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat470076-cat600967&catalogCode=XK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat600967&hasJS=true)
There are a lot of good wool socks on the market. Look for at least 75% to 80% or higher wool content. Another option that works well for me is to wear a thin nylon or polypropylene liner sock inside your wool sock. This will help isolate your feet from sweat. I have a pair of over the calf liner socks from Under Armour and a pair of over the calf wool socks that are made for cross-country skiing. These socks in combination are incredibly warm.
The thicker the wool sock, the more loft and the the greater the insulation from the cold. However, as was mentioned earlier, make sure your boots don't fit too tightly. If they do, your feet will get cold from limited circulation.
I second the suggestion that you might also look into a pair of pac boots such as those made by Sorel or LaCrosse. Just make sure that if you buy pac boots, that you remove the felt liners every night and let them dry out. Makes a huge difference if you wear them the next day. One place to watch for wool socks is Sierra Trading Post (google search). They carry a lot of clearance outdoor clothing, including hunting, hiking, ski wear and base layer clothing, often at good sale prices.
Smart wools are nice. Bridgedales are good too. My favorites are fox river. I wear wool socks year round. The fox rivers I wear are a thinner Merino wool so I can wear them in the summer. When it is real cold out I wear two pairs or a liner sock. I have two pairs that I have had for 8 years and just wore some small holes in em. The bridgedales and fox rivers last a lot longer than smartwools. They carry the fox rivers at tractor supply but the ones I buy you have to get online. Ill have to look em up again to tell you the model name. They are made in the USA to boot.
Second the Filson, thick terry loop on the inside and wear like iron.
Merino wool all the way! Fox River is a great US company, I had a quality control issue with some socks I bought from them, one e-mail and they took care of the issue. Check out REI as well, 100% guarantee there as well. Some like a poly liner underneath, personally, I don't. Make sure your boots don't constrict your feet, poor circulation is the biggest reason for cold feet. If your feet are getting cold while on stand, either in a tree or blind, you might also consider bringing a dry pair to change into once there. Your feet will sweat and get damp on the hike in, once they're damp, you'll never keep them warm if sitting. Putting on a dry pair will make a world of difference. One other trick is to spray your feet with unscented anti-perspirant before heading out, it keeps them from sweating as much, therefore your feet don't get cold as fast.
my wife knits my wool socks.....i'm lucky.
Same here Kkuch, that is my wife not your's lol.
I think I've tried them all. Woolpower is best IMO. Then again, everything Woolpower is the best. LOL
Anything with a high content of Merino wool, many great brand to choose from and most are Made in the USA companies which is nice! Merino wool is the ultimate thermo-regulating fabric! Warms in the winter but cools in the summer! Smartwool, Fox River, Minus33, Nester Hosiery (Woolich)all great brands to name a few! They make many differant weights and styles for any season!
Bass pro shops has a wool sock with a lifetime gaurantee. I bought a couple pair with this year and really love them. They seem to have quite a bit of cushion to them also. There only about 10 bucks a pair. I'd also recommend picking up a couple pair of their liner socks also. They run about 5 bucks.
walmart and meijer carry good wool socks, in season. read the label, go with a high wool content - I like about 85%
WIGWAM and Carhardt . Winter construction work constitutes the use of these. I never buy insulated work boots. Wool socks and a pair of uninsulated Red Wings. Sitting in a treee stand this time of year from sunup to sundown, the WIGWAMS under LaCrosse Burlies 1200.Perfect! Both are great WIGWAM has a slight edge.
LL Bean's Merino ragg wool socks are also good. Got some for Christmas, and have been wearing them every day in the deep freeze we're having. It was 10 degrees in north MS this morning. Three pairs for about $25.
Iwear wool socks all year round. warm in the winter and no sweaty socks in the summer.SMART WOOL IS A GOOD SOCK TO
I have been very pleased with my walmart merino wool socks this season
I like the wool hunting sock from Bass Pro also.
I've had good luck with Cabela's Ultimate Heavyweight Wool Socks. Wear them all fall in Lacross insulated boots then in winter with my Lacross pac boots. When's it real cold, I'll wear a lighter pair of wool socks underneath a pair of my older Smartwool socks which are more stretched out. Another thing that I do to keep my feet warm in my treestand that helps me out more than anything is bring a piece of closed cell foam to stand on.
Costco has merino wool socks too.
I wear one pair that is my size, and another oversized pair of regular wool socks on top
Smart wool works great for me!
I have been using Under Armor wool socks for the last three years and think they are the tops. When I first started wearing them I was getting ready for an elk hunt and after 4 miles with a pack I was getting hot spots on my feet. I read a thread on Tradgang talking about these socks and tried them. Wala! no more hot spots!Then as the year progrest I got to try them in cold weather and they really helped keeping my feet warm. Never thought I would spend $15 for a pair of socks, but there is no hesitation now. Ben
My Sorels are 30+yrs old and as good as new, cant beat them in cold weather...PR
Many great wool socks out there...IMHO keeping moister away from your feet after walking to stand and then sitting. I usually have a nice wool liner in the bottom of my boot, thin sock liner that will wick sweat away from my feet (Under Armor) has the best I've found so far the then nice heavy, tight knit wool sock such as that from Cabela's. This combo combo usually works quite well for me.
When its realy cold a thin wicking liner made of polypropelene or something similar under a pair of wool socks can really help. just don't wear so many layers that your feel are constricted. Good blood flow is critical to keeping your feet warm. If its bitter cold and you are stand hunting, you can't beat a pair of felt lined pack boots.
the liner and boot is the key.
having an insulated boot that breaths with a sweat wicking liner then a good quality wool sock.
I was hunting in -8 to -25 temps last week and my feet did not get cold. I had the liners with the redhead wool hunter socks and some rocky boots with thinsulate.
no sweat on feet = warm feet
Cabelas deluxe cold weather socks with their 16 inch height are excellent. Nice in tall rubber boots, dont fall down and wear like iron. Have had four pair going on ten years now and are like new.
Unless you have a good liner, you might as well put a Maytag freezer on your feet as rubber boots. I have some good Sorels that are a size bigger than my foot....thick felt liners, and two pairs of wool socks with plenty of room to wiggle toes. No room in the boot will cause feet to get cold as well....no different than layering the body.
For still-hunting, a pair of high top, waterproof hiking shoes will keep feet as warm as anything; again one-half to one size large and layering of socks.
This works well for me. A thin pair of socks, like dress socks goes on first. Light weight pair of wool socks that come up high on the calf, next a heavy pair of wool socks, again high on the calf. Next, a pair of sneakers like nike or new balance, they're pretty thick. Lastly a good old pair of barn knee high muck boots. Came across this combination about 15 years ago. Keeps my feet warmer than the heavy insulated boots I was wearing at the time. Works for me.
Smartwool socks all the way. I've used them in the past for hiking, camping and such and this year I bought a few more pairs for hunting. I comparied them to some wally world wools socks and to some I bought from Bass Pro and none of them kept me as warm or as dry as the Smartwools. Plus the Smartwools socks stay in place.
I wear them in a pair of Asolo hiking boots (uninsulated) and were able to hunt down in temperatures hovering around 0 without any issues.
They aren't cheap but well worth the price. Plus their customer service is #1.
smartwool with the extra heavy footbed...meaning more cushion and more wool. foot powder if they sweat a lot, toe warmers!!!! are a must when sitting, and a liner from Two Tracks Bow and Wool company, the thick ones. Honestly, I will use my early season boots vs packs if I can get away with it using these things, and the toe warmers are key. inexpensive for the amount of comfort.
Call Three- Rivers and order WoolPower (Ulfrotte) 600 over-the-calf socks and WoolPower liner socks. If it's really cold (single digits or lower)when I get to my stand I also throw into the toe section of my Mickey Mouse boots a hand warmer. I've sat all day on stand and never had cold feet.
Thanks for the suggestions. Now I just need to decide which ones are right for me.
Thanks
Craig
i just got home from walmart and got two pair of wicking liner socks, a medium pair and a heavy pair of merino wool socks , one was 75 percent wool the other 85 percent wool, got all four for 21 dollars
Don't know what kind of "Stand" you are refering to, if you are using a tree stand or a ladder satnd with open mesh floor, try putting a carpet sample down, if will keep your feet warmer than on the exposed metal.
I hunt from a ground blind, and I use a piece of carpet to put my feet on.
They stay warm longer, and warmer all together.
I wear a thin pair of socks out to stand,then when I get there I change into a dry thin pair and put heavy wool socks on over. keeps me warm for hours and hours.
Smart wool socks with a sock liner. Put the adhesive feet warmers on the liner and then slip your smart wool socks on over that.
Been doing it for years and my feet never get cold and i hunted in 12 degree weather this past weekend.
Thorlo
www.point6.com (http://www.point6.com)
These are the best socks I have ever worn. Merino wool!
Agree on the Smart wool, w/ a liner.
High content wool is the way to go, smartwool, filson, fox river, some others out there too High wool content is the way to go!!
Gander Mountain usually has a variety of WigWam wool socks. I have found the plain non hi tec and regular wool to keep my feet dryer and warmer that the merino and blend versions. But get the merino if wool makes you itch.
Clearly the concensus is to wear good wool socks, and I agree. One trick that really helps me is to use a good antiperspirant on the soles and toes of my feet. If your feet sweat and your socks and boot liners get damp, your feet will be cold.
Darn Tough "full-cushion" merino wool boot socks. They also make them in "cushion" which is just the bottom of the sock. Full cushion is bottom and top.
I like Smartwool but the Darn Tough really fit well if you wear Muck-type boots. I do use a liner when it's cold
Darn Tough are made in Vermont.
I second the Darn Tough merino wool socks! I suffer from cold feet or poor circulation when sitting on stand for long periods of time even when relatively mild conditions. I use the full cushion Darn Tough socks and sometimes use a ultra light sock liner to keep the moisture off the feet and they stay warm! Best socks for the money. A pair of Darn Tough will run around $15 if you search on the internet. My local dealer sells them for $22 a pair (ouch), so check the internet!
for heavy pack boots and all day sitting i like the cabelas wool boot sox, they are merino wool and very thick. and i found them to be very durable as well.
I wear wool socks everyday. whether work or play. I love RedHead Lifetime hunting socks (http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_34713____SearchResults) . Only 9.99 at my local BPS and wear it out and get a new pair.
They don't wear out easy as I have been wearing the same pair (washed nightly) all year almost everyday and they have not even started to thin like less expensive socks. The best part is that they are 88% merino lamb's wool. Not too hot in the summer, even when wearing my black steal toe work boots and not too cold (if I make sure not to let my feet sweat).
mike