While sitting on stand and not moving my feet get very cold. For those that wear wool socks, do you wear them by themselves are is better to have some type of liner sock underneath?
Hey Philip,
I only wear merino wool socks. If it gets real cold i will wear a light pair and slip a heavier pair on top. The best thing you can do to help prevent cold feet is to put deodorant on the bottoms. I can't believe how much it helped prevent my feet from sweating, which is always the beginning of cold feet.
I hope your taking good care of my bow!
Tim
Same as Tim, light merino under a heavier merino. I dont use any liner socks anymore.Try Using the chemical heat packs like toe warmers. For me having them can make or break a hunt. Make sure your boots dont fit too tight, that will freeze you up too.
Everybodys feet are different, just because one guys feet are warm in a sock or boot surely doesnt mean the next guy will. My circulation has sucked since I was 15.
I always wear a poly liner sock. Really helps with the moisture transfer, I find. A little extra warmth too. I have trouble with my feet and hands with the cold. Good insulated boots and mitts is the only way to go. Bought some hot hands heat packs, but never got cold enough here to try them. Yet.
I wear a pair of silk socks then the wool over the top and it seams to keep my nice and warm
Ditto on the dual merino wool. A very BIG thing to consider is that boots fit differently with two pairs of socks on. A good fit with one pair can be too tight with two. Boots that are even just a little too tight will cut off circulation and cause very cold feet.
I wear a poly or less thick wool to walk to my stand. I then put a heavy pair over them. Just remember to do it on the ground. It's a pain in the tree.
Rob
QuoteOriginally posted by Stump_pounder:
I wear a pair of silk socks then the wool over the top and it seams to keep my nice and warm
x2, I do the same also top and bottoms underwear :thumbsup:
Tracy
+1 Tim I use a strong anti-perspirant (Mitchum roll-on) to keep my feet from sweating which can be a real problem if you are wearing rubber/Miuck type boots.
I like a thin merino sock liner with my usual full cushion boot socks (Darn Tough). Occasionally a chemical hand warmer between the liner and the sock if sitting in a treestand. The anti-perspirant is very important if using the hand warmer.
From my military days, I believe I learned that sweating feet does not lead to cold feet. Warm feet come from quality insulated boots and having plenty of room inside the boots for your toes to move around.
I just wear one pair of quality wool socks in my vintage military Mickey Mouse boots when on stand.
Yep, everyone is different when it comes to circulation, but I bet we all forget the cold feet when that 10 pointer shows its head.
Tim the bow is great. Love it.Thanks to everyone for the ideas. I did buy a pair of boots a size larger which I think will help greatly. I have noticed when wearing clothes if you have a little air space your clothes are warmer. When I put an armguard on over my sleeve and it is bound down, that area seems to get very cold.
x2 with tim
I like it when you southern guys say your cold, wool socks and the wicking socks work well together, the biggest thing is that they are loose, not tight or pulled tight to your toes. I wear big crazy looking PAC boots when it's below zero and that helps but they are not for walking. Any merino wool sock seems to be favored over others, many manufacturers of them. A good pair will last you 15 years, so don't be bashfull about spending 20 bucks on a pair, they will be better than 6 pairs from a big box store.
2x the deodorant trick - works great. i also like poly liners under wool socks.
Lots of good suggestions here as everyone will be a little different. I used to get cold feet and have found a lot of things that help. What I do these days is just wear my best fitting boots with a good pair of socks and after I get in my stand I put a pair of boot blankets on and they keep my feet toasty warm to well below zero degrees.
Yes, poly under merino wool and room for air in the boot (which sometimes leads to blisters or sore feet if you walk very far).
The deodorant trick is new to me and I am definately going to give it a try.
If you are like me, the boots I've tried don't seem to cut it. Here's a system that works and is similar to what has been mentioned above . . . get a pair of Lacrosse Ice King liners in a size larger than you normally wear; get a pair of the boot blankets. When you get to stand, take off boots and exchange them for the ice kings but drop in some "hot hands" or toasty toes then put the blankets on. Works great!
I wear a light wool knit sock under a heavy wool woven sock. Usually home knit under Wigwarm 40 Below socks.
I have used a pair of ladies calf length stockings under my wool stockings, and they work quite well to transfer any moisture away from my feet, and they are quite warm.
They are thin enough, that they don't affect the fit of your boots, unless they are too tight to begin with.
As an additional benifit, if you need a way to keep your string from hitting your sleeve, you can always cut the foot off the stocking and pull it over your sleeve, it compresses the sleeve all they way to the elbow.
Might sound goofy, but I would rather be goofy than cold. I'm sure that some of my hunting buddies would be more than happy to verify the "goofy" part.:-)
Been said but I'll repeat the extra socks require extra room...tight fitting boots will cut circulation and that is inviting cold feet.
On metal stands, I invested in those thin ensolite or whatever its called "3-layered foam mats" that stay on the stand base!
I tell you what! They make a 20* warming effect to not have your boots in contact with a cold metal stand all day sucking the heat outa your feet! And they're way quiet, snow brushes off and won't soak in... sweet!
QuoteOriginally posted by Doc Nock:
Been said but I'll repeat the extra socks require extra room...tight fitting boots will cut circulation and that is inviting cold feet.
That's why you take two pair of socks with you when boot shopping. You should be able to wiggle your toes as Blackhawk said. Whenever I hike seriously - any season - I wear two pair. Whether it's silk liner & wool in the summer or wool & wool in the cold. Prevents blisters.
I do as most have said and that is loose wool socks and boots (Lacrosse insulated), deodorant ALL over the feet and one the one thing not mentioned...loose clothing around the waist. This ensures you have adequate circulation to the lower extremeties.
I may be the odd man out but any wicking sock under my woolies make my feet freeze , same with smart wool by themselves. Good old rag wool for this guy.
Vermont Darn Tough merino wool soxs. Great socks, very comfy and warm. Not the cheapest, but worth every nickel.
Tim,ya have to use anti-persperant not deodorant. I also use the chemical warmers and they allow me to sit forever without cold feet. Shawn
All over approach. On 32deg or less days, If there is any cotton touching your skin, get rid of it. On those days, merino or poly is your only option. Next, make sure you got adequate insulation, {WOOL, not plastic/poly} on your head and hands, not just your body. Boots a size or 2 bigger and wider with a liner sock under a heavy wool one. If you are still too cold after all this, how about some over boots???
I appreciate all of the advice. Sounds like I have lots of choices to work on. Most think it is warm in the South and it is compared to up North. The only problem we have here is the humidity in the air. Ours is a wet cold. Guess I can be thankful I don't have to shovel snow though. Thanks
I wear a pair of Gator Socks (neoprene) and then wool over the top. I can sit for a long time in NY cold without my feet getting too cold.
The Gator socks help regulate the moisture that your feet put out and then allow that moisture to get to body temperature. Believe it or not it works well.
I initially learned all this when I would mountain climb in the Sierra Nevada's in the winter so, they have seen a lot of rugged temps and conditions and have held up great.
That sounds good. I am a diver and had thought about how my wet suit works,. I have been diving on some very cold dives and when your body heats up the water it works pretty well.
Some exceelnt posts! I've got to try the deoderant trick as my feet sweat bad.
I change socks...twice a day. I go through a lot of socks on a trip but I wash and dry on a rotation.
As for on my stand. A light merino and a heavy merino in a loose fitting pack boot with wool inserts, of which I have 3 sets. they rotate with the socks..
I do one thing different. About 150 yards from my stand is where I actually get dressed. I change clothes out in the cold, head to toe. You learn to move in a quick co-ordinated fashion! This way I sit on the stand dry, no sweat, and the last 150 allows me to warm up a bit.
I love smartwool,lots to choose from. AND MADE IN AMERICA