I almost always hunt with my lacrosse rubber boots. Which i believe are 400 gram insulation. Which obviously is not much but I usually wear wool socks as well, and my feet are always the first part of me to get frozen on cold hunts. The thing that makes it the worst is that my feet sweat profusely in these boots no matter what socks I wear. I've even wore deodorant on my feet like Gene Wensel suggests in his book "Come November" and my feet are soaked and froze by the end of most hunts. I have also changed my socks on stand before and they still end up sweating in the end. I guess my question is there any way around buying new boots to keep my feet warm? If not does anyone have any suggestions for warm boots?
When it is really cold, like zero and below, this is what I wear.
http://www.muckbootcompany.com/product/Mens-Arctic-Sport-Extreme-conditions-sport-boot-ASP-000A/MWINTER
They will keep you warm.
I struggled with cold feet for a long time. I finally got a pair of Cabelas 2000 grain thinsulate pac boots. I wear a pair of polypropylene and merino wool socks. My feet haven't been cold since.
I want a pair of Mucks like Centaur mentioned for water situations too.
I lack good circulation in my feet...here's what I do:
FOCUS ON DRY FEET
I wear different shoes/boots while driving to hunt. I won't put on my heavy socks until there. I also carry another set of light cotton socks.
I change cotton socks before going in the field because sometimes my feet will sweat from the car heater.
I often carry my wool socks and foot warmers to the stand. Once in the stand and settled a bit I then put toe warmers on the bottom and top of my feet (on the cotton socks) and then the wool socks..
If you do all that before going out and have a decent walk you will sweat on the way then be cold within 30 min. Wait until your in the stand and even let your feet air a bit and you'll stay warmer longer.
Once I figured out it was the sweat/wetness causing my issues I can now go for hours longer than I ever could before in the same boots.
I wear smart wool liners then wool socks. I think the idea for the liner is to pul the moisture away from your feet. It helps.
I will not leave the house without my Arctic Shield boot blankets. They make a little noise from the crinkling when putting them on, but after that they are quiet enough for me.
I have never worn a pair of boots with more than 500 grams of insulation since buying these boot blankets and I hunt NW Indiana.
Seriously though, they are cheap, weigh next to nothing, and work for me. That being said, my feet always seem colder in any kind of rubber boots so I don't wear them unless I have to wade water to get to my stand. And if you need more warmth...just drop a warmer in there.
I wear a pair of military surplus "Mickey Mouse" boots with one pair of wool socks in them. The worst my feet get is cool. I don't use them until it is darn cold. They are designed to be warm even with wet feet. They are supposed to be so that they can be filled with ice water (like breaking through a frozen creek that's over your boots) and still warm back up. Obviously, you would need to be walking at least a ways to get them warmed back up rather than on stand, but sweaty feet don't seem to matter.
I have some 1000 gram rubber hunting boots that are fine into the 30s and even upper 20s. I also have a pair of 1200 gram pack boots that don't work any better than the rubber ones.
The black "Mickey Mouse" boots are rated to below zero. If you are in REALLY cold temps, get the white "bunny boots" that are rated to something like 40 below.
I'm like you. My feet are the first to get cold, then my hands. If I wear the mickies, my hands are first.
If your feet sweat a lot, like mine, you need to stay away from cotton, especially next to the skin. Try polypropylene liners next to the skin, then a wicking mid-weight sock, then wool socks. Make sure the boot isn't tight fitting.
I use the same boots as Centaur, just make sure you buy them one size bigger than the boots you normally wear . I wear these with a heavy pair of socks when temps are around -20C.
I really like my Meindl insulated leather boots. I can't keep my feet from sweating in rubber boots. I just wear a heavy pair of wool socks in the Meindl's and stay cozy warm. I think I could probably be warm in any other leather, insulated boot, but I've had real good luck with the Meindls being waterproof so I stick with them. This is my 3rd pair in about 30 years.
Antiperspirant... not deoderant, is what you need.
I can take a lot of cold, but at some point, I use felt pac's. I hear that the Mickey Mouse boots are the thing, but I don't have any of those.
So far, I haven't needed them.
ChuckC
Not sure if you can get them in the States but check out the Baffin Ice Bears on the Baffin website...that is what we wear here for working outdoors in temperatures to minus 40 or so
DDave
Lavalin for your feet and Mickey Mouse boots for me. It has to get down below 15 degrees for me to break out the Mickey Mouse boots. I just wear plain gold toe socks.
Certi-dry spray on Anti-perspirant
Mickey mouse boots for cold weather, make sure you plug an inner sole in them so air can get around the bottom of your feet.
Why would anyone want tho wear cotton in the winter ?
Another vote for the black [mickey mouse] boots !!! Never had cold feet when on stand in them and my feet still do sweat . one pair of wool socks and you should be good .
Bunny Boots !
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This is a pic while brown bear hunting early last winter. Was walking a stream with them over a pair of gore-tex waders. It was some awful temperature that I can't remember, and my feet were the warmest part of me.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsda3f3c37.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsda3f3c37.jpg.html)
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa0be4a59.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsa0be4a59.jpg.html)
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And yes I'm still looking for this guy or one like him !
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/058_zpsb350fae9.jpg) (http://s258.photobucket.com/user/chinook907/media/058_zpsb350fae9.jpg.html)
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I've broke thru ice near beaver lodges, etc way below zero, and just poured the boots out and kept going. Great boots.
Thinsulate 600 grams or better or uninsulated rubber boots and hot mocs.
Boot blankets work better than any boot I've worn.
Get rid of the rubber boots! They do not breathe.
I had a pair of 400 gram Rockies retractions that worke great early to mid season . I bought a new pair of 400 gram rocky mud socks and I know what you mean about sweaty feet no matter what and cold righ off the bat great for mud and water I like the easy slip on and off but the coldest boot I ever owned.
I do have a pair of cabelas predators for the cold stuff polypropylene socks then wool and if its really cold I will add some chemical toe Warmers.
One solution I heard works good in the snow is mukluks to your stand and once on stand boot blankets over the mukluks with a chemical foot warmer in each. The mukluks are really light so walking in the snow is quieter and a lot less work as opposed to a heavy PAC boot. The only bad thing about mukluks is they are no good in water or mud.
Another vote for the Mickey Mouse boots! Use them for everything from ice fishing to tree stand hunting, and for $25.00 I couldn't find a better deal!
Mickey Mouse boots aren't very high, be careful if you have to wade, you might get wet feet.
I have a pair of KOM boot blankets for the scary cold days.
For regular cold....quality wool socks, a boot with about 600 grams thinsulate, and......a pair of old wool socks cut down like "footies". Slip them over your boots once you are on stand.
I second Chinook907, but I use the black bunny boot, the beauty of them is they will still keep you warm even if your feet get wet. I work construction year round to 20 below and my feet are the last thing to get cold, oh yeah wool socks with moisture wickers over top.
another nice option is an old sleeping bag. keeps your feet warm and insulated all the way around and also keeps your lower body warm if you pull it up to your waist and use a rope as a belt. on really cold days you can pull it up over your shoulders and sit comfortably in extreme temps.
my favorite method for all day sits in northern Michigan Decembers.
Here is what I have used the past 6 years and my feet have been warm in -5 weather. I wear a pair of rubber boots to get through the water I need to cross getting to my stand. When I get to my stand, I take them off and put one inside the other to lock the scent inside the boot. From there, I put on my stand boots. They are a pair of Ice King liners that are 2 sizes bigger than my feet with a chemical toe warmer inside if is really cold. The boot liners are inside a pair of Artic Shield Boot Blankets. Total package weighs around a pound and I can put them in my pack to carry them. I wear wool socks and if I am on stand for a long time, I can take them off and add a new toe warmer. Trust me, it works. My feet freeze when I am inside the house but the boot blanket with a liner works for me.
Arctic Shield covers. Just wear any comfortable pair of boots to your stand slip these on. A couple of chemical hand warmer packs will guarantee warm feet when really cold out.
I'm with Mr. Fingers, rubber boots are the worst for staying warm. I like my leather Red Wings with Thinsulate and good wool socks. If it's below freezing and I'll be out for more than an hour or two, one of the small chemical heaters inside my boots and on top of my toes feels mighty nice.
For truly brutal conditions, the boots and chemical heat pads go inside a pair of Arctic Shield boot covers. I've never had cold feet with that combo.
Bought the artic shield covers this year. Very light. Easy to pack. And warm. Opening day of Wisconsin gun season found me in an exposed stand, 6 degrees out with 30 mph wind. Used the artic shield with a handwarmer stuffed in them and stayed pretty warm. Was wearing 1200 grain thinsulate boots.
I use a combination. Schnee pack boots and wiggys slip on boot warmers. I have hunted in 0 degree weather each season on stand with this system. I wear silk liners and alpaca wool socks.
i prefer Schnee or bean style boots over my rubber or muck style boots. They all have rubber lowers to keep snow from wicking in but Schnees have leather uppers that breath better.
I have hunted many seasons in Mickey Mouse boots as well but they are very rigid and heavy. I have to hike a good distance to my stands and prefer lighter more nimble boots. The slip on warmers seem to be the strike the right balance.
Good info...
Thanks
I don't know how you guys wayup there keep from freezing solid! Down here, those 400gram boots would be sweltering hot. It is nothing for me to be hunting in 80-90 dgree weather in December or January in S Tx where my lease is.
Bisch
My feet always get cold. I always hunt from a treestand, and I always used to stand up most of the time. I figured out that when I sit more it takes the pressure off my feet and they stay warmer longer.
I also so started to use the chemical handwarmer thingies that have stickum on 'em that sticks to your shirt,(they also make ones that are toe shaped and stick to your socks). Anyhow, take the 2 toewarmers that come in a pack and put one under each armpit, or one on your lower back and one on your bellybutton, Don't put em directly on your skin!! or use the bigger body sized ones for a longer burn time. Body core stays warm, feet stay warm, you won't believe it til you try. Wait until you get to your stand to put em on. Don't have to wear as much bulky clothing either.
In my nearly 20 years in and out of the retail sporting goods business, these boots are without doubt the best I've ever worn for late season sits, for any cold the Lower 48 can throw at you...
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Ice-Fishing/Ice-Clothing-Footwear%7C/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/110969280/Cabelas-Predator-Extreme-Pac-Boots-150-BrownMossy-Oak-Break-Up-Inf inity/1217229.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fice-clothing-footwear%2F_%2FN-1105958%2B4294735063%2FNe-4294735063%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd722130%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_styp e%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd722130%3Bcat110969280 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Ice-Fishing/Ice-Clothing-Footwear%7C/pc/104793480/c/104735880/sc/110969280/Cabelas-Predator-Extreme-Pac-Boots-150-BrownMossy-Oak-Break-Up-Infinity/1217229.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fice-clothing-footwear%2F_%2FN-1105958%2B4294735063%2FNe-4294735063%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BBRprd722130%26WTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BBRprd722130%3Bcat110969280)
What Owl said!!!! I use "GRABBER" brand foot warmers ( or hand or toe warmers ). I've worn them in uninsulated shoes in below zero conditions and my feet felt like it was summer. Combined with some breathable shoes to allow the moisture out might be the ticket. Other than that, I would vote for the "bunny" boots and the right sock combo.
OH yea, they are biodegradable too. :)
JMHO
:)
grabberworld.com
Sounds like getting your feet to stay dry is going to be the big issue for you. I don't have a issue with that. But, 400 rubber will not do much in my experience. That is more like October weather boot for me. I have had a hard time with my feet since i was a kid. Electric socks were the only thing to really work in my pack boots back then. Those usually worked to good or died.
I have 1200s over sized with liner socks and good heavy wool socks. Good to freezing. Chemical warmers on top of toes not under to get down on the mid 20's. Keeping your core warm helps. Even then, my feet get cold after about 3 hours on stands. Chemical warmers help but don't get as hot in rubber boots due to limited air.
I think it is real hard to keep feet warm in most rubber boots. I have had some pack boots that have done no better though. One of these days I am getting some boot covers to try over my 1200 rubber lacrosse. When those boots are used up, I am going to something like Mojo posted for a change.
Most of the time I try and fill the freezer before the really cold stuff sets in. Then do some small game hunting where i can move around in the winter. Some of the biggest bucks show up in the late season and cold weather so worth being out if you can stand it.
Also I put the warmers on my thin liners under my wool socks. I have found that not only is it more comfortable to have the warmers on top but it is also warmer for me. Not sure if it is more air or boot construction.
I have a pair of black and a pair of while Micky Moose Boots. The best our there. Just don't wear too much sock with them A line liner sock and mid weight wool sock.
sorel glaciers. Keeps my li'l piggies warm and comfy.
Not possible past age 60.
Arctic shield boot covers with sticky toe warmers. Fold flat for packing, stick the warmers in the top of cover over toes, zip and cinch. Carry a few as the warmers last about 2 hrs. Extends the time I can sit by a TON.
Keep the lacrosse boots and go to Wallmark and get some sticky toe warmers with wool socks.Boot dryer helps also.
Who makes the best alpaca wool socks? I use regular wool now, but they are getting worn out after several years. Are the 70/30 alpaca/synthetic good enough? I don't mind spending a lot for great quality...and warmth.
Thanks
The first and most important issue is to make sure your feet are DRY. More specifically, make sure your INSULATION stays dry. If you have sweaty feet it will be a real challange. I have used antipersperant on my feet with marginal success but a buddy does one better. He puts plastic bread bags on his feet BEFORE any socks therefore guaranteeing that his insulation will stay dry. He swears by it and always does this if there is any chance his feet will sweat in cold weather.
Secondly, if you don't want to use the plastic bags..........never, never use cotton socks in cold weather. A light wicking polypro under sock and a good quality wool sock over it.
Third, boots with as much insulation as you can handle and still hunt.
start off with dry feet, then a poly/lycra wicking sock, then a cotton sock, then toe warmers under the toe area - and if Really cold, also over the toe area. do this and you'll never feel the cold (until 3 - 6 hours later when the chemical hot toez fizzles out :) ) ... yep, boots gotta be at least one size larger.