best amount of thinsulate insulation for all purpose boots?

[waxworm09]

For Christmas I got a pair of Itasca hunting boots, they are 2000 gram insulation. I wore them once pheasant hunting and once ice fishing so far, they are very light and comfortable, only problem is they are too warm, especially walking during pheasant hunting. I don't remember what my last pair had for insulation, the tag didn't say. What is recommended for all around hunting, ice fishing, and wearing through late fall/winter? I'm wondering if I should return the pair and get less thinsulate. What does everyone use on here? Thanks!

[lawdog]

2000 grams would be a real severe cold weather boot like for sitting outside ice fishing or sitting in a deer stand for long periods. For walking for pheasant hunting you really shouldn't need more than 400 or at most 800 grams if you have cold feet frequently.

[mn86]

id say its all about the style of fishing you are doing , if your stationary in your shack 400 to 800 grain just because if your walking to your spot you dont want to get cold. but if your outside searching and hole hopping i would think a nice waterproof 1200 grain would be suffice. being on the ice with cold feet can be miserable especially if the bite isn't that hot. BAFFIN are a pretty solid brand of boot with multiple different styles and grain of insulation for different activities.

[waxworm09]

For the most part I'm stationary, I ice fish 5-10 times a year and maybe move one time each time out. Just need something comfortable for fishing, blowing out the drive, pheasant hunting, and deer hunting. So I'm thinking the 2000 might be a bit heavy, I just hope I can return them!

[Moose]

I use 400 for work and 1000 for ice fishing. The key for me is to wear the new style wool socks. Man did they improve the function of my existing boots. Sometimes more insulation just squeezes your foot which causes it to get cold.

[Ewer86]

If I'm punching a lot of holes and moving around a lot jI'm wearing moisture wicking socks and neoprene lined kneed highs because my feet sweat in anything 800g and above while walking. If I'm sitting still in the portable or on a bucket I use the 1800g boots.

[Hawg]

I have a partner in the Red Wing shoe industry and he explains it like this. If you have a 2 x 4 wall and use the proper insulation you will have the insulating value for the system you're using. If you put insulation made for a 6 inch wall in it you not only pay more but lose efficiency. It's the same in the shoe industry ALL Thinsulate brand insulation comes in 200g thickness from 3M and is bonded and layered in a boot. If you try to compress it you actually lose efficiency. If you have a super thick boot like a bunny boot style that allows for the insulation you are fine but in a regular thickness boot anything over 400g is all marketing.

[aanderud]

There's no "all around" boot that will work for all-season pheasant hunting and ice fishing. They're nowhere close to the same activity, measured in either temperature or activity level.

Constant walking in temps that rarely go below zero (pheasant hunting) versus mostly standing/sitting in temps that rarely go above 20 (ice fishing) are so different that you can count on buying two different pairs of boots, just like bowling and soccer don't use the same shoes.

[waxworm09]

The last pair of boots I had worked great for pheasant and deer hunting, along with ice fishing and all winter use. I didn't mean early pheasant season when i just wear hiking shoes, i meant for late season and winter. I had a pair of $50 Texas Steer boots that I wore for everything November through the winter and they never got too hot or too cold. The only problem is I dont remember if they were 200,400,600, or 800 gram insulation. They lasted 5 years but cant find any info on them anymore online.

[ClownColor]

I get super cold feet when sitting all day with no movement. I've been running Mickeys since I was 16 and now own Baffins.

However, if I'm moving, like say pheasant hunting, I wouldn't get anything over 400-600g and a pair of moisture wickening socks. Acually, my favorite winter boot when I'm walking is a regular Muck boot.