Boots

[Guest]

One thing I hate the most about hunting and sitting in a tree stand is COLD TOES and FINGERS!! What's a good boog to buy so I don't have to wear 3-4 layers of WOOL socks to keep the toes snug and warm? I bought a boot last year with the 1000 whatchumacallit and my toes still gets cold.. Suggestions would be appreaciated!!

[almostthere!]

You need the Thermo Covers (sp.) for your boots. I think they go for 50 bucks. I do not have that kind of money for those things so I made my own. They are a heat wave while in the tree stand. Plus, you don't get those "fire" feet when you head out to your stand or back to camp.

All I had on was a pair of 600 Thinsulate Rocky Gortex boot and those raggedy covers and I survived that artic blast 2 years ago, (5 below zero).

The problem is eventhough the boots may be waterproof, they are not wind proof and/or they lose heat into the evironment. The Thermo Covers reflects that heat back into your boot, acting like a thermos (keeping your coffee warm all day long).

[almostthere!]

You could also try those rubber boots with 1000 gram Thinsulate. I've heard good things about them but have not yet tried them. Just bought one for my daughter this year. Got them on sale for 10 bucks. What a steal!

[Gissert]

The army issue mickey mouse boots have always kept my feet warm. They are bulk, so I dont walk too far in them.

They are also my favorite ice fishing boots.

[Hotspotter]

Lacrosse Ice Kings are sweet. For me, these are the compromise between some of the super-warm options (like the MM boots or boot blankets), and mobility. They're bulky alright, but not terrible. As for warmth, I don't of many warmer ones out there; at least for hunting applications.

Joel

[catman71]

a little trick a friend of mine showed me had improved my hunting dramatically when hunting in pack boots. get some polypropeline (sp?) socks. they are white and kind of feel like nylons. put you long underware on and then your poly socks and TAPE them up, i use athletic tape. Tape them to your longjohns being careful not to go all the way around your calf with 1 piece of tape (cuts off circulation) then put on some wool socks with as low a elastic content as you can find and tape them up (being careful not to cut off circulation) and then put your pants and boots on. if the snow is deep i wear gators. i have done this the past 10 years and just wear my rocky cornstalkers and rarely get cold. I usually muzzleload so it can be cold. Give it a try, hope this helps...

[Northland Sportsman]

another option would be the inserts that have a pocket for the heat packs. They slip in the soul of the boot and you just use the dispoable heat packs. I got some for X-mas a couple of years ago and used them a couple of times and my feet got too hot. a cheap solution that might help you out without buying new boots.

[Rogue Hunter]

Two things:

1.) People buy boots wearing dress socks, and when they use the boots outdoors try to put on an extra pair of wool socks...and the result is loss of insulating air space between your foot and boot. Make sure your boots are large enough--with wool socks on--to have adequate air cirulation...room to wiggle your toes.

2.) An enormious amount of heat is lost keeping your brain warm. If your head is not covered, your brain will devert blood flow--this is what keeps your feet warm--from your limbs to preserve brain function. Sooo, wearing a well insulated hat will keep your feet warmer! Ever heard the old wife's tale, "a covered pot boils faster"?

Rogue Hunter

[lawdog]

I've always had cold feet. I use those toe warmer disposable heaters and they work for me. I put them on under the wool socks and over the polypropelenes.

As for overall warmth, the best thing I ever got was a heat exchanger face mask. I stay totally warm (including my feet) when I wear that thing no matter the temp. Most times I end up taking it off at some point due to being warmer than need be. My brother would tell you and I wouldn't disagree that before that thing, I was a huge whimp when it comes to cold...

[sakazulu]

LaCrosse Ice Kings rule! Buy them "a little big" for pocket heaters or extra socks! I bought the tall version because I stand hunt and ice fish. You feel like you are 2" taller with these boots on but your feet do not get cold. Your friends will call them "frankenstien" boots because they are heavy but I sure don't have aching toes from the cold. I have frost bitten fingers and use the "hand muff" that hangs from a strap around your neck. Put some hand warmers in that and you can shoot deer or pull up a fish through the ice barehanded! I share your PAIN!

[lureman]

I wouldn't have a second thought about recommending Cabela's Predator Extreme Pac Boot. Bought a pair two years ago, they are a bit clumsy, but keep the little piggies warm. Have used them extensively for stand hunting and ice fishing. These boot are not made for walking all day but rather situations were you not on the move. In real cold conditions they have the insert pockets for heat packs. The boot has 1200 grams thinsulate plus a thermax liner. Weight is 5.6lbs pair. Be sure to combine with a top quality liner sock and wool sock.

[FOOT]

Webwarrior, be happy you have average sized feet. I don't.

My feet are size 17 and I have tremendous problems finding shoes let alone hunting boots.

Back when I first got out of the service in 68' I was playing industrial league football in Mpls and was lucky enough to meet an assocaite equipment manager for the Vikings. He gave me several pair of used (but still in like new conition) football spikes so I didn't have to wear tennis shoes.

I use to get my waders from LaCrosse boot specially made but they no longer do that.

The only hunting boot I have found in 17 was from Georgia boot. And Sorel finally (last year) started to make Pacs in my size. It was the first year I've been able to have warm toes while deer hunting and ice fishing. A couple of my toes are permanently numb from being nearly froze way too many times.

[Guest]

Thanks to all that replied!! I will go out and look for those items and see what suites me best.. Like I said, I just bought the boot last year and it has 1000 grain insulation or whatnot but its just not warm enough.. I will look at the boot gloves too and see if those help. Thanks for the help!!!!

[Guest]

This is the boot I have but with 1000 grain

[ricqik]

Quote:

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Two things:

1.) People buy boots wearing dress socks, and when they use the boots outdoors try to put on an extra pair of wool socks...and the result is loss of insulating air space between your foot and boot. Make sure your boots are large enough--with wool socks on--to have adequate air cirulation...room to wiggle your toes.

2.) An enormious amount of heat is lost keeping your brain warm. If your head is not covered, your brain will devert blood flow--this is what keeps your feet warm--from your limbs to preserve brain function. Sooo, wearing a well insulated hat will keep your feet warmer! Ever heard the old wife's tale, "a covered pot boils faster"?

Rogue Hunter

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Exactly. You need some room to trap heat between your feet and boot. Just remember, without good blood flow, your skin temp drops. Wanna find out, wrap a small rope or rubberband at base of one of your fingers tightly and don't allow any blood circulation for about 1 minute. After a minute touch your cheek with that finger and you'll feel that it's cooler than the finger next to it. Learned it in Boy Scout.

[sakazulu]

Those are grouse hunting boots.

[Guest]

The guy at Gander Mountain said they were ok for Deer Hunting

Quote:

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Those are grouse hunting boots.

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[Ole #1]

Quote:

---

Two things:

1.) People buy boots wearing dress socks, and when they use the boots outdoors try to put on an extra pair of wool socks...and the result is loss of insulating air space between your foot and boot. Make sure your boots are large enough--with wool socks on--to have adequate air cirulation...room to wiggle your toes.

2.) An enormious amount of heat is lost keeping your brain warm. If your head is not covered, your brain will devert blood flow--this is what keeps your feet warm--from your limbs to preserve brain function. Sooo, wearing a well insulated hat will keep your feet warmer! Ever heard the old wife's tale, "a covered pot boils faster"?

Rogue Hunter

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You got it. It doesn't matter how good your boots are if you don't have any circulation. All you need is one pair of good wool socks and enough room in the boot.

[FL SNIPER]

yep...i hardly lace my boots up...leave them real loose and that helps circulation too.

[Guest]

So I went and spent some money on the Boot Glove from Gander Mountain. Hopefully that takes care of my COLD feet. Otherwise, next year, I will have to get a whole new setup for a good pair of boots.

[Ole #1]

Those boot gloves won't work if you don't have circulation because of the 3 pairs of wool socks you wear.

[wooly1]

Webwarrior,

They are giving you the straight scoop here. You are wearing too many socks. Three or twenty socks are not going to change your cold feet.

You need room to move your toes while standing or sitting. Trapped air in the socks and boots are the best insulator.

As you add socks you are compressing the yarns and/or air pockets out of the socks. Also probably squeezing your leg and foot in the boot hindering circualtion.

My .02

As my user name implies, I do know a thing or two about wool. Nothing better for cold weather gear. Warm, quiet, and insulates if you get wet.

[Guest]

ok, I will try just 1 pair of wool socks and those boot gloves and see how it goes.

[ozzie]

with this weather i think you will be sweating in those boot gloves!! I couldn't agree more though one pair of good socks is the ticket...my feet used to always get cold with 2 or three different layers of socks tried one pair one morning and i haven't had a foot problem since!! GOOD LUCK TO ALL THIS WEEKEND!!!!

[Hines R]

2 years ago when it was freezing cold Saturday morning of opener in Minnesota I froze my feet. The big problem was that the stands we're so cold that if you even wiggled your feet you made a ton of noise. I was wearing 40 below Sorel snow boots and it didn't matter.

One of the guys had some warmers designed to go in boots that I used the rest of the weekend. They worked awesome. I picked up a bunch last year and I've used them fishing as well. You can get the type that go in like a full inlay, or the type that have a sticky back and are for the front part of the shoe. I like the full length ones. They just add a little bit of heat into the shoe and you don't have to wriggle around as much to stay warm.

I only recommend them in your deer stand boots though. When we do drives I switch to lighter boots and just wool socks and I don't put the warmers in.

Ryan