Anybody gone away from heavy insulated boots for lighter shoes with layered socks?

[Bushape]

In bad need of some new apparel. Feet are always sweating and getting cold. What do you guys recommend?

 

[DeerMan66]

It depends on temperature and your ability to with stand cold weather. I don't get cold that easily so I usually go with uninsulated leather boots and mid-weight socks down to around 28 degrees. Between 28 and 20 that I go with 400 grams of thinsulate boots and heavy weight socks. Below that I add peel and stick foot warmers.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I did. I also added the arctic shield boot covers with the hot hands. It doesnt get much better for stand hunting!!

 

[Urban_Hunter]

When I'm walking deep I carry warm socks and wear in work socks. When I get where I'm going I strip it down and change my undershirt and socks after cooling down for a couple minutes. Sweaty cloths go in a big ziplock

 

[Chiflyguy]

Great topic
In the market for a new pair of boots.
Not to hijack the thread but any recommendations?

 

[dhpro]

I switched to danner 400 gr a a good pair of merino wool socks with a base layer and keeps me comfortable.

 

[Gobble4me757]

Me…I like my non insulated rubber green lacrosse boots. Have worked pretty well for me

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I wear non insulated boots even in cold weather now and adjust the thickness of merino socks based on temp.

 

[smyrnagc]

I have been using 1200 Thinsulate Rocky Buckstalker rubber boots for years with one pair of insulated socks with Toastie Toes and have not had a day when my toes were so cold it drove me out of the stand.

 

[TX300mag]

Ventilation goes a lot further keeping me warm than insulation. When it gets very cold or when I have to walk a lot I leave the rubber boots at home.

 

[TNRifleman]

Boots are one place where I don't skimp and they are not one size fits all. You really need to try them on to see which fit your feet best. Kentetrek, Crispi, Zamberlan, Schnee's, all make great boots but they'll all fit differenty. I've settled on Zamberlans for my foot and have insulated and uninsulated pairs. For superlight boots in relatively easy country, I will wear Salomon 4D 3 GTX's. If it will be cold, I have gone to a combo of liner sock with heavier wool sock and then some toe warmers.

 

[Patrick H]

I wear a rubber lower insulated boot with only thin polypropylene socks. Then when my feet start to get cold I put on heavier merino wool socks. I also use toe warmers if I get cold feet later. This has worked well for me. Like you my feet sweat a lot.

 

[Gravey]

I tried it last year just wearing uninsulated Danner Pronghorns with a merino wool sock. Add arctic shield boot blankets if you need a little extra. Unfortunately they crapped out on me during turkey season this year and began leaking like a waterfall so I trashed them.

 

[Ski]

I wear rubber/neoprene boots all season. When it's going to be cold I wear electric socks until I get on stand, then put wool socks over them & turn the sock heater on. Rubber boots are easy to slip on & off so it's pretty easy to do once I'm on stand.

The problem I have with boots & socks is that I often walk far and sit long. My feet are either sweaty or frozen, usually both in the same day. Using the electric socks made it a lot easier to control than trying to find the perfect boot & sock combo. I got heat when I want & how much I want. And electric socks are cheap on Amazon.

 

[Kmushrooman]

In bad need of some new apparel. Feet are always sweating and getting cold. What do you guys recommend?

I use cozy toes the toe warmers. Some people may cringe at this but I get a lot of deer. My feet feel like it's tropical. They make electric socks to but cozy toes work.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I start the season off in a pair of waterproof trail running shoes and move to a pair of uninsulated Salmon gtx 4d boots when I want something a little taller. I never wear heavy boots. When its really cold, Ohio bow hunting in January, I carry Attic Shield boot blankets to the stand. My feet get hot and sweat easily. This is the only way I can prevent this.

Shoes and boots go on a boot drier each evening, after the hunt.

 

[Hduke86]

I wear Salewa boots most of the season but out west and in cold weather I trade them out for Crispi boots.

 

[muddyboots]

Nope I cured that problem years ago. Very good pair of socks and insulated boots 2 sizes to big. Haven't had cold feet in years.

 

[UCStandSitter]

I tried it last year just wearing uninsulated Danner Pronghorns with a merino wool sock. Add arctic shield boot blankets if you need a little extra. Unfortunately they crapped out on me during turkey season this year and began leaking like a waterfall so I trashed them.

I've been wearing the insulated version for 2 years now with Smart Wool liner socks and Darn Tough Merino socks over that (this is all for after the temps drop in Nov). Been very pleased with the results. I've heard of others besides Gravey who have had issues with the uninsulated version leaking but haven't heard the same about the insulated ones.

 

[scn]

One thing that will REALLY help for a COLD weather boot is to go one size larger than your regular shoe size. It is amazing the difference having "loose " boots will make on cold days.

 

[knightrider]

One thing that will REALLY help for a COLD weather boot is to go one size larger than your regular shoe size. It is amazing the difference having "loose " boots will make on cold days.

And dont herculese the top laces , it cuts off blood flow giving you cold feet!

 

[Tenntrapper]

One thing that will REALLY help for a COLD weather boot is to go one size larger than your regular shoe size. It is amazing the difference having "loose " boots will make on cold days.

I was going to suggest similar. Tight boots will freeze your feet. Got to have blood flow. Same goes for sitting....need to get up and let the blood circulate occasionally.

 

[13pt]

It seems I've tried it all over 48 years of hard-core hunting. I ran up on this combination about 7 years ago and haven't looked back. I found a late-season honey hole that required about a mile walk, and being late season also required carrying in lots of clothes to my stand, so I wanted to be light on my feet. I had a pair of those "RedHead XTR Camo Moc Slip-On Shoes" which now sell for $34.99 but back then were $19.99. I just wore them occasionally outside around the house. Very comfortable, very quiet, and cheaply priced. I got online, scouted out the best boot blankets, and bought the Arctic Shield Boot Insulator. I added two layers of my best socks and off I went, carrying in the super lightweight boot blankets that will ball up and fit into a good-sized pocket. For one, the camo moc slip-ons are so light you hardly know you're wearing anything on your feet, and about as quiet as walking barefoot. As soon as I got into my stand I slipped on the boot insulators, which are super easy to do while in your stand. I only hunted that spot for 3 days in a row in early January, but all three days were bone cold for TN with lows in the lower 20s and highs in the upper 30s. My feet DID NOT get cold! Now 7 years later this is all I wear to my stand...EVERY TIME. I still have my plethora of top-notch hunting boots, but most of them I haven't had on my feet once in 7 years now. I always take a lightweight pair of boots and keep them in the SXS in case I need to drag out a deer. Now, I rely on three pair of camo mocs...two pair completely de-scented and ready for hunting and one for wearing around the house...and a set of Arctic Shield insulators. Layer up a couple pair of good socks and I'm off to the woods. For me, this is very comfortable down into the low 20s, which now at age 58 I just don't go anymore if it's below 20 here in TN. I've also learned over the years that TN deer don't like to move much below 20 degrees, so this setup works all the time for me.

P.S. I'm not saying TN deer don't move below 20 degrees. I'm just saying they don't move enough for this 58-year-old to endure the nasty cold. There was a time I didn't mind, but that has come and gone.

 

[kaizen leader]

I have been wearing light weight Red Wings from Bass Pro. On cold days I put a hot pack on top of my toes and haven't had an issue. I have had a problem with cold toes in the past but I this works.
They've been great and going on 4 years. BP has a sale going on now. My brother is going for a pair of Danner. It really doesn't get that cold very often here in TN. Not like Wisc where I grew up.

 

[kaizen leader]

I have been wearing light weight Red Wings from Bass Pro. On cold days I put a hot pack on top of my toes and haven't had an issue. I have had a problem with cold toes in the past but I this works.
They've been great and going on 4 years. BP has a sale going on now. My brother is going for a pair of Danner. It really doesn't get that cold very often here in TN. Not like Wisc where I grew up.

Sorry, not Red Wings. Red Head. BP brand. I see BP has some Cabbela's on sale that look really good with great reviews. I almost ordered a pair but when I just inspected mine Read Heads they are still in great shape. One thing I always do is put a leather sole in all my boots and shoes. You can't believe the difference leather makes on your feet. Try it. Good luck.

 

[Bgoodman30]

I look for lighter boots and the best merino or Alpaca socks money can buy.

 

[WanderingNomad]

I wear a lighter sock to keep the feet from sweating but carry a second pair in my pack and change them mid day..

 

[Tenntrapper]

It seems I've tried it all over 48 years of hard-core hunting. I ran up on this combination about 7 years ago and haven't looked back. I found a late-season honey hole that required about a mile walk, and being late season also required carrying in lots of clothes to my stand, so I wanted to be light on my feet. I had a pair of those "RedHead XTR Camo Moc Slip-On Shoes" which now sell for $34.99 but back then were $19.99. I just wore them occasionally outside around the house. Very comfortable, very quiet, and cheaply priced. I got online, scouted out the best boot blankets, and bought the Arctic Shield Boot Insulator. I added two layers of my best socks and off I went, carrying in the super lightweight boot blankets that will ball up and fit into a good-sized pocket. For one, the camo moc slip-ons are so light you hardly know you're wearing anything on your feet, and about as quiet as walking barefoot. As soon as I got into my stand I slipped on the boot insulators, which are super easy to do while in your stand. I only hunted that spot for 3 days in a row in early January, but all three days were bone cold for TN with lows in the lower 20s and highs in the upper 30s. My feet DID NOT get cold! Now 7 years later this is all I wear to my stand...EVERY TIME. I still have my plethora of top-notch hunting boots, but most of them I haven't had on my feet once in 7 years now. I always take a lightweight pair of boots and keep them in the SXS in case I need to drag out a deer. Now, I rely on three pair of camo mocs...two pair completely de-scented and ready for hunting and one for wearing around the house...and a set of Arctic Shield insulators. Layer up a couple pair of good socks and I'm off to the woods. For me, this is very comfortable down into the low 20s, which now at age 58 I just don't go anymore if it's below 20 here in TN. I've also learned over the years that TN deer don't like to move much below 20 degrees, so this setup works all the time for me.

P.S. I'm not saying TN deer don't move below 20 degrees. I'm just saying they don't move enough for this 58-year-old to endure the nasty cold. There was a time I didn't mind, but that has come and gone.

This makes perfect sense. Sounds like the lighter setup would allow more circulation.
Jamming your foot and 4 pairs of socks into a boot that just fits with one pair, is a quick recipe for frozen feet.
Insulation's job is to trap air. Squeezing it out is counter productive.
Restricting blood flow just makes it worse.

 

[kaizen leader]

I bought some heated soles to try. They plug into my heated vest battery. They were cheap on Amazon because they did not come with a battery. The vest helps me a lot because I can not retain body heat very well. I fire it up for an hour or so and I'm good for a few more hours. I hope the soles work. I sit for a long time. I am ready and pumped up for deer season.

 

[REN]

I look for lighter boots and the best merino or Alpaca socks money can buy.

this is EXACTLY what I do. Went to lighter boots in the 200-400 insulated (currently using La Sportiva hikers and North Face Hikers) but get the best merino and/or Alpaca socks I can find.

found my feet still get cold but it takes MUCH MUCH longer to get there now and they no longer get so cold I just have to give up.