Cold feet again

[A/M/G]

Ok the cold feet thread got me to thinking. I wear rubber non insulated boots all the time. Needless to say my feet get cold. I am not as tuff as I once was and I have a few more dineros to spend now that I am old and decrepit. So the question is which 2 brand boots do you recommend, water proof and not water proof. Some areas I may have to go thru shallow water to access, other areas no water.

 

[scubacamper]

I have a pair of Danner thinsulate gore-Tex boots and my toes still get cold with smartwool socks.
In my experience, and maybe I'm just a sissy when it comes to cold feet, but I've not found any boots that keep my toes sweating when it's below 30 degrees.
I've been using the toe warmers and am content with them, but it does add time to the getting-dressed portion of my hunt schedule...
Others may have more costly boots with thicker insulation....


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[DaveB]

I found the boot insole-looking foot warmers are the only thing that works. When I am moving my feet get pretty warm & when I stop, they cool down very gradually. After more money than I will admit to spending this is the only solution I have found acceptable.





As an aside, post my heart attack I noticed my feet stopped getting so cold. Used to be the ache would almost disable me....now, just a passing discomfort. In the woods in cold weather my feet get cold and that is why i use the foot warmers.

 

[Deer Whisperer]

Cabelas Predator Extreme is the warmest boot I know of. I've had mine for years and they are great.
The best upgrade to a boot for warmth is a wool felt insole. It helps.manage moisture and really increases the insulation.

Of course, wool socks. Never cotton.

 

[rem270]

I take several pairs of socks with me. Sometimes I even change into a new pair when I get out of the truck to put my boots on. Then most of the time when it's real cold by 9 or earlier I change out again. Since I've been doing that it's helped a lot and I've even worn my uninsulated boots most of the time.

 

[jard]

I bought a pair of Woody Max Muck boots and they are the warmest boots Ive owned by far. I cant wear thick socks in them as my feet sweat walking in and then they'll get cold. After years of lace up boots, I will never go back as I have muck boots for cold weather and a pair of uninsulated lacrosse rubber boots for warm weather.

Lots of threads on foot warmers etc. A few things I learned from an old man duck hunter.

1) once you put your socks on do not let them hit the ground, socks on and straight into the boot. I usually do not put socks and boots on until I am at my hunting place.
2) take a trash, walmart, or ziploc bag and put it over your socks before you put them in the boot. Some even would put it on their bare skin and then sock over it. Especially effective in standing water in waders. Feels weird but my feet never got cold standing in freezing water.
3) Dry your boots after every hunt on a boot dryer. They are cheap and take all the moisture out. One of my best buys.

 

[Coldfusion]

I bought a pair of Woody Max Muck boots and they are the warmest boots Ive owned by far. I cant wear thick socks in them as my feet sweat walking in and then they'll get cold. After years of lace up boots, I will never go back as I have muck boots for cold weather and a pair of uninsulated lacrosse rubber boots for warm weather.

Lots of threads on foot warmers etc. A few things I learned from an old man duck hunter.

1) once you put your socks on do not let them hit the ground, socks on and straight into the boot. I usually do not put socks and boots on until I am at my hunting place.
2) take a trash, walmart, or ziploc bag and put it over your socks before you put them in the boot. Some even would put it on their bare skin and then sock over it. Especially effective in standing water in waders. Feels weird but my feet never got cold standing in freezing water.
3) Dry your boots after every hunt on a boot dryer. They are cheap and take all the moisture out. One of my best buys.

Really? A baggy over your feet? Never heard that trick. May try tomorrow

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[MickThompson]

Seems like a baggy would hold moisture against your skin.


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[ImThere]

The baggy will hold the heat in.


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[jard]

Really? A baggy over your feet? Never heard that trick. May try tomorrow


That was my reaction as well but he had on 1950 old school waders and was nice and comfy and I was freezing my tail off in my nice cabelas super mags. He showed me after the hunt


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[Simpleman.2]

You need to invest in some arctic shield boot covers. Worth the money.


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[Coldfusion]

You need to invest in some arctic shield boot covers. Worth the money.


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I probably will. Eders has a good price on them

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[Simpleman.2]

You need to invest in some arctic shield boot covers. Worth the money.


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I probably will. Eders has a good price on them

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I would probably go up a size larger than the suggested size. They run a little small. I wear I 12 and I have the XL.


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[bigquacks]

Feels weird but my feet never got cold standing in freezing water.

This is an old duck hunters trick. Think of it this way ,if your feet are in the water, it is no colder than 32 degrees. Otherwise you are standing on the water.
We would sit in the water on real cold days because the water was warmer than the air temps.

 

[TX300mag]

I have tennis shoes that are warmer than my Woody Max boots if I stay out of the water. I guess I walk more than the average person?


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[scn]

As Jard said, one of the keys is to start the morning with some boots that are totally dry. If you can use the boot dryers, they are worth every penny and are not that expensive. If you are at a hunting camp without electricity, they make one that runs on propane, but may be more of a pain to use.

I have gone to a two boot system that has worked well for me. I have two pairs of the Muck Woody Max. One pair is my normal boot size, and the other is a full size larger. I use the larger size in the morning when it is coldest. It is amazing how much difference having the extra space means for warmth. A lot of folks really defeat themselves by wearing extra pairs of socks and having a really tight fit. I use the smaller pair in the evenings. By switching out between morning and evening hunts, both pairs seem to dry out before I need them again. With an all day sit in the larger pair, I usually use a boot dryer at night. All I use are a thick pair of merino wool socks.

I'm good down to about 25 deg. in the Woody Max. Below that, I reach for a pair of boots with at least 1200 gr. of thinsulate. Bass Pro sells one that I got on sale that is a pac boot with the thinsulate booty separate from the boot. That gives you the ability to take it out to dry at night. I'm good down into the single digits with those. Below that, I grab a pair of boot blankets to go with the pac boots.

As an aside to the warmth deal, I have seen a major difference in deer response since I have quit wearing my hunting boots in the truck. I wash them down in the no-scent soap, and store them where the soles never touch a truck floor mat. I wear some little Sportsman Guide neoprene slip ons for the drive to the hunting site, and put on my hunting boots outside of the truck. It has made a major difference on how deer react when they cross my path where I walk into the stand.

 

[ImThere]

I'm very minimalistic in my hunting. I am an artificial heat guy. Today 26 deg weather I have on my non insulated rubber boots. I have on Nike dri fit socks, a hand warmer adhesive foot insole, and toe warmers.

I also have light weight clothes on and have heat packs over my kidneys one in each front pocket and one in my hat. I'm warm and toasty


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[TX300mag]

I agree with Jard and scn. I bought a boot dryer 10 years ago for $15 at Rural King. Money well spent-boots go straight onto them when I take them off. This is especially helpful for when you have to wear rubber boots that don't breath.


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[huntintn]

Never had a problem with cold feet.

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[Trenta]

One part of wool socks, non insulated boots for the walk in and attic shield boot blankets. On a cold cold morning put a hot hand inside the boot blanket

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

My muck boots are horrible. Freeze to death sitting in my den with the heat on in those things. I've tried every trick and sock I know. Finally bought a pair of 400 grain leather boots and some artic shield boot covers and can stay pretty warm
That way. I know some guys swear by mucks. Not for me though.

 

[Andy S.]

I agree with Jard and scn.

x4, every serious hunter should own a boot dryer, or two. I own three; one for my house, one for camp, and I keep one in my truck during deer season. Dry boots to start the morning are definitely key to success when hunting in frigid temps.

 

[TheLBLman]

In terms of keeping your feet warm on a deer stand,
I don't think it matters much so much what brand/type boots you're wearing,
if you're also wearing the Artic Shield Boot covers,
especially if you have a little 8-hr hand warmer placed in the toe area of each.

On really cold mornings, I place one of the small 8-hr hand warmers in the toe area of each booty when I'm packing everything up. These booties are typically "warming up" in my pack for an hour or two before I unpack them, either right before climbing or even after on stand. By then, the interior of those booties has been significantly warmed, and the disposable warmers will still continue to put off heat for a while, as there is enough air circulating between the boots and the booty wall for the hand warmers to continue warming.

Also, think about this:
One of your "weak links" on keeping warm is the knee area of each leg.
Why? Because you have fewer layers there than either below or above that area of your leg.
If you have cargo pockets in your first pants layer (under your heavier outer clothing),
try placing one of the 18-24-hr body warmers in each pocket before you put on that heavier outer layer. Not only will this help keep you warm, but by helping keep your legs warmer at this "weakest link" location, it may do more to keep your feet warm, than say upper body warming.

Other than using the Artic Shield booties, the most important things are starting out with both dry boots and dry socks. It's just both the interior of your boots and your socks will get damp from perspiration, so you need to put your boots on a boot dryer between uses, and start the day with fresh dry socks. I don't use the AS booties except in really cold weather, but I do often change into dry socks after a morning hunt (before continuing my day's hunting).

Typically, I'll use the booties on a cold morning, ditch them when I change stands, but also ditch the damp socks as well. Usually don't have time to "dry" my boots during mid-day, but do often switch into a different pair of boots if I change socks around mid-day.

Afternoons, I seldom have an issue with cold feet, no matter what the boots, socks, or booties.
But feet are much more "comfortable" in fresh dry socks & dry boots.

 

[280longshot]

Non insulated Irishsetters rutmaster with merino wool socks when it's above 25 works for me, but when it gets in the teens is a different story.
Never used boot dryers... but I can see where DRY BOOT makes a difference.

 

[Pic IN the Casa]

I put a pair of silk socks on first. Then tape toasty toes on top. Then a pair of wool socks. On top of that muck boots.

 

[Spurhunter]

I bought a pair of Lacrosse lace ups 10 or so years ago. I think 800 grams of thinsulate. I wear a liner sock, a cheap Redhead wool sock, and these boots and my feet won't get cold until it gets down below 20 degrees. When that happens I have a pair of Lacrosse Pac boots that are supposed to be good to -30 degrees. They are bulky so I put them on right before I go up. I can't imagine anyone's feet EVER getting cold in those things. If I had a problem with cold feet I would buy a pair of pac boots and be done with it. I have a boot dryer also, and every time I take a pair off that's where they go.

 

[bigshot]

Bass pro shop mountain bear socks almost 100% merino wool,wear them yr round cool in heat,warm in cold
$17 or only downside wear with uninsulated rubber boots and short hikers in deer and turkey seasons