Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: culleng on November 01, 2014, 02:23:00 PM
-
How do you guys keep your feet warm? What works for you?
-
Around my area Muck boots and a pair of wool socks is all I need.
-
Wear wool socks... ONLY!!!
Forget the multilayer, This sock,over that sock,under this sock,nonsense. Good boots,(1/2-1 size larger) with good quality REAL WOOL socks, Your feet will stay warm. Most people get cold feet because their boots are too tight.
-
Smartwool socks
-
Haha Cullen... My feet were cold this morning too! I had on two pair of wool socks and Schnees Hunter II boots (which are rated for zero degrees when inactive and 40 below when active)... And my feet were still freezing! I used chemical toe warmers last year and it definitely helped, but I've just accepted the fact that my toes are always going to be cold when it gets below freezing.
-
Forgot to add... On this year's Christmas list are the Arctic Sheild boot covers. Maybe they will work... :dunno:
-
I tried the sock liners this year and really liked them. Got mine at gander mountain. Those under wool work great for me.
If your feet swet use deodorant on your feet. Sounds funny but works very well. JUST DONT WALK ATOUND THE HOUSE. You will track white spots everywhere and get in trouble.
-
wool hat.
Extra heavy weight over the calf smart wool socks.
pair of milsurp "mickey mouse" boots.
I had cold feet even in warm weather till this combo.
-
Here is what works for me while on stand. I have to wear knee boots to cross a creek to get to my stands. If I wear these boots, I will be frozen in an hour. So what I have done was developed a system that works very well for me. I have a set of stand boots that I made. I have a set of Ice King liners in a set of Artic Shield boot blankets. Put on a pair of wool socks and put a chemical heat pack in them and I have warm feet all day.
-
Forget the advice to ignore the layered sock approach. :rolleyes: My decades of experience and that of many thousands of other people says otherwise.
One of the purposes of wearing an inner sock is to wick heat-sucking moisture off your foot and into the insulating sock (and then out of the boot if that is feasible.) A damp sock absorbs heat much faster than a dry one, and it increases the odds for blisters and other foot problems. It makes little sense to keep the moisture next to your foot if you can avoid that.
Wearing two layers of socks will also reduce the odds of getting a blister with a boot fit that is not perfect. (I know people wear single socks without getting blisters, I do frequently as well, but it requires a well-designed boot and a very good fit.)
Put an insulating layer under your foot. One of the sponsors here sold me a couple pair of good recycled wool inserts, hopefully he or someone will jump in here with contact info that I don't have right now.
Put a warm hat on your head and take other measures to retain or generate heat. Your body's heat-regulating mechanism reduces blood flow to the extremities when it perceives a threat of hypothermia. This keeps your core and its essential organs warm, but it is often a sign that you've chilled overall without even realizing it.
The advice to avoid tight boots is spot on. Blood flow is all that keeps your feet warm in the field, unless you stick them in a fire.
-
Two cayenne pepper pills twice a day. Helps with cold fingers too.
And as others said good wool socks, wool insoles and loose fitting boots.
-
The warmer Muck boots with wool socks do pretty well. They offer different levels of insulation, and I have some of their Chore boots (fairly low and light) and some of their high-topped, highly insulated boots. My feet get cold, though, no matter what I wear, when I'm sitting for a long time on stand in very cold weather. I sometimes use the chemical hand warmers in the boots if it's that cold.
-
Keen snow boots and good wool socks. I also sometimes wear Mucks that are a little big, good wool socks and hand warmers under my toes. Depends on if I need to cross deep water.
When I have a long walk in I wear a thin pair of socks to my stand then switch them out with a heavy pair.
-
As I said above... (but someone seems to "disagree" with)
Wear WOOL socks, ONLY!!!!!!!!!!
Wool dries, from the inside out. This is why wool keeps you warm,even when it is wet!!! There is no reason to "wick moisture away from your foot". A good quality wool sock against your skin,will keep your foot warm,even if it is soaking wet!!!
and folks wonder why they get cold feet... :rolleyes:
Bottom line is, wool is about the only natural fiber that will keep you warm, regardless of whether it is wet of not. It has been used for hundreds of years,and to this day,in spite of many "synthetic" manufacturer's claims... NOTHING beats it!!! Remember, you get what you pay for... My good wool socks are 85% pure wool 15% nylon,(for strength) and cost me $15 - $20 a pair! 1978, Paris Island S.C. I can still hear the Drill Instructor. "6 Pair Socks... Green,Wool,Cushion Sole"!!!!! I remember thinking,in June??? 100 degrees????? These were some of the best socks I have ever worn... Hot,Cold... My feet were comfortable,even when my feet were soaked. Most of those socks lasted me untill I got out in 1984. I honestly wish I had bought more,and squirreled them away!!!
Remember, Wool against Skin! That's where it's suppossed to be..... :thumbsup:
-
Probably won't believe me. Usually my feet get cold easily. Now I wear a lightweight hunting boot, med at wool socks, and when I get to stand, put my hotmocs on with a hand warmer pack inside. Toasty down to around 20 degrees on stand. Don't like the boots to have more than 600gm thinsulate.
-
Another vote for dry feet, antiperspirant, inner sock made of wool and polypro, wool over and at least one size larger boot. If using a metal hang on stand put down carpet or card board for extra insulation.Dropping a dry chemical warmer down the BACK of your shirt to warm small of back tricks bodies thermo regulators to open blood vessels to legs/feet. Avoid caffiene and nicotine.
-
Smartwool or Omniwool socks. Both brands last for years. The Omniwool socks come in a three for the price of one pair of Smartwool.
-
Thanks guys for all the responses. Tim it was mainly my toes. It was a very good morning. I saw the one I was looking for. The bad part was he was 30 yards away standing behind some bushes. Then he followed his girlfriend away.
-
Good boots, with an insulated foot bed. Wear a liner sock with thick wool socks. Toe warmers help. wiggle your toes and flex your legs. It'll help blood move down to your toes. Keep your feet dry! Deodorant or foot powder works wonders. Insulate your legs as well. Try not to have many gaps between your boots and pants.
Two Tracks Bow Co. has insulated wool insoles for your boots. I haven't tried them but it might be worth a look.
Two Tracks Insulated Insoles (http://www.twotracksbow.com/store/index.php?dispatch=categories.view&category_id=183)
If your feet get cold even on warm days talk to your doctor about it. You may have blood flow issues.
I usually wear my Muck boots while hunting because of the wetness. However if it hasn't snowed or is fairly dry I'll go with my regular boots. They're uninsulated but with the right things under them I rarely have a problem with cold feet. Even when I was hunting in sub-zero temps.
A little trick. If you start getting cold and can't get move. Think dirty thoughts, it'll raise your body temperature quite a bit. I'm not joking about that either!
-
Double tap!
-
Boot blankets is the best thing I have ever used. I have let my feet get cold and put them on and in alittle while they will get warm. Artic Shield I think is the name of them. my brother bought them for me about 10 years ago.
-
The Arctic Shields work very well. I wear a thin poly sock for wicking moisture, then a medium weight wool blend sock inside a "pack type" boot. Over the boots go the Arctic Shields. I usually don't use these until it's about 20 degrees, and I put them on when I get settled in my tree stand.
This morning in Wisconsin the temp was an even 20 degrees and I sat in a tree for about three and a half hours. This was my first day this year with the Arctic Shields. They work!
Bernie
-
Another vote for Two Tracks Wool Insoles!! They work Great!
-
I have a pair of boots that are just a little big. I throw a hand warmer pack in the toe of each boot. Keeps my feet warm on a low budget.
The absolute best way to keep your feet warm is to tag out early in the season when its still warm :D That's my new approach.
-
Originally posted by woodchucker:
As I said above... (but someone seems to "disagree" with)
Wear WOOL socks, ONLY!!!!!!!!!!
...
Remember, Wool against Skin! That's where it's suppossed to be..... :thumbsup:
Which is exactly why my inner socks are wool. Next to my woolen insulating socks.
Moisture absorbs heat at a tremendous rate. It only makes sense to move it off your skin if you can. Which is why I also wear wool baselayers to wick moisture off my skin. Under my woolen insulating layers.
Oh, and I don't get too steamed about all this, 'cuz I wear a wool hat most of the time that keeps my follicle-challenged scalp dry and warm.
;)
-
Good point about a good hat and something on neck keeping down radiant heat loss.
-
Anybody tried the Bama Sokkets?
-
Originally posted by Tsalt:
Forgot to add... On this year's Christmas list are the Arctic Sheild boot covers. Maybe they will work... :dunno:
You will be pleasantly surprised!
I have used them for two season now...last year was -7°F on opening of gun season (Wisco).
I wear uninsulated boots (leather hikers or lacrosse knee-highs) while walking in or around. When I am going to sit for a while, I pull the Arctic Shields out of the pack and slip them on.
They reflect the heat that was generated when I was moving, and keep the feet warm. I also have enough room to throw some heat pads in there under the toes for extended sits.
I recommend them to everyone I talk to about cold feet.
-
Oh, and get GOOD wool socks. I have about 2-dozen pairs in a couple of thicknesses....this will get me through a good camp stay without a need to wash any. :)
-
Remember, when insulating your feet, it's the air space that makes the difference. Wool traps air better than other materials. Think of it like a double paned storm window. It's the air that insulates it. If you remove that air, you've just made it a single pane. So if your socks are compressed all the way around your foot inside the boot, they are trapping less air. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to socks and cold weather.
I also use and believe in the arctic shield over boots for this reason. I just bought a pair of 400g thinsulate pronghorns in EE width, that are great for walking in, and with the arctic shields on for sitting long hours, they work great. If it's gonna be a really cold sit, I'll put chemical toe warmers in when I get on stand. So, keep your feet dry, with plenty of air and wiggle room in your boots, and you'll see a big difference in warmth.
-
The only thing that's ever worked for me was a good pair of hikers to keep the sweat down, boot wraps with hand warmers thrown in. Feet stay toasty warm.
-
I roll over and warm them on my wife, of course she complains some...
-
I must have real good circulation to my feet, cold feet has never been an issue for me. It was 22 degrees this past Sunday morning. I wore a pair of rubber knee boots with a good pair of merino wool socks and I was plenty warm. My upper body was pretty chilled by the time I got down tho.
-
My go-to set up is this:
Loose fitting boots, Big enough to wear a heavy wool sock(or two). Tight boots stop blood flow.
A pair of our insoles in the boot, changed/dried daily to remove the moisture.
Wool hat and gaiter.
Works for me most of the time.
-
Woodchucker has got it right one pair of heavy wool socks with a felt innersole in your boots, mine come from two tracks . Don't use any sock that has poly or claims to have a wicking action that includes smartwool you will have cold feet.Two pair of socks are tight on your feet making for cold feet you need lose fitting socks and boots. La Crosse Iceman are the warmest boots as are canvas muckluks with heavy wool liners.
Take it from me I live in North Dakota I've hunted in some extreme cold Iv'e tried everything to keep my feet warm the best way I have found is to sit in a ground blind that is insulated and has a heater.
-
Boot blankets saved me years ago... They work!
-
It was many years ago that I figured this out. If my feet HAD to stay warm, I HAD to stay home.
All the advice given is good. I hope it works.
-
Originally posted by okla bearclaw:
Smartwool socks
I agree... But since i live in GA... only a couple pr...
Arctic shield boot over boots thingies... Throw in a pr of handwarmers on the coldest days... actually if there is a frost... light hiker tennis shoe type shoes... let the sweat out and are the most comfortable temp wise ...to me anyways
-
I feel your cold! Due to a few cases of frostbite when I was young, my feet tend to get cold faster than most others I know. I have found what works for me is using a thin liner sock with a wool outer sock. If I am hiking 4 to 5 miles or more, I will wear a liner sock inside a light to medium weight wool sock and waterproof hiking boots. I always carry a spare pair of wool socks so I can change socks during the day. Changing socks can make a huge difference. I always carry my dry socks in a re-sealable plastic bag that is also used to store damp sweaty socks once I change. Think scent control.
If I am hiking into a tree stand or ground blind and it is 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, I will carry most of my heavy outer clothing so I don't overheat or get sweaty feet from the exertion of reaching my stand.
For sitting long periods in subfreezing conditions, I have a pair of Cabela's Alaskan pac boots with a thick sole and removable felt liner. These are not boots I walk long distances in but they are extremely warm and work well for sitting still in very cold weather. I lived in North Dakota for 5 years and wished In would have had these boots then.
The last thing I do, which I am sure most of us have learned, is that when I return to camp at night, I remove all insoles and liners and let them air out or dry out as much as possible before the next morning. This can make a big difference as well.
As for liner sock material, I prefer wool because wool tends to hold less odor than polypropylene, thermax, capilene, coolmax, or any other long list of polyester or other synthetic materials. When I am hunting in remote areas or places with limited laundry facilities (stream or lake), wool makes a lot of sense. I have a used a number of fabrics for liner socks and they all worked well for me, though.
I have decided that how I dress the rest of my body is very important to how warm my feet stay. If I dress too warmly for the level of activity, my feet sweat more and then get cold easier. And as mentioned by a few earlier, having enough space for your toes to move is important.