Cold weather hunting-couple of cheap tricks to stay warm

[Legolas]

Please add your own.

I have found if I spray my feet with an antipersperant (not deoderant) my feet stay warmer.

Take some old large socks with you and once in your treestand pull them over the toes of your hunting boots and put a little heat pack on top and bottom of your boot (inside the sock). Seems to work better than in the boot for some reason.

[The Night Stalker]

I do the same thing but I use lavilin, the old european deoderent they use to sell in screaming eagle catalog. Don't use to much or it will dry your feet up. They won't sweat and therefore they won't get cold. My feet never get cold.

[ChuckC]

old one here.... carry as much of your outer clothing out there with you as you can stand.  Don't put it on till you are up in your stand or (safer) at the bottom of your tree AFTER the stand is up and ready.   Don't cover your head till your body is done being overheated from the walk out there.  If you sweat, you will get cold.
ChuckC

[Horne Shooter]

I live in Texas and I still get cold feet -even down here.  They STAY cold when I hunt up north.  Legolas, I'll try your idea and incorporate it with the Lavilin that Night Stalker mentioned (if I can find some)...thanks!

[Killdeer]

Legolas, I had to chuckle. A week ago Saturday I was sitting in the piney woods not moving a muscle. It was 8 degrees. HA! I was shivering to beat the band, and my feet were blocks of dry ice. The sock trick works! I never thought to use socks, though. Spare hat and neck gaiter, one on each boot. Makes quite a difference. I didn't have hand warmers that day.

The more air that comes into contact with a chemical warmer, the faster (and hotter) they combust (oxidize). They won't last quite as long, but they give a lovely heat.

Killdeer  

[Legolas]

We use to do this 20 years ago to our XC ski shoes cause they had no insulation and it was cheaper than commercial overboots.

Try:

  http://www.e-screamingeagle.com/pitstop.htm  

Killdeer, glad to have you on one of my threads. Seems when you post scores follow    

Leg

[MI_Bowhunter]

I will try the Lavelin.    I've tried every type of boot and sock I can and still cant keep my feet warm while hunting.    I've all but given up hunting late season because of it.

I could have a wall full of bows for what I've spent on footwear over the last twenty something years.    

[NightHawk]

mickey mouse boots you can get em at military surplus stores best cold weather boot ever. I have worn them in -45 degree weather climbing power poles and my feet stayed warm. Have had water come over the top and into the boot in sub freezing wweather and my feet stayed warm.

[Gatekeeper]

Two-heat packs placed in the front of your pants at the belt line will heat the blood going through your femoral arteries. This will help keep your feet and body’s core warm.

I tried the antiperspirant on my feet this past weekend and it worked great. My feet did not sweat. Thanks Tradgang! This is the only place that I have seen a solution for this problem.

[kojac]

I've used the antiperspirant before with great results also.

Another foot saver that can be used in the winter and/or summer is duct-tape. I have my kids use duct-tape on their heels "BEFORE" they get the blisters when they plan on useing ice skates and hunting boots. The key here is applying the duct-tape directly to your skin/foot "BEFORE" you go hunting and do it every time/day.

good luck!!

[Walt Francis]

Mickey Mouse Boots work great, Make sure you get the one with the air valves on the sides.

[The Night Stalker]

I did a search on dogpile for the lavillin or laviun. You will see a underarm kind like pitstop and a foot deodorant. I use them both.
I then use mickey mouse boots as mentioned above. I just use regular socks. If it gets down below 20 or 10 or so, I use my heater body suit. I have used this suit for 8 years or so and just ordered another. I have use the micky mouse boots for about 20 years.

[Jeff Strubberg]

A heat pack down the back of my shirt sitting on my kidneys is the best saty warm trick I have found yet.

Kidneys stay warm, back doesn't clench up, shivers don't start.

[T.J.]

Great thread. I'm enjoying the tips!

[The Night Stalker]

The above link of screaming eagle sells the underarm formula. The foot laviun comes in a green container. I ordermine from a health place in CA.
Once again, look at the heater body suit. In 15 degrees, I fall asleep. I know there costly but its better than freezing. I have a vest that I have pockets sewed in and I place large warmers in the vest. One in the middle of the back and one over each kidney. I also put one under my hat at the base of my neck. I just wish I could hunt til the end of January like I use to. The late season was challengeing but also very productive for me.

[jfish]

Great info.  I have a friend who always gets cold feet.  Can't wait to share this with him..

[wapitimike1]

One pair ultra thin silk liners a pair thin wool socks then mids then heavy. Minimum 1400 gram or better with toe warmers in the base. KOM gators then slip some warmers in on top of the foot. Lastly large hand warmers in each pant pocket. You can stick it out in damp 0 temps all day. Just add some extra warmers later in the day. Make sure you buy big boots!

[Fletcher]

Go to Walmart or Kmart or one of the other upscale clothes stores and get a turtleneck dickie.  Great little item that adds a bunch to keeping warm in the morning and then comes off for the drag out.

[rascal]

Hey been wearing the Mickey Mouse boots for about 20 years and they work very well indeed.  Just wanted to drop a quick comment on them since I saw a suggestion to get the ones with the air valves on the side.  Unless you change altitudes a lot (ie. air plane or mountian climbing) I would suggest not getting the ones with the air valve.  The valve is simply to equalize pressures at altitude of you hadnt guessed already and if you happen to leave an air valve open and walk in water the water gets the encapsulated insulation wet and they are about impossible to get dry again.

[BamBooBender]

Any sources to get the mickey mouse boots? I liked em when I was in the army. My feet didn't get cold guarding the ammo pad in Grafenwoer Germany (Spelling? don't know how to do an umlaut on my keboard)  in the winter.

Also what works better for a base layer; polypro, nylon, or silk?