Cold Feet in Cold Weather

[44inchStone]

Now for some of us, cold feet in cold weather comes easy. With the up and coming November and Cold weather whitetail hunting, I'm thinking of what footwear will keep my feet warm during those COLD days. I know there must be some great suggestions on how to keep your feet warm while either in a tree stand, ground blind, or after a long walk that turns into hours of standing in one place.
Some boots are heavy and after a while seem very sloppy. Although warm, they just don't cut it when you have to hike the trails. My meindls are a great boot, until I stop and my feet turn into frozen popcicles. I'm sure alot can relate to what ever boot you wear.
Any suggestions of WARM feet in COLD weather. What do you do??

[crazybushcreature]

ive heard of those battery heated socks. ive never tried them but may be worth looking into. my boots are good to like -30 celcius so as long as they stay dry im usualy pretty good. i also pack those hand/feet warmer packs and will throw those in the boots once in a while.

[BiG Boar]

Anyone try hot mocs?

http://www.hotmocs.com/boot-warmers.html

I have the same problem, bad circulation from freezing my feet too many times playing hockey on the pond. I'd like to know what works.

I know one other super cold weather boot is called bunny boots. Apparently, you are supposed to fill them with water if they start to get cold. Bison guides in the north swear by them.

[Brambles]

Unlace you boots a bit when you stop to sit for extended periods, tight boots will reduce circulation and make it harder to wiggle your toes to help keep them thawed!

One pair of socks to also help maintain circulation, two pairs are too tight.

I cant hike in sorels, too heavy, slippery and floppy.
Late season timber work usually has me in caulks, mine have thick thermal liners so they arent too bad!

[brian]

My hands and feet get real cold real fast. What has worked best for me is an unconventional solution. I made a pair of moccasins with a removable sheep skin liner. There is plenty of room for your feet to breath which keeps your feet much warmer and drier (less feet sweating). The downside is the leather is far from waterproof. I am trying to come up with something that would be more water proof (or at least shed the snow better) but still allow my feet to breath.

[MB_Boy]

dHey Guys.....I can tell you a few things I have learned from working on World Cup Ski Races over the years where your feet can NOT help but get cold.

We wear "touring" boots as we still need to be able to clip and out of ski bindings but we are standing for hours....and let me tell you...my section which is at the top of Lake Louise for the Women's race in late November/early December can be REAL cold!

I have tried everything to keep toes/feet warm.

I have duct taped the "shake and heat" packs to my toes/feet in the mornings before heading up the hill....and they DO work for a while.

I have tried layering socks in various combinations.....over and over and over. I was on the hill at Whistler during the Olympics from about 2am til 7pm trying to figure out what would "last".


I can tell you guys hands down....if you have a tendency for cold feet....INVEST in a GOOD heated sock/footbed idea. I bought heated footbeds for my Touring boots and I can tell you they are the best thing I ever did.

The footbeds were about $500 or so (custom fit)....but they come with a remote (awesome feature!!!) so I can just click them on and they take your mind off all kinds of "cold" feelings. I have used the same footbeds in boots that I have used for cold weather moose hunting where you are sitting and calling and they may life really pleasant. (bear in mind in MB when Moose hunting we aren't hiking for hours on end....it's more of a 'calling' game)

If you're gonna be doing a ton of hiking I don't know how well these would work but I can tell you from hiking up mountains in cold weather....a thin silk sock....then a GOOD quality merino sock have worked wonders for me. Yes, depending on boot/temps/hiking vs. still hunting you are gonna find various results.

[lovemywinchester]

The easiest thing is to carry spare socks. If you have wet feet from hiking in snow change your socks before sitting for a while. I wear thin socks (polypropelyne) as a base layer with good quality wool socks over that. Drop $20 on a quality pair of socks and you will not regret it. Wool socks that cost $12.99 for 3 pair from wall mart don't cut it. Carry a few pairs in your pack and a small towel. You will be amazed at how dry socks will warm your feet and improve your attitude. Plus don't be afraid to take a half hour and light a fire to warm up.

[walkerbc]

I often ride a quad in the snow and at -10 to -20 I froze. Boot specialist gave me a pair of thin allmost silk socks covered by a second set of wool socks inside a pair of "thinsulate" boots. About $250 + later I had warm feet while riding but cannot walk a mile in those boots without getting sore!! My leather waterproof boots which I use for hiking are great in cold weather but as soon as you stop the cold creeps in. Now I just always carry two sets of boots. A pain in the "butt" however I don't have cold feet. Regards/

[warnniklz]

seen them demoed but haven't tried them

http://www.thermacell.com/heated-insoles-foot-warmers

[Lionhill]

seen them demoed but haven't tried them

http://www.thermacell.com/heated-insoles-foot-warmers

I own a set and they are the cats ass. Works like a charm and quick to recharge.

LH

[boxhitch]

overshoe.com
Neos overboots are a great addition, durable , but not for long hikes. they have room for instant heat pacs. Barneys sells the River Trekker
Others may be available through a ski shop, lots of nordic ski racers use these.

[Brambles]

I own a set and they are the cats ass. Works like a charm and quick to recharge.

LH

How long do they last if you use them on and off during the day, do you have to recharge them every day or can you get multiple days out of them? It would make backpack november trips feel like you were in the Hilton

[boxhitch]

http://www.overshoesonline.com/n5p3/NEOS-Navigator-5-Overshoe.htm

[meesemoot]

Felt pacs with foil backed liners and insoles are about the warmest thing that is widely available. They are sloppy for hiking in, but it's better than having frozen feet.

[Jonas111]

seen them demoed but haven't tried them

http://www.thermacell.com/heated-insoles-foot-warmers

Im going to get some of these tomorrow.

[burger]

For just sitting in a tree stand or just sitting...Kamik insulated rubber boots. Good to -40 obviously waterproof. No they do not breath and if you hike you will sweat up but for just sitting they work awesome. Just have a couple pairs of sock to switch day after day.

[bighorn]

arctic muck boots,waterproof and warm

[Awishanew]

Sorel Glacier boots are said to be good for -100 C. Since I started wearing these cold feet are a thing of the past. Cost about $120. Not that great for walking too far but good for tree stands.

[brazen]

I work outside and started layering all the socks i could stuff in my boots; but daughter who took 'outdoor ed' survival stuff, even though she technically wasn't really speaking to me on that particular day, was watching me gear up and muttered that i'd be warmer with only one pair, so i tried and have been doing that ever since...she was correct. It's always wool for me since all my boots have holes in em somewhere, keep wiggling, too, and wear long sleeves that can drape over fingers when not in use. I guess air space is key. And ALWAYS keep one pair DRY in the truck for sleepin. Other parts i layer polypro/ester then wool.

should add tho that was the same girl who just got herself la giardia and some other bug from drinking out of Lake Louise, 'cause it was soooo beautiful'......rofl...wilderness girl rofl...loves cool canadian waters...tooooo much lol!

[Skull Hunter]

Anyone try hot mocs?

http://www.hotmocs.com/boot-warmers.html

I have the same problem, bad circulation from freezing my feet too many times playing hockey on the pond. I'd like to know what works.

I know one other super cold weather boot is called bunny boots. Apparently, you are supposed to fill them with water if they start to get cold. Bison guides in the north swear by them.

I have the same story. I've also heard good things about the Bunny boots and my hunting partner swears by them. I believe you fill them with air through a little valve on the outside of the heel**, but I could be wrong. I've also heard the white ones are better suited to the cold than the black ones. I think I'm going to pick up a pair in the near future and give them a go.

**EDIT: Just did some research, you are not supposed to add air to them, it is simply a release valve so the boots don't pop when in an unpressurized aircraft or at high elevation.

[Steelpulse]

For just sitting in a tree stand or just sitting...Kamik insulated rubber boots. Good to -40 obviously waterproof. No they do not breath and if you hike you will sweat up but for just sitting they work awesome. Just have a couple pairs of sock to switch day after day.
can buy them at canadian tire, cannot go wrong imo every person should own a pair, great for ice fishing

[grouse please]

I bought boots from Marks work warehouse last winter that you plug in at night and have 3 heat settings that you can adjust (they are still very light) ran me about $350 plus tax but they are warm even without turning them on and battery last for 7 hours. the lady that helped me pic them said that everyone going up to Fort Mac was buying them.

[Lionhill]

How long do they last if you use them on and off during the day, do you have to recharge them every day or can you get multiple days out of them? It would make backpack november trips feel like you were in the Hilton

I used them went sitting a watching a spot, after my feet cooled off a bit. You can hit the remote "medium" heat button and your feet slowly start to feel warm. I have never used them more than day trips, charging them in the truck using an AC converter, which takes about 1 hour. I would suggest that if you only used them sparingly for an hour at a go, you would get 5-6 hours from a charge.

LH

[Phreddy]

Wear boots with a higher "Thermogard" rating, thin silk or polyester socks, followed by merino wool socks, and wear a touque on you head. Works like a hot damn. And make sure that the boots aren't too tight as mentioned earlier. Should have some toe wiggle room and be laced just loose enough to prevent hapmpering circulation.

[Walkntalk]

I have walked many miles in wet leathe rboots at sub zero ... X2 to what Phreddy said i also use a primaloft "poncho liner" over my whole self to keep the body warm. MEC has insulated moc's, but they are too small for an over boot in case you wnt to whip'em off for a quick stalk. I have been thinking of making my own insulated over boot. Throw a little instant heat pocket to get some initial heat and i'll bet it'd go a long ways to helping. Fresh socks sounds smart too.

[HIGHRPM]

Thermacell make remote controlled, rechareable feet heaters. Run about $120.00 US. Might be a good route.

[warnniklz]

Thermacell make remote controlled, rechareable feet heaters. Run about $120.00 US. Might be a good route.

and they work when submerged in water too

[Mountain Hunter]

Icebreaker Insulated Overboots, I pack these in to a stand. I then just slip them on over a decent pair of hiking/walking boots for sitting. You can leave them at the stand and go for a walk with you regular boots. I use them for both whitetail tree stand hunting and sitting at ground blinds for mule deer hunting.

Downside is that they are a little bulky, but for short hikes (<1 hr) to a good mule deer spot is worth it. The other day I was able to sit for 6 hours at an avalanche slide in -2C and snow wearing them over regular leather uninsulated hiking boots that were a bit damp from the snow hike in.

I have worn them over Sorel winter boots in a tree stand at -15C for several hours as well. I only then bring a charcoal footbed warmer for "just in case"!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Footw...3Bcat104724180 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Footwear/Footwear-Accessories%7C/pc/104797980/c/104724180/Icebreaker174-Insulated-Boot-Blanket174-Overboots/748998.uts?WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104797980%3Bcat1047241 80)

[Bistchen]

Sorel Caribou work for me !

These are the more compact shorter ones.

[J-Man]

The easiest thing is to carry spare socks. If you have wet feet from hiking in snow change your socks before sitting for a while. I wear thin socks (polypropelyne) as a base layer with good quality wool socks over that. Drop $20 on a quality pair of socks and you will not regret it.
Yea that is what I do, works fine to -15 for me.

[Coyote]

If your feet tend to sweat try some spray antiperspirant (not deodorant). Keeps your feet relatively dry which will help keep 'em warm

'yote

[Call of the Wild]

I get cold feet so easily as many other too and here’s what I use now to keep them warm. Any good real winter boot combined with conforteck heated insoles plus dry a synthetic sock on the skin covered by a warm sock is how I keep my feet warm now. The Conforteck is a great system, I strongly suggest the Kit duo with heated insoles along with their power pack Conforteck Energie. Expensive but awesome for anyone who plans to do a lot of cold weather still activities like hunting deer in stands during the November rut in northern BC or Alberta/Saskatchewan.

To keep my hands from freezing I wear my gloves inside a hand warmer thing. It works and in now time I can have my hands available.


For real cold weather I strongly suggest the Raven Wear stuff. Not cheap by any means and I’ve been looking to get myself a suit for 4-5 years now but I spend my budget on other priorities, I hope maybe next year. In 09 I spent the whole month of November hunting deer in northern Alberta in big timber country camping in outfitters tents. Some guys wore only Raven Wear and that’s when I was convinced how good the stuff was and promised myself to order some eventually.


The boot blanket is a great product and I’m sure combined with the conforteck insoles I’ll never have cold feet while hunting or ice fishing in cold weather.
Their Alberta Special - Reversible Parka and Bibs suit is what you need to stay warm in real cold weather and don’t wear that stuff while walking to your stand!!! It’s winter and fall camo but most importantly QUIET. It doesn’t even compare to all the brands winter clothing. Not cheap but well worth the cost and it’s custom build to your body size.

[Call of the Wild]

http://www.overshoesonline.com/n5p3/NEOS-Navigator-5-Overshoe.htm

Can you give more info on them, I’d appreciate it. How would they compare to serious winter boots like these? http://www.baffin.com/product-p/4000m001.htm