I had a bad experience in the hospital that has left me without any feeling in my feet. This causes me to have to wear braces at all times so putting on a traditional boot, that goes 1/2 way up my calf is no longer possible. I am looking for input on a pair of low top 'Hiker' style boots or shoes possibly, that are warm. Am planning a trip to Canada, where the norm is long periods of sitting in a blind, and cold--mid-November temps. I need to protect my feet despite not having any feeling in them, at least I can move around a bit.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Sorry to hear about your bad experience but there is hope. Lets explore cold feet. Feet get cold from the bottom up; contact with the cold ground not the cold air around the foot. You must insulate under the foot with being stationary the most prone to getting cold feet. Too many boot companies and users think they need 1000 gram insulation over the foot to keep it warm. Only if the foot/boot is covered by cold water or snow does the upper part of the boot help insulate. The warmest boots made have the sole of the boot with the most insulation and not so much on the upper.
Get a closed cell foam pad to place your feet on while in the blind. They can take beating so you can walk on them and they do not freeze up. This will insulate your feet from the cold ground.
Use camp booties instead of traditional boots while in the blind. Hike to your blind and once there, remove your boots and wear camp booties. I wear them ever minute in camp all seasons, its my one pleasure I need in the hills. I have Parbat, Integral Designs and Forty Below and wear them on snow, ice, glaciers, rain, dirt, mud, rocky river bottoms, everywhere in Alaska when in camp. Do not use down booties, only synthetic.
Another option is to wear neoprene overboots over traditional boots like those from Forty Below.
Another option is mukluks. There are some high dollar ones but military issue green beans work very well. We removed the thin wool white liner and replaced it with a woven wool liner from LaCrosse pacboots.
Hydrate your body 1-2 weeks before leaving and keep it hydrated. Take a sip of water every 15 to 30 mins.
Use garlic pills, baby aspirin to help with circulation.
Eat a solid breakfast and then small high calorie snacks all day long. Do not eat food during the day in the blind that takes blood supply from your extremities to digest.
Have a positive attitude. This is one of the things I hit hard guiding. The mind can make or break a trip. If the mind is free to enjoy discomfort, the discomfort can be over come. Too many times I have had a client with stress in his mind break a shoe lace or something insignificant and let out a string of words that will make a Marine blush, stomp, get all torqued up. I have to say why, you are in God's country, the best country in the world in absolute pristine beauty so take it in and enjoy it. During my trips, I would make my clients sit and look, breath and absorb it all as we stressed our bodies.
Good luck
