Hunting & Fishing I've got bitch feet and need new boots

pepper 2111

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Minuteman
Apr 19, 2013
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You read it right, I'm a first class whimp in the cold and my feet are the worst. I've been looking at insulated rubber boots, muck, lacrosse and the cables 2000 gram thinsulate...any suggestions? I've got nice merino wool socks, just wondering what you've tried and what works. I picked up a cheap pair of battery operated heated insoles but I don't want to rely totally on those. Thanks for your time
 
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What both above have said,but to add to it buy a pair one size over what you normally buy. Get an extra pair of thick socks, one size over what you normally wear.

I used to buy boots tight, and break/stretch them in. What I never realized was I was restricting the circulation. Less blood in your feet = less natural warmth.
 
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Above information is great, but there is another aspect to keeping feet warm.
You need to keep your feet and boots completely dry. Some guys put anti presperant (deodorant ) on their feet, or liberally apply powder to combat sweat. Also if you cannot dry out your boots after use, consider getting a second pair and alternate boots to avoid ever starting with damp boots.
 
Good info here! Thank you, Ill search for some PAC boots, eBay is my friend. I don't have to walk far to my stands so sweating and water aren't much of a concern. It's the sitting in the stand that tests my testicular fortitude and I have been too weak far to many times
 
Silk or Polypro liner socks with wool outers. I'll also put wool Superfeet insoles in when it goes subzero. Just another layer between you and the ground. Maybe a tarp around the lower part of the stand so you can move more for circulation?
 
Good info here! Thank you, Ill search for some PAC boots, eBay is my friend. I don't have to walk far to my stands so sweating and water aren't much of a concern. It's the sitting in the stand that tests my testicular fortitude and I have been too weak far to many times

Where are you at? I know i have sat for hours in neg temps with my kennetrek pacs. I run either first lite or darn tough socks to keep my feet dry and warm. Also could look into the down boot covers as those would also add another layer of warmth.
 
Thanks fellas, I'm in the middle of Illinois. Being a cheap ass, I found a pair of Sorel 1964 waterproof PAC boots on eBay for $35. I hope they work as well as the others you all have described. I've also been told the old school military Mickey Mouse boots that you pump air into are a good way to go. I have some first lite merino wool socks which should be good for the price i paid
 
I got mild frostbite while I was in Germany and now anytime it gets below 45° I freeze my ass off unless I'm moving. I wear smart wool socks year-round and just adjust the weight for the temp. I'm going to take a look at some of these boots, but I have taken to covering my Asolos with beanies while I am in the stand if it gets below 30°. If it gets down into the teens I hunt a box or pop up blind with a heater buddy.

Remember, this shit is supposed to be fun.
 
Very true!!! I'm taking every precaution I can this year to make it more enjoyable. I love it, hopefully these boots will help. Next step is drone hunting from the truck. I'll put an arrow on a drone and kamakzi the bastards
 
I got mild frostbite while I was in Germany and now anytime it gets below 45° I freeze my ass off unless I'm moving. I wear smart wool socks year-round and just adjust the weight for the temp. I'm going to take a look at some of these boots, but I have taken to covering my Asolos with beanies while I am in the stand if it gets below 30°. If it gets down into the teens I hunt a box or pop up blind with a heater buddy.

Remember, this shit is supposed to be fun.

Funny, I thought I was going to lose some toes there too! Reforger '85.
 
Thanks fellas, I'm in the middle of Illinois. Being a cheap ass, I found a pair of Sorel 1964 waterproof PAC boots on eBay for $35. I hope they work as well as the others you all have described. I've also been told the old school military Mickey Mouse boots that you pump air into are a good way to go. I have some first lite merino wool socks which should be good for the price i paid

Which ones as each sock has a different function. I like them for being active as they keep your feet dry but can be clamy. I really like the darn tough heavy weights for when it gets really cold. The down boot covers are really a good option. even an old sleeping bag to get in while up on stand is something i have done to stay warm here in Sodak when sitting out in negative temps.
 
I'm not even sure which pair they are exactly. I ordered them a few years back and told the guy then how much I hated the cold. Im assumed they were the warmest they had to offer
 
Two things have helped me a ton, first is moisture management via a combination of antiperspirant and vapor barriers. I wear anitpersperant, a thin liner sock, then believe it or not simple plastic bags, (think checkout thin ones,) then Wigwam or the like thick squishy hiking socks. Companies make actual vapor barrier socks, but I've never needed or gotten around to buying some.

Thin socks act as lubricant to prevent blisters. antiperspirant and bags keep your sweat from the main sock and insulating layers of the boot. Thick wool sock adds comfort and warmth. This combo plus Meindl boots, only 400g Thinsulate, has kept me warmer and more comfortable than the 1000g Rocky's I used for years, while actually being walkable. Meindl uses cork and wool for their insoles, which I've switched too for other boots. That has extended the comfort range a ton as well.

Another big thing to remember is insulation the boot itself from the ground. You would not believe the difference standing on a piece of soft foam, think non-inflating camp mat type material, makes in keeping your feet warm. I use it to cover metal stand bases where safe, no ice, and when ground blind hunting or standing. Easy enough to carry a bit of it with you, and makes a shocking difference.
 
2nd the Meindl boot recommendation. They have very little break-in period which is great for bitch feet.

I've got a pair of the Sorel pac boots for short, flat hikes in the snow and the are great for that, but you give up some support and traction compared to true boots like the Meindls. The stiffer boots with better soles are helpful when dragging out animals over uneven terrain.
 
Hunting the Montana winter the best boot I have found is the Insulated Filson Uplander. I have a pair and a pair of the standard Uplander as my daily wear. I hate rubber bottom boots. They are slick as hell on ice and snow. The filsons are like wearing any other pair of boots. Never had cold feet in the field, not once. We hunt down to -10 easily in two feet of snow on snow shoes. I wouldn't use anything else. Comfort is incredible, you'll never break them in. Just strap on and go. Hike over anything and have normal feel of rocks and brush. Those thick pack boots always made me feel like I was squishing around. Wool lining, cork footbed, full leather and waterproof as a ducks ass. Done. My current pair is 8 years old and I am thinking it's time to have them resoled which Filson will do for like 40 bucks, which if you send them in they will also go over them with a fine toothed comb and replace or repair anything at that time.
 
I'll check those out! I found a cheap pair of sorrel pack boots on eBay for this year but I'm about to land an Alaska moose hunt so I think an upgrade is necessary
 
Hunting the Montana winter the best boot I have found is the Insulated Filson Uplander. I have a pair and a pair of the standard Uplander as my daily wear.

How waterproof are the the normal Uplanders? Do you treat them with something to make them more waterproof? I was looking at them, but Filson never seems to have them in stock. Lots of water/swampy areas where I hunt...
 
Honestly I don't know for certain. I make my living with leatherwork so the first thing I do to a pair of boots is smear and slather them in hubbards leather treatment. They have never leaked but I can't say how they came from the factory but I am relatively sure they are waterproof. I know that the insulated up landers are absolutely waterproof but I'm just not sure about the standard up landers. It's the most sought after boot Filson makes. Call the factory and they will give you a representative near you. Go there and have your foot sized professionally, they do both feet individually. THey will send that into Filson and order the boots custom. It doesn't cost a dime more but the difference is HUGE in comfort and feel. I had mine done in Minnesota when I was up there. Had them shipped out here. Called Filson and ordered the insulated versions and they had all my specs on file. Made 'em and sent them out.
 
I have circulation problems and use Sorel Glaciers when in my blind when it's cold out. A good pair of wool socks and I'm gtg all day. When it's really cold I'll use foot heater packets on the bottom of my feet. Do not use the hand ones, you will burn your feet badly.

this past week was 30-35 for highs and I wore my Danners with 1000g thinsulate and a medium hiking sock from Smartwool. Feet were comfortable all day.
 
When I was waterfowling my toes would get painfully cold. Then I started putting on a thin wicking sock, laying a hot hands across the toes, and covering that with a heavier sock.
The hot hands would last about 6 hours and never had a problem with them.
 
Well it got to about 20 here I hell, central Illinois and I froze my ass off with these sorrel pac boots and two pairs of quality socks. I think I wore a pair too many and didn’t have adequate air flow. Regardless my numb feet led to google which yielded Baffin impacts....I haven’t purchased them yet, but they are in the cart