Warm Low Boots or shoes

[fish30114]

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.

 

[Badger300wm]

Not sure what kind of brace you have to wear, but when I tore my achiles right before hunting season a few years ago I also had wo wear a brace similar to the knee braces you see NFL linemen but for an ankle. I had a pair of under armour speed freak boots I used for light hiking and general screwing around that I could get on and tie loosely by putting a longer lace in. I also put on some good quality wool socks and occasionally used those heat packet thingys. I was once in a improvised blind on my uncles ranch with one of his guided hunters and he had booties, that were camo and everything that fit over his boots and halfway up his calf, I dont remember how they were insulated but they were puffy, if memory serves he got them at Cabelas.

 

[mark5pt56]

Not a boot expert, maybe the pack style boots would fit? Would also have more cushioning on the lower legs and good warmth.

 

[choover23]

Asolo makes a great lace up hiking boot. I also hunt in a muck boot the neoprene might go over your brace. They are super warm, and great for wet ground.

 

[judgedelta]

Schnees of Bozeman, MT has some pac boots that have velcro closures. They are low and warm and might fit over your brace...

 

[Cartman]

Keep checking your feet and wear liners. Risk of being warm (from moving for example), sweating a lot so your socks are wet, and then sitting and getting cold. With the water freezing. I would wear one insulated hiking boot for walking, with a different pair of snow boots in my pack for sitting. Along with a change of socks.

 

[Absolution]

I know it sounds complicated but I would go with what cartman says. In your current status I would rather be safe then sorry. Is there any way for you to take book off then re assemble it over a boot?

 

[45.308]

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

 

[mark5pt56]

Excellent advice as always. Nothing worse than cold feet.

 

[45.308]

A couple tips I forgot.

Before leaving to the blind each morning, liberally rub underarm antiperspirant on your feet and toes. Just like under your arms, this will help shrink pores to minimize foot sweat.

When it comes to socks, 100% is OK until you add sweat. If you are going back to a lodge or hotel, then its not much of a concern. But if wearing 100% wool socks over multiple days, they just do not dry as fast as synthetic. I prefer a 50/50 or 60/40, that 60% synthetic 40& wool. This is the best sock that has enough wool for cushioning, comfort and hard wearing and synthetic that controls sweat and dries quickly.

Lacing up your boots, stand on each foot with full body weight then lace it up one at a time. This will expand the foot to the size it will be with body weight helping with circulation. If you lace up your boots with no body weight, then walk or stand, the foot gets squeezed and cold feet.

Do not sit or squat for long periods that restricts blood flow to your feet, stand up, stretch and do isometrics or jumping jacks if possible. Work the large muscles of your body to increase circulation to the toes. Walking inside the blind will help but jumping jacks are better.

 

[bullseye13]

Wear whatever is comfortable, then when you get to the blind slip on some boot blankets with a big air activated hand warmer in the bottom of each. Just do a search for boot blankets if you dont know what I'm talking about. If you are in a blind they are the cat's ass.

 

[fish30114]

Guys. thanks for the replies. 45.308. thanks for your reflective thoughts especially. A little more on my condition, I was put into respiratory arrest when the hospital dropped the ball and weren't monitoring me appropriately. I went into a coma for 9 weeks, and while out, I lost all the nerve function in my feet, a condition called Critical Care Neuropathy. I have to wear AFO (Ankle Foot Orthotic) braces in order to be able to walk. They go underneath my foot bed and then have a joint in the heel and an extension that runs about 9" up the back of my Calf. I can get on a traditional hiking height boot, I have a pair of Columbia gore Tek hikers, but they aren't very warm. One of the things I am worried about, is because I can't feel my feet, I won't be able to tell if my feet are getting severely cold.
I think the 'booties' are a good idea--I will check into them.

Thanks again--Don

 

[45.308]

Give Joel at Forty Below a call. Tell him about your feet and want you want. He is a top shelf and should take care of you. He is a bit hyper but good people. always treated me right and I still have some one off booties from him.

good luck and let us know how this all goes

 

[bobtodrick]

45.308...the world is a better placed for guys like you.
Lots of great advice...and willing to take the time to share.
Kudo's!!

 

[fish30114]

45.308, thanks again. I will google 40 below and reach out to Joel. I appreciate all the feedback and will post as to how it goes.