Warm sox

[Kevin Stenberg]

I have major problems keeping my feet warm. Even at 80 deg. my feet are ice cold. Anytime i am hunting or fishing. I have to have disposable handwarmers in my socks. I have tried electric socks, Heavy and lite wool, disposable warmers. The disposables so far have worked the best. Unless they split open and spread charcoal all over.
Recently i got a pair of socks made made from Alpaca hair. I can honestly say my feet have never been as warm as when i had these socks on. I can actually feel warmth in my feet.
They are about as thick as most light wool socks. And gave me sticker shock when the wife said how much they cost. But if they keep my feet warm i will be getting a couple more pair.

 

[Brad]

Never tried them.
I use lots of those disposable hand and foot warmers when it gets colder.
Might get some of those socks. Next time I got out alpaca a couple pairs in my bag.

 

[Will]

I’m a tree stand hunter and have found if you are not walking around boot blankets are by far the best thing I have ever purchased for keeping my feet warm.

I wear one pair of socks and a old pair of nike’s hunting. Once I’m on stand I slip the blankets over my shoes and me feet stay warm all day.

 

[fiver]

I use the little picture of the warm air blowing on my feet setting in the Dodge.

i'll have to look into the alpaca wool socks, but have had good luck with 50-50 wool blend socks and Baffin boots.
that combo has taken me down to about negative 50.

I have had frost bite on both feet and they will turn a dark purple from the ankle bone down any time they get the least bit cold [and it hurts] least bit is like below 60.
so anything comfortable and warm has my name on it.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Will I tried the Thermax Booties, Sleeping bag and neither worked for me.

 

[Will]

That surprises me Kevin. My feet used to send me home after less than 3 hours on stand. Now that I wear the boot blankets I can sit all day.

What kind of shoes and six did you wear under them? I’ve heard guys mention that wearing a lot of socks or insulated boots under them actually keeps your them from working correctly.

 

[Brad]

Last deer I shot I was wearing a pair of good wool blend wicking socks, disposable foot warmers, and my Sorel boots with wool felt liners. It was -15° F and I was only going to be good for an hour or two max.
Thankfully some turkeys flew off the roost near me to take my mind off the mind numbing cold.

Yes Pete, it was a balmy 15 below.

 

[Will]

That good be the difference too. Cold here during November rifle season is upper teens. I seldom hunt in colder weather than that.

Generally our weather during rifle season is 30-40deg days and mid to upper 20’s in the mornings.

 

[Brad]

I was hunting in northern MO. I shot deer in short sleeves some years, last one I wore all I had with me.
Weather varied during the season some years too.

Those disposable hand and foot warmers are a must have for me. I also tend to be out for a few hours then back in for a little. I like to change socks often during the day to keep feet dry. I also frequently changed boots during the day based on the type of hunting I would be doing. Sorels are find for sitting but suck for walking.

 

[Pistolero]

Alpaca, eh. Worth looking into. I have used wicking lightweight polyester liners
under thick wool sox for decades. Works fine for me.

Of course, the most important way to keep your feet warm is to buy a good fur
hat. Most of the time, the reason a person's hands and feet are cold is because
they are losing too much heat overall. The easiest way to reverse this is a good
quality fur hat, far, far warmer than you can ever imagine if you never had a good
quality fur hat. Picked up a fisher fur ushanka in Russia which is wonderful in -25F weather,
and I have worn in on deer stands. Makes a huge difference. Fur is dramatically warmer
than anything else, absolutely no comparison.

A good balaclava helps, too, but a good fur hat with ear flaps is the best.

Bill

 

[Bret4207]

An area I have extensive experience in. I grew up with cold, half frozen feet and it didn't get any better until I got to Okinawa or Yuma. That ended in 1983 and my feet were cold for the next 2 or 3 decades. I tried everything including the supposed "best" winter boot, the Chippewa Arctic 50. Real lambs wool inside a wonderful leather boot. Nope, feet froze. The old style Sorels made in Canada were pretty good, but they aren't made anymore, or at least I can't find them with real wool felt. I eventually located some surplus Mickey Mouse boots and at last, my feet were warm. But they're very heavy and clumsy. I still use them despite those draw backs. Get about 2 years out of them if I'm careful. The Baffin type boot packs with liners, a less expensive all rubber (vinyl) version of Sorels, work pretty fair, but they only last 2-3 months for me. What I've found works decent for me is Mucks Arctic boot, down to 0F or so. After that it's Mickeys and clumping around. Mickeys, if they are in good shape, I can wear just a regular cotton sock and my feet are warm. Anything else and I wear Wigwam 100% rag wool socks and often change them 2 or 3 times a day. I don't wear a liner sock. Cotton or cotton blends are a sure bet to kill the benefits of the wool. And no wool blends either. 100% wool, new wool, not recycled. I imagine Alpaca would work fine and maybe it's even better than sheeps wool. All depends on the hair structure and weave. I believe Yak or Musk Ox is suppose to be the warmest. (We have a Yak and her calf running loose up here on the backside if my farm. No one can get near it.) I've wanted to try a wicking liner sock, just never got around to it. Dry feet are warmer feet.

Bill, this is my winter hat. I had an earlier version for 20 some years that was better, but this is pretty good- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wyoming-Tr...var=511719526820&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

[RicinYakima]

This one is very popular here in the PNW. www.filson.com/mackinaw-wool-cap.html#sku=11060040-fco-000000127. Spent lots of cold nights working calls under one of these.

Feel sorry for you guys, cause my feet are the least cold part, mine is my neck. Still have my old Sorrel's and have an extra set of wool liners I found at a yard sale. For me it was staying dry, not sweating, especially my feet as that would make them cold. Dou-Fold undies, wool shirt and pants, waxed tin cloth bibs, wool sweater and large leather bomber jacket over the top. Using the tailgate of the pickup for an office, I was good to zero and/or wind not over 20.

 

[Ian]

I stay warm by maintaining between 25 and 30°N latitude.

 

[RicinYakima]

Yes, but I stay out of the heat, humidity and storms by living north of 48 degrees.

 

[Pistolero]

No offense, Bret, that's a nice wool hat, but no wool hat is even remotely close to as warm as a good fur hat.
Almost no Americans have ever actually worn a good fur hat, and it is not like anything
else. How do you think animals sleep outside in the snow in winter without freezing?
Fur is WAY warmer than anything else. Maybe a genuine wool fleece hat (sheep fur hat)
would be good, but woven into thin cloth. OK, but way less effective.

Here is my warm winter hat.
https://www.therussianstore.com/mink-ushanka-hat.html

They call them "mink", and I was told that mine was "mink" by the seller in Moscow, but at a
remote, small, log cabin Russian wildlife museum, I was looking at various taxidermied animals on display,
and saw what I believe is a fisher, and discussed it through a translator with the museum scientist curator. She
examined my hat and agreed that it was probably fisher. Whatever, it is very dense, very fine fur,
about an inch deep and warmer than you will believe unless you wear one.

Here is a fisher photo, although the Russian ones are all dark.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishe...-face-snow_-_West_Virginia_-_ForestWander.jpg

I agree on your socks and boots recommendation, except polyester wicking liners minimize
the need to change socks as often. Agree, cotton liners are a total loser, but if you have not
tried some good polyester liner socks, you are missing out on one piece of the puzzle. Changing
socks regularly works at keeping feet dry, but so does the excellent wicking effect of the polyester
liners.

http://www.northernoutfitters.com/thermolite-polyester-sock-liners/

And I only paid $90 for the hat in Russia, and it was WAY worth it.

At this price, this should be a real bargain.
https://www.furhatworld.com/mouton-sheepskin-trooper-hat-black-p-2303.html

And we would go for an evening walk in -25F weather after dinner, with my down
jacket, wool long johns and wool dress pants, poly fleece sweater and my "mink" ushanka.
Actually comfortable, although in wind your bare face got cold.

Bill

 

[RicinYakima]

No question the ushanka ( mine was sheep skin) is the best for cold and dry. But my experience is that it is not very versatile, especially if a warm wet front moves through and it starts raining. Head sweats, water collects in the cuff and fur smells bad. Had one in my "kit" for 18 years and only remember using, and needing it, twice. Wool caps come in several thicknesses and types of fur. If the temperature warms, they breath some if unlined. BUT if I was having to just sit in a deer stand, the ushanka would be a prime option!

 

[Pistolero]

If it is really cold enough, the fur ushanka is really good. I never wear mine unless it is
colder than 10F and it is a bit marginally too warm at that temp. A SERIOUS cold weather
hat, but helps the feet a lot.

Bill

 

[RicinYakima]

My son, who was a Russian language interrogator in the Army, says that "ushanka" is the only named piece of head wear. Everything else is a cap whether it is a top hat, bowler, beanie, base ball, or anything else. Well if it isn't traditional, it is all the same.

 

[JWFilips]

Me Feet get cold too fast Anything I can do would be a help!

 

[freebullet]

I just wear regular socks & put on neoprene socks over those. Have 1500grm thinsulate boots. That does good down to -5ish. Colder than that I'd pick a more active hunting approach or stay home. Older I get the less cold I can tolerate.

At minus five the blood spatter will freeze to a tree before you can walk the 100yds to it. Couldn't imagine being somewhere much more cold. Always appreciate stay warm tips.