Author Topic: Can boots be too warm?  (Read 1714 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline BRL

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 571
  • Gender: Male
    • Premium Nutrition
Can boots be too warm?
« on: March 16, 2011, 02:00:54 PM »
I hunt in Florida in various temps. Usual overnight low (during hunting season) can get as cold as upper 20's and as warm as upper 40's. Two seasons ago (I didn't get a chance to hunt this past season) I had an older pair of uninsulated, leather boots that I hunted in over Thanksgiving weekend. The weather was damp and overnight low was around 32 - 34. My feet froze after I got into the stand.

So, I bought a pair of Irish Setter boots with 800 gram ins. last year with a Bass Pro gift card that I had. Now I'm thinking I made a bad decision. I bought them mainly because they were the most comfortable that I tried on and are waterproof.

I probably would only wear these boots with one light pair of socks and that's it. What am I in for if I wear these boots all day in stand? Can it be just as uncomfortable to have hot feet as it is to have cold feet? IS 800 gram too much or will it be fine with light socks?

Any thoughts? Thanks!!
B. Leeber
Nutritional Biochemist

Offline rdmallory

  • Trade Count: (11)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 724
  • Gender: Male
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2011, 02:30:48 PM »
If you are not walking you should be OK.  My issue comes in when I wear boots that are too warm when I start walking my feet sweat. Then when I stop they are gold because they are wet.



Doug

Offline bulletstuffer

  • Trade Count: (25)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 694
  • Gender: Male
  • Overkill begins when hair shoots out the antlers.
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2011, 02:42:14 PM »
I have several pairs of boots and use the pair that best fits the weather at the time.  In cold weather I always go with the warmer boots as it is more comfortable to have your feet a little warm than cold.  I even wear boot blankets when sitting on stand when it's single digits or colder with 1000 gram boots. That has been my experience and finally feel like I figured something out after all those years ;)

Good luck,

Bulletstuffer

I agree with rdmallory too :D
I am the first to work when I have to and the first to go on vacation when I can!  God Bless America!!!

Offline BRL

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 571
  • Gender: Male
    • Premium Nutrition
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2011, 12:11:10 PM »
Thank you for the posts so far.

B. Leeber
Nutritional Biochemist

Offline spruce

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2248
  • Gender: Male
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #4 on: March 18, 2011, 02:12:29 PM »
I agree you should be okay with those boots and light socks as long as you're not doing much walking.

Personally, in the temps you're talking about I would probably choose a 200 gram or maybe a 400 gram boot and then vary my socks to match warmer or colder temps.

Our deer season temps run anywhere from below zero to upper 50's.  I wear 600 gram boots, polypro liner socks, and either midweight or heavy wool socks depending on expected temps.  I also use the chemical toe warmers that stick on the outside of your socks in the really cold temps.

One very important point is to buy boots that are large enough to accommodate the heavy socks and not be tight on your feet (and don't lace them too tight!).  Boots that fit tight are guaranteed to cause cold feet.

Offline BRL

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 571
  • Gender: Male
    • Premium Nutrition
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2011, 04:22:30 AM »
Thanks for the info. Good tip about not tying too tightly. Something that is easily understood but also something I wouldn't have thought about when putting them on.
B. Leeber
Nutritional Biochemist

Offline Savage .250

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1714
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2011, 05:01:09 AM »
To hot....To cold is a relative term to some folks.   I live in Fl as well and see no need for any type of insulated boot, but that`s just me.   :)
" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Offline dks7895

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 292
  • Gender: Male
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2011, 05:57:43 AM »
I would recommend a moisture wicking sock.  Your feet will be warm, but they will sweat.  The moisture wicking sock will draw the sweat away from the foot.  Without them you may get blisters.  I hunt in Missouri and have 400 gram Irish Setters.  I wear a moisture wicking under sock and a wool sock on top of that during the winter months (20-30 degrees).  When the weather is in the 40-50 range I don't use the wool sock.  Works for me.  If it drops in the single digit range... I stay home.   ;D
Winchester 100 .243; Marlin XS7 .308; Stevens 200 .223; Rossi 92 .45LC; Marlin 1894C .357M; Marlin 30AS .30-30; NEF Pardner Pump 12ga; Mossberg 500 Turkey 20ga; Winchester 1200 20ga; Savage Mark II F .22LR; Henry H001 .22LR; Marlin 60SB .22LR; Ruger 10/22 DSP .22LR; Remington Genesis .50 cal ML; Ruger Vaquero .45LC; Ruger Blackhawk .357M; Ruger SR9c 9mm; Ruger Single-Six .22LR; Browning Buck Mark Camper .22LR; Crosman Powermaster 760 .177; Crosman Storm XT .177; Mission X3

Offline charles p

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2374
  • Gender: Male
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2011, 12:15:37 PM »
You can get a boot that is too heavy.  Some pac boots are very heavy and amost impossible to walk in.

Muck boots can cause your feet to prespire a lot if you have to do much walking.  They are "too warm" for walking a long way then sitting still on a stand.

Offline mechanic

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5112
  • Gender: Male
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2011, 12:38:41 PM »
A tip you might want to try.  Get a can of UNSCENTED spray antiperspirant, and spray your feet well before putting your socks on.  When your feet sweat, they are going to get cold when sitting.

This little tip has worked well for me after someone told me about it.  I live in GA. and the only  time I wear insulated boots is when the temps get into the teens.  I have a pair of Rocky 16" boots I wear for everything else, with no cold feet.

Ben
Molon Labe, (King Leonidas of the Spartan Army)

Offline Empty Quiver

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2847
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #10 on: March 23, 2011, 12:59:08 PM »
I ice fish in 800g Danners, they will go down to about -10 for a couple hours easy. Honestly your feet won't go over 98.6, but they will be sweating and with all that insulation, Goretex or not, getting rid of the moisture will be a problem. The worse problem as I see it is the physical bulk you are carrying around, that will be what you are going to learn to hate.

I understand that a body gets used to a climate and adapts. I would look into about 200g and wear some Merino wool socks if it gets down under 40 degrees. This would be comparable to a blanket lined Carhart coat. 400g would be comparable to a red quilted Carhart coat, and 800 would be the black arctic quilted carhart coat. I hope that will give you some idea which way to go.

 Moisture management is the key to warm feet. Stuff the inside of those boots with news paper after the hunt and change out before bed. By morning they will be much dryer than if left to there own devices.
**Concealed Carry...Because when seconds count help is only minutes away**

Offline BRL

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 571
  • Gender: Male
    • Premium Nutrition
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2011, 07:45:45 AM »
Wow, some great tips here. I wouldn't have thought of those on my own. Thank you!!
B. Leeber
Nutritional Biochemist

Offline SHOOTALL

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23836
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2011, 07:58:19 AM »
sorry didn't read all, some feet just sweat and then get cold . Socks are as important as boots in this case. I like boots that let air circulate around the foot. I wore lace up boots for years but now its more pull on type boots , less sweat and drier feet. I seldom wear insulated boots unless its below 32 and I will be in it for hours .
If ya can see it ya can hit it !

Offline Dand

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (35)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2974
Re: Can boots be too warm?
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2011, 10:59:52 PM »
My feet sweat a lot.  I hunt in real cold at times but I've found these newer goretex / dry plus / whatever new insulated boots do help wick off moisture. I also like really long over the calf liner socks, and then a heavier wool sock.  For years my liner sock were some thin wool socks I got from Vermont Country Store that they called Mounty Socks - love them but they are wearing out. Lately I've been using some Cabela's 17" Ultimax® Lifetime Liner Socks that are working very well.  This winter in very cold weather (somewhere around -20F to -45F)  I finally tried those disposable toe warmers by Grabber - THEY WORK!  And for quite a while - I was out for 6-7 hours per day and they felt warm the whole time.  I was wearing Bunny boots (Mickey Mouse) that don't breathe so some times my feet were a bit damp.  I carried extra socks and would go to the truck and switch. Don't know if switching socks would work if you are trying to keep scent down near a hunting stand.
NRA Life

liberal Justice Hugo Black said, and I quote: "There are 'absolutes' in our Bill of Rights, and they were put there on purpose by men who knew what words meant and meant their prohibitions to be 'absolutes.'" End quote. From a recent article by Wayne LaPierre NRA