Keeping Your Feet Warm?

[S & W 642]

Artic shields work great my feet never get cold anymore. I wear one good pair of socks and 200 gram insulated boots with the artic shields and my feet haven't got cold yet. I am from KY it was in the 20's in the mornings. I also take them winter fishing on the boat.

[d_hiker]

Here is my report on the Arctic Shield boot insulators.  The last time I had been out (before the Arctic Shields) it was about 20° and after about 2 hours of sitting my feet were getting cold.  By 2 1/2 hours I took my boots off and put the disposable hand warmers in them.  But then I had to take them out when I was ready to hike back to the truck.

This past Friday morning is was about 13° when we went out.  I was in my tree stand about 6:15am.  Legal shooting time was about 6:50am and sunrise about 7:20am.  After getting into my stand I pulled the Arctic Shields over my boots.  About 8:30 I could tell my feet were a little chilly but not too bad, much better than the previous outing.  We stayed out until 10 and then called it a day.  It was about 18°.  The deer were not where we were waiting. 

On Saturday morning it was -3° with a -18° wind chill.  We decided to not sit in the tree stands because of the wind and cold.  So we used some ground blinds, but the wind whipped right through those and they didn't offer any protection.  It was about 6:30 by the time we got in our stands.  I pulled my Arctic Shields over my boots.  After sitting still for 2 hours I could tell my feet were starting to get cold.  I opened the draw string around the top of the Arctic Shields and dropped a disposable hand warmer in each Arctic Shield and pulled the draw string shut.  Within 15 minutes my feet were warming up.  We stayed out until about 9:30am and then called it a day.  Temperature had risen to a big 0°, my feet were warm and comfortable.  The few deer we saw were too far away to take a shot.  I am now done deer hunting until next fall.  The Arctic Shields will be going with me as the weather turns cold. 

Oh, if I get a chance to go coyote hunting this winter, I know what will be on my feet while I am sitting.  They are easy on and off.

[Jal5]

I used the Arctic Shields for the 1st time last Saturday in 15 degree weather. They pulled right up over my boots and my feet were OK for the first time in a long time during the entire hunt. I was in a stand for the afternoon hunt, and while it wasn't a really long hunt, they performed very well for me. I will take them coyote hunting over the next few months and if we go out for wild boar they will be with me then too!  I did get the deer too 

[ken2222]

I've tried most things til this year and still had cold feet! This season I bought a pair of "MUCKBOOTS"....stayed with Cabelas wicking socks and a med thick wool sock and was able to seriously stay in my treestand 5 hours in 20 degree weather. Just my 2 pennies...."Muckboots"....light, comfortable, warm, waterproof, great traction.....cheap......oh, and you can simply step in and out of 'em......

[oldvet]

I've been using Gold Bond Foot Spray to keep my feet warm. It's an anti-perspirant that does a great job cutting down on moisture and foot odor. I spray it on in the morning and I'm generally good for the entire day. Even though I haven't tried them, I'm sure the anti-perspirants that are marketed for underarm use will work just as well. I would just make sure you buy one that is odor-free.

Most of the time, your feet get cold because they sweat. It hard to get rid of the excess moisture, especially while wearing rubber boots. The various anti-perspirant sprays keep moisture to a minimum which can then be controlled by wearing the appropriate liners and heavier weight socks. Don't get me wrong - I still have to wear heavy socks and boots when the mercury dips down to zero but by using this spray, it sure helps me to be able to stay out much longer.

[briarpatch]

get an old cheap sleeping bag like someone mentioned and pull your boots off when you get to the stand. Put your feet in the bag with some good heavy socks on. Your feet will stay warm as they are together and help each other stay warm. It is also more comfortable while you are setting in the stand. 

[montveil]

several posts suggest hand warmers. I assume the kind taht uses lighter fluid in a catalytic system.
I have always wondered if these type of warmers would give off some kind of scent that might alert the deer.

[GRIMJIM]

several posts suggest hand warmers. I assume the kind that uses lighter fluid in a catalytic system.
I have always wondered if these type of warmers would give off some kind of scent that might alert the deer.

I believe they are talking about chemical warmers like "hothands". Dry chemicals that when exposed to air give off heat. They work really well, but need oxygen to heat up good. I've never had much luck with the foot warmers because they don't get enough air inside my boots.

[mcwoodduck]

Jim,
Neither have I.  But the hand warmers work well inside of the Artic shield boot covers as there is some air there.
and yes I was talking about the chemical hand warmers.

[d_hiker]

Same here, I used the Hothands warmers in my Artic Shields.  They did a great job again this year.  Three to four hours of feet that are cold.  The first day out this year I forgot them and I had cold feet at about 2.5 hours.  I do not wear the Artic Shields when I am walking.  My boots and socks/liners are warm enough when walking and moving.  My hunting buddy tried the electric socks from Cabela's this year and he was disappointed. 

[squirrellluck]

May sound dumb but I hunted indiana for several years and tried everything I could think of. No luck but the last year I was there my wife bought me a boot dryer. I was amazed at how long I could stay on stand. All that time my boots were not completely dry! They always felt dry but apparently there was still sweat trapped in the foot pads.

[GRIMJIM]

May sound dumb but I hunted indiana for several years and tried everything I could think of. No luck but the last year I was there my wife bought me a boot dryer. I was amazed at how long I could stay on stand. All that time my boots were not completely dry! They always felt dry but apparently there was still sweat trapped in the foot pads.

I used one of those this year for the first time also. It worked pretty well but I forgot to bring it when the temps were really low though.

[Kodi]

My LaCrosse Icemans usually keep my feet warm down to the teens.  When it gets that cold it seems like the cold from my aluminum stand comes right thru the soles.  I purchased a pair of Ganka Trilayer Reflective felt insoles for $5.95 from hanksclothing.com.  They take up a little room, but there was extra room in my pac boots.  They really help!

[burntmuch]

Last week I forgot to pack my heavy socks to put on once I get to my treestand. But I had a thin fleece jacket That I usually sit on. I took that & put my feet in . Worked great 11 hours in a tree stand 16 degrees out. My fee got a little cold in the morning, but not as cold as they would have

[d_hiker]

All that time my boots were not completely dry! They always felt dry but apparently there was still sweat trapped in the foot pads.

I have two pairs of liners for my boots and I alternate between them so they have a little longer to dry out. 

[wareagleguy]

One more trick.  If you are hunting from a treestand try placing a piece of carpet on the bottom of the stand.  It will make a world of difference.

[Doe]

your feet get cold when they are wet so try some (baby powder) it worked great for me!

[billy_56081]

Unless I missed it has no one mentioned the chemical type hot packs? They work very very well, put on socks unroll about 12" of the hany mans secret weapon, use it to tape the hot pack to the bottom of your foot on the sock, put on boots. The packs last form 4 to 8 hours. They work and they work well. I live in southern MN the temps gets to minus 30 at times and these babys work better than anything else I have tried.

[Rex in OTZ]

I know this topic hasent been posted in awhile but seeing the thread brought up some my early experences in Arctic Alaska.
Today is March 24 and its two above Zero as I write.Ive spent all my alaska time above the arctic circle.
I was from rural Northern Nebraska and landed a job as a aircraft mechanic in Barrow Alaska
my first day on the job (27 March 1989 was -32F) I had worn what I thought was ok back Nebraska I managed to make it through ok without freezeing anything off, I noticed the other mechanics wearing basketball shoes and wool socks they had excellent traction on the hardpacked snow that is normal on Northern Alaska airports so moving aircraft by hand having good traction was a crutial, the shoes are designed to breathe and wick away persperation, the key to staying warm is circulation and keeping your feet dry, I was given a pair of old Sorrell pac boots with felt liners, early on they were warm but after working outside for a couple hours they were a bear after standing out on the ramp for hours doing maintenance, by lunch break the liners were soaked with persparation, I found the liner froze to the bottom the boot I had to thaw the boot so I could get the liner out, then I saw what others were doing they wore pack boots with felt insoles and liners and some even used R30 reflectex insulationunder the insoles, If we had to travel to a remote village to retreve a plane, We could count on being there a couple hours standing on the frozzen gravle ramps, On occasion Ive spent a work day 8-14 hrs in minus 17 to 28 degree temps, the coldest was minus 48F working in those nice stiff arctic breezes they have there, Keep your feet dry and wear a vapor barrier.
I have a couple pairs of rubber boots one BOG and the other MUCK both can be pretty cold as your feet sweat it acts as a excellent heat sink wicking away your body heat, you might as well be standing bear foot on hard packed snow! heat transfer is what you have to remember, Ive worn cotton socks with doubled garbage bags over my feet and then the normal pack boots Im able to go quite awhile that way but your feet will be soaked wet but warm which can cause foot health problems if done too much. best bring extra socks and boot liners, boots with sewen in insulation are very difficult to dry out and I avoid them.
I own White Bunny boots they do get cold too so keep your feet dry use a dry terrycloth washcloth to wipe inside the boot dry and swap in dry socks.
I like wearing airforce canvas mukluks and swap in dry liners for especially cold weather in the minus double digets.

[Big Nasty]

   Your foot can not be tight in the boot, in other words if you wear a size ten boot don't put on two or three pairs of socks. The foot has to breath yes I know it sounds crazy. If the foot does not breath it will sweat getting the socks wet and as time progresses making your feet colder.

   Water and cold make ice, yes I know I sound like a smart a@#, but give your foot some breathing room and you will notice a big change next year.

[Spirithawk]

I use to have that problem too untill I bought a pair of insulated Irish setters. They sure solved the problem for me.

[Ron 1]

i have found that the military style boots (called mickey mouses around here) Work perfectly.

The ol lady and I both have them and all our families do. They have 2 air chambers from the mid-calf down, They are rubber boots. water proof to mid-calf down. No need to wear double socks.

They are a bit bulky, but well worth it.

[kyelkhunter3006]

For me the answer is I don't. I've tried multiple socks, super insulated boots and even Boot Blankets over my well insualted boots. Bottom line is my feet are gonna be cold on cold mornings sitting still in the blind.

The only thing I haven't tried is the Boot Blankets, or whatever they're called.  I still get cold feet.  One thing that has helped me, oddly enough, is getting away from the 8" or taller boots.  I guess that the boot being tight around my calves was not letting blood flow to my feet correctly.  My calves/legs don't get nearly as sore or tired from a lot of walking either.  

I just use a pair of 6" hiker style boots with 200-400gr of insulation in them with some GOOD hiking socks like Thorlo. I have some Sealskinz socks that are 10" that I'll wear to keep from getting wet feet if I step in water or snow deeper than my shoes are high.  I wish I could find the Gore-Tex socks that they used to sell a few years ago.  They seemed to be made better than the Sealskinz, but I guess people didn't want to pay the $$ for them.

[Rex in OTZ]

Might try slip on pack boots, like LaCross had for ages. (shoe packs)