So how do you guys up north keep your feet warm??

[Brampton Mike]

I wear Irish Setter boots. 1000 thinsulate and Browning wick socks. Never had cold feet since. If you do a lot of walking and your feet sweat a lot carry some dry socks with you.

Well my feet are wooosies when it comes to the cold...probablly due to them been forst bitten many many years ago...I do much the same as AW & I bought a pair of Artic Shields as well from Bass Pro Shop.....the demo the guy gave me was amazing...put the Artic Shield on right foot & tehn put both feet into seperate open top wooden boxes which he then filled with dry ice...in about 45 - 60 seconds my left foot was COLD but my right foot, with the Artic Shield on was toasty..well i'll tell you, my right foot was covered with dry ice for more than 15 minutes while I quizzed the guy on warranties etc & it was still toasty warm. I was sold!!!!!!!!!!!! Brampton Mike

[Guest]

Just wondering how you do it! It's starting to get "cold" here and I'm always interested in a better way to keep my feet from freezing in the stand.......I use the chemical heat packs but they seem to give up after just a few hours unless I take them out of the boots and shake them up again........so......what's your secret? What kind of boots and socks do you wear???

Go out to your local Canadaian Tire Store and buy some HEATED SOCKS
they take one D battery each and are the best thing to use last 90% of the day on a new bat. I use these and I wear what ever boots feel comfortable to me! I'm from the North east side of Algonquin park (near quebec border!! it is -30 celceus frequently during our bow that ends dec 15th. 55A 55B wmu.
Mighty D

[Partikle]

Well after sitting in my stand this morning for 3 hours in -12 C I finally caved in. I just got back from Canadian Tire and picked up some battery heated socks. I was nice and warm everywhere except my feet were freezing! I was wearing 2 pairs of wool socks in rubber boots with felt insoles that are supose to be rated to -40! I got them a size larger then normal so my feet would not be squeezed but it didn't help.

Thanks for the advice! Now it will cost me a fortune in batteries but I guess it's worth it.

[GaryL]

Partikle what type of battery do your scoks use, mine use 9V's and last quite awhile. Recharables not as long but cheaper in the long run.

[Partikle]

Here's the specs from the Canadian Tire web site:



Nordic Battery Heated Socks

Battery-powered socks are preferred by those who work or play in icy temperatures.

The heating element is safely buried in a channel located in the toe area.
Invisible to the wearer, the heating element is designed to warm the toe cavity, thus keeping the toes and feet warm. (The wire down the leg does not heat)
Uses 2 D batteries per pair (not included)
Sock content: 36% Virgin Wool, 33% Winter Acrylic, 22% Hollofil® Polyester, 9% Nylon
The Lectra Sox are extremely safe. Low amperage eliminates all possibility of shock or burn, even when wet
Extra cushioning in the sole
Hand wash and air dry
Colour: Grey
Battery Information: Uses "D" cell alkaline or rechargeable batteries (alkalines last 5-6 hours, rechargeables last 2-3 hours)

[GaryL]

Thanks look like mine other then the batteries they use..

[Adrian J Hare]

I got feet problems too and this is what I did ,, now with these heated socks I could see it working 100%.

Go get a pair of sealskin socks, and ware them under a pair of Wool socks (90 - 100%) wool. I could see these heated socks working the same way. SealSkins stop your outter socks from getting wet. I used them this way with Norkia Rubbers (Non Insu) and could last 3 hours of sitting. Before the sealskins No way could I make 1 1/2 ...BT

[Partikle]

I'm just thinking, I will have to take my boots off and roll my pants up ever time I want to turn them on or off?

Gary, do you leave yours on all the time or turn them on and off as required?

My feet still feel sore now from 9:00 AM this morning! I'm wondering if these things would be a good investment?


Nick

[Guest]

Cold feet just come with the territory.
When it's REALLY cold I've just learned to suffer a bit. Uncontrollable shivering accompanies me at these times.

One method that does help warm the body/extremities is isometric exercise. You can do these either sitting or standing with next to no movement.

Errrr..uhmmmm. Woodsman, did'nt you mention something about a HAT???

[Partikle]

Cold feet just come with the territory.

No way, my feet were ice this morning and still feel a little numb now.


Hey Carl,

You guys probably get down to 65F and find it cold right? We get real cold here in backyard Ontario you know

Nick

[OK. DEER HUNTER]

Hey GON, I posted a similar question here last year and came up with mostly the same things but this is what i have come to use to date. I found arctic sheild socks in Eaders. com and they work great with larger sized boots. I use Lacross 16in Buckmaster boots with 800grms thinsulate. I also take the chemical warmers and camo duct tape them to the outside of my boots on top of my toes so they get air as they need and I typically get them to last till noon or so but usually by then , even on our coldest days the temp has warmed up enough to keep from getting frost bite. This also keeps then from getting bunched up in your boots as you walk around. But on the coldest days, say in the teens and below and I plan on being on stand for the long haul I tape a warmer on each boot and then slip on the arctic sheild boot covers( THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNIE IF YA GET COLD FEET EASILY LIKE ME!!!) I promise this combination will get you through the coldest temps we OKIES will ever face. Good luck in your efforts for tosty piggies!!!

[Vince (not logged in)]

Hey Partickle,

I hear you.
I was out Deer hunting on Saturday morning in Lanark.
The outside temperature per my vehicles computer display was -16C (3F).

It was COLD and picturesque.
The tree branches had that frosty glistening thing happening.

My problem: my whole body gets cold after about an hour of sitting.
I find the Hot Shots work for me.
One per foot, one per hand and one down my back.
I was able to sit from 6:15 A:M until 9:45 A:M...could've probably sat longer but deer weren't moving...maybe it was too cold for them, too!

Today isn't as cold and it's sunny, i'll be out this afternoon.

[GaryL]

I'm just thinking, I will have to take my boots off and roll my pants up ever time I want to turn them on or off?

Gary, do you leave yours on all the time or turn them on and off as required?

My feet still feel sore now from 9:00 AM this morning! I'm wondering if these things would be a good investment?


Nick

Mine are on the second I plug up the battery, they are however high enough I just unzip the leggin on my carharts and unhook as needed. Under normall conditions I hook them up and they stay that way untill I am ready to leave/stop hunting..The tops of mine are higher then the boots I wear..

[Partikle]

Well I was out this morning and the electric socks did the trick. I turned them on after about 2 hours the my toes thawed out.



Vince,
You're cold all over? Your not dressing properly. It's not just layering but what your layering is very important. Keep away from cotton (especially against your skin) and go for wool and fleece (polar fleece is best)

I wear a wool hat under my headnet and I'm wearing 3 fleece type shirt sweaters under my jacket and I'm toasty warm. I picked up a predator camo warp knit parka this fall and I'm very happy with how warm it is. (Woody recommended it)

I'm going to get a set of matching bibs before next year so my legs are just as warm. I'm also going to get some arctic shields to put over my boots once in the stand too. I sat yesterday morning for 3 1/2 hours and just my feet got cold.

Nick

[Sandman]

Also consider rubbing your feet with super dry non-persperant unscented deodorant right before you put your socks on.........sweaty feet will get colder faster than dry feet. It seems to help!
Bill from Pennslvania

I want to thank you for your suggestion! I went out this evening and tried it.......for the first time in a long long time the cold was bearable on my feet. They were by no means the warmest things in the world but compared to my last outing a couple of nights ago the difference was amazing! Thanks again for all the tips!

Regards,
Robin