Boot Blankets
 

Has anyone ever used them. I do a lot of treestand hunting and need something that will keep my feet warm. I have tried a lot of different cold weather boots and I think most of them are ripoffs. I am wondering if the boot blankets and a normal 400-800 grams of thinsulate pair of boots would be a better way to go.

Dan

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Isee you're from Iowa, well im in South Dakota and it was -40 here the other morning, the coldest spot in the nation,so we both know what cold is. I have 2 pairs of pac boots (there just too clumbsy to walk in) and they've sat in the closet since i bought my arctic shield boot blankets. These are the warmest 1's i've found, and your feet stay warm, especially when u throw a hand warmer in them. My boots are a pair of cabelas 1200 whitetail extreme and there great. I havent tried the boot blankets with a lighter pair of boots, so i dont know.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Ive been using Icebreaker boot blankets for years and Im now on my 2nd pair. For weather under 40 deg they are always w/ me. They work great w/ light hiking /hunting boots( feet sweat less on the way to stand) and a foot warmer inside at the toe, when its really cold.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

That is whatI want. I want to be able to wear light boots and then slip something over them on the days when it is a little colder. I am tired of tromping around in those heavy 1600 gram thinsulate rubber boots.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

The Arctic Shield boot blankets work better with lighter boots, per their website:

What kind of boot works best with ArcticShield Boot Insulators?
The Boot Insulators will work with all types of boots, but you’ll be more comfortable in lighter boots with very little to no insulation. Here’s why: Boots that have too much insulation cause your feet to sweat while walking to your hunting destination. Once you stop, that sweat cools your feet and keeps you from benefiting from the ArcticShield Boot Insulators.
And,
My feet still got cold while wearing the Boot Insulators. What’s wrong?

2) Wrong boots – You may be wearing boots that are too heavily insulated. Traditional insulation traps the heat of your body and the cold of the outdoors. While you’re in route to your hunting destination, the outside part of your boot can get cold. Once you stop and your blood circulation slows down, your feet will start to produce less heat. Even with the Boot Insulators over your boots, if your feet don’t produce enough heat to warm up your boots, your feet will get cool. If your feet happen to sweat while you’re traveling to your destination, the coldness will be amplified. It’s best to wear lighter boots so your feet have less material to warm up, plus you’re less likely to sweat.


Just in case you weren't aware.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

That makes sense.

Thanks
Dan

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Here is a tip for you that is bullet proof. Purchase a pair of Boot Blankets and 4 large charcoal hand warmers ( about the size of your hand ). While still at home or deer camp open up all 4 hand warmers and throw 2 into each Boot Blanket. Then pack your Boot Blankets into your back pack and head to your stand.

Once in your stand remove your boots and slide your feet into the Boot Blankets. They will already be fully warmed up for you. Your feet will be warm and comfortable all day long.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Don't need them here in Florida but I saw them this past weekend at the SHOT Show. They have more insulation than my first house.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

thats what i do but ,boy, when you go to walk out are your feet cold in those boots that you took off all day,brrrrrrrr.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

dan, i carry extra socks.

when walking in to my spot i put on light pair of socks and bag over my socks.

this keeps your inside boot from getting wet.

i take off my socks and put on fresh wool socks.

then BOOT BLANKETS OVER TOP.

if your feet get wet from sweat, no way boot blankets will work.so, carry in fresh socks,then they will work.

those 1600 boots you talk about are about only boot that will keep your feet warm.

forget leather boots.

change those socks when you sit down to hunt and your feet will stay warm.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Artic shields are one of the great inventions of all time. I hunt in No. Wi. and it is cold, I have had knee replacement and cannot wear a heavy boot. I leave a pair in the woods by my stand in a tupperwear container along with heavy jacket. I wear kangaroo boots with only 200 grains insulation. they weigh under 3#. Inside the leather boot I put a toe warmer. Then slip on artic shields with a toe warmer inside. feet are real warm an I am an ol'timer

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Forgot, be sure to get 1 size larger than they recommend
RC

RE: Boot Blankets
 

best way to use them is when you go to sit,take off your boots and put ONLY the BOOT BLANKETS ON.

USE a big handwarmer things .

get same size as your boot or smaller,you will never put them over your boots.

only problem is, boy is your boots cold walking out of woods after sitting there in cold.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

I also have a set of boot-blankets,but we all can admit they are painful to carry in and even more painful to put on, especially 20' up in a tree.I live by the charcoal hand warmers!Most of us in the midwest hunt in some sort of rubber boot (Lacrosse Alpha's,1200,800).I start with my base silk sock,I then lightly tape 1 hand warmer on top of toes(another just back if really cold)then a medium wool and finally another med. or heavy.My 1200's are over sized for this reason.My feet might sweat some,but those heaters kick from dark to dark .I use a muzzle for my hands and do not need heavy gloves.I realize Indiana is not the same as North Dakota,but I carry less and things are simpler.In fact ,if anybody Knows of good prices on bulk warmers please speak up. Thanks

RE: Boot Blankets
 

wal-mart had them on sale but its off.

i think i paid 1 dollar a pack.

i take my rubber boots off on ground.put on my wool socks.

i use ladderstand.

i then put on my BOOT BLANKETS WITH handwarmer IN THEM,NOT a foot warmer.

i only wear 1 pair of polyporpene socks and woolrich 80% wool sock.

i can wiggle my toes all day and they are warm at -10.

only problem is my feet are real cold for a few minutes with my rubber boots walking out at dark in cold do to being on ground in cold.

i put them ingarbage bag while on ground.

this is best i have seen for keeping my feet warm.

those boot blankets are like bedroom slippers while sitting.

i will never use my rubber boots again while sitting.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Good points already. Echo the importance of keeping your feet dry and boots not so tight that you are restricting circulation. I hunted in eastern Montana one week when the highs hit -10F. For a south Alabama guy is beyond cold. I was blind hunting mule deer on a very small piece of property, too small to spot and stalk effectively. major traveling area was located on the far NE corner of this 160 acre plot of private land. I was trying to catch them traveling between feed and bedding. I sat the better part of 4 days, 10 hours +/- each day. Amen for the "Boot Blanket" and "Hot Hands". Got my nice mule deer buck at about 10:00 am on the 5th day. I tagged up, skinned and packed and then headed south as fast as my old Ford and the law would allow. Snowed all the way to Kansas City. It was about 40F when I got home ... a virtual heat wave !!

RE: Boot Blankets
 

oh my,you had it rough.

i love taking my boots off now and putting on just the boot blankets and a handwarmer in each boot blanket.

i may stop wearing my lacroose alpha burlys and just using a hiking boot to walk in and out.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

I have sno pak and rubber insulated boots for wet colder weather, but I might be able to use those boot blankets with a couple of pair of military desert boots during colder weather hunting, too. Save on buying some insulated leather boots just for hunting. Those boot blankets are cheaper, too.

Right now, I'm just wearing heavy wool socks in temps down in the teens, for general wear outdoors in cold weather.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

boot blankets work the best if your boot is lite boot.

like my lacroose alpha burlys, they are too heavy a boot for boot blankets.

i bought the smaller blanket boots and TAKE MY HUNTING BOOTS OFF.

you can put on up to 3 socks if you want that way and wiggle your toes too.:D

i just use a HANDWARMER, NOT A FOOT WARMER IN EACH BOOT BLANKET WITHOUT MY BOOTS.;)

RE: Boot Blankets
 

Sproul has some good advice on this cold weather stuff. First thing you'll find when ya open my pack are extra WOOL socks and several packs of handwarmers. Those boot blankets are sweet but damn if they arent rough to put on in the stand and they are noisy on stand in extreme cold. When I find a way around the noise part Ill be set.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

I use to go heavy on the boots and the all wool sox as many of the other hunters have noted but i found that I sweated too much and then my feet froze every time. last yr and this yr I did some things different. After the morning shower make sure the feet are dry then spray them with unscented all natural mineral salts antipresperant, allow that to dry infront of a heater or something. Then put on a thin nylon/polyester/spandex type sox that wick away any possible sweat from the surface of the skin. Next a med. thick wool poly blend sock to insulate and pull the moisture away from the foot. I bought a $30 pair of boots at Wal-mart that were a hardenedwater proof nylon shell w/ 400 grms of thinsulate and thick foam type soles , not hard vibrem type that transfers the cold to your feet. I carry an extra pair ofsox with me if i should need them. And finnalyI carry a dbl thick butt pad to put my feet on instead of the cold metal foot platform of the tree stand.Many of my hunting days thisyr were16 degs. or colder and i didnt have anycold feet problemsat all this yr.
About the boot blankets I found I dont need any thing like them now.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

next year i am wearing in just my HIKING BOOTS boots with just i pair of socks,they are real light and easy to unlace.

i cant take my rubber boots off in treestand and on ground, its to hard on my feet to walk up my ladder steps WITH boot blankets on.




so,i can take hiking boots off fairly easy in stand, then on with my BOOT BLANKETS with a HANDWARMER not FOOTWARMER.

put your HIKING BOOTS IN YOUR FANNY PACK TO KEEP DRY.

I PUT OUTDOOR CARPETING ON WHERE YOUR FEET REST, IT KEEPS YOUR FEET WARMER AND HELPS WITH SLIPPING BUT ALSO KEEPS YOUR FEET QUITE WITH BOOT BLANKETS.;)

RE: Boot Blankets
 

I have used boot blankets for over 10yrs one of the best piece of gear ievery bought next to my ruger rifle.I only wear apair of 400gram leather boots and good pair of wool socks works great for me but I am in VAwe dont have to deal with temps at -40.make sure you put them on as soon as you get to your stand if you let your feet get cold first they act as a freezer.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

you are right.

also a heavy rubber boot they dont work as well as light leather boot.

i like my boots off when i wear them,i can wiggle my toes and nothing tight around my feet,i can drop in a HANDWARMER ,BEST I HAVE FOUND FOR ME.

sitting for 10 hrs in a tree at 10 above with wind blowing ,any boot is just too uncomfortable for me but boot blanket is like wearing bedroom slippers.

RE: Boot Blankets
 

They've never made anything that would keep me warm sitting 10 hours in 10 degrees..lol. Back in my younger days when I weighed 400 pounds maybe...but now that I weigh 200 if it gets below 60 degrees now I start hunting a jacket :D

RE: Boot Blankets
 

that is why i may just archery hunt here in pa this year.

cold/wind was awful.

buy a kids sleeping bag at d.i,c,k,s,i used to use one of those until i went to a WOOL BLANKET i cut a hole in middle for my head, then the boot blankets with NO BOOTS on,i have to fight to stay awake:)