Cold Feet?
 

No matter what I do, my feet sweat on the walk into my stand and soon thereafter are cold. I wear poly liners then either cotton or wool socks. I've also tried plastic grocery bags over my socks to prevent the inside of my boot from absorbing the moisture but unless I change to dry socks once at my stand my damp feet still get cold. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

I have the same problem as you and sitting in our usual cold climate can be murder. The only thing I have found is Polyproplene socks (moisture wicking, like for winter skiing), then a pair of wool socks over top and a good pair of boots with thinsulate 800grams and up. I aslo have found that if you buy your boots a little loose in size not tight fitting. If you can wiggle the toes then they are perfect. My boots are drenched from sweat after a full day and need to be throughly dried out for the next day. I hunted minus temperatures last week and only one evening felt the cool wet feeling I experienced in years prior, but I had walked almost all day and my feet looked like prunes that night. If you are sitting in one location all day, where a pair of rubber boots in, change socks and boots and sit. Take a black garbage bag to place your wet boots and socks, then tie tight and hang in the tree. I usually move lots so this isn't an option, but for you it might just work fine. I still would wear some time of sock that will wick moisture and wool while sitting, I bet your feet sweat just sitting their.

I feel your pain!!

RE: Cold Feet?
 

i use toe warmers it is a little tosti on the way to the stand but it is nice after that....

small but deadly

RE: Cold Feet?
 

I use boot blankets when it gets really cold.You put them right over your boots.They're a little bulky,but they're light and my feet have never gotten cold while wearing these.One of the best cold-weather investments I ever made.They're about $50/pair but well worth it if you're going to be sitting on stand in cold weather.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

Man, I know what you mean! This can be complete torcher. I too have tried many things and the only thing that I have managed to come up with is as soon as I get up I put my socks on.

Then put my feet in my cabin boots to start getting my feet warm. After breakfast I put my very insolated boots on.

But, the trick is to tuck you long johns, if you ware the, in your socks and your jeans in your boots.

It's the cold air that finds its way in there while in your stand.

My feet have been soooo, cold that I have had to take my boots off in the stand and put hand warmers in them, then but my boots back on.

You could also try heated socks but I think some of those brands are a fluke. Last pair I had dang near burnt me and the ones before did'nt to a thing?

Good Luck!

KEEP HUNTING THE GREAT OUTDOORS & GOD ALIVE, PASS IT ON!

RE: Cold Feet?
 

Try spraying your feet with Right Guard Anti-Perspirant before you put on your socks.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

Moisture management is key to keeping feet warm. Never wear cotton socks. Cotton absorbs moisture and hangs onto it. It will not wick to the next layer no matter what it is. Plastic bread bags won't work either because they do not let your feet breathe. You have to get that moisture away from your feet.

I agree that polypro liners and a good quality wool sock are ideal. As are boots that allow you wiggle room. I think I'm hearing from you that the main issue is how much your feet sweat. My son is like this also. Therefore his boots are breathable goretex not leather. Both pair have thinsulate insulation; one is 1000 grams the other pair 600 grams. He has been known to change socks once he gets to his stand if his feet become too sweaty from the hike in.

Lastly there are foot sprays and powders you can buy the help prevent sweaty feet. Look for something unscented. Hope this helps.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

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RE: Cold Feet?
 

I have found that WOOL socks (good merino wool, not just any wool) keep their insulating properties even when they're wet. The better news is that some companies make a wool blend that wicks moisture away. Plastic bags trap moisture, and that can be bad, although it does add an extra layer of insulation. The problem comes when the bags keep your feet from becoming warm again after they've let them become cold.

The other useful outdoor adage for this situation goes something like this: "Ears Cold - put a hat on. Hands cold - put a hat on. Feet Cold - put a hat on. ______ cold - put a hat on." Your head is where most of your body heat is lost. Believe me, putting a hat on early will mean your feet don't get cold until later.

Nate

RE: Cold Feet?
 

Battery opperated socks. Walk to the stand with the batteries out, once you get there put the batteries in. Toes stay tostie.

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity" Martin Luther King Jr.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

First I use to have the sweaty foot problem, I quit smoking and the feet quit sweating and stopped stinking to. Any way I use grabber toe warmers, they are flat and work great try grabberwarmer.com. I bought a pair of cheep KMart moon boot looking boots lots of room for double socks and wiggle room. I think the loose fit is most important, allows for air space in the sock material that holds the warmth in. Good hunting to you Striper Phil

RE: Cold Feet?
 

At wally world you can buy boot inserts that have a little slot under the toes. Take out the foam insert when it's cold and insert those little foot warmer sacks (I think foot warmer might be the brand or Hot Hands?) Anyway -- you're feet might still sweat (though some of the tips mentioned are worth a try) but the controlled rust chemical action generates heat for 6-8 hours. They are vunderbar. You can just drop one of those packets in your boot, but it's always sliding around and finding the most uncomfortable part of your foot to annoy -- best to use the boot inserts.

RE: Cold Feet?
 

I suffered with cold feet for years before I finally broke down and bought a new pair of boots designed specifically for cold temperatures. Its the smartest decision I ever made. There are hundreds of kinds out there, but I selected a pair made by Baffin. I think they are called Trapper boots. Buy boots that over-rated for the temps you expect. In other words, if you expect to sit in temps of 0-20 degrees, buy boots rated to minus 20 degrees. You cant stop your feet from sweating when you hike, but you CAN stop the cold from ever getting to them with these kind of boots...I only have to one pair of socks!! Mine were under $150 and WORTH EVERY PENNY. I only wear them when the temps are going to justify it, so they will last for years and years.

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RE: Cold Feet?
 

I had the same problem for years. This year is the first year I found the right combination (for me anyway). I bought a pair of Irish Setter boots with 1,200 grams of thinsulate and Gore-Tex lining. They are also about 2 sizes bigger then my shoe size. I wear a pair of wicking liner socks under a pair of regular everyday white socks. So far I've hunting from a stand in temps ranging from 20-50 degrees and haven't had a problem.

In the past I used to double up on socks, wear the real thick wool socks, boot socks, electric socks, etc. None of them ever worked for me because my feet just kept on sweating and then freezing when I stopped. Just remember this one thing "A tight boot is a light boot, but a loose boot is a warm boot". Give them feet room to breathe.

MassBowhunter
"Climb Higher, Look Lower, Fall Asleep Less"

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RE: Cold Feet?
 

To start with the boots that I wear are oversized, to allow for thick socks and room for your feet to breath. They are "Kamik" rubber boots with a thick felt liner. They also have a drawstring to seal out the elements.($40) Available online at http://www.sportsmansguide.com They also have gortex boot liners, that work well for wicking away moisture and keeping your feet dry.($12) I get my heavy weight longjohns from there also (polypropylene $20 per piece) but well worth it, polypro balaclava $10, in extreme cold I double them.
H.S.sents makes a product called scent-a-way powder, that is for tough persperation areas and is odor free.
The socks I wear are from Walmart and are merino wool/polypropylene blend.
I use the hand-warm-ups and foot-warm-ups from Walmart(and there is a differance) The hand warmups have a tendancy to get hard when they absorb the foot moisture, whereas the foot warmups stay soft. There are socks designed to hold these warmers or you can take a small safetypin and fasten them to the top of your toe area.

The best of luck in all your hunting endeavors!!!

God Bless,
Dave

RE: Cold Feet?
 

I walk 30 mins or so to my stand. I've had the same problem. I walk to my stand (which is for the whole day)in reg cotton socks ,yea there wet when I get to my stand, then I change them to a liner sock then a wool sock. You don't want tight boots. Most people make the mistake of pulling there boot strings so tight that it will cut circulation off to your feet. Keep your boot laces loose while your on your stand. This should help it did for me . Mike