I turkey hunt in Danner Pronghorns.
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Lowa Hunter GTX EVO Extreme boots
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Bell3wv
Well-Known Member
I'll wear the rubber boots in warm weather but made the switch a couple of years ago for leather Danner's for colder weather. I pair them with a good light wool sock and no scent powder and I've been using the Arctic over boots. These have been game-changers. My feet don't sweat and freeze once on stand. I've been comfortable in single digits with a handwarmer tossed in overboot.
ttf909
Well-Known Member
I wear uninsulated lacrosse year round. Socks that sweat your feet in tennis shoes will amplify in rubber boots so usually I wear under armour or wool blend but try them in tennis shoes first. Then use boot blankets when it's cold along with hot hands foot warmer . The thin one.
Smartwool liner socks under Darn Toughs are a revelation. If a man isn't using liner socks, he is missin out big time. Zero sweat
Great suggestion. I use these along with OTC Cabelas Deluxe Cold Weather wool boot socks and my feet are good to go in a deer stand down to 25-30 degrees, depending on the day and wind. I have stand hunted out of Lacrosse Aerohead knee boots for last two years and been extremely satisfied with this combination. If below 25, I'll add some toe warmers.
Cabela's Deluxe Cold Weather Boot Sock
Never had much luck with the toe warmers. Maybe my feet are just old but, those jokers never tend to do much for me
ttf909
Well-Known Member
Use the for lack of better explanation maxi pad like warmer . Foot warm up. Sticky on one side flat foot shaped and wrap it around an inch or so the end of toes .
Those are the ones I've tried. Actually used them a whole season. Never noticed a demonstrable difference. Maybe I just get too cold for em to help. lol
HotHands adhesive toe warmers that are not expired and designed to work in restricted air environments make a difference for me when lows are 20-28 or so. I typically use them 3-5 sits each season, mainly in December.
I've been wearing uninsulated Tibet's for about 9 years. 2nd or now for me they are the best boots I've ever owned, but boot fit is highly personal! Can't comment on the insulated models but I'm comfortable tree stand hunting down into the high 20s with good wool Sox , after that I switch to lacrosse ice man packs. Lowa tibets are a little on the warm side in hot weather but breathe well. As for the cold side I've been comfortable hunting single digit weather in 14" of snow with gaiters. That's spot and stalk out west. If you buy them understand they are a tad heavy and stiff which is good for packing out elk. They do require break in time but I use them for all my hunting and they are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
If your feet tend to sweat when wearing boots, make sure you are not wearing Cotton socks! They retain the moisture from sweat which in turn cools your feet!
Boots that are tight on your feet isn't a good thing in freezing temperatures either. You need to have some "wiggle room" so the wool socks can disperse the sweat your feet make.
SmartWool socks are very good at keeping your feet warm in freezing temperatures.
Also, 200 grain thinsulate is not gonna keep your feet warm in freezping temperatures! They are made for milder temperatures. Hope this information is helpful.
Boots that are tight on your feet isn't a good thing in freezing temperatures either. You need to have some "wiggle room" so the wool socks can disperse the sweat your feet make.
SmartWool socks are very good at keeping your feet warm in freezing temperatures.
Also, 200 grain thinsulate is not gonna keep your feet warm in freezping temperatures! They are made for milder temperatures. Hope this information is helpful.
Most boots with Vibram soles are.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
it is basically never cold enough in Tennessee for me to wear insulated boots in Tennessee.
I only wish I didn't have that problem but my feet and hands stay cold. I tore my right ankle up in high school and again in college and it's cold no matter what.
Have you had any problem with the Pronghorns being "slick"? I bought a pair. Wanted to invest in a pair of boots that would last for years. I could not stand up in them. It was the weirdest thing. I'd be walking through the woods on flat ground and be on my butt before I even realized what was happening. This wasn't isolated incidents. It happened all the time. Also, my feet would get damp in them. I sent them back to Danner. They returned some boots with no explanation or even telling me whether they replaced them. If these were replacements - I had the exact same problems with them. I sold them at a yard sale for a $1. I've never had those problems with any other pair of boots. I'm not dissing them at all, I know they have to be good boots....too many people love them. I just guess I got a clunker. I just wondered if you had any problem with slipping and sliding in them.
Huh. Mine grip well even in everything from mud to wet concrete. I know they have a few different iterations of them and they have changed slightly over the years. Mine are the most recent version and all leather. Not sure how much difference that makes.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Bought my daughter the Artic Shield boot blankets for Christmas this year, and I think I'm going to get a set for myself as well. I've got 1,200 thinsulate boots (cordura with goretex liner) and use Toastie Toes (placed ON TOP of the toes instead of under) when the temp falls below about 35, but even with that much insulation my feet still get cold when the temps fall below about 25. I've heard good things about the Artic Shield boot blankets.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Been using them for years. They work well.
But get the largest size available (think there are 2 or 3 sizes).
You're not going to walk in them, and the larger size makes them easier on & off,
plus more room in the toe area for a handwarmer.
I put a handwarmer in each, then place in my pack.
When I arrive at stand, put them on.
They will be warm inside from the handwarmers.
I like the 24-hr big handwarmers best for this.
I don't have any trouble climbing with them on,
but don't walk in them.
Headhunter
Well-Known Member
Coldest I have hunted personally was a couple years ago in Kentucky. There was a really good buck (as far as I know, it was never killed, everyone around was after him). It was in the teens to low 20's and 20+ph wind with gusts. Sat in tree from daylight to dark. Actually used a camo sleeping bag, normal bag, like keep warm to 35 degrees or so, and not many clothes, uninsulated boots, one pair of moisture wicking socks and never got close to cold. Had ordered a heater type body suit that showed up and the next morning it was single digits with a wind but not as bad, sat all day, did not kill a deer but never got uncomfortable either day and I am in a lock on 30 feet or so up, no shooting house or windbreak of any kind. Only difference in sleeping bag and body suit is that body suit is easier to get in and out of, not really any difference in staying warm though.
I have used and still Arctic Shield boot covers for many years, they are awesome. But if it is really cold, or just cool with a strong wind, the heater type body suits are awesome. About the most I ever wear walking in now is: a pair of 5.11 tactical pants, wicking type socks, uninsulated boots, wicking type shirt, camo fleece pullover that zips up the neck when needed, light pair of gloves, hat of some kind (started carrying a dakota dan hat and they are the warmest for head I have ever seen, even when leaving ears uncovered) and either carry coveralls or heater type body suit in and put whichever on once I am in stand. Rarely get even remotely cold. If my feet sweat on way in, I am done till I get them dry and "start over".
I have used and still Arctic Shield boot covers for many years, they are awesome. But if it is really cold, or just cool with a strong wind, the heater type body suits are awesome. About the most I ever wear walking in now is: a pair of 5.11 tactical pants, wicking type socks, uninsulated boots, wicking type shirt, camo fleece pullover that zips up the neck when needed, light pair of gloves, hat of some kind (started carrying a dakota dan hat and they are the warmest for head I have ever seen, even when leaving ears uncovered) and either carry coveralls or heater type body suit in and put whichever on once I am in stand. Rarely get even remotely cold. If my feet sweat on way in, I am done till I get them dry and "start over".
