Boot choice/boot drying for cold/wet wx hot tent camping

[Macintosh]

Not sure if this is a tent question or a boot question, I put it here b/c it seemed like a general camping question…mods feel free to move if its in wrong place.

Looking around Im not finding much. BACKCOUNTRY (ie miles from vehicle) for several days, in a seek hot tent, weather is consistently cold and wet (100% both snow and rain, nights in low 20’s, days high 30’s. Snow most likely heavy and very wet). We will not see the sun for the entire time so NO outdoor drying of anything. What boots are you bringing, and how are you drying them?

Normally I wear rubber knee boots here for frequent swamp crossings. But knowing those are always wet from the inside and being tall are hard to dry, also debating either backpacking boots with gaiters or my pac boots (rubber bottom/leather top, removable wool felt insulation).

What has your experience been, what are you wearing, and most importantly WHY?

 

[nphunter]

Snow I’m most likely wearing my Meindl AK hunters, insulated and waterproofish, they work great in cold dry snow. Rain/snow probably wearing seal skin socks and hikers. I’ve had decent luck drying wool socks in a jet boil turned down as low as it will go. I’ve also used my jetboil to warm my boots in the am when wet and frozen. I can normally walk my boots dry if the weather turns and we are hiking a lot.

The seal skins are awesome but I haven’t hiked miles and days in them. I have hiked a lot in cold wet with them and just wore regular light hikers and have stayed comfortable with my boots being soaked. I think that will be my go to moving forward with a think merino sock as a liner. Flip inside out at night and hang or toss in the bag. I’ve found it impossible to keep my boots dry in wet snow or heavy rain, even with good waterproof boots my toes get wet from hydraulics pushing water through the membrane. I find the seal skins with thin socks keep my feet cool enough they don’t sweat like crazy which is a problem for me in waterproof boots.

I also sleep with my socks in them bag to help suck out moisture and carry an extra set of socks. The jetboil trick works very well for the socks and it’s awesome putting warm socks and boots on in the AM.

 

[cowdisciple]

Having done this recently, the best trick I know is to heat up some fist size rocks on the stove and drop them in boots to dry them.

 

[nphunter]

Having done this recently, the best trick I know is to heat up some fist size rocks on the stove and drop them in boots to dry them.

Warm not hot. I did this while sleeping in the snow in my hot tent a few years back and tossed them in the bottom of my sleeping bag and the next AM I woke up with holes melted in my sleeping bag Slept like a baby though.