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.

 

[Macintosh]

Sleeping with stuff is a given if needed to dry out. Thats the thought behind the pac boots, the liners are easy to pull out and sleep with. Harder to sleep with my other boots…its not unpossible, but I aint going there, been there, done that. I think soaked leather light hiking boots is also a no-go for me in this weather. My old backpacking boots are quite heavy but relatively water proof with gaiters, so could be an option. Question is if I want to get wet from the inside (knee boots) or the outside (leather boots), and how much Ill be able to dry them with a tiny stove. I really have no experience with the stove so thats the heart of the question…how long does it hold a fire for drying stuff? Have people found a “best way” to dry boots like this, and how dry can you get your boots realistically? Warm rocks is a interesting idea, can try that if it comes to it.

 

[Seeknelk]

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?

I've used the Graksaw boot dryer, works well with a source of heat like the stove and putting a hand warmer or warm rock in the boot.
I also always remove my insoles and hang those and the boots up high in the redcliff which can be a pain.
Seal skin socks as back up are also work.

 

[Pilsner]

I picked up a pair of USB powered CPU fans for drying my boots when camping. They weigh a couple of ounces max and they run forever - like several nights worth - on one power bank. Hanging your boots from the center pole in your tipi helps as well since heat rises.
leather boots + bear grease for waterproofing + gore-tex gaiters = dry feet.

 

[Formidilosus]

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?

Now, I use the Vivo Tundra boots with wool felt liner. The best of a pac boot, Mukluk, and hiking shoe in one. At night the felt liners go in the bag to dry, boots go near the stove just enough to warm up. They will wet out as all boots do, but with the liner you don’t feel it. Warmest, most comfortable my feet have even been in cold and snow.

Before the Tundra’s: regular hiking shoes with Seal skinz socks. Same as the Tundra’s- seal skin socks get turned inside out and go in the bag, shoes go close enough to the stove to start warming and drying. All bolts/shoes without Gortex or other membrane because they will leak and be wet, and then they are nearly impossible to dry overnight.