Boot help

[gargra03]

Hey guys, I am headed to Idaho to on a late season cow tag, late November to first of December. I am stuck as to what direction to go on boots. I tend to get very cold feet , should I run a good insulated boot with a light merino sock or go the other direction and go uninsulated and wear a heavy layered sock ? Thanks in advance for any tips.

 

[5MilesBack]

When it gets real cold I do both. I always wear my poly liner socks regardless of what boots I'm wearing. For early season I then wear merino boot socks and uninsulated boots. For real cold weather hunting I'll wear thick wool socks over the liners and my Sorel Pac boots.

 

[Newt]

When it gets real cold I do both. I always wear my poly liner socks regardless of what boots I'm wearing. For early season I then wear merino boot socks and uninsulated boots. For real cold weather hunting I'll wear thick wool socks over the liners and my Sorel Pac boots.

What do you consider "real cold weather hunting"?

I have tended the last 4 or so years to just wear uninsulated boots and merino socks with liners for what I would consider "cold" hunting(coming from Arkansas that is). But with the weather forecasting to be colder than I have experienced in Colorado so far, I am curious if its gonna be enough. I will be on my feet constantly, I am not much of a sitter. I am hoping that it will keep my feet warm enough.

 

[5MilesBack]

What do you consider "real cold weather hunting"?

Single digits or lower. But if your feet are constantly buried in snow all day while hiking, it can be much warmer and your feet will still get cold.

 

[gargra03]

I am considering the sorel buxton insulated pac boot, look like they are waterproof and lightly insulated with 200 grams and made to hike in ?

 

[Pepe55]

The biggest key to keeping your feet warm would be to keep from sweating. In Arkansas you are prob stand hunting so boot blankets would help while sitting but hiking with pack boots, not in Colorado where I hunted.

 

[5MilesBack]

The biggest key to keeping your feet warm would be to keep from sweating. In Arkansas you are prob stand hunting so boot blankets would help while sitting but hiking with pack boots, not in Colorado where I hunted.

Even if your feet do sweat, the liner socks wick that sweat into your wool socks and even into the wool felt liners in the pac boots. That's why wool is great for hunting.......even when it gets wet it still keeps its insulating properties.

I've covered miles and miles of snow-covered ground and blowdowns on late season elk hunts wearing Sorel pac boots.

 

[gargra03]

Even if your feet do sweat, the liner socks wick that sweat into your wool socks and even into the wool felt liners in the pac boots. That's why wool is great for hunting.......even when it gets wet it still keeps its insulating properties.

I've covered miles and miles of snow-covered ground and blowdowns on late season elk hunts wearing Sorel pac boots.

I am looking at the 200 gram insulated PAC boots by Sorel, do you think that will be enough ?

 

[One-shot]

The Sorel Buxtons may be okay on straight snowpack or minimal depth, but if you have to rock scramble or hit rough terrain, and In Idaho you will need harder soles or beefier Sorels - like Caribou or othe "packs". I hunted late seaons in 0 and sub-zero last year in my Sorel Caribous that have a wool liner AND I wore mid-weight wool socks. Feet were plenty warm, but I encountered some leaks on sewn seams. For deep snow, I'll still don Sorels, but waterproof or seal the seams better.
I just bit-the-bullet and purchased my first pair of Kenetrek Mountain Boots. I got the uninsulated to wear with wool socks. These are worth the price, and will be okay for light snow, but for bitter cold and snow, I'll wear packs.
You can also wear snowshoes with your Sorels and don't forget gaitors for deeper snow - I wore both last year.

 

[CAElkhunter]

If you are not hiking Sorels are great but if you are hiking they don't offer enough support.
I have used a pair of insulated Irish Setter boots for 6 yrs and love them. Very comfortable.
Another option is to use the "Hot Hands" foot pad that heat up like the hand warmers. I have a buddy that gets cold feet that swears by them.

 

[Dakota Dude]

If you're hunting late season there is going to be snow. When I hunt in the snow, I wear 800 Thinsulate Irish Setters with Darn Tough socks. My feet generally stay warm throughout the day, but are usually cold and wet by the time the day is over. It might be a little overkill, but my feet get cold easily like yours.

 

[Wapiti1]

Hoffman pacs. Get an extra set of liners so you can swap each day and dry out the other pair. Use gaiters in deep snow.

Jeremy

 

[Pepe55]

Gaiters and extra dry socks

 

[Brhjerry]

Kennetrek gaiters are amazing.
Can’t believe I hunted without them for years.
Warm dry feet.

 

[5MilesBack]

I am looking at the 200 gram insulated PAC boots by Sorel, do you think that will be enough ?

That sounds awfully light to me. Not sure what the 200gm insulation is. My Sorels are Caribou's with Vibram soles that I've had since the 80's and were rated to -45 degrees. I have extra felt wool liners for them that I would change out every couple days. Very warm and very comfortable.....even hiking for me.

 

[Pepe55]

200 grams of insulation means only that one square meter of the material weighs 200 gr. That's the lowest rating they put in most boots

 

[jog]

...I tend to get very cold feet ...

Def insulated and what you really want is one that has an insulated sole. Going the sock route is fine but it tends to fall on its face once it gets colder and you are not always on the go. Late rifle usually involves a fair amount of glassing and/or watching as the elk are beginning migratory behavior.
If that sounds like it might be part of your hunt strategy/style get a boot that can insulate your feet from the ground up. Nothing sucks quite like constant cold feet on a hunt.
I hunt late season both in Meidl 800 gram Ultra light Hunter and Hoffman Pacs. The Hoffmans need break-in and get the one that has the ankle strap (the Outback). I like mine quite a bit even if they are heavy. The Meindl Ultra lights are nice too and I never had to wear gators since they are a tallish boot and my pants cover the tops and they breath well and I ran mine in some pretty steep country some of the time but not all the time.

 

[gargra03]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I was able to get a steal of a deal on a pair of caribous and cannot wait to try them out

 

[Sportsman247]

I wear either my kennetrek or Hanwag with wool socks and a liner. Non insulated works better for me as my feet sweat so bad in insulated.