Cold feet. My nemesis. How to over come it??

[huntingdad]

I have tried just about everything I know to keep my feet from freezing when the temps drop. About the only thing that works is much/lacrosse heavy insulated boots to the tree or blind and swap socks once I get there.

But, when I’m in the mountains I get stumped. I just can’t keep them warm unless I’m constantly moving. I hunted third rifle in Colorado 3 years ago and sitting a ridge while it was in the 20’s was absolutely miserable on my feet. I constantly had to get up and walk circles.

I’ll be in the high country come second rifle and at least a half day hike or more to my truck where my spike camp will be. And I’m parking at 10k so it’s not like I’ll be dropping into warmer weather.

What have some of you guys that deal with cold feet and hunt the back country done to combat this? Swap socks that are dry to glass in? Walk circles? Sit in absolute misery?

For the record I wear darn tough wool socks (thicker ones he’s when it’s cold) and insulated crispi birksdals.

 

[Shane]

If your socks are getting wet from sweat, your boots have too much insulation. You don't want your feet to get so hot that they sweat. Keep your feet dry. GoreTex boots breathe and keep moisture out. Don't over insulate. I wear uninsulated boots comfortably down to single digit temps. Wear merino wool socks. Don't cinch your boots down so tight that it restricts circulation. Keep the blood flow going good. Keep your core and legs warm with merino base layers and whatever other layers you need for your activity level and weather conditions. GoreTex outer layers when there is precipitation and/or wind. Wet = COLD. Stay dry. Don't wear anything that cuts off circulation anywhere. Bibs, to me, SUCK. They are always tugging on your neck/shoulders and low back/seat - especially when you bend and sit. Wear pants and shirts/jackets. If your core and legs are warm and have good circulation, and your feet are dry and not overheated and sweaty, your feet will be properly regulated and warm.

I guess it's possible that you just have poor circulation in your feet naturally. If that's the case, I don't know what to recommend.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I used to always have frozen feet til I switched to uninsulated boots. They're fine now, will get cold going to bed sometimes but never while walking or just normal hunting no matter how deep the snow is. I got sweaty feet, and like said above as soon as they sweat I'm done for. Imagine your torso soaked and walking around out there.

 

[RuggedYogi]

If sweaty feet are the culprit, try an antiperspirant foot cream.

 

[Team4LongGun]

Change socks-one pair for the hike in, air feet out, yes in the cold to allow moisture to evap, then put on a fresh pair. I guarantee your feet will be warmer than current situation.

 

[rogerdoger]

Bring a jetboil and make a cup of coffee while your glassing, may not help but at least you got a hot drink.

 

[Nevwild]

I put hand warmers on the inside breast pocket of my puffy coat, right by my heart. Tricks my body into thinking that I’m not gonna freeze and it sends blood to my toes.

 

[92xj]

If going to sit for a long time, arctic shield booties. a hot hand on the outside of the laces/toe of your hiking boots and then arctic boot over your hiking boots with the hot hand.

I went to this in single digit tree stand hunting and was the combo that actually allowed me to stay for hours. The artic shield booty things don’t weigh much and could easily be packed.

 

[justinspicher]

I have circulation issues and my feet are always colder than the rest of my body. I wear thin ski socks from Darn Tough and uninsulated mountaineering boots from Scarpa. So far this has been the best combo for me to keep my feet from freezing while I’m out in the later hunting seasons into the winter.

 

[camping1601]

Boot blankets with toe warmers as needed.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Yak or alpaca wool socks are much warmer than wool.

 

[Poser]

Depending on how many days you are out, you could consider some heated socks. I've never actually used these for hunting, though I would certainly consider them for 3rd rifle, but Fieldsheer makes a merino blend heated sock. I do own a pair that I use for the coldest days out skiing: https://fieldsheer.com/products/pro...x?variant=52112403726704&store=mobile-cooling

These are bluetooth controlled so they are easy to turn on and off. If you kept them on the lowest setting and only used them as much as you needed to prevent your feet from getting cold (you're not using them to keep your toes "warm", only comfortable), otherwise turned them off and you had an appropriate battery bank to recharge them, you could probably use them for a couple of days without getting impractical.

Another option is the OR X Gaiter: https://www.alpenglowgear.com/x-gai...qaMbxIB42zZSFK5-ToK0MLWqQyTUlz2ypZfE1Y1cMJoRj

These aren't so practical for hiking around in unless there is a good bit of snow, but I have used these myself as "overboots" when glassing. I've also used them with ski boots in the backcountry. If you are using them walking around in rocky, rough conditions, you'll likley run into durability issues. They do work at adding a layer of insulation to any boot, however.

 

[Boarmaster]

You need a better sock systems. One thats works for your specific conditions and physical traits. I spent 25 years figuring that out. I finally have systems that work for me for every situation I might find myself dealing with. Its never a one system deal.

 

[ChrisAU]

Light sock and uninsulated boot that fits correctly (roomy vs tight). Think about what temperature you'd be comfortable wearing a half inch thick leather jacket and then what weight/thickness baselayer you'd wear under that.

 

[Jbehredt]

I use certain dri roll on anti perspirant on my feet. I started because they sweat and stink, side effect is they stay warmer.

 

[Laelkhunter]

I solved my cold feet problem by finding the perfect sock system. I use a Kenetrek Ultimate Liner sock under the Kenetrek Alaska heavy wool sock. As previous posters have said, sweaty feet can increase the chance of them getting cold. The heavy wool sock absorbs the perspiration and wicks it away from your feet, and the liner sock kinda acts as a barrier for the sweat keeping it in the wool sock.

 

[Chris in TN]

When I was younger I worked outside and hated wearing heavy boots on cold days so I started buying disposable handwarmers at walmart. Buy the smallest sizes, in the morning while I was still warm in the truck on the way to work I'd drop one warmer into the insider top of one boot. Swap it to the other boot every hour or two. Most days by noon it had warmed up enough to toss them.

But that was a clear case of too-light boots. If you're wearing heavier footwear, I'd guess your feet were sweating. Other people here have addressed that well, no need to say more there. Don't let your feet sweat, even if it means morning hikes with unlaced boots or too-thin socks and a swap to heavier socks once you get in the woods.

 

[mtnwrunner]

I can sit forever..........if my feet are warm. If I'm moving, I'm fine and I do use UNINSULATED footwear.
For me, I use a down half bag aka....elephants foot.....once I get to where I'm going to hunker down for a few hours. That, combined with a puffy, works extremely well.
As team4longgun said, a change of socks works great. Dry socks in a half bag with a hot nalgene if it's really cold.....viola.

Randy

 

[Floated_down]

my wife fought the cold feet battle for years and nothing really worked. I bought her a pair of Lenz heated socks for Christmas last year and she hasnt had cold feet since. They seem kinda gimmicky in concept but they worked 100% for her last year all through the winter. definitely not cheap though

 

[TaperPin]

If your legs aren’t warm the blood can’t warm your feet as well. I’m not talking thin as paper long johns, but serious insulation. You might need puffy pants over fleece or poly pro long John’s BEFORE adding heavily insulated upper layers. I’ve had cold feet my whole life and working outside I will put on bibs before needing a heavy coat.

Anything that restricts blood flow should also be looked at closely. I’ve seen guys with super tight undersized long John’s who have to put them on like pulling on a wet suit. Skinny pants tight with long john’s underneith are even worse. In the coldest weather I ditch pants completely under bibs or puffy pants.

Even tight socks aren’t doing you any favors. Dry socks insulate much better - spray on anti perspirant suggestions are spot on for excess sweat. You might need larger boots to be able to use better socks in the cold. Some guys have used insulated puffy over boots or a small blanket wrapped around their feet while sitting. In the coldest weather there’s no substitute for thick felt in a good pack.

There’s also a large number of guys who dress too warmly while moving because it takes time to shed layers, sweat everywhere and then are cold when they stop. The old mountaineering adage of shedding enough layers to always feel slightly cold when moving around to stay warmer when you’re stopped is spot on to reduce sweat and keep your body more acclimated to cold.

Personal heat/cold acclimation makes a large difference. If you want your body to do a better job of dealing with the cold, the month before your trip turn down the thermostat at home, go outside with light enough layers to be a little chilly, stop sleeping with a giant comforter at night. I bet this makes at least a 10 degree difference. It’s no difference from working outside in the cold, then a “warm” day comes along that’s still cold but your body has acclimated.

Personally, for an additional 10 degrees in cold tolerance I can simply eat extra calories. If you eat very little for breakfast, try shifting calories to earlier in the day or just increasing calories all around during cold weather. Low body fat is cool to show off beach muscles, but horrible to stay warm with unless you keep a constant stream of calories going in - that’s my excuse for packing a few extra pounds around.