Cold feet sitting on stand thermacell insoles?

[V-fib]

hey there,

With crossbow hunting on now and soon rifle hunting I sit on stand often for many hours and my feet get pretty cold.

I do have idopathic peripherial neuorpathy which makes my feet extremely cold.

I have boots with 2000 grams thinsulate, I've used wool socks, chemical foot warmers, electric socks, and even overboots and when sitting and even in a enclosed blind my feet get cold.

Has anyone ever used the Thermacell Heated Insoles? They ain't cheap but with 500 recharges they might last quite a while.

let me know how they worked for you.

here's a review: http://www.ammoland.com/2013/04/thermacell-heated-insoles/#axzz2ibc3yqeJ

Thanks for your time,

V-fib

 

[jmr40]

You need a warmer hat.

Seriously. Your body regulates its temperature by using your head, hands and feet. It will keep the brain and internal organs warm even if it has to sacrafice the feet and hands. If you are losing too much heat from your head, or body's core your body redirects blood flow away from your feet in order to keep the other parts warm and functioning properly. No boot in the world is going to keep you feet warm until you find a way to trap the heat escaping from your head, neck and core.

If you have excess heat your body sends extra blood flow to your feet and hands in order to cool its self down.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Are you walking in and getting sweaty feet ? That will freeze your feet.

 

[V-fib]

jmr40, got a very warm hat. part of the deal with the idopathic peripherial neuorpathy is cold extremities. for instance, my left index finger gets extremly cold (just that finger) but I have a muff I keep my hand in during hunting which keeps it warm and got some super insulated snowmobile mittens when I plow snow on my tractor.

coltpythonelite, Don't have to hike very far to my blinds since I hunt on my own property, but i noticed that one of the problems with the chemical footwarmers was that they make your feet sweaty and only last a few hours in my boots:banghead:

the electric socks were a joke, I tried to get my money back from the company but all they did was send me another pair which i didn't even use so I'm out $25 bucks.

thanks for your input

v-fib

 

[98Redline]

I have heard some good things about those heater body suits. Sort of looks like a "Snuggie" for hunting but keeps you warm like wearing a sleeping bag.

 

[joustin]

Your hands and feet regulate your temp more than your head. You can get away with a lightweight but effective hat. The amount of heat lost from your head is minimal and the theory has been debunked several times. Regardless Columbia has some gloves with Omni-Heat, I have one of their beanies and it is warmer than anything that is much heavier than the Columbia hat.

 

[Fremmer]

How about an enclosed stand with a small propane heater? It'll keep most of the wind outside and help you stay warm.

 

[JTMcC]

Military surplus Mickey Mouse boots or Bunny Boots.
They're inexpensive, they are bulky and they are warm in -60 degree weather.

J

 

[V-fib]

thanks for all the input,

When I'm in my condo not too bad since I have a old sleeping bag i cover myself up and have some boot blankets.

My main prob is when I sit out directly in the elements/snow thats when my feet get the coldest.

I've used the toe warmers but they don't last very long. I'm balkin at the $100 price of the thermocells.

Anybody use the full insole chemical warmers? Do they last long?

V-fib

 

[frankenstein406]

My favorite "hat" is actually a helmet liner the army uses. I also wear a one piece carhart style suit. The suit and helmet liner seem to make the biggest difference.

Even going flat out on my atv on the river my feet stay warm.

 

[quartermaster]

V-fib, I have the same problem. My feet are numb to due diabetes, which has occurred in the past 5 years. When they get cold, they stay cold for a long time even after coming inside. I have tried everything from electric socks to toe warmers in boots. I have always had a problem with my feet sweating which leads to cold feet. It used to work decent for me to bring an extra pair of socks to change into upon arriving at my stand, but I believe as you get a bit older your dwindling circulation doesn't help the situation.

I have found that wearing a thin pair of cotton socks under a heavier wool pair all housed in a decent pair of boots (not too heavy) gives me a bit more time in the woods, but not nearly as much as I would like.

I guess we just grin and bear it, Worse things could happen.

I'm going to keep tabs on this thread. Maybe someone will chime in with something that will help us. That would be nice.

 

[Tiny in Ohio]

Warmer feet

One thing I have done in the past in cold weather is to wear thin silk socks, place a baggie over my toes, then a pair of thick wool socks. The silk will wick away any moisture. The baggies hold the heat from your toes. And the wool will keep you warm. It has worked for me standing on snow and ice for hours, it may work well for you.

 

[Muskyman]

I have literally spent years of my life standing on metal planks in MN winters while working, and my feet were always cold (go figure). I tried several pairs of very expensive boots and my feet were still cold. One day I went into the house I was working on to warm up (below zero that day), and they happened to be putting carpet in that day. Eureka! I took some scraps of carpet pad, took the insoles out of my boots, traced them onto the carpet pad, and cut out insoles from the carpet pad. Then put the insoles back in my boots followed by the new carpet pad insoles. Goodbye cold feet! Now I buy my winter boots a little too big for me (extra wide if I can find them) and add carpet pad insoles. It doesn't matter how many grams of insulation a boot has. The soles are usually just solid rubber with a very thin foam insole, but that's where you need the insulation the most. Even cheap boots keep my feet toasty warm with the carpet pad added. It's also very comfy, and if you make a couple extra pairs of insoles you will always have dry ones. They are also extremely cheap (or free) to replace if they get worn out or stinky. Try it. It works great!

 

[V-fib]

Tiny and muskyman great ideas! I have some liner socks that I think I'll try the bag idea with. just hope the toes don't get sweaty Will see... the carpetpad insoles is a good idea too! I just happen to have some from our carpet installation. I'm going to give them a try!

Keep all the great ideas coming!

V-fib

 

[rodensouth]

My wife can sit in a stand forever if her feet don't get cold. She found Boot Blankets, insulated over boots online somewhere. She packs them in and puts them on in the stand and they work great. You can even drop in some chemical handwarmers on top of the toe of your boot to get more comfy. All of the chemical in boot rigs were a letdown. I looked at the thermacell too, but she didn't need them after trying the blankets. They have a tough bottom on them you could walk a bit in, or keep em on riding a wheeler or snowmobile.

 

[V-fib]

rodensouth, does your wife hunt with the boot blankets in central florida? Just courious. I do have a pair of them that I keep out in my condo and they do a pretty good job. However they are much too big and bulky to carry out into the snow when sitting out in the open.

thanks for your input

v-fib

 

[caribou]

I use Caribou Mukluks for Winter camping and setting traps, but I use "Baffin Boots" , basicly a rubber boot with a felt liner I change out and keep warm with. I add an insole and have 2 pairs of sox on, so I get them a size larger and let my feet have plenty of wiggle room to keep warm in. The Muks get ruined on my snowgo's heat exchangers, so I only use them when Im not riding or doing work in wet/damp conditions.

For all around use, a 35$ pair of lined baffins and an sextra insole are awsome. but when its cold cold cold out, you gotta move around, thats what I know.

Finnland uses the same type boots and liners for their military, so Im not the only one

 

[V-fib]

thanks caribou for the info.

V-fib

 

[rodensouth]

I agree about the big and bulky part. She uses them when we go to Arkansas. 28 degrees about as cold as I remember, and no snow, also sitting in a blind. Have a bag she stuffs them in that clips to backpack.

I haven't used mine, because it's not cold enough to hurt my feet, yet.

I'm enjoying all the great info in this thread, I bought some plain dr scholl inserts and stacked two in each of her boots. She can still lace them, and not too tight. I bet she will have real comfy feet this Christmas back home in AR.

 

[tickfarm]

Boot Blankets

I have the same problem. I hunt from an elevated stand with a wooden floor. I have a pair of boot blankets that I got from ProBass the y work well up to a point. I bought a pair of Artic Pacs from Cabelas that are good to 60 below. I wear them when it gets real cold and the y are wonderful. They are bulky but my feet stay warm.

 

[V-fib]

Lot's of great ideas so far.

At this point I'm going with my boot blankets in the condo and I'm going to make some insoles out of the carpet padding and try out some of the full foot chemical footwarmers when out in the elements.

as much as i would like to get some of the boots mentioned here i think my wife would kill me as she calls me Imelda Marcos since I already have more winter boots than I should have!

V-fib

 

[msnden]

Just came across this thread, Interesting, as I have been seeking a method to keep my feet warm for years!!! after years of hunting (mainly in a tree stand) northern Mn. it has become a quest! Over the years I have tossed a lot of money in my search, I have more socks, & boots, & yes, gimmicks,than most sporting good stores, I have yet to find a winner!, keeping your head & hands warm help, also, changing socks after a few hours can help, One thing that will work pretty good is (only if you are not going to walk) take a couple of bread wrappers and put them over your socks, this will keep the heat in, however they do not breathe, thus causing moisture, which is not good, so a change of socks is required when any activity is going to take place. I hope this thread keeps getting response as I am open to any new ideas, I have tried the carpet, cutting rubber for inserts, which I must say helps, keep the ideas coming, jmop

 

[V-fib]

yep, I tried the bag thing in boots and initially they keep your feet pretty warm until you start moving around and your feet sweat.

Rifle season starts here in MI on the 15th. They are calling for lows in 20's should be good time to experiment with some of the ideas mentioned here.

v-fib

 

[mnhntr]

First off your 2000 gram thinsulate is a gimmick. Anything over 1000 is not any better. Second if your using all these and walking to your stand making your feet sweat they will be cold even if you light your boots on fire. You either need a good pair of boots with a good pair of wool socks or take your boots to the stand while wearing some sneakers or lighter boots and change your socks and boots in the stand. The only boots that I have ever worn that will keep your feet warm regardless of temp and activity are Lacrosse Ice Kings and a pair of good mid weight wool socks.

 

[V-fib]

Well, I cut some carpet pad and made new inserts for my boots. Sat outside today for about 3 hours hunting. temp about 39 degrees and my feet were toasty warm without the need for toewarmers.

v-fib