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Boot Blankets for Saddle?

It doesn’t get too cold here and I usually wear uninsulated rubber boots year round. In winter I add a set of arctic shield insoles. I’ve used the arctic shield boot covers but they are too noisy and bulky for me, plus a definite no if I’m using a ROS.
This year I got a pair of neoprene ski boot covers. They just cover the toe/forefoot area and strap around the heel. I replaced the loud Velcro with a webbing strap and they are great to put on once I get in the tree. If it’s really cold (20s) I’ll throw a heated toe warmer on the boot under the neoprene and it really helps. If it’s going to be much colder than that I’ll wear my pac boots.

These neoprene covers aren’t as warm as the big boot covers but are great to carry as they’re small and quiet to put on and use in the tree.
 
RKB1989 said:
This is exactly the issue I’ve ran into. I’m using the Cruzr platform and it has destroyed the bottom of my arctic shields. Anyone have recommendations on something to affix to the bottom to help alleviate the issue? Like you mentioned above, does the stealth strips stay adhered to them? I wonder if you could stealth strip the entire bottom?
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A huge factor for cold feet is that you are directly standing on cold metal. It wicks the heat right out of your feet. I take a pc of that interlocking foam floor padding(looks like puzzle pcs) that you buy from Home Depot. I zip tie it to the stand and or platform. It helps a bunch.
 
1simplemann said:
A huge factor for cold feet is that you are directly standing on cold metal. It wicks the heat right out of your feet. I take a pc of that interlocking foam floor padding(looks like puzzle pcs) that you buy from Home Depot. I zip tie it to the stand and or platform. It helps a bunch.
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I'm not sure what product you're specifically talking about, but you've given me an idea...
I have a chunk of this foam pad designed to hold off foot / leg fatigue. It may be heavy for its size, so could you provide a pic or link of what you're using?
 

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For the most part I run uninsulated (no gtx or liner other than leather) I bought them a half size bigger than normal and wear a pair of Gerbing 7v Heated Sock Liners and a pair of wool or alpaca socks

I did get some attic shield boot covers as well but never needed them.
 
I’ve tried the Gray Wolf Woolens (too bulky and heavy), Arctic Shield and hand warmers.
The last few times I got to actually hunt (December 2022), I used this system:
Thin liner socks
Rab Vapor Barrier socks
Thin merino wool sock
Un-insulated hiking boot (1/2 size bigger)
My feet were toasty and were only clammy for a few minutes after taking everything off after the hunt.
 
Center Punch said:
I'm not sure what product you're specifically talking about, but you've given me an idea...
I have a chunk of this foam pad designed to hold off foot / leg fatigue. It may be heavy for its size, so could you provide a pic or link of what you're using?
Click to expand...
It'll probably work. The product I'm talking about comes in foam squares. You'll see colored versions of it on kids play rooms floors or gym weight rooms. It's about 5/8" or 3/4" thick and 2' x 2' They snap together. I have one cut it to size for the platform and one for my LW's.. I either velcro it or zip tie it depending on the situation. Anything that keeps your feet off that cold metal helps.
 
DanD said:
This year I got a pair of neoprene ski boot covers. They just cover the toe/forefoot area and strap around the heel. I replaced the loud Velcro with a webbing strap and they are great to put on once I get in the tree.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I didn’t know these existed but they are almost exactly what I was envisioning and going to try to make. Going to order a pair now instead.
 
1simplemann said:
It'll probably work. The product I'm talking about comes in foam squares. You'll see colored versions of it on kids play rooms floors or gym weight rooms. It's about 5/8" or 3/4" thick and 2' x 2' They snap together. I have one cut it to size for the platform and one for my LW's.. I either velcro it or zip tie it depending on the situation. Anything that keeps your feet off that cold metal helps.
Click to expand...
I know the stuff you're talking about. We have quite a few squares around here in light blue. If I do something at all with that, I can wrap it in camo tape prior to installation.
 
I just received Gray Wolf Woolens boot blankets as a gift and can’t see them holding up to hunting on any machined or cast platform. Not that they aren’t well made, but the bottoms are just wolf skin material. For what they cost, I’m sadly underwhelmed.

Also, I purchased the Heater Body Suit insulated booties in November. Same thing, plain fabric bottoms, but only cost $30 to replace once they shred. They’re even more huge than the GWW ones. Accordingly I never brought them on a hunt.

My feet we’re fine this year in the 20s with 200g boots and Alpaca Socks.

I think I’m abandoning the boot blankets experiment and will just get packs from Hoffman or Schnee to use when it drops below that. My brother managed several miles of mountain on Hoffman mountaineers.
 
Plebe said:
I just received Gray Wolf Woolens boot blankets as a gift and can’t see them holding up to hunting on any machined or cast platform. Not that they aren’t well made, but the bottoms are just wolf skin material. For what they cost, I’m sadly underwhelmed.

Also, I purchased the Heater Body Suit insulated booties in November. Same thing, plain fabric bottoms, but only cost $30 to replace once they shred. They’re even more huge than the GWW ones. Accordingly I never brought them on a hunt.

My feet we’re fine this year in the 20s with 200g boots and Alpaca Socks.

I think I’m abandoning the boot blankets experiment and will just get packs from Hoffman or Schnee to use when it drops below that. My brother managed several miles of mountain on Hoffman mountaineers.
Click to expand...
The Heater Body Suit ones are made to be worn inside the HBS.

I think you’re possibly over concerned with the GWW ones and their durability. That saddle cloth material is pretty durable. I hunted with Day One Camo pants this season quite a bit and the material is super tough imho. The GWW material is similar in composition. I have the GWW boot blankets and although I haven’t used them yet, I don’t get the impression that they are not durable at all. You’re on your platform and leaning or sitting most of the time anyway so not all of your weight is on them.
 
Plebe said:
I just received Gray Wolf Woolens boot blankets as a gift and can’t see them holding up to hunting on any machined or cast platform. Not that they aren’t well made, but the bottoms are just wolf skin material. For what they cost, I’m sadly underwhelmed.

Also, I purchased the Heater Body Suit insulated booties in November. Same thing, plain fabric bottoms, but only cost $30 to replace once they shred. They’re even more huge than the GWW ones. Accordingly I never brought them on a hunt.

My feet we’re fine this year in the 20s with 200g boots and Alpaca Socks.

I think I’m abandoning the boot blankets experiment and will just get packs from Hoffman or Schnee to use when it drops below that. My brother managed several miles of mountain on Hoffman mountaineers.
Click to expand...

Have you looked at the neoprene ski boot covers @DanD mentioned above? Most of them just cover the top of your boots and leave the sole exposed. I’m sure they won’t be as warm as the blankets you’ve tried but I’m hopeful that with a hand warmer they will get me several degrees below what my uninsulated boots get me. The benefits are they seem like they will be less bulky and quieter.
 
DanD said:
It doesn’t get too cold here and I usually wear uninsulated rubber boots year round. In winter I add a set of arctic shield insoles. I’ve used the arctic shield boot covers but they are too noisy and bulky for me, plus a definite no if I’m using a ROS.
This year I got a pair of neoprene ski boot covers. They just cover the toe/forefoot area and strap around the heel. I replaced the loud Velcro with a webbing strap and they are great to put on once I get in the tree. If it’s really cold (20s) I’ll throw a heated toe warmer on the boot under the neoprene and it really helps. If it’s going to be much colder than that I’ll wear my pac boots.

These neoprene covers aren’t as warm as the big boot covers but are great to carry as they’re small and quiet to put on and use in the tree.
Click to expand...

What size neoprene ski boot do you wear for what boot size? Just trying to get a reference if someone wants to order some. Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Plebe said:
I just received Gray Wolf Woolens boot blankets as a gift and can’t see them holding up to hunting on any machined or cast platform. Not that they aren’t well made, but the bottoms are just wolf skin material. For what they cost, I’m sadly underwhelmed.

Also, I purchased the Heater Body Suit insulated booties in November. Same thing, plain fabric bottoms, but only cost $30 to replace once they shred. They’re even more huge than the GWW ones. Accordingly I never brought them on a hunt.

My feet we’re fine this year in the 20s with 200g boots and Alpaca Socks.

I think I’m abandoning the boot blankets experiment and will just get packs from Hoffman or Schnee to use when it drops below that. My brother managed several miles of mountain on Hoffman mountaineers.
Click to expand...

Have you thought about dipping or coating the bottoms in like a plastic dip or truck liner etc ?
 
GCTerpfan said:
Have you looked at the neoprene ski boot covers @DanD mentioned above? Most of them just cover the top of your boots and leave the sole exposed. I’m sure they won’t be as warm as the blankets you’ve tried but I’m hopeful that with a hand warmer they will get me several degrees below what my uninsulated boots get me. The benefits are they seem like they will be less bulky and quieter.
Click to expand...

I have not used those types of boot gloves, although my niece uses them skiing from time to time. I’ll have to ask if they help her feet stay warm or if it’s just on Mom’s insistence she puts them on.

However, I had looked at these: https://40below.com/product/forty-below-purple-haze-overboots-insulated-mountaineering-boot-cover/

I’m reading that a 6.25mm wetsuit has a .76 CLO value (https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA111586.pdf). So if I’m reading this correctly, it’d have to be almost an inch thick to overtake the CLO of an oz/yd^2 Of 800+ fill down?
 
 
Plebe said:
A mountaineering gaiter like this may have worked better for me?

www.backcountry.com

Outdoor Research X-Gaiter - Accessories

Buy the Outdoor Research X-Gaiter online or shop all Accessories from Backcountry.com.
www.backcountry.com www.backcountry.com
Click to expand...

I like those. I like the price tag of the ski boot covers more though. I don't expect them to be as warm as the other options but hoping with a handwarmer they can get me from 40deg to maybe 30 deg with uninsulated boots. For $20, I'm going to give them a try. I wasn't sold on the Arctic Shield blankets. They are warm but quietly repositioning my feet with a deer inside 20 yards would have been difficult.
 
woodsdog2 said:
The Heater Body Suit ones are made to be worn inside the HBS.

I think you’re possibly over concerned with the GWW ones and their durability. That saddle cloth material is pretty durable. I hunted with Day One Camo pants this season quite a bit and the material is super tough imho. The GWW material is similar in composition. I have the GWW boot blankets and although I haven’t used them yet, I don’t get the impression that they are not durable at all. You’re on your platform and leaning or sitting most of the time anyway so not all of your weight is on them.
Click to expand...

I was aware of what the HBS booties were, but figured for $30 why not give them a look. I have a HBS so at worst, I could use them with it.

The Gray Wolf Woolens boot blankets are undoubtedly much nicer. They have a wind blocker liner, extra 100 grams insulation, and indeed the wolf skin is a finer exterior fabric. I could be dead wrong, but I’m still leery of the durability. I think the Day One cowboy suede has a reputation as a far stronger material.

Honestly, I could see either option working fine in something like a Millenium treestand. But I‘m still skeptical of how they’ll hold up on my machined and cast stuff, saddlehunting. I don’t really want to tear them up finding out.

But I’m not thinking of wasting time and energy modifying them either. As it stands. I’m just not seeing enough upside.

I’ll have to weigh everything out and think on that, but based on how my brother chewed up the mountains in his pac boots, I think the scale is leaning that direction.
 
Boomah21 said:
Have you thought about dipping or coating the bottoms in like a plastic dip or truck liner etc ?
Click to expand...

I’ll probably try them as is first, or just try and sell them. Idk.

On the one hand if they do hold up as is, then I’ve not done anything unnecessary. If they start to show damage, it opens the door to a DIY Fix.

On the other hand, maybe it’s better to just move on to a different thing, and I doubt I’ll cash in on any experiments I try. Though they were a gift, so I might feel bad about sending them down the road.
 
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