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Proper foot wear for back country

This is what has screwed me in the late season. I’ve tried all kinds of sock combos with my 1200 gr insulate rubber boots and no luck. Toes froze


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Yep. There are a huge amount of sweat glands in your feet. Mine are sweating right now while I'm sitting at a desk in an air conditioned building. Nike drifit socks and Merrell shoes. Feet also suffer from poor circulation. You cannot insulate them sufficiently enough to eliminate discomfort, 'cause science.

I've found that my feet stay warmer in a saddle, especially if I'm leaning. Better blood flow because there's some level of muscle engagement.
 
I'd stay clear of any boot with Gore-tex. Feet sweat and you need a boot that will breathe. Gore-tex does not breathe. To keep your feet healthy get a good leather boot without any waterproof membrane.

I wish I could dislike this. I don't know what your experiences are but gore tex boots are tried and true for me. Certainly not as breathable as mesh crocs or whatever but you have to make compromises, and wet feet when it is 35 degrees out flat out blows.
 
I wish I could dislike this. I don't know what your experiences are but gore tex boots are tried and true for me. Certainly not as breathable as mesh crocs or whatever but you have to make compromises, and wet feet when it is 35 degrees out flat out blows.

Agreed, you can always change out socks with a gortex boot, but if it's not waterproof and the leather is wet... good luck.
 
Spraying my feet and merino socks have helped me tremendously. They still sweat but not near as bad as they use to.


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Spraying my feet and merino socks have helped me tremendously. They still sweat but not near as bad as they use to.


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Ever double up with merino socks? Last year I was using a merino sock liner with a smartwool sock. Helped a little inside rubber boots


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Ever double up with merino socks? Last year I was using a merino sock liner with a smartwool sock. Helped a little inside rubber boots


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Tried several different ways. The outside sock always slides off the inner sock and bunches up at the toe of the boot lol. Last couple years I have just used one pair and swapped out different thickness socks for colder temps and been fine.


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There's a guy in Colorado that probably knows more about staying warm than anyone in the industry. He's old, gruff, grumpy and opinionated but if you work on an oil rig in the North Atlantic, in the Special Forces in extreme cold climates, in the US Coast Guard on an ice breaker on the Great Lakes or racing in the Iditarod, you know him. His name is Jerry Wigutow, aka Wiggy. You may not agree with everything he says but I dare you to prove him wrong. Go to his website and spend some time looking around. He has foot wear, socks and gaiters that might be what you're looking for. You can also do some youtube searches to see what others think of his products.

 
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Boots are definitely important but so is foot care. Depending on where you hunt depends on the boot you wear etc. However, after a few miles or so, you ought to change out your socks to keep your feet dry. Whatever boot you get, for your own comfort you ought to break them in before hunting season. Good wool socks are worth their weight. When I did a lot of walk in hunting I always bring extra socks. You can forget the toilet paper and the rain coat but your feet get blistered it can be no fun.


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I always carry extra socks with me because I wear Muck boats and some times have walked all day here in the mountains of West Virginia. If you find fresh sign you want to hunt. I just find a good tree climb and change my socks while in the tree so not to leave to much scent. The old bucks around here are real educated. So you have to definitely keep your scent down as much as possible.
 
I'd stay clear of any boot with Gore-tex. Feet sweat and you need a boot that will breathe. Gore-tex does not breathe. To keep your feet healthy get a good leather boot without any waterproof membrane.


A good pair of oiled boots will serve you well. They may not be waterproof but they will breathe.


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I hunt the NC and Virginia mountains. Pretty steep terrain. I cannot use rubber boots. My favorite boot I have ever worn in steep country so far was the Under Armour Speed Freek Bozeman. It was a surprise to me and I only bought them because a company I work for part time gets 50% off anything from under armour. To be honest I wasn't expecting much from them. They are lighter than most tennis shoes and 600 grams which is good enough in winter if you change socks after you hike in which is key when it comes to your feet being warm. They now make a 2.0 and I will be purchasing a pair of them when my current boots bite the dust. I think they are around $130.
 
I've been using rubber boots, but I haven't had any crazy hikes and I'm mostly worried about scent control. I think the way to go is a thin moisture wicking sock underneath a good wool sock. When its real cold a bigger boot would be good, I only have one pair and I did alright last year, no plan on changing. We'll see when I move out west and actually start hiking, lol.
 
This is what has screwed me in the late season. I’ve tried all kinds of sock combos with my 1200 gr insulate rubber boots and no luck. Toes froze


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I have the same problem with my toes. I finally figured out it is related to sweat and not the lack of insulation. I wear a thin moisture wicking sock in, then change into a new pair of socks at the base of my tree. My toes still sweat, but I get about an extra hour or so before they get cold. I get into the woods very early so I can take my time and be as quite as possible. I will probably try one of the rx strength antiperspirants on and in-between my toes this season
 
If you guys are having trouble with cold feet like I always did, get a pair of the Arctic Shield boot blankets and some Hot Hands. I wear my light boots to the tree so my feet don't sweat then throw those things on with hand warmers on the top of each boot. Feels like my feet are propped up by the fire place! A little extra weight to carry but warm comfy feet are completely worth it to me.
 
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