Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting At what temperature do you switch over to insulated boots

I have sweaty feet..
Seems no mater how cold it is , or how good of socks I wear if I walk more than a 1/4 mile my feet get sweaty in 400 gr ins boots.
I’ve pretty much settled on uninsulated boots while walking.
Stand hunting I settled on boot blankets.

go buy a pair of Patagonia sock liners - very thin and sheer. wear UNDER a regular pair of hiking socks or Smartwool... THANK me later.

So will these stay in place and not crinkle up in the bottom of my boots like every other liner sock I’ve ever tried ?

Get those sock liners and use a merino wool sock to wick the moisture. Carry an extra pair of the wool socks to switch them out .

These will:

https://www.injinji.com/liner-crew-large.html

PS, for me i's not the temperature that dictates insulated vs non-insulated, it's what you said in your first post, walking vs. sitting.

Have you tried antiperspirant?

Those look like they would drive me nuts.
I can’t stand stuff between my toes .
I usually wear thorlos above freezing and smart wool below freezing.

Have heard of it , but never tried it.

Stilllearning: IF... you are still learning here's a suggestion for you - don't buy ANYTHING at, or from, patagonia!
They are anti-Hunting zealots and since I learned how evil they are 20+ years ago I have not bought a single item from them.
There are plenty of pro-Hunter sporting goods stores and chains that treat Hunters and Hunting with the respect they (we) deserve.
I bought my "sock liner" socks at Eddie Bauers decades ago (four pair of them) and they have lasted me all this time - even though I am down to just 3 pair now.
Where the other pair went is beyond me.
Once its cold and I am Hunting Elk in areas where I will be walking a lot I get along well with my Danner boots, Eddie Bauer liners and quality outer socks.
If I am going to do more stand Hunting then I go to the insulated pack boots with the aforementioned sock layers.
I use the sock liners when Antelope Hunting even in the heat as they somehow reduce friction burns on my feet (blisters).
Good luck with which ever method you choose but please avoid the anti-Hunters at patagonia stores.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Get some Dahlgrens socks. They work, and you won't have to wear a liner.

So long as your feet are staying warm, then insulation is a hindrance not a help.

https://www.dahlgrenfootwear.com/

For me it’s not temperature, it’s what type of hunt I expect to make. If we’re going to be doing a lot of walking, go with little to no insulation. Just the opposite, if stand hunting or limited hiking! memtb

Never weighed any of my boots, so have no comment on grains. If sitting/stand hunting in cold weather, my felt lined Sorrels or Whites. If hiking in dry conditions my non-insulated Whites. Regardless of conditions, always heavy wool socks.

Injinjis are the truth. As anyone whose feet has ever gotten cold knows, it starts at the toes.

Should have been grams not gr. My bad.
Most synthetic insulation in boots is measured in grams. 400 grams is a medium amount of insulation.
It wasn’t referring to the actual weight of the boots.

If I know I'll be moving, I don't wear insulated boots until it gets below about 20 unless I'll be in wet snow.

I wear the same insulated boots all the time when hunting.Dove season thru elk season.Good poly inner socks and wool blend over them. Colder weather, I start using chemical toe warmers. Snow,I switch to packs

I'm sure you know as well as I do how cold feet can get in stirrups.

Do you use Hot Hand toe warmers or have you found a better brand? I tried some Hot Hands a while back and wasn't that impressed.

I use the " Little Hotties" sold by Costco,so don't know if they are Hot Hands.Sometimes I have to change them out mid day and sometimes I have to use two, the 2nd one being under my arch, but I have terrible circulation in my feet. Another possibility is the full insoles that are sold now. Do not use the Hot Hand brand as they are too small, but get the Grabber brands. They work great and fit my size ten feet

Sock liners and meriono wool outer socks work for me. Went ice fishing yesterday, -14 f went we set out from the truck, about a mile walk, fished 5 hours in 400 gr insulated boots, toward the end toes were not real warm , but wouldnt call them cold either.

Like others have said, the right sock combo can be key. When hunting and hiking a lot, I carry fresh liners and socks for a mid day change.



The dryer ate them!

I'll be on a scout snowshoe/XC ski campout this coming weekend & will be needing some toe warmers. I was in town yesterday and the only brands I could find were Hot Hands and Heat Factory. I've never had good luck with Hot Hands. I've never heard of Heat Factory but I got a couple pairs of them to try. We'll see. Looks like everyone's out of the other brands. I have good insulated hiking boots but my XC ski boots are cold. They have to be snug for control and the tight fit makes them cold. It's supposed to be in the low teens up there on the weekend. I hope these things work or I'm going to have cold stumps on the ends of my legs.