Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Why no more bunny boots ?

Every now and then I find myself scratching my head, wondering if I’m missing a crucial detail that everyone else is keen on except me….with regards to a question like this….
Why in the world, with the very obvious demand, simple construction, and proven and long lasting track record, has no one started manufacturing bunny boots?

The US Army lost it's way with regards to Arctic Warfare but a recent exercise at Ft Greely revealed the lack of preparedness. There were more than 100 cases of frostbite on a miserable day. The folks at CRTC [cold regions test center] tell me that bunny boots are back on the buy list.

Dumbasses! I’d also be careful they NOT purchase them from China.

I was up there for, I think it was a BRIMFROST exercise in 86. There was a lot of frostbite then from the Army guys over on the Tanana Flats. When they pulled the plug we had troops in every facility on base (Eielson).

I don't have 100th of the experience that you guys do...but I gave the old , 1952?,Bunny boots the toss after finding a pair of Canadian Army mukluks with liners. But, I can see where the muks might be a disaster if you somehow got into a little water. On the other hand they let a lot of perspiration out, whereas my feet always felt clammy in the bunnys.

Fk bunny boots an fk the azzclowns who think they're legit!

I trained in those garbage boots from 2002-2009 here in Alaska. I have scars on my shins from them. No tread,you fkn slip n slide everywhere, might was well be wearing ice skates.

Be careful buying surplus. US Army Alaska Supply would weigh them, once they detected moisture permanently trapped in the insulation (inside of the rubber layers), they were off-loaded to DRMO. Those worthless gubmint workers would sell them to all these surplus companies.

An Iditarod musher back in the 2017 race lost a bunch of toes to frostbite wearing this surplus garbage.

I've got a set of never worn Bata brand in size 11 that I don't need.

Believe it or not, there are a lot of Azzclowns who believe they are legit. I am one. A lot. 1986-1993. Yes, there are alternatives, but.

So carry on. You know what they say about one man's opinion.

I froze a big toe about '69 in them. Not impressed when it actually gets cold. Worked in Pruhoe for 23 years.

Keep your feet dry... antiperspirant works.

Haha yea dang the mainer in ak is out for blood !
Joking aside I can see where there are surely negative aspects to the boots, and wouldn’t be perfect for all applications. I can’t speak to anything regarding use in the military, but could see how they’d be uncomfortable for long marches or hikes. I’ve always worn them loose with the top not even laced, to alleviate the mentioned shin chaffing.
But anyways, yes, I’m also one who sees a very unique niche that these fill, and obviously have for a while in AK. Don’t think anyone can argue that. They’re cheap, tough, and work for a wide variety of outdoor and recreational activities up here in the winter.
Possibly the biggest positive I’ve experienced in these over other boots is the aforementioned defense against water. I’ve sunk my feet in overflow, negative temps, simply wrang out my sock, dumped the water out of the boot, put back on and been totally warm for hours more of a snow machine ride.
Just this past week I sat on the ground in a village outside Bethel awaiting airplane mechanics to arrive and do their work, in -30 windchill for seven hours and again was totally fine and happy I had the boots on.
Anyways, as said, to each their own, but there seems to be a demand for them which brings me back to my original curiosity of why they haven’t been reproduced

OK will do, I'll keep opining away, with a smidgen of experience. Thanks for permission.

Intermediate cold:

Baffin Apex: Chinese garbage. Single rivet roller barrels pull out of leather. Rubber lower is 1/16th inch thick near flex point. They crack open in less than one season of snowshoeing/mushing then your feet get wet. Decent down to 25-30 below ambient. Good traction on slippery stuff.

Cabelas goretex mukluks:
Better intermediates, as the leather lower stays pliable and doesn't crack. Triple stitched, double riveted lace rollers don't pull out. Will last at least two seasons. Good to 25-30 below ambient. Goretex good in overflow. Being mukluk style, harder on ankles in first week. Will be sore for days,if week ankles, may need braces.

Extreme cold:
Northern Outfitters. Insane foot bed height. Extreme insulation. Good for sedentary stuff in 50 below zero or colder: standing on dog sled runners, snowmachine or ice fishing for sheefish. Hard as fk to walk in. No longer made, so rubber lower are wearing out. Dry quick after overflow. Extreme cold parkas like apocalypse, northern outfitters or poshouse designed to carry second set of inner insulation + spare socks for emergencies.

Good alternative:
What many smart mushers do nowadays:
Pull the guts from northern outfitter shells, put into neos overshoes.. easier to walk in, just as quick to dry after over flow.

The End!

They show-up at gunshows now & then. They rot/decompose after years. I went through four pair in 54 years. I now use BAFFIN "Extreme" boots. They are better for cold and traction.

What do you want for them?

I am a huge fan of mickey mouse boots, and to a lesser extent bunny boots. That said, I am rarely out and about in much colder than - 30. And mostly not hiking more than 2-3 miles at a time. I wear a Costco smartwool knock off sock under carhartt's heaviest calf length boot sock so the rubber never has a chance to touch my skin. Failing that will remove hide and hair.

Just did 2 miles in MM boots today at lunch and then moved snow for another couple hours this afternoon. Some of the most comfortable footwear I own as long as it isn't too hot out.

Which one of those boots would be your best pick if you knew you were going to be at high risk of putting it underwater in subzero temperatures?

What are these Canadian Mukluks of which you speak? And where do I get a pair?

the slip and slide thing is why we resole them with vibram. Works a lot better. Suppose got lucky and don't have the wet ones at least. They work well.
And I know the trail breaker crew guys on the Iditarod wear or wore them. ITs how I found I can have em resoled as I work for the lead guy there.

Good info. Hope I can recall to store the info one day if we ever end up around in lower than -30 temps. Thanks.

so the white rubber military air valve boots no one uses them anymore ? i still do they work very will when its 20 some below zero but these boots can be clumsy to walk in.

I found mine at a surplus store in Seattle, paid through the nose, but they worked with my sweaty feet. I just googled, 'salescamolots.com' came up. 93 bucks a pair...AND, they sell spare bootie liners. I used mine riding snow machine to repair generators at remote mountaintop radio repeater sites. Not as cold as AK or Maine.