Which have you found to be the warmest, and if you buy them online, where do you get them. Thanks for looking.
The black "Micky Mouse" boots were rated to about -20 F, white "bunny" boots are rated to about -60 F (I think - but also depends on level of activity and your metabolism)
Do a search online - lots of places sell them like surplus stores and amazon. The trick might be finding your right size.
The white boots are the warmest. I can only stand wearing them when it's seriously cold( like -20F or lower ) or if doing something sedentary like ice fishing. In warmer temps, or if active, I use the black boots. They're a little less bulky/clumsy, which I like if the job involves any climbing. Call me old fashioned, but I still think there is no substitute for them! No matter which ones you wear, keep at least one change of dry socks handy at all times, and check your feet regularly. When your socks get damp/soaked with sweat, change them.
Jeff
If you’re an Alaskan PM me, if not I don’t want to help sell off the dwindling supply of bunny boots to some Texan who watched an Alaska show and thinks they look cool.
Anyways like I said, I know a good source for them, pm me if you’re a fellow Alaskan.
I lived in Alaska previously, but no longer. Thanks
Black bunnies are narrower, lighter and lighter. The white bunnies are better if you are sedentary such as ice fishing or riding. I recommend felt insoles when wearing these with a spare set of insoles close by. The best boots are Bata with the air valve. If possible you can test the boots for felt dryness by putting them in a freezer. After awhile check for ice while flexing the boots. Most of these boots are sold used and the interior felt is only waterproof when the air valve is closed. Should water get into the felt they are impossible to dry again.
Black bunnies are narrower, lighter and lighter. The white bunnies are better if you are sedentary such as ice fishing or riding. I recommend felt insoles when wearing these with a spare set of insoles close by. The best boots are Bata with the air valve. If possible you can test the boots for felt dryness by putting them in a freezer. After awhile check for ice while flexing the boots. Most of these boots are sold used and the interior felt is only waterproof when the air valve is closed. Should water get into the felt they are impossible to dry again.
Bata is good, miner brand is also great, I actually prefer miner brand over bata because they seem a bit softer and don’t turn yellow as fast. The one to avoid is air boss, they are Canadian made and sort of [bleep]. With the supplies on these things dwindling, new unused pairs are getting more scarce and prices are going up.
I got a pair of brand new miners in 11r for like 190.00 which I thought was a bargain. By last pair was a pair of batas.
I should probably make the call and source out a pair of black ones while I still can.
I lived in Alaska previously, but no longer. Thanks
Not trying to be a dick but the owner of the shop in a round about way expressed her distaste for sending these boots down south where they aren’t needed.
Also try the Sportsman Guide.
Remnant Room in Delta Jct has both from time to time.
There was a rack full at Value Village here in Anchorage the other day, dirt cheap. No 12s...
Colemans Military Surplus had them a few months ago.
there might be a 12 at the local hardware store, I could go look after work, they are probably like 170.00 though....
there might be a 12 at the local hardware store, I could go look after work, they are probably like 170.00 though....
Thank you, but I have a couple pairs. I was only looking because they were 20 bucks a pair...
Thank you for the responses. I appreciate it.
I lived in Alaska previously, but no longer. Thanks
Not trying to be a dick but the owner of the shop in a round about way expressed her distaste for sending these boots down south where they aren’t needed.
Have you ever spent a winter in northern Minnesota or North North Dakota?
SW Alaska, what a joke, you guys act like you are the only ones that get cold. Come on down and I'll take you ice fishing on Lake of the Woods or Rainy Lake and show you what cold is.
there might be a 12 at the local hardware store, I could go look after work, they are probably like 170.00 though....
They are sized quite large. Boots and shoes I wear a 13 but in Bata VBs, I buy an 11R.....
I lived in Alaska previously, but no longer. Thanks
Not trying to be a dick but the owner of the shop in a round about way expressed her distaste for sending these boots down south where they aren’t needed.
Have you ever spent a winter in northern Minnesota or North North Dakota?
SW Alaska, what a joke, you guys act like you are the only ones that get cold. Come on down and I'll take you ice fishing on Lake of the Woods or Rainy Lake and show you what cold is.
I get what you're saying wackem but in my experience the benefits of the boots aren't only where its just really cold but also where its really remote and you can't just go back to the truck. I've had lots of boots as warm. But none I could dump the water out of(ie overflow) throw on a new pair of socks and keep going. That matters more the further you get from a road. If theres even one around.....
When I was marching in Uncle's legions, we were taught that the black Mickeys were for cold, wet environments and the Bunnies were extreme cold, dry environments. We were issued Mickeys in Korea and Bunnies at Ft. Aintwright.
I lived in Alaska previously, but no longer. Thanks
Not trying to be a dick but the owner of the shop in a round about way expressed her distaste for sending these boots down south where they aren’t needed.
Have you ever spent a winter in northern Minnesota or North North Dakota?
SW Alaska, what a joke, you guys act like you are the only ones that get cold. Come on down and I'll take you ice fishing on Lake of the Woods or Rainy Lake and show you what cold is.
I’m not in SW Alaska any longer, I was when I made the account but I’ve moved to the interior since then. I have been ice fishing In Minnesota, my grandparents lived there when I was growing up.
There are black bunnie boot made by Bata that are identical with the white boots and can be identified by a prominent white strip
yes the white bunny boots are the warmest but are a bitch to walk in the woods with and sometimes to warm if your active. I prefer the black boots better, I have a new pair of winter muck boots I kinda like them even better the muck boots are as warm as the black boots but are somewhat higher so I seem to stay dryer too.
The first/last time I put on GI Bunny Boots was during Reforger, 1973. My feet sweat a lot, and we were very busy that day in about -20, maybe -30 and my feet went numb. That night, when I had time to take them off, my feet were super white. I had no feeling for 9 days. Upon return to base, after cleaning everything up and it was our turn to shower, it took about an hour in hot water. when the feeling came back, it hurt super bad! Now I have non diabetic neuropathy in both feet. I hate Bunny Boots. One pair of wool socks and right kind of insulated leather boots work for me. They have to "breathe" for me or I'm soaking wet socks again! Bummer! ha
I was stationed at Fort Wainwright from 1/1/69 to 3/20/70. During winter indoctrination we were told how to wear the white bunny boots. We were told in no uncertain terms that the valve on the side is to only be used by airborne troops and were opened to keep the pressure inside the boots constant while jumping out of airplanes. Fast forward 10 years my sister and her family moved to Anchorage. I moved there for 2 years also. My BIL had some surplus bunny boots and insisted that I did not know what I was talking about and any fool knew that you opened the valve and blew air into them to increase the insulating qualities. All that did was to allow moist air enter the inside of the boot that can then freeze and reduce the insulating qualities. He also wore plastic bags over his socks while wearing the bunny boots. As I recall we only broke out the bunny boots when the temp got down to - 20 or colder. Our leather GI boots with wool socks kept or feet in fine shape down to minus 20 or so. When I lived in Anchorage in in 78 and 79 I bought a pair of Sorrel pac boots and never thought I needed to buy myself a pair of bunny boots but then I do not think it ever got colder than -30 either.
I was stationed at Fort Wainwright from 1/1/69 to 3/20/70. During winter indoctrination we were told how to wear the white bunny boots. We were told in no uncertain terms that the valve on the side is to only be used by airborne troops and were opened to keep the pressure inside the boots constant while jumping out of airplanes. Fast forward 10 years my sister and her family moved to Anchorage. I moved there for 2 years also. My BIL had some surplus bunny boots and insisted that I did not know what I was talking about and any fool knew that you opened the valve and blew air into them to increase the insulating qualities. All that did was to allow moist air enter the inside of the boot that can then freeze and reduce the insulating qualities. He also wore plastic bags over his socks while wearing the bunny boots. As I recall we only broke out the bunny boots when the temp got down to - 20 or colder. Our leather GI boots with wool socks kept or feet in fine shape down to minus 20 or so. When I lived in Anchorage in in 78 and 79 I bought a pair of Sorrel pac boots and never thought I needed to buy myself a pair of bunny boots but then I do not think it ever got colder than -30 either.
Problem with pac boots is that if you go through the ice and dunk your feet, all that fur and wool etc is going to be waterlogged. With the bunny boots, you just dump them out.
Well I just bought a pair of the black Mickey Mouse boots last week & I couldn't be happier. If you are sitting still for a long time with your feet in the snow these are the raspberries! Wish I would have got a pair a long time ago.
Dick
Also try the Sportsman Guide.
+1
I bought a pair at a garage sale for one dollar.