Keeping the feet warm...

[Gopher]

All right, so winter arrived in Wisconsin this past Wednesday night; rain into snow, ice, wind - by thursday morning the wind chill was -5. Which brings up my topic: Warm feet (or rather, cold feet.)

I've lived all over the north country, and I have owned many styles of pack boots that keep my feet toasty. The problem is, these are far to bulky to climb in. I do a lot of winter tree work, and my feet suffer. My hands get cold, but I use the hand saw to start, and they stay warm enough. It is the feet that are often times stationary.

Let me know what you wear. I'm getting to be an old dog, but willing to learn new tricks!

 

[BostonBull]

I wear SmartWool barnd wool socks. If it is really cold out I will put on a thick pair and a thin pair of these. Tehy are around 15-20 a pair but if you wash them inside out they will last for years and years. Just remember that cotton kills. Literally. What I mean is if you wear a layer of cotton and its next to your skin, the perspiration just sits in the cotton like a sponge. When the cold gets at it, it is actually hindering any warming effects all the other layers may be giving you. Keep fabrics that have wicking abilities such as wool, or a poly type blend next to your skin then layer cotton on top. But for feet either a synthetic or wool sock is the BEST.

Good luck and stay warm.

 

[SteveBullman]

It is the feet that are often times stationary.

start climbing faster!

all joking aside, i wear meindl goretex chainsaw boots and dont have no problems. even when im standing still for ages stump grinding they hold up well enough

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Vapor barrier socks will make the difference. If you want an inexpensive test, get a bread bag. Put on some synthetic liner socks, the bread bag and then insulation socks. Do the other fot without VBLs. Work until morning break. Compare how warm your foot with the VBL is to the other one. Change the VBL to the other foot. Work until lunch. At lunch you'll put a VBL/plastic bag on both feet. Your conversion to VBL is complete. Ask Gary Albig if he believes me

Before anyone goes on about VBLs turning your foot into a dripping sweaty mess, it doesn't work that way. Your foot will sweat until the moisture content reaches a certain point and then it stops sweating. I've worn VBLs for 20 years and they work!

VBLs keep your feet warm and they keep your insulation dry.

If you have the money you can buy seam taped VBLs. Us cheapies just use bread bags for a couple of days and then get another pair. With the appetites of my nephews at your house you must have plenty of bread bags

Hugs to all from Uncle Tom!

 

[kf_tree]

Just remember that cotton kills. Literally. Keep fabrics that have wicking abilities such as wool, or a poly type blend next to your skin then layer cotton on top.

Good luck and stay warm.

you crack me up some times.............

 

[BostonBull]

Thats my goal to keep YOU entertained

Now follow the bouncing ball

 

[begleytree]

Gotta agree with Tom. Those wicking socks freeze me to death, as do 2 pairs of socks. I wear one regular pair of socks, and my redwing linemans in 16.
-Ralph

 

[Gopher]

Bread bags a plenty, Tom!

Yes, Uncle Tom, we go through a pile of bread bags (bread). Remember, I make my own bread, too.

I believe I will be fine with the right kind of socks; last year I froze toes number 3 and 4 on the left foot, and they give me some trouble.

Thanks for the insight. It is nice working in the winter around here - no one around, super quiet ('cept for me!) and no leaves. Besides, one never has to put in a long day because it gets dark at 4:00 PM!

I should know better by now, but each and every year I just put it off, and then, "Bam!" winter hits and I keep working and neglect my feet.

...hey, the outdoor furnace is running great though.

 

[dogdad]

I usually wear some wick barrier and patagonia insulated socks.............. however I read where if you put some anti-perspirant..your feet will not sweat,so they will stay warm.

 

[kf_tree]

this site explains vapor barrier's very well.........caution there is some nudity. http://www.warmlite.com/start.htm

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Just remember that cotton kills. Literally. What I mean is if you wear a layer of cotton and its next to your skin, the perspiration just sits in the cotton like a sponge. When the cold gets at it, it is actually hindering any warming effects all the other layers may be giving you.

Right on the money. Cotton does NOT belong in boots!


I don't care for synthetics, either. Merino wool works for me.

 

[pmuscato]

I remember the bread bag trick from my days in Wyo. It works.

 

[NickfromWI]

With the appetites of my nephews at your house you must have plenty of bread bags

Hugs to all from Uncle Tom!

Bread bags? Not if he's baking his own bread!!!

I love smartwool, but don't listen to me. My feet do fine on their own. It's my hands that I can't keep warm.

love
nick

 

[Tree Frog]

I must say that I am very impressed at the topics of conversation and the input that people have on this site. Everyday I learn more and more. Thanks all for this information. Vapor barriers? I always wondered how to defeat the wet bag syndrome while camping as well as applying some historical information on keeping warm with the use of physics. Tks.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

Wow

Tom,
You're the man. These plastic bags on my feet are amazing! I disagree with you about Velocity, but you're right on with the bags.

But I'll have to eat 6-8 loaves of bread a week.

Maybe I'll spend the money and get a pair of "real" vapor barrier socks.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

KS,

I'm glad that you're willing to try something new.

Another thing to do is keep your knees warm. The blood goes through the thigh muscles and stays warm. the it goes through our bony knees and loses a lot of heat. Using some knee pads or neoprene wraps helps a lot.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

I'm by no means an old dog. Still a pup.

I'm still planning on ordering a piece of Blaze to try out.

 

[tawilson]

Thanks for the info about the vapor barrier socks. I always figured you're supposed to get the moisture away. I get sick of trying to dry out my boots every night. Wonder if Gander Mtn. has them? Also, probably along the line the the knee advice, keeping a scarf or something around my neck seems to up the warmth levels.

 

[clearance]

feet

This is where you spurless types have it made, spurs make your feet cold.

 

[daveyclimber]

In my line clearance days we always worked in the mountains during the winter , I bought a set of Whites lineman pack boots, they have a nice thick liner . I wear Wigwam merino wool socks and use neoprene boot liners . Those three things conbined always kept my feet warm