Although I agree with you as to management of your feet I'd add this. A decent layered woolen sock system is always recommended none of this synthetic nonsense. As a British soldier we used the Altberg boots all abbreviations, the YDS kestrel, the HIAX and at times Bates. You would be surprised the amount of US soldiers that wanted to trade boots. To be fair I found some of the US military boots hell of a comfortable especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our leather boots were sturdy but kept moisture and sweat more. Socks were always changed along with foot powder to avoid footrot. Our boots and woolen sock layers always kept us well in cold weather. What makes of American issue winter boots would you recommend, again any summer preference would be appreciated. Sending all the best from what was the Royal Scots before politicians got involved. Now simply the Scots battalion 🙏
Glad to hear you mention wool socks. As a 365 cyclist, I would recommend using some type of oil to coat your feet, getting in between the toes. Cheap, reliable and easily applied. Plus you can use on any exposed skin. Then, pantihose. One of the cheapest, thinnest and most versatile insulation materials I've ever found. Then, of course the wool socks. Consider making wool insoles for your 2 sizes larger boots. Easy to make from shrunken wool sweaters. Finally, consider a pair of boot gaiters from a shrunken wool sweater. Just cut the arms off the sweater and wear inverted, e.g. the wrist becomes the top ribbing around the calf and the armsceye becomes a bell that protects the gap at the top of the boot and covers the tongue and laces preventing rain and snow from entering those spaces. Not complicated, cheap, diy coziness for your feets.
Wow this is a fantastic addition. Thank you for adding all these - and I love how you can use the recycled old sweater to make most of them. You're a legend!
@@TheBearEssentials 🤗🤗🤗yeah, a bottle of oil (vitamin e, olive, baby, castor, glycerin or even vegetable) is a great & cheap skin insulator that every person facing prolonged exposure to the cold should always have in their arsenal. Ears, face, neck, hands, feet. Easy to reapply and shareable! Ask me how to make socks out of sweater sleeves!
@@Gidgetwaterbear000using a sweater in your own body size. cut sleeves off of shrunken wool sweater. Place a sleeve on a foot with the wrist band at the toes. Seam of sleeve should run up the front of shin. Sew a seam across the edge of band to create toe box of sock. I recommend using wool yarn and a big eye upholstery needle for hand sewing all seams. Next, starting at the top of the foot near the ankle, gather the loose portion of the sleeve to form fit the body of the sock to the contour of your shin with a line of pins. Sew a seam up the front of the shin using pins as a guide. Next, cut open the original sleeve seam. You can either completely remove the excess material or you can spread it open and sew it down to the front of your new sock using a running top stitch. I like the latter for the decorative aspect and padding. Cut off the top of the sleeve that is at the back of the sock to make it even all around or leave it in place if you like the extra coverage at the calf. This portion of sock creation will render a crew length sock. For a longer sock, say knee high, you will need to cut a rectangle of material from the body of the sweater that will allow the desired sock length. Use the waist band as the top opening of the sock. Follow the previous steps to form sock to the contour of the shin and calf with seam in the front and the attach the bottom opening of the new leg portion to the top opening of the sock. Sew together. You can treat the horizontal portion of the leg the same way as you did the front seam of the foot and ankle portion of the sock. You can wear the sock with the seams to the outside or turn the sock and wear them on the inside which will create a snugger fit. I like a knee high socks with the seams on the outside and the excess sleeve material flat felled and top stitched for aesthetic appearance. Good luck, I hope you try making at least one pair. They're the best socks I've ever owned! 🤗🤗🤗
Adding a tip here given to me by a technical fabric expert: keep you legs well insulated! We tend to not *feel* cold on our legs and because of that we don't really insulate them, but we actually lose quite a lot of heat through them, and cold legs will make your feet colder (the blood has to go through your cold legs to reach the feet). So even if you don't feel cold on your legs, make sure you have good insulation there, and that will help with cold feet.
I’m guilty of this- 4 layers including a big down coat up top and then a single pair of jeans on my legs 🤣 I used to be a postman too so I’d even wear shorts if if it didn’t become a conversation piece with everyone you walk past (I hate talking to strangers about the weather 😂)
Excellent advice, thank you! I don't go anywhere in winter without two pairs of wool socks. I change out my socks twice a day. I also use a pair of cheap polarfleece socks for sleeping. My warmest boots are a pair of Steger Mukluks and I also use a pair of ObOz winter boots.
damnman, that is really spot on! Tip from a medic friend with lots of nols and other outdoor experience. If you are in the field for many days at a time, allocate one pair of socks that you *never ever* remove from your tent. You put them on before bed, and remove them in the morning. The goal is your dry night socks (wool is best) remove the moisture from your feet and keep your feet from developing trench foot, you want to get your feet dry at night. You want those socks staying dry. I usually plan to change socks twice a day in the field, although I don’t usually use liner socks, and should probably start. That makes a lot of sense.
And no “SHOULD” that judgmental word that I’m trying to eliminate from my vocabulary. 🙂 If I say “I should be…” my therapist asks “who’s should is that?”
If your feet are cold, check your fit. If your boot is too tight and you’ve stuffed it with socks, it doesn’t matter how good your gear is, you will freeze. Lack of circulation in your foot and air for insulation around it is the number one reason for cold feet in arctic conditions.
Only ever experienced central European conditions but couldn't agree more. Wide toe box is invaluable to us who get cold feet easily. I generally find I have warmer feet in autumn barefoot shoes than I ever had in my fleece lined winter boots, that were too narrow for my toes.
This is awesome. For us desert hikers, cotton socks may not be a good idea, but cotton shirts and bandanas can be a life saver for the exact same reason you never wear them in the cold. Just remember that deserts get cold overnight so bring a synthetic back up.
Finally, some who understands basic heat transfer and ancillary effects. Merino wool socks Smart woof for decades . Last year woolrich made some we will see, both do not retain smell. For over 30 years I have been wearing French made rubber boots LE Chameau and AIGLE. Plain, leather lined, and neoprene. Often asked, don’t your feet sweat. Reply “ if your feet don’t sweat your going to die ( relieving heat ) You’re absolute about fit, however heel fit is paramount for wear and potentially forming blisters. I wear boots every day they last more than 5 to 10 years except soles at least 5 years. Hanging upside down to dry. Washing feet with snow and warming with body dryer size warmer before socks are damp. Reflective liner on bottom is a great way to keep moisture from bottom. A very thin wicking sock also works. Living in the woods in log cabin for 22 years full time ( Michigan UP HURON MTS) reveals what is most effective. Baffin and Sorel make acceptable foot wear, but are bulky. A new light sport caught my attention, 1 size up. Another tip when not freezing, but snow with sun , I let my feet breathe with loosing the top cinch under my ski pants and that seems to reduce moisture in the socks. Your tips are spot on with carrying extra liners/ socks. Our back country skis ALTI have binding like snow board, and are troublesome with those bulky Caribou size Sorels. The body size hand warmers also keep your electronic equipment working in extreme cold. Appreciate your posting, very timely. Wear boots for week inside to gauge fit. Climb stairs as well to verify calf and ankle response when ascending or descending stairs. Bless you brother for you shared wisdom. TRJM 🦅🙏🍀✡️
All your advice is really useful. Old soldiers who have served in cold climates usually give good advice for foot care. They recommend wearing leather boots in before going out in the field.
I'm a service member who's Arctic qualified. Without a doubt, wool socks are an absolute necessity. Another thing to keep in mind is that your skin should also be clean. If you're gonna be out for that long, wipe your feet with baby wipes and then wipe them down again dry. Things like that make up the difference.
So much good advice in one video, I’ve always stuck with leather boots, too large with thick wool socks, with spares to swap, I made insoles from tinfoil topped with wool blanket top layer. Tested to the limit in Germany during the winter excercises, occasionally we would be out for 3-4 weeks in freezing weather, snow and rain. Dry sock rotation is key
Similar situation but work related. I live in the South and it rarely gets really cold down here but when I first went to work we had some really cold spells. I worked in a shipyard where I had to stand on metal all day and the metal was extremely cold. The ground was much warmer then standing on the cold steel. We tried all kinds of ways to keep our feet warm and one way was to put on a pair of socks then a plastic bag over it covered by another sock... I tried that and like you said my feet sweated and then exposed to the super cold metal the sweat would freeze around my feet! I found 2 things that helped me, first, wool socks as you mentioned really helped keep my feet warmer and then I found a sawed off piece of scaffold board that I claimed and guarded with my life for as long as I could that I would use when I had the opportunity to stand in one place while doing my job. The 4 inch thick board acted like an insulator to keep my feet off the deck allowing them a chance to warm up. I know this really has nothing to do with what you are talking about but cold feet is no joke. I was an electrician and had the chance to work dong hook up where I had to stand in one place throughout the day, and standing there with frozen feet was absolutely miserable and not being able to walk around to stimulate circulation... But discovering wool socks was the best thing that happened to me, before then I had only worn cotton socks. I wish I had known about them from the beginning!
Here are a few tips I have learned through the years. 1) Dont let your boots freeze over night. Putting feet in frozen boots is a recipe for frost bite. Feet are not made to defrost boots. Keep those boots under your bag and keep them from freezing. A couple of hot water bottles can work to keep them warm over night and they will also drive some moisture out. 2) Vapor barriers work wonders. Liner sock, Vapor barrier, insulating sock, vapor barrier, boot. It is a hassle but the moisture is kept in the liner sock. the insulating sock stays dry. The liner socks also dry out faster than a thick insulating sock. Wool is great, but there are other materials that make great insulating socks. Just stay away from cotton. Make sure your foot system fits. If the boots are too small and tight, you are doing yourself no favors as you are hindering the flow of warm blood to your feet. Socks that are too small hinders blood flow too. I have seen frostbite because boot laces are too tight. 3) Keep the body core warm. If your core is freezing, your feet wont stand a chance. 4) when you are "standing around" on the snow, a small piece of closed cell foam to stand on makes a huge difference. 5) Dont ignore cold feet. Do something about them sooner than later. You need your feet to carry you home. While at camp make sure you get them dry and warm, air them out. Keeping them in wet socks leads to a colder foot, ie frostbite, and even what is called trench foot.
When I worked in the US Arctic many years ago, I learned to use a pac boot and needed a steel toe. Today they make a fiber toe that replaces the steel. The argument at the time, 70s, was it was more important to keep your feet warm with Bunny Boots than to worry about protecting from fracturing your toes. I learned at the time to buy a pac boot one size larger than you normally would wear. They place a wool liner in the insole made of the same material the inner boot was made from. At night, change out the insole and the wool boot. Never had cold feet even when just standing around observing others at -50s with wind chills greater than -100. All the rest of your suggestions with wool socks, etc. are wonderful ideas too!!
I live in the UK and often hike in Scotland in winter where it can get very cold and very wet. I found the advice in this video an excellent resource; clear and very informative. Well done and thank you. Phil
Good tips, I just want to add that I have a pair of synthetic socks from a reputable company (I own other products from them and they range from OK to awesome), and the synthetic socks have been unsuitable for outdoor activities for me. They keep my feet wet-cold when it's just slightly cool outside, and wet-hot in the heat. I wear cotton or bamboo socks in warm weather and wool socks around or below freezing.
Great addition. I'm personally not a fan of synthetic socks myself. I prefer wool liners / outers for many reasons, one of which is they can be dried by the fire and if an ember lands on them it wont destroy them. Also they retain insulation when wet. I have heard people like synthetic as a base layer, but far less that like synthetic as their sock base layer.
Wow, the stuff you teach us is blowing my mind! Brilliant is an understatement for some of these things. I like the why behind things. So I love that you explain some of these reasons that these things work.
Now this!!!!!! This is what UA-cam should be used for. In Cumbria England 🏴 this is fantastic advice for people like me who get out in our moist winters. Fantastic advice
Great tips on keeping your feet dry and warm. One of the best winter boots I have found for keeping my feet both dry and warm is the Russian Wool Valenki boots. I use the Neos over boot for to keep the water out when I need it, but can be removed and the Valenki can be set next to the fire to dry out, and being they are 100% wool, next to a nice warm fire they dry out fairly quickly. Using a base layer merino wool sock and a thicker wool boot sock in them is the perfect combo. Breathable mukluks are a good choice too. I have those also and have multiple wool liners to rotate them. I am an older guy and keeping my feet dry and warm are a must when enjoying the outdoors and those two options are the best I have found. I do have the thinsulate hiking boots that I have used to hike to camp and to set up camp. The mukluks are light enough that I can pack those and change into them once I am ready to kick back at camp.
I got a -50c and a -100c work boots, they've been good so far. I do get the sentiment of keeping feet dry, it's like being on break and you're coming inside. Take your foot out and let them air out if your feet are cold. It'll help a lot more than most people know.
Awesome knowledge! I'm from the south and this hasn't been much of a problem yet... but we're moving to the far north very soon and was up there last year and went out in very cold ... even with boots rated for the temp my feet were still cold! And as you know that greatly limiting... so I'm gonna follow your advice! Thanks!
It's great you mentioned Mors. Brought flashbacks to my mind. I had the privilege of meetng Mors back in 2018, a year before his passing. He was sharing his knowledge on bushcraft and winter survival during Frosted Flyer Course in Cold Lake military base in Alberta, Canada. Mors was an incredible man and his passion for what he does really shines through in everything he does. Definitely grateful for that experience
I lived in my pack boots for near 30 years in Alaska. You provide good, correct, info. I am now using compression socks as a liner with alpaca wool boot socks. Running a hiking boot bought one size large to accomodate 2 pair of socks. Your advice to sleep with liners and socks, to dry them, is good advice. I would add the boots themselves to dry. If the leather is at all humid it will freeze overnight and wet your dry liners as soon as you don them of a morning.
What a great video! And I didn't see any promotion of proprietary products. Just practical, helpful advice. Kudos! A tip from Boy Scouts: if your feet are cold, put your hat on.
Great advice and reminders. Also.. Having a couple of heat generating packets that people like to use as "hand warmers" may be a good idea to use for sticking into your moisture soaked boots for drying overnight. Not indefinitely sustainable though. Or another more bushcraft method, is to heat up a few small rocks by fire and place inside boots in sock.. so as not to scorch the outside by trying to dry near the fire.
We had boots with removable liners in the 1970s & 1980s in Minnesota. I had them for at least 3+ decades (also including the 1990s & part of the 2000s) before I bought my first pair of Columbia boots. My dad was a welder - taught it at the local VoTech & had a home welding business in an old barn. He wore the leather steel toe work boots when he was welding & had the boots with removable liners for everything else. We used to get handmade wool socks from relatives in Finland every year at the holidays.
Same here, probably because my father grew up in the Appalachian mountains and my mother grew up in Nazi Germany. When you live in poverty, you learn to survive and appreciate what you have. I grew up during the same time period as you and we were very active at the time. Therefore we were never cold, just wet.Thank you for the memories.
The best system I found for multi day mountaineering in the cold wet cascades... La Sportiva Lhotse boots, Mountain Tools insulated supergaiters, Costco wool socks, baby gold powder, and light weight portable boot dryer like Drysure... Putting on a rock hard frozen boots after climbing a mountain sucks...
Good advice: Pack boots, wool felt liner and heavy wool socks. Laced tall gaiters keep some water out during a stream crossing, or wear large plastic bags to the other side of the stream. Keep boots on when wading, and drain the boots and dry the socks as needed. Unlined boots retain less water. Start warm, stay warm, keeping the whole body warm will help the feet.
thanks man! good you mentioned socks! many people buy thick cotton socks on the basis that theyre "boot socks" but NO NO NO! i learnt from my blisters and cold feet that wool is much better. id have a whole day wearing merino wool socks and theyd still be relatively dry at the end.
Great! YT brought me here. I am from a tropical country, and find all these winter survival skills fascinating. Could have been of help in my army days long ago, when deployed in the high mountains to the north.
7:11 I never had to do it myself as a 1970s kid, but I know people who used bread bags inside their boots to keep their feet dry. I have live my whole 5+ decades on the Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota - the state record holder of -60°F air temperature is about 25 miles from my house. That record was in 1996 & normal life still went on as usual for most people. Winters are traditionally extremely cold up here with -40°F's air temperature & even colder wind chill in the coldest part of winter. Wearing layers to stay warm is something we learn very early on because our parents bundle us up for a majority of the year here. Kids still go outside to play at school recess when it's below zero out & they go skating, sledding, skiing, etc after school too. I currently wear Columbia Bugaboot boots, but I always had Sorells with the removable liners when I was younger (except that one year as a kid that I talked my mom into Moon Boots 😂). She was right, they didn't keep my feet as warm as the other brand did. I even have a pair of Sorells that were labeled for -50°F as I spent a lot of time standing by outdoor rinks or in unheated hockey rinks & the rubber around the rinks makes your feet cold pretty quickly if you aren't moving around. I can barely lift them now as to be insulated for those temps, the boots are quite heavy. 🎉 I like the tip to bring more socks & boot liners with you if you are going to be outside longer - thankfully, I have never slept outside in winter, but I have slept in cold cabins. Putting your liners/socks, etc in the sleeping bag makes the morning much warmer. A regular winter tip at home - after you've opened the bed up to air out the bedding in the morning (& the PJs), put your pajamas either under your pillow or between the sheets/blanket so they are completely covered to keep the colder room air away from them. They will feel warmer when you get ready for bed.
I have been winter camping for over 20 years. Another trick that I've done for years, which works really well, is to purchase hot hands or powdered body warmers. You can put one inside the toe of each boot before bed and Lace the boot real tight but still leave a small opening on top. The heat from the powdered warmers will help the moisture to evaporate, and the powder warmers also absorb the moisture as they produce heat. If you do it right with a good boot, you will wake up in the morning and put on a boot that is dry and feels slightly warm on the inside. Even if it gets down to -25° F the previous night.
Great tips really enjoyed the video. It reminded me of Back in the day while walking footbeats as a cop. We were issued high boot rubber galoshes for rain and snow. They were lined with some thin but fuzzy material. They were meant to go over your low top shoes. They were pull ons so no clasps, laces or openings. We weren’t supposed to wear them if it wasn’t raining or snowing but if it was really cold out the Sergeant looked the other way:) they were warm with the addition of us putting cut out newspapers as insulation for the soles. We folded the top of the boot down and it was loose around there so I guess the moisture came out near the fold. I wore these even on cruiser duty until much later when we were issued boots and were allowed to buy our own. Thanks!
Yes straight to the point 👍 we’ll explained , you have to deal with the moisture, there is no way around, boots, sleep bag or sleeping system with Bivy bag doesn’t matter, you need a plan and experiences to deal with, thanks for sharing 👍
@4:59 Canadians have perfected cold winter wear. Removable inner boot liner "There's tons of different brands that make this style" Maybe in Canada, but in the US at age 48 and an avid hiker, I've never heard of that in my life. Lol.
Awesome information & agree about 90% of it,wool or merino wool is the best choice,1 point that I never see on videos is sealing or waxing your footware/boots & drying the out after a day of trecking,I personally remove the laces,clean with saddle soap & warm them first,then apply Snoseal to all the leather then reward them,never failed me yet & also if you can get them wear a pair of gators that go to your knees,they'll keep snow,mud & water out of your boots
Great information. I carry two waterproof shock resistant rechargeable hand warmers. I can throw them into my sleeping bag, socks boots or just warm my hands and with a solar panel I have an indefinite source of heat.
I work from the back of horses and usually I’m outside in all types of weather for up to 8 hours with no way to get into shelter. Come winter I change out my cowboy boots for another pair that is half size larger. I buy the hand warmers (the boot warmers don’t work as well, they lose heat within 2 hours) you shake them to activate and throw them into the toe of my boots. That’s it. You don’t feel the warmth but I’ve had other cowboys complain about their feet freezing and I just never notice the cold. I also will throw a couple into the cat house I make every winter for the barn cats and they sure seem to appreciate them. Also I buy them during the spring clearance when they are super cheap.
One of the mistakes I did for a one day winter hike was to wear the same pair of boots while driving to the destination. Starting the hike with the foot already humid is a plan to have foot completely frozen. So now I change sox and boots just before the hike.
Excellent info (3rd video I've watched) ... I'm an Aussie, but I definitely still remember cold toes from when I was 4-6 years old in Calgary. These tips are great for cold weather situations.
Also, make sure your head and torso is covered and layered. A lot of people forget that a large percentage of your energy is to help keep your brain and core organs functioning properly. So your extremities like arms/ hands & legs/feet are the first things to be given up. So in addition to wool socks, make sure you have a warm hat on and several layers of clothing for your core and your legs.
I used to go on multi-day hikes in the Scottish Highlands in winter, and I wore plain leather hiking boots with multiple layers of wool socks. At night, I kept my socks on in the sleeping bag and they were always dry by morning, and my feet were never cold, unlike today when forced inactivity keep my feet cold most of the time.
I learned in Basic Training that the socks are the key to foot care and wool is king, leather boots are best summer or winter. I followed this rule and it always worked and only when I couldn't change or dry socks did I ever have a problem.
As a former outside worker my solution to keeping my feet warm and dry was to put some foot powder on my feet wear a pair of dress socks and then wear a good pair of wool socks. Never had a problem and also used and low heat electric boot dryer like the “ Peet “ brand. Also the spraying boots with a water repellent helps also. Thanks for the video
Under armor Gortex all season hiking boots best boot I’ve ever worn. My feet stay warm one pair of wool socks never had issues I work construction out in the elements all day into the night. As long as u can keep your feet dry. Never had an issue. Paid $110 I’ve had them 4 years now still water proof gortex is an investment I say!!!
I live roughly 65 degrees norh latitude, so low temperature is a reality for me, I use uninsulated leather boots and wool socks, several pairs that I switche during the day so I always have dry ones.
A ski boot expert told me recently never to double sock as it cuts off circulation in your feet which is one mistake Ive been making way too long, made a huge difference on those extra cold days
@@horrudu4081 ya sorry this is probs confusing. Double or even triple socks CAN work. The important factor is tightness. If you have massive boots that can fit 3 socks and you can easily move your toes you’ll be warm. (Given that the outermost sock isn’t super tight) But chances are you don’t have that as that setup is likely too bulky and will need boot sizes 2+ bigger. So under normal circumstances, 2 thick socks are too tight for most people. Too snug in the boot. It cuts off blood flow and doesn’t give enough space for insulation. If you use a thin liner sock + a thick wool overtop that’s generally the best strategy! Hope this made sense.
@@TheBearEssentials I can't speak to the double socks cutting circulation bit, but I used to march in a band. Carying a brass instrument in even a fare bit above freezing weather can pull heat away from your hands stupid fast. I had a pair of gloves that were way way too tight, looking back. My hands were freezing at like 40 or so F. I got them so cold they could barely move. Counterintuitively, removing the overly tight gloves, setting my heat sink of an instrument down, and flapping my hands around like a mad man got them warmer. Even with my brass heat sink in my hands and no gloves, the hands never got that cold again that practice. I got less tight gloves, and my hands still got cold (brass just makes you cold) they never got that bad again, even in below freezing and snow.
Very informative really like your channel . Read a old trapping magazine and it recommended silk socks under wool socks to keep your feet warm, never could find silk socks.
Ya silk is great too, mainly for how lightweight it is - and it’s actually pretty similar to merino wool in terms of absorption and wicking. Here’s a great article comparing some popular base layer materials. besthiking.net/comparison-of-base-layer-materials/
i spotted some silk yarn, presumably for baby knitwear in yarn shop. expensive af but maybe good value, if lasts long and you knit your own silk socks? :) btw, sock-knitting is actually _easier_ than e.g. sweater or even scarf. sock has no edges, y'know. just knit round and round. and if afraid of turning the heel - there is whole culture i know what only very lately learned that, they just used to knit one long...wossname, tube? bag? well, just sock or stocking straight, no corners. two, that is, and when wearing, heel finds its way.
Nice film. And thank you for this content. Really useful and totally correct! I am using merino socks with Salomon x ultra 4 gore Tex boots. Never cold, never wet.
For those sensitive to wool, there are some amazing alpaca socks out there. I've been a fan of Darn Tough's stuff for as long as I can remember but I've been slowly rotating in alpaca socks by Hollow.
I'm no longer fond of winter camping - remember being close to freezing to death over 60 years ago. Plastic bags are uncomfortable, but I've worn them many times over a light synthetic stocking, with heavier wool pairs on the outside, but plastic bags develop holes. Kamiks used to be great when they were made in Canada. Boots with removeable felt liners and extra felt sole are the only way to go unless you are just out on a day hike. The big thing that's missing in your picture are some nylon gaiters to keep the snow out of the tops. Cheers from Northern Ontario.
I think you are right. I live in the south of Norway, and the temperature is creeping down, in three days it is going to hit -22C, or -7.6F, and thats ok, if it weren't for my mistake winter boots.. :) They are watertight, and big, and cold
The vapour barrier liner sock works really great with any type insulated waterproof boot. If out camping, it is certainly much easier to dry your feet with a small towel than it is to dry your boots or socks. There is a limit to how many pair of boot liners or dry socks you can bring with you.
This is great info, wish I knew this before buying boots that were too small. Now I have a plan for my other pair that was 'way too big' which I now realize is perfect!
There are all kinds of wool socks and it can take a while before you figure out what is best for you. I also wear Gortex gaiters over my boots, to keep mud and water out, as well as protect them more. You also have to be so careful about drying your boots at the campfire, because it often causes them to shrink (I've heard of people having to cut the toes off their boots in the middle of multiple day hikes and seen people have to soak their boots in water to try to get them to fit again). Always get fitted for boots in the afternoon after you've been walking a bit; never in the morning.
WOW great video. I use the reflective material when I am. hammock camping between the hammock and the sleeping bag and it works great. Never thought about the boot insert, great idea. Thank you
I worked at a place just north of the Arctic Circle. After work in the evenings we would snowshoe at temperatures down to about -30 F. I would just wear white cotton socks with insulated hiking boots. We would also wear some insulated pants with gaiters to keep snow out of the boots. Wore layers on upper body that are easily removed to keep from sweating. Never was cold. When I did tower work in Arctic winters we would wear bunny boots. I’ve done winter camping below zero F and put on cold bunny boots, ran about a 1/2 mile and I had toasty feet.
Where cotton is really good is in hot and arid areas. It acts like basically a damp rag that you are wearing which keeps you from overheating (too much).
I wear regular leather steel toe pull on boots, nylon socks under wool socks, sometimes 2 pair depending on if it's really cold or if I have to be outside very long. We also have rubber boots for water or mud because leather boots may say waterproof but the material will still soak up moisture
I use Cofra Thermic Metguard boots for my more extreme cold resistance needs. I have wool inserts for them and I also wear a pair of merino wool socks and if a bit more is needed muk luk socks over the wool sock. These boots have a very very thick sole and helps alot with cold from the ground. I use them for working outside when its below 0 outside.
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I find primaloft to work better than thinsulate. I don’t hike much but I do linework in Maryland, we see all types of weather, epic summers, disgusting humidity, epic winters where it’s ridiculously cold for no reason, high humidity with moist cold air cuts right thru anything you can wear. I’ve tried multiple pairs of boots and have found just unlined sturdy leather boots with different weighted wool socks work great for spring, summer, and fall here. Winter, medium to heavy wool socks, a waterproof lined boot, goretex is ok but sympatec and dri-lex seems more breathable to me, thinsulate is good in its heavier weights like 600 to 1200 grams, but primaloft seems to be better for active wear. When it’s epically cold and wet a felt lined pac boot or pull on rubber boot works really good but you sacrifice mobility. Panty hose actually work really well for severe cold weather, I only do pantyhose when it’s really really cold and wet. Being outside makes you experiment with different stuff but long story short wool socks are key, and I only wear waterproof lined boots in the late fall/winter. Felt or wool linings on your snow boots seem better than thinsulate in my opinion. Do what works for you though! Only way to know is to try different stuff! Good info in this video as well thanks for posting!
I usually wear military VB boots, black ones, down to about 0. When it's really cold I wear Air Force Mukluks. They are simply canvas and heavy wool liners, amazing. Darn Tough wool socks are my choice.
Neat video thanks! I have tried many of these tricks but learned some new ones! Into the minus 25 celcius (-13F) range so far I prefer the pack boot type. The removable liner is a game changer. A bonus is they work well with snowshoes too. One type of boot that is very popular in Sweden and works good to minus 10 maybe minus 15 celcius (14F to 5F) is the "Lundhag" type which have hard cell rubber foot part and ankle and up is leather (no liner). Works well with at least double wool socks. Regular rubber boots have not worked to well for me, but maybe I just had the wrong kind in the cold. But one type that is pretty neat is the "ice fishing rubber boot" wich looks like some over inflated moon boot. However walking in them is not too great imho, but for mostly standing still Ice fishing they are good. On the wool socks I would also say use not 100% wool as it lacks wear and tear. Go for blended wool socks. Also might be a good idea to carry needle and thread and wool yearn to mend the socks. That used to be in the old timer soldier kits. An extra pair of socks or drying/warming your socks by a fire is a life-saver. Let´s hope we dont get a super cold winter. Westernkind is amazing surviving and thriving in theese conditions.
i wear a very thin wool toe sock, followed by a vapour barrier, then my thick wool sock the thin wool sock is meant to prevent abrasion since the moisture that's locked in will cause wrinkly skin and really bad friction very fast. plus it removes that annoying feeling of a plastic stuck to your skin since this thin wool toe sock is lightweight and dries faster (since its thin), it cuts down a lot of weight in cold weather. i have a similar setup for hand, lower body and upper body
Hmm. I built stone walls, even during the winters in Vermont. I am now 76, retired, and still wear the warmest socks. Year round. Wigwam Snow Whisper Pro. Cross country ski socks. Very thin, durable, firm. December now in VT and I'm wearing the only brand/make/model socks that I own, with my Oofos sandals. Insulated boots for snow shoveling, then back to the Snow Wh. Pros. and Oofos.
I always bring thick cotton socks when I'm camping in the snow. But I only use them in my sleeping bag, I switch to wool for my hiking. Much warmer than wool. I keep dry socks in baggies in case everything gets wet.
I also pack cotton for wearing in the bag. Creature comfort? Worth the weight? A summer weight hoodie, pants, and crew socks makes for a good night's sleep. BUT yes, your personal definition of cold and of hard-core is what matters to you.
Everything in this video makes sense. I followed these steps for years. My feet always froze. The classic pack boots, like Sorels, always left my feet FREEZING after even short outings outside. The issue is the non-breathable rubber. My feet sweat like crazy. I tried all the usual methods for sweat management. Always left my feet frozen. Recently, by mistake, i actually found a method that keeps my feet warm and dry for hours in the cold. I wear a cheap leather hiking/work boot with 100% cotton gym socks. It seems crazy, but my feet stay warm and dry. My only explanation is that both the cotton sock and lightweight boot are very breathable, which keeps my sweaty feet from becoming too damp. I have no other explanation.
Wool shoes and reindeer/seal skin shoes are best when the weather is very cold and snow is not wet. When snow is wet or you move around lakes there is sometimes water over the ice my choice would be rubber boots with wool liner. When im hiking i carry both shoes with me.
BRAND NEW Head To Toe COMPLETE Video on Keeping Warm in the Winter!
ua-cam.com/video/Bbnmj8CEJ8o/v-deo.html
Although I agree with you as to management of your feet I'd add this.
A decent layered woolen sock system is always recommended none of this synthetic nonsense.
As a British soldier we used the Altberg boots all abbreviations, the YDS kestrel, the HIAX and at times Bates. You would be surprised the amount of US soldiers that wanted to trade boots. To be fair I found some of the US military boots hell of a comfortable especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our leather boots were sturdy but kept moisture and sweat more. Socks were always changed along with foot powder to avoid footrot. Our boots and woolen sock layers always kept us well in cold weather.
What makes of American issue winter boots would you recommend, again any summer preference would be appreciated.
Sending all the best from what was the Royal Scots before politicians got involved. Now simply the Scots battalion 🙏
Glad to hear you mention wool socks. As a 365 cyclist, I would recommend using some type of oil to coat your feet, getting in between the toes. Cheap, reliable and easily applied. Plus you can use on any exposed skin. Then, pantihose. One of the cheapest, thinnest and most versatile insulation materials I've ever found. Then, of course the wool socks. Consider making wool insoles for your 2 sizes larger boots. Easy to make from shrunken wool sweaters. Finally, consider a pair of boot gaiters from a shrunken wool sweater. Just cut the arms off the sweater and wear inverted, e.g. the wrist becomes the top ribbing around the calf and the armsceye becomes a bell that protects the gap at the top of the boot and covers the tongue and laces preventing rain and snow from entering those spaces. Not complicated, cheap, diy coziness for your feets.
Wow this is a fantastic addition. Thank you for adding all these - and I love how you can use the recycled old sweater to make most of them. You're a legend!
@@TheBearEssentials 🤗🤗🤗yeah, a bottle of oil (vitamin e, olive, baby, castor, glycerin or even vegetable) is a great & cheap skin insulator that every person facing prolonged exposure to the cold should always have in their arsenal. Ears, face, neck, hands, feet. Easy to reapply and shareable! Ask me how to make socks out of sweater sleeves!
ok, how? 😊😊
@@Gidgetwaterbear000using a sweater in your own body size. cut sleeves off of shrunken wool sweater. Place a sleeve on a foot with the wrist band at the toes. Seam of sleeve should run up the front of shin. Sew a seam across the edge of band to create toe box of sock. I recommend using wool yarn and a big eye upholstery needle for hand sewing all seams. Next, starting at the top of the foot near the ankle, gather the loose portion of the sleeve to form fit the body of the sock to the contour of your shin with a line of pins. Sew a seam up the front of the shin using pins as a guide. Next, cut open the original sleeve seam. You can either completely remove the excess material or you can spread it open and sew it down to the front of your new sock using a running top stitch. I like the latter for the decorative aspect and padding. Cut off the top of the sleeve that is at the back of the sock to make it even all around or leave it in place if you like the extra coverage at the calf. This portion of sock creation will render a crew length sock. For a longer sock, say knee high, you will need to cut a rectangle of material from the body of the sweater that will allow the desired sock length. Use the waist band as the top opening of the sock. Follow the previous steps to form sock to the contour of the shin and calf with seam in the front and the attach the bottom opening of the new leg portion to the top opening of the sock. Sew together. You can treat the horizontal portion of the leg the same way as you did the front seam of the foot and ankle portion of the sock. You can wear the sock with the seams to the outside or turn the sock and wear them on the inside which will create a snugger fit. I like a knee high socks with the seams on the outside and the excess sleeve material flat felled and top stitched for aesthetic appearance. Good luck, I hope you try making at least one pair. They're the best socks I've ever owned! 🤗🤗🤗
Thank you! God Bless and Peace be with you. 🙂
Adding a tip here given to me by a technical fabric expert: keep you legs well insulated!
We tend to not *feel* cold on our legs and because of that we don't really insulate them, but we actually lose quite a lot of heat through them, and cold legs will make your feet colder (the blood has to go through your cold legs to reach the feet). So even if you don't feel cold on your legs, make sure you have good insulation there, and that will help with cold feet.
I’m guilty of this- 4 layers including a big down coat up top and then a single pair of jeans on my legs 🤣
I used to be a postman too so I’d even wear shorts if if it didn’t become a conversation piece with everyone you walk past (I hate talking to strangers about the weather 😂)
Thats so funny. My legs domt freeze but my feet take a beating! Gonna try
Excellent advice, thank you! I don't go anywhere in winter without two pairs of wool socks. I change out my socks twice a day. I also use a pair of cheap polarfleece socks for sleeping. My warmest boots are a pair of Steger Mukluks and I also use a pair of ObOz winter boots.
Always wear thin merino long underwear. It is warm if you are outside. And comfy if you go inside. Insulation and always dry on you skin.
Love wool socks.
damnman, that is really spot on! Tip from a medic friend with lots of nols and other outdoor experience. If you are in the field for many days at a time, allocate one pair of socks that you *never ever* remove from your tent. You put them on before bed, and remove them in the morning. The goal is your dry night socks (wool is best) remove the moisture from your feet and keep your feet from developing trench foot, you want to get your feet dry at night. You want those socks staying dry. I usually plan to change socks twice a day in the field, although I don’t usually use liner socks, and should probably start. That makes a lot of sense.
Derek thanks brother. Great addition there on having the socks you always keep in your tent!
Now that gentlemen is how it's done. No BS, no wasted time, no commercials and no begging or being TOLD to click, hit or smash buttons.👍
Really? In the first segment he repeated his point about drying the boots or being caught out camping at least 3 times. I got it, dry is good.
And no “SHOULD” that judgmental word that I’m trying to eliminate from my vocabulary. 🙂 If I say “I should be…” my therapist asks “who’s should is that?”
If your feet are cold, check your fit. If your boot is too tight and you’ve stuffed it with socks, it doesn’t matter how good your gear is, you will freeze. Lack of circulation in your foot and air for insulation around it is the number one reason for cold feet in arctic conditions.
Absolutely, as I mentioned fit is the first thing to check for!
Only ever experienced central European conditions but couldn't agree more. Wide toe box is invaluable to us who get cold feet easily. I generally find I have warmer feet in autumn barefoot shoes than I ever had in my fleece lined winter boots, that were too narrow for my toes.
Ya this is true.. I found this especially true with alpine ski boots. Tightening then hard for ski handling performance and ending up with cold toes.
Military Mickey mouse boots
This is awesome. For us desert hikers, cotton socks may not be a good idea, but cotton shirts and bandanas can be a life saver for the exact same reason you never wear them in the cold. Just remember that deserts get cold overnight so bring a synthetic back up.
This is such useful info for anyone reading the comments section. THANK YOU for contributing to the community 👊👊
-DJ
for every occasion wool is better than cotton...even arid climate
Bring WOOL backup.
I like a rayon shirt for hot country.
Finally, some who understands basic heat transfer and ancillary effects. Merino wool socks Smart woof for decades . Last year woolrich made some we will see, both do not retain smell. For over 30 years I have been wearing French made rubber boots LE Chameau and AIGLE. Plain, leather lined, and neoprene. Often asked, don’t your feet sweat. Reply “ if your feet don’t sweat your going to die ( relieving heat ) You’re absolute about fit, however heel fit is paramount for wear and potentially forming blisters. I wear boots every day they last more than 5 to 10 years except soles at least 5 years. Hanging upside down to dry. Washing feet with snow and warming with body dryer size warmer before socks are damp. Reflective liner on bottom is a great way to keep moisture from bottom. A very thin wicking sock also works.
Living in the woods in log cabin for 22 years full time ( Michigan UP HURON MTS) reveals what is most effective. Baffin and Sorel make acceptable foot wear, but are bulky. A new light sport caught my attention, 1 size up. Another tip when not freezing, but snow with sun , I let my feet breathe with loosing the top cinch under my ski pants and that seems to reduce moisture in the socks. Your tips are spot on with carrying extra liners/ socks. Our back country skis ALTI have binding like snow board, and are troublesome with those bulky Caribou size Sorels. The body size hand warmers also keep your electronic equipment working in extreme cold. Appreciate your posting, very timely. Wear boots for week inside to gauge fit. Climb stairs as well to verify calf and ankle response when ascending or descending stairs. Bless you brother for you shared wisdom. TRJM 🦅🙏🍀✡️
All your advice is really useful. Old soldiers who have served in cold climates usually give good advice for foot care. They recommend wearing leather boots in before going out in the field.
I'm a service member who's Arctic qualified. Without a doubt, wool socks are an absolute necessity. Another thing to keep in mind is that your skin should also be clean. If you're gonna be out for that long, wipe your feet with baby wipes and then wipe them down again dry. Things like that make up the difference.
I have no idea why youtube recommended you in my feed but I'm glad to know how to preserve my feet in snow even through I never get out
Hahah! This is amazing. Gave me a laugh.. thank you. I’m glad to have ya here lol
So much good advice in one video, I’ve always stuck with leather boots, too large with thick wool socks, with spares to swap, I made insoles from tinfoil topped with wool blanket top layer.
Tested to the limit in Germany during the winter excercises, occasionally we would be out for 3-4 weeks in freezing weather, snow and rain. Dry sock rotation is key
Seit wann ist es denn in Deutschland kalt bei uns hats maximal -15 grad und das ist ja nen witz
@ ja und der Schnee 🥶
Similar situation but work related. I live in the South and it rarely gets really cold down here but when I first went to work we had some really cold spells. I worked in a shipyard where I had to stand on metal all day and the metal was extremely cold. The ground was much warmer then standing on the cold steel. We tried all kinds of ways to keep our feet warm and one way was to put on a pair of socks then a plastic bag over it covered by another sock... I tried that and like you said my feet sweated and then exposed to the super cold metal the sweat would freeze around my feet! I found 2 things that helped me, first, wool socks as you mentioned really helped keep my feet warmer and then I found a sawed off piece of scaffold board that I claimed and guarded with my life for as long as I could that I would use when I had the opportunity to stand in one place while doing my job. The 4 inch thick board acted like an insulator to keep my feet off the deck allowing them a chance to warm up. I know this really has nothing to do with what you are talking about but cold feet is no joke. I was an electrician and had the chance to work dong hook up where I had to stand in one place throughout the day, and standing there with frozen feet was absolutely miserable and not being able to walk around to stimulate circulation... But discovering wool socks was the best thing that happened to me, before then I had only worn cotton socks. I wish I had known about them from the beginning!
Here are a few tips I have learned through the years. 1) Dont let your boots freeze over night. Putting feet in frozen boots is a recipe for frost bite. Feet are not made to defrost boots. Keep those boots under your bag and keep them from freezing. A couple of hot water bottles can work to keep them warm over night and they will also drive some moisture out. 2) Vapor barriers work wonders. Liner sock, Vapor barrier, insulating sock, vapor barrier, boot. It is a hassle but the moisture is kept in the liner sock. the insulating sock stays dry. The liner socks also dry out faster than a thick insulating sock. Wool is great, but there are other materials that make great insulating socks. Just stay away from cotton. Make sure your foot system fits. If the boots are too small and tight, you are doing yourself no favors as you are hindering the flow of warm blood to your feet. Socks that are too small hinders blood flow too. I have seen frostbite because boot laces are too tight. 3) Keep the body core warm. If your core is freezing, your feet wont stand a chance. 4) when you are "standing around" on the snow, a small piece of closed cell foam to stand on makes a huge difference. 5) Dont ignore cold feet. Do something about them sooner than later. You need your feet to carry you home. While at camp make sure you get them dry and warm, air them out. Keeping them in wet socks leads to a colder foot, ie frostbite, and even what is called trench foot.
When I worked in the US Arctic many years ago, I learned to use a pac boot and needed a steel toe. Today they make a fiber toe that replaces the steel. The argument at the time, 70s, was it was more important to keep your feet warm with Bunny Boots than to worry about protecting from fracturing your toes.
I learned at the time to buy a pac boot one size larger than you normally would wear. They place a wool liner in the insole made of the same material the inner boot was made from. At night, change out the insole and the wool boot. Never had cold feet even when just standing around observing others at -50s with wind chills greater than -100.
All the rest of your suggestions with wool socks, etc. are wonderful ideas too!!
Thanks! You covered all the info for selecting winter boots and socks in 9 min and 34 sec than the last ten videos I viewed in two days. Thank You.
Tight TIGHT TIGHT information presentation. You could teach most UA-camrs how to streamline their information. Big kudos to you!
I live in the UK and often hike in Scotland in winter where it can get very cold and very wet. I found the advice in this video an excellent resource; clear and very informative. Well done and thank you.
Phil
Good tips, I just want to add that I have a pair of synthetic socks from a reputable company (I own other products from them and they range from OK to awesome), and the synthetic socks have been unsuitable for outdoor activities for me. They keep my feet wet-cold when it's just slightly cool outside, and wet-hot in the heat. I wear cotton or bamboo socks in warm weather and wool socks around or below freezing.
Great addition. I'm personally not a fan of synthetic socks myself.
I prefer wool liners / outers for many reasons, one of which is they can be dried by the fire and if an ember lands on them it wont destroy them. Also they retain insulation when wet.
I have heard people like synthetic as a base layer, but far less that like synthetic as their sock base layer.
Thank you for being so thorough. I don't weigh a lot so I run cold. I always have to manage what I wear and all ears for tips and tricks.
Wow, the stuff you teach us is blowing my mind! Brilliant is an understatement for some of these things. I like the why behind things. So I love that you explain some of these reasons that these things work.
Now this!!!!!! This is what UA-cam should be used for.
In Cumbria England 🏴 this is fantastic advice for people like me who get out in our moist winters.
Fantastic advice
I bought alpaca socks. A light pair and a heavy pair. Nothing makes my feet cold when I have them on. They were a good buy for me.
Realy nice video!
There are not many people or video's that just give useful information that actually works. Very wel done, I really admire that!
Oh wow thanks so much for saying this.
Keeps me motivated to make more!
Great tips on keeping your feet dry and warm. One of the best winter boots I have found for keeping my feet both dry and warm is the Russian Wool Valenki boots. I use the Neos over boot for to keep the water out when I need it, but can be removed and the Valenki can be set next to the fire to dry out, and being they are 100% wool, next to a nice warm fire they dry out fairly quickly. Using a base layer merino wool sock and a thicker wool boot sock in them is the perfect combo. Breathable mukluks are a good choice too. I have those also and have multiple wool liners to rotate them. I am an older guy and keeping my feet dry and warm are a must when enjoying the outdoors and those two options are the best I have found. I do have the thinsulate hiking boots that I have used to hike to camp and to set up camp. The mukluks are light enough that I can pack those and change into them once I am ready to kick back at camp.
I got a -50c and a -100c work boots, they've been good so far. I do get the sentiment of keeping feet dry, it's like being on break and you're coming inside. Take your foot out and let them air out if your feet are cold. It'll help a lot more than most people know.
Awesome knowledge! I'm from the south and this hasn't been much of a problem yet... but we're moving to the far north very soon and was up there last year and went out in very cold ... even with boots rated for the temp my feet were still cold! And as you know that greatly limiting... so I'm gonna follow your advice! Thanks!
Right on, that’s awesome to hear. Where abouts are you thinking of moving?? Up in Canada?
@@TheBearEssentials lol nope ...N. Indiana can't wait! It's so beautiful there ...
It's great you mentioned Mors. Brought flashbacks to my mind. I had the privilege of meetng Mors back in 2018, a year before his passing. He was sharing his knowledge on bushcraft and winter survival during Frosted Flyer Course in Cold Lake military base in Alberta, Canada. Mors was an incredible man and his passion for what he does really shines through in everything he does. Definitely grateful for that experience
Wow you're video are amazing! Short and to the point and best of all your not trying to sell anything. I'm off to watch all your videos!
Thanks SO much!!
I lived in my pack boots for near 30 years in Alaska. You provide good, correct, info. I am now using compression socks as a liner with alpaca wool boot socks. Running a hiking boot bought one size large to accomodate 2 pair of socks.
Your advice to sleep with liners and socks, to dry them, is good advice. I would add the boots themselves to dry. If the leather is at all humid it will freeze overnight and wet your dry liners as soon as you don them of a morning.
What a great video! And I didn't see any promotion of proprietary products. Just practical, helpful advice. Kudos! A tip from Boy Scouts: if your feet are cold, put your hat on.
Great advice and reminders.
Also.. Having a couple of heat generating packets that people like to use as "hand warmers" may be a good idea to use for sticking into your moisture soaked boots for drying overnight. Not indefinitely sustainable though.
Or another more bushcraft method, is to heat up a few small rocks by fire and place inside boots in sock.. so as not to scorch the outside by trying to dry near the fire.
Bread bags kept my feet warm throughout my childhood back in the 70s and 80s. We didn't have these fancy boot like they have today.
We had boots with removable liners in the 1970s & 1980s in Minnesota. I had them for at least 3+ decades (also including the 1990s & part of the 2000s) before I bought my first pair of Columbia boots.
My dad was a welder - taught it at the local VoTech & had a home welding business in an old barn. He wore the leather steel toe work boots when he was welding & had the boots with removable liners for everything else. We used to get handmade wool socks from relatives in Finland every year at the holidays.
Lol,we did the same thing, there were some insulated rubber farmer boots...we just didn't have the money the money. Great memories though.
Me too, winter in Canada 🇨🇦
Same here, probably because my father grew up in the Appalachian mountains and my mother grew up in Nazi Germany. When you live in poverty, you learn to survive and appreciate what you have. I grew up during the same time period as you and we were very active at the time. Therefore we were never cold, just wet.Thank you for the memories.
Fantastic idea! Ty
The best system I found for multi day mountaineering in the cold wet cascades... La Sportiva Lhotse boots, Mountain Tools insulated supergaiters, Costco wool socks, baby gold powder, and light weight portable boot dryer like Drysure... Putting on a rock hard frozen boots after climbing a mountain sucks...
Good advice: Pack boots, wool felt liner and heavy wool socks. Laced tall gaiters keep some water out during a stream crossing, or wear large plastic bags to the other side of the stream. Keep boots on when wading, and drain the boots and dry the socks as needed. Unlined boots retain less water. Start warm, stay warm, keeping the whole body warm will help the feet.
Thank you for an excellant video. As an old timer I was watching for a refresher course. You covered it all! Qucikly and no nonsense. Thanks again.
This video is the best I've ever seen on moisture/cold foot management!!! Bravo!!!
thanks man! good you mentioned socks! many people buy thick cotton socks on the basis that theyre "boot socks" but NO NO NO! i learnt from my blisters and cold feet that wool is much better. id have a whole day wearing merino wool socks and theyd still be relatively dry at the end.
Great! YT brought me here. I am from a tropical country, and find all these winter survival skills fascinating. Could have been of help in my army days long ago, when deployed in the high mountains to the north.
7:11 I never had to do it myself as a 1970s kid, but I know people who used bread bags inside their boots to keep their feet dry. I have live my whole 5+ decades on the Iron Range in northeastern Minnesota - the state record holder of -60°F air temperature is about 25 miles from my house. That record was in 1996 & normal life still went on as usual for most people. Winters are traditionally extremely cold up here with -40°F's air temperature & even colder wind chill in the coldest part of winter. Wearing layers to stay warm is something we learn very early on because our parents bundle us up for a majority of the year here. Kids still go outside to play at school recess when it's below zero out & they go skating, sledding, skiing, etc after school too.
I currently wear Columbia Bugaboot boots, but I always had Sorells with the removable liners when I was younger (except that one year as a kid that I talked my mom into Moon Boots 😂). She was right, they didn't keep my feet as warm as the other brand did. I even have a pair of Sorells that were labeled for -50°F as I spent a lot of time standing by outdoor rinks or in unheated hockey rinks & the rubber around the rinks makes your feet cold pretty quickly if you aren't moving around. I can barely lift them now as to be insulated for those temps, the boots are quite heavy. 🎉
I like the tip to bring more socks & boot liners with you if you are going to be outside longer - thankfully, I have never slept outside in winter, but I have slept in cold cabins. Putting your liners/socks, etc in the sleeping bag makes the morning much warmer.
A regular winter tip at home - after you've opened the bed up to air out the bedding in the morning (& the PJs), put your pajamas either under your pillow or between the sheets/blanket so they are completely covered to keep the colder room air away from them. They will feel warmer when you get ready for bed.
I worked outside in Colorado for over 20 years, and you are absolutely correct.
I have been winter camping for over 20 years. Another trick that I've done for years, which works really well, is to purchase hot hands or powdered body warmers. You can put one inside the toe of each boot before bed and Lace the boot real tight but still leave a small opening on top. The heat from the powdered warmers will help the moisture to evaporate, and the powder warmers also absorb the moisture as they produce heat. If you do it right with a good boot, you will wake up in the morning and put on a boot that is dry and feels slightly warm on the inside. Even if it gets down to -25° F the previous night.
Great tip...thanks!
Great tips really enjoyed the video. It reminded me of Back in the day while walking footbeats as a cop. We were issued high boot rubber galoshes for rain and snow. They were lined with some thin but fuzzy material. They were meant to go over your low top shoes. They were pull ons so no clasps, laces or openings. We weren’t supposed to wear them if it wasn’t raining or snowing but if it was really cold out the Sergeant looked the other way:) they were warm with the addition of us putting cut out newspapers as insulation for the soles. We folded the top of the boot down and it was loose around there so I guess the moisture came out near the fold. I wore these even on cruiser duty until much later when we were issued boots and were allowed to buy our own. Thanks!
Yes straight to the point 👍 we’ll explained , you have to deal with the moisture, there is no way around, boots, sleep bag or sleeping system with Bivy bag doesn’t matter, you need a plan and experiences to deal with, thanks for sharing 👍
@4:59 Canadians have perfected cold winter wear. Removable inner boot liner "There's tons of different brands that make this style" Maybe in Canada, but in the US at age 48 and an avid hiker, I've never heard of that in my life. Lol.
Awesome information & agree about 90% of it,wool or merino wool is the best choice,1 point that I never see on videos is sealing or waxing your footware/boots & drying the out after a day of trecking,I personally remove the laces,clean with saddle soap & warm them first,then apply Snoseal to all the leather then reward them,never failed me yet & also if you can get them wear a pair of gators that go to your knees,they'll keep snow,mud & water out of your boots
Great information. I carry two waterproof shock resistant rechargeable hand warmers. I can throw them into my sleeping bag, socks boots or just warm my hands and with a solar panel I have an indefinite source of heat.
I work from the back of horses and usually I’m outside in all types of weather for up to 8 hours with no way to get into shelter. Come winter I change out my cowboy boots for another pair that is half size larger. I buy the hand warmers (the boot warmers don’t work as well, they lose heat within 2 hours) you shake them to activate and throw them into the toe of my boots. That’s it. You don’t feel the warmth but I’ve had other cowboys complain about their feet freezing and I just never notice the cold. I also will throw a couple into the cat house I make every winter for the barn cats and they sure seem to appreciate them. Also I buy them during the spring clearance when they are super cheap.
One of the mistakes I did for a one day winter hike was to wear the same pair of boots while driving to the destination. Starting the hike with the foot already humid is a plan to have foot completely frozen. So now I change sox and boots just before the hike.
Excellent info (3rd video I've watched) ... I'm an Aussie, but I definitely still remember cold toes from when I was 4-6 years old in Calgary. These tips are great for cold weather situations.
Also, make sure your head and torso is covered and layered.
A lot of people forget that a large percentage of your energy is to help keep your brain and core organs functioning properly. So your extremities like arms/ hands & legs/feet are the first things to be given up.
So in addition to wool socks, make sure you have a warm hat on and several layers of clothing for your core and your legs.
Sei un grande!!!
Greetings from the Dolomites Italy 🇮🇹
I used to go on multi-day hikes in the Scottish Highlands in winter, and I wore plain leather hiking boots with multiple layers of wool socks. At night, I kept my socks on in the sleeping bag and they were always dry by morning, and my feet were never cold, unlike today when forced inactivity keep my feet cold most of the time.
I learned in Basic Training that the socks are the key to foot care and wool is king, leather boots are best summer or winter. I followed this rule and it always worked and only when I couldn't change or dry socks did I ever have a problem.
100% I completely agree with this and do the same!
God, I hate the way wool feels, though. I know it's the best, but it drives me nuts.
@@lewasil have you tried merino wool? Or maybe a synthetic / wool blend would work well. Synthetics are honestly nearly as good these days
@@TheBearEssentials no, but i will check it out. Thank you! Stay warm and cozy! XOXOXO XOXOXO XOXOXO XOXOXO XOXOXO XOXOXO
What a wonderful Voice you have! I enjoy your videos.
Wow that is so sweet of you to say. My voice was always one thing I disliked growing up! This means a lot :)
I'm just going to stay inside and watch the game or take a nap while dreaming of hiking in the snowy cold outdoors.
😂 sounds like a plan!
As a former outside worker my solution to keeping my feet warm and dry was to put some foot powder on my feet wear a pair of dress socks and then wear a good pair of wool socks. Never had a problem and also used and low heat electric boot dryer like the “ Peet “ brand. Also the spraying boots with a water repellent helps also. Thanks for the video
Under armor Gortex all season hiking boots best boot I’ve ever worn. My feet stay warm one pair of wool socks never had issues I work construction out in the elements all day into the night. As long as u can keep your feet dry. Never had an issue. Paid $110 I’ve had them 4 years now still water proof gortex is an investment I say!!!
This is so informative. Always learning something new. Thank you.
Thx for watching Kathleen!! Always grateful for your continued support
I live roughly 65 degrees norh latitude, so low temperature is a reality for me, I use uninsulated leather boots and wool socks, several pairs that I switche during the day so I always have dry ones.
A ski boot expert told me recently never to double sock as it cuts off circulation in your feet which is one mistake Ive been making way too long, made a huge difference on those extra cold days
It’s crazy, it seems counterintuitive to do but actually makes you warmer! Great move
Interesting! I always wear dubble sock in my boots to reduce the risk of friction blisters.
@@horrudu4081 ya sorry this is probs confusing. Double or even triple socks CAN work. The important factor is tightness. If you have massive boots that can fit 3 socks and you can easily move your toes you’ll be warm. (Given that the outermost sock isn’t super tight)
But chances are you don’t have that as that setup is likely too bulky and will need boot sizes 2+ bigger.
So under normal circumstances, 2 thick socks are too tight for most people. Too snug in the boot. It cuts off blood flow and doesn’t give enough space for insulation.
If you use a thin liner sock + a thick wool overtop that’s generally the best strategy!
Hope this made sense.
@@TheBearEssentials I can't speak to the double socks cutting circulation bit, but I used to march in a band. Carying a brass instrument in even a fare bit above freezing weather can pull heat away from your hands stupid fast. I had a pair of gloves that were way way too tight, looking back. My hands were freezing at like 40 or so F. I got them so cold they could barely move. Counterintuitively, removing the overly tight gloves, setting my heat sink of an instrument down, and flapping my hands around like a mad man got them warmer. Even with my brass heat sink in my hands and no gloves, the hands never got that cold again that practice. I got less tight gloves, and my hands still got cold (brass just makes you cold) they never got that bad again, even in below freezing and snow.
@@CFEF44AB1399978B0011 great analogy, must be the same principle applied, hands or feet! Thanks for sharing that
Awesome video! Picked up a couple of things I had not thought of, thank you!
Very informative really like your channel . Read a old trapping magazine and it recommended silk socks under wool socks to keep your feet warm, never could find silk socks.
Ya silk is great too, mainly for how lightweight it is - and it’s actually pretty similar to merino wool in terms of absorption and wicking.
Here’s a great article comparing some popular base layer materials.
besthiking.net/comparison-of-base-layer-materials/
i spotted some silk yarn, presumably for baby knitwear in yarn shop. expensive af but maybe good value, if lasts long and you knit your own silk socks? :) btw, sock-knitting is actually _easier_ than e.g. sweater or even scarf. sock has no edges, y'know. just knit round and round. and if afraid of turning the heel - there is whole culture i know what only very lately learned that, they just used to knit one long...wossname, tube? bag? well, just sock or stocking straight, no corners. two, that is, and when wearing, heel finds its way.
Silk socks used to be worn pre-nylon as thin stockings/socks, like pantyhose. They can still be found, but they're quite expensive.
Nice film. And thank you for this content. Really useful and totally correct!
I am using merino socks with Salomon x ultra 4 gore Tex boots. Never cold, never wet.
For those sensitive to wool, there are some amazing alpaca socks out there. I've been a fan of Darn Tough's stuff for as long as I can remember but I've been slowly rotating in alpaca socks by Hollow.
I'm no longer fond of winter camping - remember being close to freezing to death over 60 years ago. Plastic bags are uncomfortable, but I've worn them many times over a light synthetic stocking, with heavier wool pairs on the outside, but plastic bags develop holes. Kamiks used to be great when they were made in Canada. Boots with removeable felt liners and extra felt sole are the only way to go unless you are just out on a day hike. The big thing that's missing in your picture are some nylon gaiters to keep the snow out of the tops. Cheers from Northern Ontario.
🤯 You Have to Design Your Brand of Hiking 🥾🥾, Your Knowledge is Spot On 👏👏👏👏👏
I think you are right. I live in the south of Norway, and the temperature is creeping down, in three days it is going to hit -22C, or -7.6F,
and thats ok, if it weren't for my mistake winter boots.. :) They are watertight, and big, and cold
The vapour barrier liner sock works really great with any type insulated waterproof boot. If out camping, it is certainly much easier to dry your feet with a small towel than it is to dry your boots or socks. There is a limit to how many pair of boot liners or dry socks you can bring with you.
This is great info, wish I knew this before buying boots that were too small. Now I have a plan for my other pair that was 'way too big' which I now realize is perfect!
There are all kinds of wool socks and it can take a while before you figure out what is best for you. I also wear Gortex gaiters over my boots, to keep mud and water out, as well as protect them more. You also have to be so careful about drying your boots at the campfire, because it often causes them to shrink (I've heard of people having to cut the toes off their boots in the middle of multiple day hikes and seen people have to soak their boots in water to try to get them to fit again). Always get fitted for boots in the afternoon after you've been walking a bit; never in the morning.
WOW great video. I use the reflective material when I am. hammock camping between the hammock and the sleeping bag and it works great. Never thought about the boot insert, great idea. Thank you
This is awesome! So helpful and explained clearly! Thanks! I knew bits of this, but not the whole strategy. Now I know where I went wrong.
I worked at a place just north of the Arctic Circle. After work in the evenings we would snowshoe at temperatures down to about -30 F. I would just wear white cotton socks with insulated hiking boots. We would also wear some insulated pants with gaiters to keep snow out of the boots. Wore layers on upper body that are easily removed to keep from sweating. Never was cold. When I did tower work in Arctic winters we would wear bunny boots. I’ve done winter camping below zero F and put on cold bunny boots, ran about a 1/2 mile and I had toasty feet.
Where cotton is really good is in hot and arid areas. It acts like basically a damp rag that you are wearing which keeps you from overheating (too much).
I wear wool socks summer and winter I love them best socks I have ever worn
This channel is exactly what I'm gonna watch before my huge hikes
Thanks so much for saying that!!! I’m glad it helps!
Mickey boots are the only boots (w/out spending $$$) that have answered the bell and lived up to the hype.
I don’t even go winter hiking anymore but this was amazing information!
I know the Merino wool socks are popular, but I swear by Alpaca socks. I love them so much, I wear them to bed in winter.
Thx DJ , you showed me one ooopps Ive been doing....not now 😊
The reflective insoles do work well. I cut out 'reflectix' material from home depot. basically bubble wrap with mylar on both sides.
I wear regular leather steel toe pull on boots, nylon socks under wool socks, sometimes 2 pair depending on if it's really cold or if I have to be outside very long. We also have rubber boots for water or mud because leather boots may say waterproof but the material will still soak up moisture
I use Cofra Thermic Metguard boots for my more extreme cold resistance needs. I have wool inserts for them and I also wear a pair of merino wool socks and if a bit more is needed muk luk socks over the wool sock. These boots have a very very thick sole and helps alot with cold from the ground. I use them for working outside when its below 0 outside.
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I find primaloft to work better than thinsulate. I don’t hike much but I do linework in Maryland, we see all types of weather, epic summers, disgusting humidity, epic winters where it’s ridiculously cold for no reason, high humidity with moist cold air cuts right thru anything you can wear. I’ve tried multiple pairs of boots and have found just unlined sturdy leather boots with different weighted wool socks work great for spring, summer, and fall here. Winter, medium to heavy wool socks, a waterproof lined boot, goretex is ok but sympatec and dri-lex seems more breathable to me, thinsulate is good in its heavier weights like 600 to 1200 grams, but primaloft seems to be better for active wear. When it’s epically cold and wet a felt lined pac boot or pull on rubber boot works really good but you sacrifice mobility. Panty hose actually work really well for severe cold weather, I only do pantyhose when it’s really really cold and wet. Being outside makes you experiment with different stuff but long story short wool socks are key, and I only wear waterproof lined boots in the late fall/winter. Felt or wool linings on your snow boots seem better than thinsulate in my opinion. Do what works for you though! Only way to know is to try different stuff! Good info in this video as well thanks for posting!
I usually wear military VB boots, black ones, down to about 0. When it's really cold I wear Air Force Mukluks. They are simply canvas and heavy wool liners, amazing. Darn Tough wool socks are my choice.
Neat video thanks! I have tried many of these tricks but learned some new ones! Into the minus 25 celcius (-13F) range so far I prefer the pack boot type. The removable liner is a game changer. A bonus is they work well with snowshoes too. One type of boot that is very popular in Sweden and works good to minus 10 maybe minus 15 celcius (14F to 5F) is the "Lundhag" type which have hard cell rubber foot part and ankle and up is leather (no liner). Works well with at least double wool socks. Regular rubber boots have not worked to well for me, but maybe I just had the wrong kind in the cold. But one type that is pretty neat is the "ice fishing rubber boot" wich looks like some over inflated moon boot. However walking in them is not too great imho, but for mostly standing still Ice fishing they are good. On the wool socks I would also say use not 100% wool as it lacks wear and tear. Go for blended wool socks. Also might be a good idea to carry needle and thread and wool yearn to mend the socks. That used to be in the old timer soldier kits. An extra pair of socks or drying/warming your socks by a fire is a life-saver. Let´s hope we dont get a super cold winter. Westernkind is amazing surviving and thriving in theese conditions.
Great info! I hate cold feet!!
i wear a very thin wool toe sock, followed by a vapour barrier, then my thick wool sock
the thin wool sock is meant to prevent abrasion since the moisture that's locked in will cause wrinkly skin and really bad friction very fast. plus it removes that annoying feeling of a plastic stuck to your skin
since this thin wool toe sock is lightweight and dries faster (since its thin), it cuts down a lot of weight in cold weather. i have a similar setup for hand, lower body and upper body
Great video, thanks. Really liking the vibe. Not sure I'll every get to use this particular knowledge. But who knows.
Thanks so much for the comment regardless. Never know when you’ll need it, at any rate, I appreciate you watching, my friend!
I've always used the plastic bag method here in the UK when it's snowed - always worked fine.
Hmm. I built stone walls, even during the winters in Vermont. I am now 76, retired, and still wear the warmest socks. Year round. Wigwam Snow Whisper Pro. Cross country ski socks. Very thin, durable, firm. December now in VT and I'm wearing the only brand/make/model socks that I own, with my Oofos sandals. Insulated boots for snow shoveling, then back to the Snow Wh. Pros. and Oofos.
DJ, this is an excellent presentation.
I always bring thick cotton socks when I'm camping in the snow. But I only use them in my sleeping bag, I switch to wool for my hiking. Much warmer than wool. I keep dry socks in baggies in case everything gets wet.
I also pack cotton for wearing in the bag. Creature comfort? Worth the weight? A summer weight hoodie, pants, and crew socks makes for a good night's sleep. BUT yes, your personal definition of cold and of hard-core is what matters to you.
Great informative video. Simple yet effective. Just right.
Everything in this video makes sense. I followed these steps for years. My feet always froze. The classic pack boots, like Sorels, always left my feet FREEZING after even short outings outside. The issue is the non-breathable rubber. My feet sweat like crazy. I tried all the usual methods for sweat management. Always left my feet frozen. Recently, by mistake, i actually found a method that keeps my feet warm and dry for hours in the cold. I wear a cheap leather hiking/work boot with 100% cotton gym socks. It seems crazy, but my feet stay warm and dry. My only explanation is that both the cotton sock and lightweight boot are very breathable, which keeps my sweaty feet from becoming too damp. I have no other explanation.
Good video. I’m not a fan of wool socks, but they definitely have their place as an essential item.
Wool shoes and reindeer/seal skin shoes are best when the weather is very cold and snow is not wet. When snow is wet or you move around lakes there is sometimes water over the ice my choice would be rubber boots with wool liner. When im hiking i carry both shoes with me.
Looking forward for your next video!
Thanks Paul! Any topics in particular you’d like to see?