My old Dunhams are just not keeping my feet warm any longer, any suggestions? Need them for when I am standing in the snow & ice, trimming the trees on the sides of our roads....Folks on another forum I frequent have suggested Sorels....
Insulated Boots....
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drewmo
Feeling the Heat
I've had a pair of Sorels since '96 and to this day they are my go-to boot, whether I'm idle or active when in the cold and snow. Love them.
Smoke Stack
Member
legrandice
Burning Hunk
I second the Sorels. I have had one pair since 1995 and they are great! A tip someone told me was to cut a piece or two of cardboard and put it under the liner if you are standing around a lot. It makes a big difference to have just that little bit more insulation.
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
+1 on Sorel. I hate cold feet. On Christmas Eve we went sliding with a large group of people (30+). 2 of my buddies and I had warm feet and didn't want to leave while everyone else was complaining they were cold. Guess what the common denominator was: sorels. 
http://www.sorelfootwear.ca/Men/men,en_CA,sc.html?view=all
http://www.sorelfootwear.ca/Men/men,en_CA,sc.html?view=all
homebrewz
Minister of Fire
Steger Mukluks.. my feet don't get cold anymore in the winter unless I'm wearing normal shoes. The mukluks have soft bottoms
which help keep the blood flowing if you're walking. Check them out and see if you might like them. They're also made in the USA.
I'm not affiliated with them, etc etc..
http://www.mukluks.com/
which help keep the blood flowing if you're walking. Check them out and see if you might like them. They're also made in the USA.
I'm not affiliated with them, etc etc..
http://www.mukluks.com/
Hogwildz
Minister of Fire
My choice for working out doors in the cold (railroad) was always a good pair of steeltoe Redwings with thinsulate, no heavy insulation, and room enough for a felt insole and an extra pair of socks. A pair of Galoshes (where'd that name come from?) for sloppy stuff. Keep 'em oiled for dry feet and wear the same pair all year. I think that approach gives you the best footing, won't puncture and is economical in the long run.
flyingcow
Minister of Fire
steel toe, warm, all around great boot if your outside working in the snow. Back in the day, 99% of the loggers up here wore these. I got a pair and they are my go to boots when i'm going to do outside work standing in snow. mud, whatever. My regular boots are Red Wings.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANGER-6145...EL-TOE-BOOTS-mens-SIZE-6-7-OR-8-/310542806966
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RANGER-6145...EL-TOE-BOOTS-mens-SIZE-6-7-OR-8-/310542806966
When I worked on the Long Island Nuclear power plant as a carpenter in the 70's the temps were getting very low, 0-5-10 etc, but my feet never got cold, in fact not only were they not cold but stayed toasty warm ALL day. That's because I wore wool socks over cotton, but for this to work they have to be 100% cotton and 100% wool, which is hard to find these days but you can find them. Feet sweat 24/7 whether you know it or not. As long as they are dry there is no problem. Cotton, even thin dress cotton socks, as long as they are 100% cotton, will absorb the sweat, and the wool will wick it away. It's amazing, as soon as you put them on in the morning you feel the heat. You can't have nylon rayon toes, they have to be 100%.
Also, put on 3 or 4 undershirts, or t shirts of any material. Keeping your trunk warm goes a long way to overall handling the cold, and if you get to warm slip one off. Just don't sweat from to many shirts.
You'll have to search online, or go to a high end mens shop and get dress socks, and expect to pay a lot. Doesn't matter how thick they are, just make sure they are 100%.
The guys that wore those or similar rubber high tops when we were working in extreme cold put plastic baggies over their socks and swore by it. I never tried it. Anyone ?
semipro
Minister of Fire
I like wool blend socks over polypropylene liners. The liners wick the moisture away and prevent blisters, the wool keeps you warm.
I recently bought a pair of Chippewa insulated, steel toe boots and am impressed with how warm they keep my feet.
I like they're Made in USA but they are heavy.
I recently bought a pair of Chippewa insulated, steel toe boots and am impressed with how warm they keep my feet.
I like they're Made in USA but they are heavy.
Smoke Stack
Member
hearthofgold brings up some good points. But, nowadays with all the new technology in breathable boots and liners, a very thin sock is required for maximum dryness, comfort, and heat. Wool over cotton will not work well with most waterproof boots. They just don't breath enough.
I work outside all year long, and I have never endured cold like I have skiing. I ski all winter long. Thin socks is the key. Thin like pantyhose.
Your feet will sweat. They MUST breath. Plastic bags is a bad idea. Wearing them all day will cause trench foot.
I work outside all year long, and I have never endured cold like I have skiing. I ski all winter long. Thin socks is the key. Thin like pantyhose.
Your feet will sweat. They MUST breath. Plastic bags is a bad idea. Wearing them all day will cause trench foot.
Kool_hand_Looke
Feeling the Heat
Screw Red Wings, screw Wolverines. I bucked up and got REAL made in USA boots but had to pay for them. Two seperate pairs. I got a pair of Danners made in Oregon. And then I went big and got a pair of Whites Smoke Jumpers.
The Danners were about $300. They are an awesome winter boot. the Whites were $530. The Whites however are unlike any boot. You send the measurements of you feet in and they build them to your exact foot print. They feel like they dont fit when you get them...because they actually DO fit.
The Danners were about $300. They are an awesome winter boot. the Whites were $530. The Whites however are unlike any boot. You send the measurements of you feet in and they build them to your exact foot print. They feel like they dont fit when you get them...because they actually DO fit.
Kool_hand_Looke
Feeling the Heat
fespo
Minister of Fire
I have tried alot of boots,different socks, different combos of the two. My feet sweet bad! The only thing that helps me is some Gold bond powder on my feet in the morning, the wool socks, then dry boots, If it is really cold i change my socks and boot at lunch time. Also I were different boots every day. I wear one pair and let the other dry slowly for a day. It helps even in the summer.
Wooden Head
Burning Hunk
You hit the nail on the head. I try to find boots that are made with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane or have a Gore-Tex booties inserts. Don't except anything other than Gore-Tex. They set the standard for the manufacturer that uses there product. Dry is the #1 issue with warm.
gyrfalcon
Minister of Fire
When I was a little kid, my mother would put me into rubber boots to go to school when it rained or snowed, and after I got there and took the boots off to change into regular shoes.... I left wet footprints all over the floor in my stocking feet. It annoys me no end that most people's feet don't do this. Maybe us wet foot people should start a club or something.
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
I have small rabbits attached to my feet after taking off cheap socks. Damn lint. I will be VP of your club.
gyrfalcon
Minister of Fire
You're on.
I don't even want to start with the problems I have keeping my feet reasonably comfortable, dry but not so dried out that I'm climbing the walls. Can't wear wool socks at all ever because that "wicking away moisture" thing makes my hair stand on end, and after about half an hour, I'm rolling around on the floor frantically ripping the socks off to be free of the torture right away now THISMINUTE, six -- count 'em, six -- pairs of footwear by the door in the winter so I can have the least amount of shoe I can get away with for the conditions, etc. Yada, yada, yada. What a waste of time and energy.
Swedishchef
Minister of Fire
I have all that..plus EEEE width. Finding shoes (running shoes, soccer shoes, etc) is like winning the lottery. Or, ingrown big toenail which isn't much fun.
gyrfalcon
Minister of Fire
Oh, yeah, been there, done that. Wide ball of foot, narrow heel, blister city. Needless to say, nobody does combination last shoes anymore like they did when i was a kid.
We could go on, but probably better not to gross everybody else out. It's the kind of thing you sit around in rockers on the porch with your cane handy and gripe about for hours in between shots.
Dry socks for me equal warm feet...PIA to change them during work however. Sorrel below -30 get a thumbs up too. Dry boots nightly too
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