Cold Feet?
By Buckmasters
It doesn’t seem like that long ago that we were in our stands complaining about the hot weather. Now that Christmas is just around the corner, a little bit of that warmth would be welcome during these late-season hunts.
Our hands and feet are the first to get cold as our bodies dedicate most of their warming efforts to core areas and vital organs. It’s comparatively easy to keep your hands warm with hand warmers and muffs. Your feet? Not so much.
I’ve tried the stick-on toe warmers but found they don’t seem to get the oxygen they need to produce consistent heat. Plus they always seem to end up balled up in the end of my boot. I haven’t had much luck with electric insoles, either, but it’s been a few years since I’ve tried them, and the technology might be a good bit better now.
That means I’m back to basics on trying to keep my feet warm, and what I’ve found is the best method depends heavily on the situation.
If you’re not out for a long sit, a good pair of insulated boots with a medium-thickness wool sock is the ticket. Wearing multiple pairs of socks can actually reduce blood flow to your feet and make them feel colder than if you were wearing just one pair. A little bit of air between the sock and the insulation of the boot is a good thing.
Whether you’re out for a few hours or the long haul, if you’re in an elevated treestand, the metal of the platform is your worst enemy. The metal pulls heat from anything warmer than it is. If you’ve seen the demonstration of an ice cube on a metal plate and one on something else like wood, it’s the same effect with your feet (or any part of your body that touches the metal of your stand). A rubber mat is a great solution to this problem, but make sure your mat won’t slide off the platform and fall if you turn in your stand to look or take a shot. Zip ties are a quick fix for that.
When I’m in a ground blind or hunting from the ground for a longer period, I like to use thick insulated booties. These go over your regular boots and fit loosely, so you can throw in hand warmers for added heat. I’ve even taken off my regular boots on occasion and used hand warmers and the booties. The more direct contact with the hand warmers can bring life back to even the coldest feet.
Finally, even if the cold doesn’t get to you, keep these things in mind if you’re taking a youngster or a spouse to the deer woods. If they have a fun, comfortable experience, they’re much more likely to want to go again. Your time in a stand, and theirs, should always be a positive experience.
Stay warm out there!