Cold Weather Tips - Keep your FEET WARM!
Tis the season for cold weather and winter camping. But as beautiful as the winter woods are, they often come with a cost and that's cold feet. In this cold weather camping tips video I'll go over some tips and tricks for hot to keep your feet warm when the temperature drops. I'll go over some basics such as how to pick a winter boot and the importance of good circulation. Then I'll show you my layering system including my winter socks, insoles, boot liners and pac boots, as well as how I use gaiters to help keep my feet warm in winter.
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As a former professional ski patroller, enthusiastically agree with all of the above. There's one element i don't see addressed. Cover your head, keep the heat in there and it's easier to keep the rest of your body warm. There are so many tiny blood vessels in at the skin surface you can lose 60 to 70 % of your body heat through your head. Aside from the adage " cotton kills" in the mountaineering community, the next most used was always "if your feet are cold, put on a hat"" is the next most valuable.
Agree
Daniel moulton... While wool is best... The phrase "cotton kills" is simply Not true! If you use Any fabric incorrectly and get it wet with no way to dry it.. problems will occur, especially in winter!
That is False about heat loss through your head. That comes from 15 year arctic training for military.
@@tajon5394 What military? 🤡🤡🤡
Cotton will kill ya. Heat leaves you head- without insulation = a wool hat keeps your body warmer
I froze my toes late season bow hunting. That was 46 years ago. Worst pain in my life so far, and the damage to the capillaries is permanent. So I'm focused on keeping my feet warm, and I know a thing or two about it. I was doing to make this exact same video. In other words, this guy knows what he's talking about. Excellent content for the real world, all the way around. I will now peruse this channel. (My video was going to be entitled, "Warm Feet: Circulation trumps insulation." 🙂)
Saw an Arctic documentary back in the 70's and they used cayenne pepper sprinkled in their gloves and boots. We would use this method when we went skiing in the Rocky Mountains, works great!
I am so glad that you mention gaiters not only as a snow protection, but as an insulating layer. I have been hunting in Canada for ten years and always wore gaiters in cold temperatures. I have never seen another hunter wear them. I can vouch that I love them, the colder the more they are appreciated.
Gators are a must-have in my book. I also have a thick pair of leather chaps that cover the calves of my legs for hiking in the spring and summer for snake bite protection.
Everyone must enjoy cold wind blowing up their leg
They're getting more popular
In Norway wool is king, or animal hides. Wool is great since it can stay warm when wet, and is just way warmer in general.
I used to make the mistake of wearing too many socks or boots that were too tight or small, I think giving your feet some room is actually more important than the material of your sock. As long as your foot stays relatively dry. I've had super cold feet while wearing thick wool socks in boots that were too tight and had comfortable feet for hours in thicker cotton blend socks in a looser fitting boot. The boots were both about the same insulation level as well so I think the big difference was leaving room for your foot to circulate blood and also breath a little bit so they don't get sweaty and then really cold because of it.
i worked outside my whole life as a lineman for a power company up in the northeast and i would always would wear two shirts, a flannel shirt under my regular work shirt. i also wore flannel lined jeans and when it got real cold i'd put on insulated bib overalls or a whole suit.the warmest boots i had were sorrel pack boots with the wool inserts for when it really got cold like in the single digits or below zero and we had to be outside. another trick i learned and used at times was to sprinkle black pepper inside my boots and it actually worked. i'm 72 and retired so the working outside days are over except for snow removal at our house. thnx for the info.
Great comment, why the black pepper though?
@@tpowfjb the pepper actually creates some heat in your boots just like it would in your mouth, try it.
@@steveperry1344 thank you I will!
@@steveperry1344wow
The pepper thing is called capsaicin , it's used for heat and blood flow
Regarding the toe warmers, one key to increasing the effective length of time that they'll produce heat is to remove your boots every few hours and introduce some fresh oxygen to them and give the toe warmers a shake or kneed them to get air into the chemicals. This will also allow some moisture to evaporate from your socks and boots, further helping to stay warm and comfortable. Great video!
My bad experience with Hot hands could be chalked up to holding too much surface area then cause they would go from intensely hot on the table to a lot less so in my hand. I let some air in next time.
Take a high quality windshield sunscreen, the shiny ones, and cut out a piece for each boot and place it under the insole it helps reflect the heat up and the cold down, as well as a bit of cushioning. I work up north in winter and being from the south I never get used to the cold harsh winters! Give it a try…
Does the silver side go against the foot or face down
Against the foot, you can’t actually ‘reflect the cold’, only reflect the heat...
@@bigchiponmyshoulder7573 same principle people use on car intake tubing. Either make sure its polished aluminum or they add gold tape to intakes to reflect heat back. Also why space/survival blankets work. Shiny material reflects heat back at body.
The reason the Hot Toes warmers are rated for 6-8 hours, but you are only getting a couple of hours out of them is because they are designed for the oxidation to be slowed by the decreased air inside the shoe, which slows the chemical reaction. If they are outside, exposed to air, the reaction takes place at a greatly speeded up rate and makes them very hot, but for a short period of time. If you are going to stick them to the outside of your boot, place a large piece of duck tape or something over them, to slow the air flow.
Thanks for the tips. When I went skiing when younger, my fingers and feet would get cold. Wool socks only did so much. Silk socks under the wool made a big difference. Silk gloves under my ski gloves also made the difference. My extremities didn't get cold after that.
I'm a tall skinny guy, I actually am skinnier in the winter and heavier in the summer. And I'm always battling to keep warm. Something I've noticed for myself is eating. Eating always heats up my core in the cold. This video definitely helps! Gotta get shoes that aren't so tight and more wool!
Eating definitely helps
Yeah, you are more sensitive to cold when hungry. I'm quite tall and thin, and I have a pretty good cold tolerance, the only moment I really get bothered by it is if i'm exhausted or hungry!
I got cold last Saturday... I was out 6ish hours and getting snowed on the large majority of the time. I got pretty well soaked through. I got cold toes because I think the wetness got through to them. They eventually numbed up and I was able to regain my comfort. I did get up to walk a bit a few times... moving helps.
Same here man. I have to keep snacks on deck.
Try not to eat any carbs or sugars out in the cold. Experiment with a carnivore centric foods. Sugar results in vasoconstriction so your hands and feet will be the first to get cold.
Agree with the previous comments by a former ski patroller. I was the same for 8 years and can verify what he said is absolutely correct.
Wiggys lamelite socks are like magic in cold weather. Use them in an unlined boot that offers some breathability and you're golden.
Yes please what brand is that pull over
Absolutely! Dry feet are warm feet and all natural fibers (even wool) hold moisture. I'm comfortable wearing Wiggy's socks down in the teens, even when wearing UNINSULATED boots. I'm continually amazed at how well they work, even after wearing them for some years now. I have drawers full of synthetic and merino socks that never see the light of day when temps fall below 40 degrees.
I used the hot hand and feet in the winter when I was delivering mail in the winter. Walking 10 miles a day is a challenge, but cold, damp, wet, snowing, and windy conditions makes working outside very difficult.
I always carry a white gas camping stove in the winter. Besides all the points that you’ve touched, I’ve found getting right to our internal body temperature, it’s best to make a pot of hot tea and keep the body temperature up to normal. You could do all of the tricks to keep your feet dry. I always wear one pair of polyester liner socks, one pair of wool socks and a pair of outer gators.
Good stuff!
@@clayhayeshunter Thank you Clay, I’m really enjoying your bowyer videos! There’s a lot of artistry in what you’re doing! Happy Trails.
@@clayhayeshunter found an AM/FM radio that does NOT use any batteries and does NOT use rechargeable batteries and does NOT use quartz crystals and does NOT use a solar panel to make this portable electrical radio to function ! It is an amazing invention. It was designed and manufactured in the late 20th century in the country of South Africa. I will never need to buy anymore batteries to listen to a portable handheld radio. For some reason the sales and shipment to the USA are restricted.
I never though of putting something down on the ground to insulate between my feet and the ground. 41 years on this planet and it never occurred to me 😂. My feet are the only thing that ever get cold when I’m out. Great video clay!
Yeah, I think those toes are the weak link for most folks😉
I am truly mondblown that you put the warmer on the outside of your boot. I can't wait to try it!
Thank you for that important info! I’m diabetic and have poor circulation in my extremities and I learned a lot from your video!!! ❤
Medium weight tall wool socks for the win. Whenever I hear people talking about their feet freezing I ask about their socks and they are either wearing super thick socks or 2 pairs of socks. I always tell them to get one pair of socks that aren’t super thick. Gotta have that circulation! What a great video you made. I wish everybody with cold feet would watch this video!! 👍
Thanks Chuck
I love, love, love hot hands toe warmers. In my experience, I flip them around so that the wider part is adhering to the sock on the bottom of my toe area, and the narrower part goes toward my instep where my foot narrows. They last a lovely 6-8 hours and save my feet when I am walking outside running errands and trying to save gas by parking in one spot and walking to the post office, the grocery store, and the pharmacy.
A long time ago I was told to put a hat on if my feet were cold. Good advice. Very good common sense video. Thanks.
Thank you for your expertise, always appreciated clay!
Dude this is insane just got back from hunting and my feet were the only things cold most of the time and I didn’t even search this just popped up love your videos always amazing
Thanks Clay for another great useful and informative video. I am on older ex Brit Military dude and about 55 years ago the MO (Brit Military Doc) told me to Never Ever wash my feet with soap as it will remove the natural oils and I would get dry feet and blisters. To this day I only use water on my feet as do my sons and grandchildren. I also just like you, wear wool layers and the same boots. Something else that I learned decades ago was that if I was extremely cold was that a dram of scotch gets the blood flowing and warms you up. Twice I have been suffering from exposure and have downed a large scotch and within five minutes it has opened the capillaries of my blue hands and has helped to fix me, along with the hot meal a half an hour later, comprising protein, fat and carbs. Just as a footnote for a couple of hundred years, when Scottish shepherds dig lambs out of the snow, they have put a bit of whisky in the first bottle to revive the lambs. Cheers 😊
Chesty Puller also said to not wash your feet to toughen them up. A sapper recommended putting bag balm on your feet before marches and hikes and it's amazing.
Thanks 😊
HELL YEAH FRIEND. I BRING A SMALL FLAX FILLED WITH BOURBON. TO SIP ON. IN THE WINTER. AND I DO MEAN SIP. AND A GOOD HEAVY WOOL BLANKET TO WRAP UP IN. KEEP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE UP. KISS ALWAYS
And what boots are these? Sorels?
Lots of very useful info here! Thanks for sharing Clay!
These are great tips,never used gaiters, I will from now on. My son bought me a pair of Boot Blankets years ago, I never leave home without them in cold weather. As soon as I get in stand I put them on. In bitter cold I also put the feet warmers on top of my socks instead of bottom, can't stand walking on them.
Thanks for the info and congrats on 250,000 subscribers! Woot Woot!
I am watching this whle suffering from the pain in my very cold toes. This video is exactly what I need. thanks for sharing.
Absolutely
Very nice talk on feet and warmth for the rest of the core and extremities. Loved the gator application with extra wool socks. Thanks
Your ideas apply to anyone in any cold situation, including a cold home, and for me, a person with cold feet due to diabetes and impaired circulation in my right lower leg.
Agree. Schnees in the winter but always had a tough time with getting gaiters to fit over them.
Thanks Clay!!
Thanks for your teachings clay. Their very helpful.
Thanks for making the video. Good advice.
I have used the foot warmers and toe warmers that you stick to your socks and let me tell you those things are definitely a game changer. 18 degrees first day of gun season for deer and I had absolutely no problem with my feet getting cold. I’ve even used only the toe warmers but put one on the bottom at my toes and one on the bottom at the heel and I gotta tell you I had absolutely no problem with cold feet for the first time ever. I have stocked up on those and even after 7 hours I took my boots off and they were still kicking the heat. I’m not a fan of some of the brands of the whole foot warmer. The hot hands toe warmers work longer than the muddy toe warmers by a long shot. I can hunt and sit all day with no worries now.
This was a great entry to the rabbit hole of your content .. just had to subscribe! Thanks for the tips!
Absolutely agree with everything you explained! Especially keeping your core warm and circulation. Cooling off your core will cause your body to shunt circulation to extremities, like you said. People fail to connect these concepts when they overheat and try to cool down rapidly. Then can't figure out why they can't rewarm their feet or hands easily. My advice is to cool yourself slowly, or better yet, don't allow yourself to overheat in the first place.
Agree 100% on al counts ! I haven't purchased lined footwear in a few decades. Take new liners, socks, insoles, etc with you when you go looking for the next pair of boots/shoes, to get the correct fitment. Stay toasty folks !!!
Love this info. I wore my air activated heat pads in between my wool socks and took my dog out. It was 18 degrees out and I was warm lol.
Your presentation skills are spot on. I appreciate anyone that concisely tells me what they are going to tell me, tells it to me and then summarizes it. Everything is actionable. Thank you.
I appreciate that!
This will for sure help during my time at Fort Riley here in Kansas.
Great analysis thanks !!
Just purchased my gators because of your info thanks
Another thing that helps is to make sure your boots are warm before you put them on. Putting on ice cold boots just starts you off on the wrong foot (heh). Don't keep your heavy boots in the bed of your truck when you're going hunting, keep them in the warm cab with you.
Good point
All new to me and lot to lear, thank you and blessings to you for sharing all that info 🙏
I was 26 before I was taught (by my BiL) how to correctly dress for winter. My parents could only afford to buy school clothes at the beginning of the year so when it got cold I put on a few summer shirts, useless long johns and put on whatever flannel shirt I could find in daddy's closet. This lead people to believe I was going through a "redneck" phase in high school. LOL Nope just poor and uneducated about the correct ways of keeping warm. Us Floridians really do need an instruction manual to go north in the winter. This info is very appreciated!
Great advice Clay...
Thank you! Nice video, very informative.
Thanks for showing
Excellent !!! . Glad you took the time to review these important points . I never woukd have thought to put the chemical warmers on the outsude on my boot over My toes . Thank you . Good video .
Great advice and tips. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel
Excellent video dude! Great info.
Good stuff, thanks for the info!
Great video, great advice. Much love, best wishes. Holmen.
Excellent! Thanks for sharing..
I worked in the oilfield for 34 years seldom could I convince people to keep their boots loose. More socks with no circulation is a killer.
Great info!
I have used a thin silk sock as a base ..... works great too.
Great information. Thanks.
In winter I put on a sock the wicks away moisture from feet and covered with wool socks inside a good insulated boot. I have traveled in the wilderness on snow shoes, cross country skis and walking in deep snow in the mountains and never had a problem in subzero temps.
I put on thin nylon socks first, then cotton knee-length socks, then thick wool socks. I 've never had a blister that way. Wear the socks you intend to use in the cold or hiking, when you shop for boots, then wet the boots well before you break them in while wearing all those layers.
Nicely done!
Fantastic information and presentation. Thanks.
Have you ever tried 'sealskins' they are waterproof socks, hats n gloves. They act like a thermal barrier - initially I thought my feet would sweat more, but truth is once my feet reach a comfortable natural temperature they stop sweating and stay warm n dry. I'm not a hunter, but backpack long spans of time in all seasons. At night one hot hand at the base of my neck keeps my body warm for over 8 hours. Because they are activated by oxygen sometimes I have to give them a little shake to reactivate the heat, but they do last for me. As always great, thorough content.
I’ve never tried them but I’ve heard good things.
There was good info here. Thanks
Always learn something. Thank you Clay.
Great advice, thanks
Handy sounding tips. Thank you and subbed.
Good tips, thanks.
I was on a trekking trip with a group of people and I was the only one wearing gaiters (a cold but dry morning). At the end of the day after walking across lots of boggy ground and crossing a few streams, I was the only one with dry feet. The gaiters had stopped water going over the top of my boots and kept my wool socks dry.
Just finished Alone season 8. Congrats!!! Was so excited to see you on there. I was like, hey, I know that guy! 😂
I thought the same thing but I'm still so shocked to hear him talk so much when he was so quiet in school.
Most helpful brother thanks!🙏
Great video! Nothing beats wool! You can also put the foot warmer on top of your socks inside your boot.
Thanks man!
love the "hut"!
One the best videos Ive ever seen ....very helpful Very
Another great video Clay. Gonna be 12° in NC this weekend. Now I’ll be better prepared. 🌸💕
stay warm!
Great info!👍🏼💪🏼
Love my First Lite and Kuiu Merino wool items also my Schnees & Kennetrek boots, darn tough merino wool socks.
rock n roll, thanks for sharing that great information.
All damn good information. I have practiced most suggestion going on several years now. Except for a better reason to wear Gators. I simply did not realize exactly how over the calf socks & gator kept my feet warmer. I watched this on a day where it's going to hit 90 F-:)
Thanks for the great info! Your language skills are easily understood and not all "techy".
I have found that the anti sweat product called crape for feet has been a godsend since the bottom of my feet always were damp which always makes for cold feet...since using the crape, omg what a difference Give it a try
Love this info, I have been suffering from cold feet doing pest control the last 3 years, I discovered changing my socks really helped but only recently invested in some good insulated Sorel boots with the removable liner. I thought they looked ugly as sin initially until it dawned on me that the extra room allowed for the same things you mentioned here. Always nice to learn more about staying warm when you're stuck out in the field all day. Gonna pass some of these ideas along to my technicians.
Wool socks!
Here looking for some tips for this winter doing pest control too!
Just finished alone and u are my favorite by far on alone had me in almost tears when u won
Thanks 🙏
Thank you. This is the best video I've come across on this topic. A real godsend, as I'm going out on a month long trip and will need to have my strategy for warm extremities dialed in completely. Your advice largely corresponds to my own experience. Wool all the way, dry, preferably new socks, change socks consistently to avoid oversaturation, loosely tied boots to facilitate circulation and loft, and prevent sweat... I had _not_ considered conductive heat loss in my boots identical to my padded sleeping system. Further, boots with liner is a _completely_ new concept to me. It makes me embarrassed to admit I just bought a set of high quality traditional hiking boots (lifetime warranty thing) which does _not_ have liner. And I know I'm going to regret that now that I realise what I _would_ have done to keep my boots dry after a long hike; separating out all components to increase surface area and exposure to the dry, warm air from a fire. Knee socks is no new concept, but I had never considered its rationale, having prioritised several layers of long johns instead. I'm also embarrassed to say that while your experience tackles the problem at the root, I have lately been experimenting with powdering my wool liners (yes) using baby powder/climbing chalk/zinc oxide as drying agent after laundry. This method works very well in the short term for quickly drying out saturated feet after a shower, preventing clamminess and fungi. However, this is obviously not sustainable, and if you're going to be putting your feet in a a pair of damp, constricting boots anyway, leading to more sweat and poor circulation, the effects of this method are nearly useless, potentially being undone within few minutes. The practical application of insulating materials in camp was something I honestly had hardly considered until now; relying instead on my own reusable gear. It is certainly something I will take into account.
Thanks for the tips
For Pacific Northwest working outside in the cold wet mud and rain I’ll wear wool socks with neoprene lined rain boots that go almost to the knees. I usually get aftermarket insoles. For 20’s to 50’s not bad. Haven’t tried them below that but the boots are rated for below zero.
I am a 240 lb male( plenty of insulation) and struggle to keep my feet warm while party boat fishing in the winter fishing out of north Jersey. The boat is steel hulled and decked. It gets friggin cold in January. The felted wool insole pad for the boot is a fantastic tip. Thanks for the info. This video is a wealth of information.
You can Put one of those blue foam sit pads in the boat to stand on. Works great in my aluminum boat while duck hunting.
There are some commercial boots that are made for people that work in food freezing operations, refrigerated trucking etc. Some of those boots have amazing properties to keep warm.
Gaiters are awesome I love them in the winter.
Good info. Thanks
I like to stick the toe warmers to the top of my sock because of comfort also. Most of the time I take the hand warmers and attach them with painter's tape to the topside of my socks above my toes. Handwarmers are far better than toe warmers. I will have to try outside my boot though that does seem interesting. Thanks for the tip.
He seems to know his business I was taught by 2 of the greatest outdoorsmen I’ve ever known My dad and my uncle Joe Dad was mixed blood Native American/ Irish and uncle Joe from moms side was full blooded MikMak who spent 98 % of his time in the bush tending his trap lines They both taught me how to survive anywhere and this young man knows what he’s talking about
Very informative.
Remove footbed. Trace footbed on reflectix. Cut out and put in boot. Replace footbed on top. You are welcome
You had me at wool. Nothing better. 👍
Best socks I ever had are British Army vintage socks, come in vlong and short. Were introduced as super socks. Thirty years later still use them regularly.Anything after 84 are great.
Can you send me a pair! I'm in Buffalo,Ny🌬️🌀❄️😵💫🌲⛄
@@pamspencer5733 On my last pair,my wife loses my good socks as a hobby.😭🏴
I wear Wiggy’s lamilite boot socks in my rubber boots which are good into the 20s. He also makes boot liners as well for colder temps. The socks are worn next to the skin. First it transfers the sweat away from your feet without absorbing it while keeping your feet just right. The nice thing is you can go from the boots to your sleeping bag at night with the socks on, and then into cold boots in the morning with the warm socks while camping. Which is not a good idea with wool because it absorbs moisture. So wool socks and different thicknesses of socks and changing socks often, are now a thing of the past for me. Thinsulate is a poor performer compared with lamilite. And the boot socks cost me $25 for the 8 “ high socks and I’ve never looked back. He also makes other clothing items and sleeping bags as well. I have two of his bags, and his camo sweater which is also good down into the 20s. I like wool as an outer garment like a shirt, jacket or coat, but not as pants. Wool will freeze if it’s wet and cold enough. If your torso and legs are warm your feet will be happier. I agree calories and the right clothing is key.
Great tips so needed❤❤❤
So glad!
Good stuff.