How to keep socks/ boots dry inside

[Deleted member 48126]

I use nikes exclusively with really good heavy socks. Lace them up tight and they provide a ton of support.

https://uspatriottactical.com/nike-...MInbrQxrHr1wIVVJ7ACh3RNAwBEAQYASABEgKsQ_D_BwE

The Rocky Mountains are awesome too. You want a light comfortable boot if your packing on the miles.

https://www.rockyboots.com/rocky-me...0622366-sku^RKC042W75-adType^PLA&currency=USD

If you're worried about feet sweating they have the vents on the side to let them breath. I've only ever used those two types of boots in the military and hunting. Like I said if you buy a pair of either brand make sure you wear winter socks because they are very light weight. They have a winter version of the same boots if you wanted those instead.

Almost feels like you're wearing a sneaker. I love them a ton. Even run in them.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Also if you're worried about blisters make sure you break your boots in. Get them well seasoned and use to your feet. That will prevent 90% of blisters. I also use mole skin on high parts of my feet or places that normally get hot spots. Mole skin works great!

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Sorry I kind of went on a tangent there I hope I answered your question somewhat.

 

[turkeyfever]

I have always carried two pair of boots on a hunt. You can leave a pair in camp for the day to dry out.

 

[Mike 338]

Guys if this is in wrong place let me know and I'll move....sorry. I am wondering what to use inside my hunting boots to keep the sweat from soaking my socks and inside of boots. I'm going on a late october elk hunt in Colorado next year and trying to get everything together
.

In another thread, Litehiker addresses this by using a 3mm neoprene bootie inside his boot. This in part, mimics the US Military's answer to this problem, the Micky Mouse Boot. Essentially, you put a vapor barrier around your foot to prevent sweat and moisture from soaking your insulation. Others have tried thin grocery store plastic bags (the clear ones for produce). You should experiment.

 

[sp6x6]

If im pulling a big hike up for glassing.Ill actually pull my boots when overheating and air dry even up in snow.I run various goretex boots all brands and usually have dry feet.Ive done the pastic bag and waterproof sock also where I cross lots of creeks,you slide around in boot in plastic.On a big creek crossing I crashed and flopped like a fish.Late season in my KOM lites and stripped down and ringed out,had big mtn to climb,dried out enough to save the day in snow and nail a big muley buck

 

[djm670]

Sublimation .... freeze drying at night if the temperature is below 32F. Helps to have a breeze or a bit of wind. Take them off when you get back to camp and hang them up outside - preferreably not in a snow or ice storm. If it is cold and dry... they will dry.

I wear my leather gortex Rocky boots for both hunting and snowmobiling. Never had an issue with wet feet. I had one pair that went 6 tears with out a leak and my son abscounded with them.

https://104homestead.com/line-dry-clothes-winter/

 

[Shane Lindsey]

A friend of mine used something like these.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/st...MIgPPGiqXv1wIVnoWzCh2eywjbEAQYEiABEgLetPD_BwE

I have used the news paper but if in camp you may be limited to what you carry in. My feet sweat bad so I don't even like goretex if I can get away with it.
Best I have found when I have it on my back was to take insoles out and put them between my sleeping bag and bivvy bag, I put the socks in there also to allow your feet to harden or crust over every night if not too cold so they remain as normal as possible. I have done this with my boots also if rainy and no tent was available. Gets tight in the bivvy though.

 

[Barrelnut]

Well here's what I used to do when backcountry skiing and camping.

1) Get yourself some base camp booties (link below). Get some that will allow you to walk around camp and do light chores, etc. Put the camp booties on a soon as you are in camp for the night. Put a dry pair of synthetic socks on with them each night. This can be a pair of socks that you keep in the booties and only wear at night with the booties. This lets your hunting boots air out as quickly as possible and gets your feet out of wet socks, etc. The booties will make your feet all warm dry and toasty and allow them to rejuvenate. If you have real bad circulation and cold feet, might try a dedicated pair of battery socks with the booties.
2) Like everyone said bring LOTS of socks. You need two kinds: thin to medium pure synthetic socks like polypropylene. You will also need good 100% wool socks. Everyday you need to wear two pairs of socks in your hunting boots: a pair of the synthetics on your bare foot and then the wool socks over those.
This will help keep your feet dry because the synthetic socks will not absorb moisture and allow it to pass to the wool socks. The wool socks will collect most of the moisture and hold it. Great thing about wool is that is still insulates when wet. So the wool keeps your feet warm and the synthetic keeps the moisture from your feet.
3) Now in camp at night, a lot of the moisture will be in the wool socks so when you take your boots off they will not be as wet on the inside to start with. get in your dry synthetic socks and booties and enjoy the evening, then use fresh dry pairs of synthetic and wool socks the next day in the hunting boots.
In dry cold weather you can hang your wool socks on a branch in the wind and sun, they may dry completely during the day.
4) If it is extremely cold at night, your boots may actually freeze on you, even in your tent. There is nothing worse that frozen boots in the morning.... In weather that will cause my boots to freeze, I put each boot in a plastic bag and put them in the bottom of my sleeping bag. My body then keeps them from freezing. Even if they are damp in the morning, the fresh synthetic and wool sock combo will work. More than likely you will be able to have them in your tent without freezing. Hopefully there is a wood fire at night. You can dry them slooowly, but like everyone said you have to be very careful not to burn them.
https://www.shoes.com/baffin-base-c...uctads_pla_with_promotion-_-none-_-none-_-non

 

[Rick Richard]

All good recommendations, but the one I use to minimize moisture and eventually cold feet is the following.

Apply rub on deodorant liberally to your feet. I use an non scented product such as Arm & Hammer. Believe me, it really makes a big difference.

 

[valleysnyper]

Thanks for everyone's help, I think I'll try a few options and see what works for me. I could use more help on shoe selection, I'm thinking leather is a good option but maybe not the best. I have been told to get 1000 gr thinsulate by the guy who is tsking us, but he told me his feet don't get cold easily and mine do. Some have recommended boots, but usually they have no insulation, won't work for me. Anybodys insight eould be great. I looked at the hofan boots and price is doable for me, maybe I should take two pairs

 

[cornstalker]

I also use antiperspirant on my feet. The spray stuff is convenient, but it can wreck all the air inside a tent. Best to do it outside.

It really does work.

 

[demack]

I've done the 2nd and 3rd rifle hunts in Colorado and we've had both extremes. Hunts that were sunny and warm with temps in the hi 50's that didn't warrant a heavily insulated, water proof boot and one hunt where record snow dumped on us. I recommend taking two different shoe/boot options for both scenarios if your logistics allow (backpacking, horses, base camp, etc.). The shoe choice has a big impact on foot moisture. My go to hunting footwear is a comfortable light weight, breathable hiking shoe in low top. This goes a long way in keeping foot moisture down and in my opinion are far more comfortable climbing around a mountain than a heavy boot. For socks I wear a thick wool hiking sock and if my feet get hot or wet, I take the shoes and socks off to dry in the sun for a few minutes and makes a big difference. I avoid the boots as much as possible and on most hunts don't use them.

Lots of options, in the end like almost everything else hunting, find what you like and keeps you comfortable.

 

[GSP814]

300--I used to use a lot of foot powder and a boot manufacturer (I forgot which one) told me not to use powder, that it clogs the holes that expel the moisture. Your thoughts? Thanks.