Boots Against The Cold

When you’re walking the trails, down creek beds, or up in a stand, you need the right pair of boots.  My grandfather used to tell my brother and I about how cold it was when he was dug in at the Battle of the Bulge, and what they kept telling the troops was “Take care of your feet!”  I know that being in battle and deer hunting are on very different levels but your feet are still important when it comes to a hunt.  If your feet get cold, you’re done.  You can tough it out for a while but eventually you will succumb to the fatigue and the pain associated with cold feet.  Some hunters out there have the luxury of not having to hunt in below freezing temperatures but for the rest of us, it’s a serious concern.  The boots are what make the difference between being able to avoid the cold and being miserable.  When it comes to the right pair of boots for you, it’s necessary to evaluate what’s best for you.  If you want a boot that will cover you all season, I’d recommend rubber boots that are at least one size too large with at least 1000 grams of Thinsulate.  The rubber should not have any features that will make an excessive amount of noise if rubbed together and the rubber will always protect you from getting your feet wet.  The rubber will also keep foreign scents from absorbing into the boot unlike cloth boots.  Having a boot that is one size too large will make room for your extra socks and leave some air space so that air can stay inside the boot and work as an insulator to keep your feet even warmer.