Merino Wool
Contributors to this thread:Connecticut
From: Fletch
27-Aug-15
I know a lot of guys on here swear by merino wool socks when the weather gets cold. It seems the older I get the colder I get when sitting in the stand and it's generally my feet and my hands. Does anyone have a preferred brand or is there anything else I should be looking for when I purchase the socks (material combinations, blends etc)? Thanks in advance...weird to be talking about this in the summer!
From: John H.
27-Aug-15
My winter boots are bigger then my cool weather boots. Your feet need to breathe. Ask a construction worker why his shoes aren't tied tight in the winter. I'm sure you already know, but any "sport" type sock = no fabric softener and wash inside out.
I have a few pairs of Rocky wool blended socks I like.
From: Bloodtrail
27-Aug-15
Just buy the Artic Shield boot covers and call it a day. They work great. And leave your boots loose like John H says.
From: Will
27-Aug-15
I've done well with Merino... but last year after getting some locally made Alpalca socks, I'm hooked. It's basically Alpalca fur vs merino, but has similar properties in terms of being warm even when wet, and to me, seems a lot softer/less itchy than wool or merino.
In rubber boots you WILL get wet feet, and having something that stay's warm when wet is huge. A pair of locally made Alpalca socks, with no liner, in my woodymax's kept my feet as warm or warmer than anything I've tried to this point last year.
That said, a huge thing is what others have noted - dont tighten things up, it will hurt your warmth significantly.
From: CJD437
27-Aug-15
I use the toe warmers. They work great. Ive used them in -40F snowmobiling with no problems.
From: spikehorn
27-Aug-15
Keeping your body warm with a wool layer helps keep feet and hands warmer.
From: DeerDan
27-Aug-15
Cabelas inferno 2000 pac boots a size to big with any wool socks! Your feet will sweat!
From: spike78
27-Aug-15
X2 Will. I went on a rant last year on the CT and MA forum to recommend Alpaca socks. Why? Cuz i believe it was one of the best hunting purchases I ever made. Wicks sweat, keeps foot odor down to nothing and damn its warm! I wore them in boots that arent as thickly insulated as some previous and my feet were good all season. A hair cold maybe in the dead of winter but warm for the most part. Try them and you will see the difference!
From: Richief
27-Aug-15
Where you guys getting the alpaca socks from?
I have always used felt liners for cold weather, will try the alpaca socks.
From: Wild Bill
27-Aug-15
Wigwam and LL Bean are good wool socks. Yes, loose boots leave room for the surrounding air to get warm and wiggle the toes.
I'll second the idea to get ArcticShields. At any temperatures 40degrees and below they make a difference in comfort for me.
From: spike78
27-Aug-15
Richief, I live in MA and their is a small Alpaca farm down the road and a few shops around here sell them from that farm. If you google search Alpaca you should have no problems ordering them. I promise anyone who trys them will make wool a thing of the past. You can also get liners, hats, gloves, etc. I made a thread here last year and someone on the site drove up here and bought some and was very happy with them.
From: bigbuckbob
27-Aug-15
I'll be 65 in a couple months and toe warmers are the best thing I use. I have merino wool, smart wool, silk, poly socks, etc and the best thing is the toe warmers. I put them in my boots at the truck before heading to the stand. I use the felt lined pac boots.
From: Fletch
28-Aug-15
Thanks for the help and advice guys. Seems like the artic shields are the way to go. Tight boots have always been the problem, size 14 boots are tough enough to find, let alone ones that are wide enough for me.
From: Will
28-Aug-15
Spike - Now I'm wondering if you talking about em on the MA forum spurred me to buy em? If so - THANKS! I got them at a cool little Apple festival up here from a local farm in Philipston MA. They had all kinds of stuff from hat's to socks and everything in between, all locally grown and made. I'd be willing to bet, that there is a farm near you that sells them, or if you hit the old google machine, you can find them.
From: spike78
28-Aug-15
Will, yup theres a farm two minutes up the street. I helped shear them last year. Cool animals to mess around with. I would get a sweater as well if I can find one thats less fancy and expensive. They have Alpacas that range from 500 to 20000 dollars. Those are the cheap ones. The ones with the top fleece go for 50000 and up.