As a lineman in Northern Ohio I can tell you the only boots to buy are Matterhorns. They make the only steel toe, shank, and metatarsal boots I've ever been able to wear for 16 hours in 3 feet of snow at 20 below zero. Electronic socks, boots, and gloves just don't work or make you sweat.
I have cold feet from October to April and live in the frozen north but I have a pair of "moon boots" for snow season and my feet never get cold in them.
(Yes, I look like a complete dork, but my feet are not cold.)
@Curves: the boots might not be what makes you look like a dork. it just might be that phantom of the opera sweater you refuse to take off. and you should take it off, baby.
Actually, it could be useful if the outside were heated, allowing you to not slip on (and in fact melt) the copious amounts of snow/ice/frozen banana peels in the Midwest.
@twoeightnine: technically you slip because of the lack of friction as you step. Therefore, your placement of your foot on the ice would melt and you'd have more friction with the ground (rather than the ice).
But I see your point... it would have to be ridiculously hot to melt the ice that quickly.
@Kaiser-Machead: I don't know. I tend to get very cold toes. I've wanted something like this for a long time for hiking in winter.
They should generate their own power though. Someone developed a system that uses the flexing of a sole to generate electricity. I'm not sure that it could generate sufficient power for this application, but if it could, it'd be ideal.
not so fast! as a skinny guy with huge clown feet (size 13 / 160lb / 6'1") my toes are always freezing when i'm out in snow. i've tried many kinds of boots - my snowboard boots seem to be the best so far, but only suffice for about 2 or 3 hours.
i'd be more inclined to buy these boots if they had a crank to recharge the battery with.
@LittleJon:
People who tend to get cold feet/toes while wearing boots should know a few important things:
1) The material of your socks makes a big difference. Cotton should be avoided, as it retains moisture. For hiking, you should ideally have two pairs of socks: one thin inner liner, and an outer sock that's wool or microfiber. This will keep your feet warm, and much of the friction that would cause blistering is instead isolated to the area between the socks. Be careful, however, with wearing two pairs of socks. Two pairs of the wrong socks can actually make your feet stay colder.
2) Many waterproof boots don't take breathability of material into account, causing the feet to sweat. sweat = wet feet = potential to get a lot colder a lot faster. If you don't need your boots to be waterproof, get some that aren't. If you do, it may be worth the extra money to get well-made waterproof boots that can also breathe.
3) A poorly fitted boot can constrict blood flow, causing colder feet. When shopping for boots, start with the sock scheme you'll be wearing. Find a good liner sock and a good outer sock before you even start trying boots on. That way, when you're trying on boots, you'll (hopefully) go home with a pair that fits well with the socks you'll actually be wearing. I've also been told (but don't really know personally) that it's best to try on boots toward the end of the day, since feet tend to swell throughout the day, which should be taken into account when seeking the best fit.
I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on the subject... but I would say that I'm experienced enough to feel confident that these 3 things can make a big difference.
Where is the kerflurggin' snowboarding clown I asked for? I want to see him careen down the slopes to the sound of Steppenwolf's Magic Carpet Ride, or maybe NIN's The Hand That Feeds.
You should come to Kansas City sometime. We could have a snowmodo...uh, no....a surfmodo...no, uh..... a beachm....dang it....uh, Oh I know... we can have a Bar-B-QModo!
10/06/09
10/05/09
(Yes, I look like a complete dork, but my feet are not cold.)
10/05/09
*raises one eyebrow veeeerrrrry seductively*
10/05/09
Oh yeah, nice channelling of Elvis on that eyebrow sneer. *Veeerrrry effective.*
10/05/09
10/05/09
10/06/09
But I see your point... it would have to be ridiculously hot to melt the ice that quickly.
10/05/09
10/05/09
10/05/09
10/05/09
They should generate their own power though. Someone developed a system that uses the flexing of a sole to generate electricity. I'm not sure that it could generate sufficient power for this application, but if it could, it'd be ideal.
10/05/09
not so fast! as a skinny guy with huge clown feet (size 13 / 160lb / 6'1") my toes are always freezing when i'm out in snow. i've tried many kinds of boots - my snowboard boots seem to be the best so far, but only suffice for about 2 or 3 hours.
i'd be more inclined to buy these boots if they had a crank to recharge the battery with.
10/05/09
People who tend to get cold feet/toes while wearing boots should know a few important things:
1) The material of your socks makes a big difference. Cotton should be avoided, as it retains moisture. For hiking, you should ideally have two pairs of socks: one thin inner liner, and an outer sock that's wool or microfiber. This will keep your feet warm, and much of the friction that would cause blistering is instead isolated to the area between the socks. Be careful, however, with wearing two pairs of socks. Two pairs of the wrong socks can actually make your feet stay colder.
2) Many waterproof boots don't take breathability of material into account, causing the feet to sweat. sweat = wet feet = potential to get a lot colder a lot faster. If you don't need your boots to be waterproof, get some that aren't. If you do, it may be worth the extra money to get well-made waterproof boots that can also breathe.
3) A poorly fitted boot can constrict blood flow, causing colder feet. When shopping for boots, start with the sock scheme you'll be wearing. Find a good liner sock and a good outer sock before you even start trying boots on. That way, when you're trying on boots, you'll (hopefully) go home with a pair that fits well with the socks you'll actually be wearing. I've also been told (but don't really know personally) that it's best to try on boots toward the end of the day, since feet tend to swell throughout the day, which should be taken into account when seeking the best fit.
I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on the subject... but I would say that I'm experienced enough to feel confident that these 3 things can make a big difference.
Hope that's informative/helpful...
10/05/09
I think my tendency to get cold feet is actually more when wearing normal shoes and socks.
Having said that, I've been living in SoCal for 11 years, so I don't have to experience this very often.
04/02/09
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04/01/09
BLam-o the clown?
04/01/09
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03/31/09
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03/21/09
03/23/09
still too young for that drivers license, eh?
03/20/09
Maybe it's best that I'm not going after all.
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