One of the basic rules for hunting is to keep your feet warm. In this guide we will present you a list of secrets and tricks to keep your feet warm and dry.
1. Prepare in advance. Bring an extra pair of socks, a change of clothes and shoes. Also be sure to bring water and snacks.
2. Take fruits, nuts, vegetables and seeds with you. Try to avoid spicy foods as well as foods high in sugar. The diet for a snack should be balanced, give the body the necessary fats, proteins and carbohydrates, while not causing damage to it. Don’t forget to drink water. When saturated with the right food and water, it will be easier for the body to maintain heat.
3. Try to reduce sweating. Long walks, a heavy backpack and a lot of clothing contribute to more sweating, which leads to hypothermia and colds. Here are a few tricks to reduce sweating:
a) Use a foot deodorant. Apply deodorant to your feet before you go outside. Its durability will last you about 6 hours.
b) Add or remove layers of clothing as needed.
c) Plan your outing with plenty of time. You can go out earlier and go slower, it is very useful for the body and allows you to save energy.
d) Plan ahead for a stops and short passes.
e) If it necessary, change socks and shoes after you reach your destination.
4. Use foot talcum powder. Before putting on your socks, rub your feet with powder, this will help them stay dry longer and keep them warm, as well as help eliminate unpleasant odors.
5. Put cotton or cotton balls in your shoes. They can be used as an additional leg warmer. Also place a cotton balls between a toes. Cotton balls absorb moisture and provide warmth.
6. Wear extra socks. In cold winter weather, one layer of socks is not enough, you need at least 2-3 layers. The first one is an ordinary thin sock. The second layer is a thick wool sock. If you put on three layers of socks, then the thickness of the socks increases from the thinnest sock in the first layer to the thickest and warmest sock, which comes in the third layer.
7. Take a heating pad or warm bottled water with you. Water can be used as a heating pad by placing it in the middle pocket of your hunting jacket or vest. You can also drink warm water. It helps keep you warm and also prevents dehydration.
8. Get the right hunting shoes. Carefully selected hunting shoes are the key to success. Shoes should be one size larger so that you can comfortably move your fingers. This allows air to circulate and keeps the heat in. Also, the larger size of the boots allows you to wear several pairs of socks. The outsole matters a lot too. It is necessary to choose shoes with thick soles; this prevents the penetration of cold from the ground. It is better that the boots are waterproof. Even for the passage of puddles, swamps or mud, you can have rubber boots with you.
9. For warming it is good to drink hot chocolate or cocoa with butter. Such a drink will help you warm up and get enough of the healthy fats your body needs. Scientists recommend butter as an additional source of energy. And also a hot drink will help to warm up the whole body to the fingertips.
10. Be careful with metal hunting stands. In winter, be very careful with metal, it is not recommended to wear shoes with metal toecap, as the metal cools down quickly and becomes a good conductor of cold. If it is a metal stand, then it should be lined with insulating material, such as a blanket or fabric lining. Do not use unlined metal seats.
11. Constantly do an exercises and warm-ups. If you sit or stand still, blood flow slows down, leading to heat loss and frostbite. It is necessary to bend the toes as often as possible in order to maintain blood circulation. To keep warm, it is recommended to do isometric exercises. They are no needs a large space, on the contrary, you need to strain and relax your muscles without moving your legs. When performing such exercises on the hunt, you cannot be detected.
12. Use improvised materials for additional insulation of the legs. For such purposes, cardboard is well suited. It can be used as a footrest. Also a hunter can to cut out additional insoles for shoes. The rest of the cardboard can be used to fill the extra space in the boots, thereby warming them. Cardboard will absorb excess moisture. As an additional material for insulation, you can also use fleece, making it an additional insole in shoes or using the material as a sock. If there are no improvised means, even a blanket thrown over your feet will save you.
13. Be sure to wear a hat. The head should always be warm; this allows you to save 45 percent of your body heat. A properly selected balaclava or hat will be very useful to you on hunting in cold weather. If there is not enough heat or the headdress is very thin, additionally use a scarf, wrapping it around your head. By keeping warm from above, you will provide warmth from below in the legs.
14. Buy a Camp Slipper. To keep your feet warm when you reach your destination, you need to change your socks and put on the Camp Slipper. As with boots, choose a size larger hiking slippers to ensure rest and comfort for your feet.
When someone go hunting, it needs to prepared for anything. Think in advance how to spend time comfortably. Use our secrets and tricks to keep warm. Don’t let the cold ruin your hunting.