Old Boots

[Short Track Hunter]

I have a pair of Danner 800g boots. About 10 years old. They no longer keep my feet warm. Does boot insulation wear out ???
Does it compress ?
It was a mild day, maybe 25-30 degrees, and my toes were just frozen.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

It sure does. You are also older than you were. Your body works less efficiently.

 

[Magnum44270]

I would sweat to death with 800g insulation in those temps!

Insulation can compress after time with lots of use, minimizing their insulation properties.

Also you could have some circulation problems.

Invest in some good merino or alpaca wool socks

 

[257WHBY13]

The Gore - Tex dies after few years

 

[adk hunter]

Ten of us hunting in the low twenties last week. Long walk to a longer stand and back to the camp at dark. Every boot type under the sun. I was the only one with toasty feet. Kennetrek NI with gaiters and mid weight darn tough socks. Dry equals warm.

 

[Horse1]

Ten of us hunting in the low twenties last week. Long walk to a longer stand and back to the camp at dark. Every boot type under the sun. I was the only one with toasty feet. Kennetrek NI with gaiters and mid weight darn tough socks. Dry equals warm. So does "Dead Air".

Yep. The biggest part of that most people completely bugger is, keeping their boots dry from the inside out, and "Tight". Keeping moisture out isn't that hard and there's lots of stuff one can use to "layer" waterprooffedness (technical term). Gore-Tex or some other membrane material that doesn't allow water in. A smorgasbord of outside treatments to the boots should repel every molecule of moisture. But, wear a doubled up set of white cotton gym socks and your feet are gonna freeze once the socks start holding sweat next to your skin. Cinch your boots down TIGHT so there's no "dead air" or "loft" in your boot's insulation and/or your socks and our feet will get cold. They'll get cold on days when your sock-weight and insulation "say" they shouldn't if you take away and space for either to actually be able to "insulate".

 

[Magnum44270]

Yep. The biggest part of that most people completely bugger is, keeping their boots dry from the inside out, and "Tight". Keeping moisture out isn't that hard and there's lots of stuff one can use to "layer" waterprooffedness (technical term). Gore-Tex or some other membrane material that doesn't allow water in. A smorgasbord of outside treatments to the boots should repel every molecule of moisture. But, wear a doubled up set of white cotton gym socks and your feet are gonna freeze once the socks start holding sweat next to your skin. Cinch your boots down TIGHT so there's no "dead air" or "loft" in your boot's insulation and/or your socks and our feet will get cold. They'll get cold on days when your sock-weight and insulation "say" they shouldn't if you take away and space for either to actually be able to "insulate".

Do not "cinch" them down tight.
That's how you overtighten them and cut off circulation. Snug them up so there is no slippage and call it good.