Boots and long johns!

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Nope, this isn't a bad country song, but a thread about boots and long johns for fat guys!

Going through my outerwear over the weekend, I am good for coats, parkas (my Columbia parka was like a furnace Saturday night, went for a short walk), outershirts, pants, etc. One area that I am lacking in for the winter, boots and long johns. Other than an old pair of Nike ACG boots, and an old pair of Timberland hiking boots, I have NOTHING. Forget long johns.

Not all boots are an option for me, because I have big calves. Using the Nike and Timberland boots in the snow last year, my diabetic toes were almost half frozen, and turning dark red. I am not going to play around this year. I need something just for working in the snow. Remember, I will sit inside in the AC in the summer, but go out trekking through the deep snow. I want to get something better than the stuff available at Walmart, but want to keep it as cheap as I can.:rolleyes:
 
You can't go wrong with Rocky's or Danner. Danner gets pricey, but, you get what you pay for, I assure you.

Long johns have been the wallyhell variety for as long as I can remember. They're cheap and they work. You could go for some Underarmour, but at 50 bucks for some ball wraps, you gotta be really into it, for it to be worthwhile.

I was doing the same thing this last weekend, as I have some higher elevation and northern trips planned this winter. I came across some old polypro full body (read trapdoor) longhandles. WARNING: Only wear these guys in ARCTIC WEATHER. I picked them up new at an A/N surplus shop about 8 yrs ago. Still as good today as when they were made, but trust me, these things are for COLD weather. It was 28 degrees here this weekend, and I put'em on and headed out to the yard to whittle and see how they worked.

I was sweating before I got across the yard, and started peeling layers. I was sittin' at my picnic table in nothing but these things and I was HOT. I went back in and put them in the WTF box for zombies and TEOTWAWKI. I don't need nothing like that. Went to Wallyhell, and got be a bag of Hanes Longers for $11 for 2 pair. One red, one grey. They will be this years ride outs.

Sorry for the rant, I hope it helps.

Moose
 
If you're moving around, you should be OK.

However, of you're mostly stationary or moving very slowly, maybe something like snowboarding boots would do the job. I know it sounds a little unorthodox, but if you're mostly in snow and you're feet get cold, aside from my mountaineering boots (or maybe ski boots) the nice flex and HUGE insulation of the snowboarding boots is a pretty sweet combination and would be on my short list.

Most of these boots come with a "thermal fit" liner. Meaning, you literally bake them in an ordinary oven to make the liner flexible, put it in the boot and then put your "socked" foot in until the liner "sets up". Then you're in for some awesome warmth and a perfect fit for your feet!!!

We use these boots for when we're leading snowshoeing trips here in the mountains (we have tons of these boots for when my colleague is leading snowboarding classes). Never a complaint of cold toes.

I've frost-bit my toes at least a dozen times over the last 30 years and now i've permanent circulation problems. If i didn't already have a good boot solution these snowboard boots would be it.
 
Oh yeah, long-johns. Never, never, ever wear cotton for winter outdoors clothing. Avoid it like the plague. Cotton gets sweaty wet, stays that way and you wind up freezing your 'biscuits' off. I do not allow cotton clothing on our winter trips in any form. Period. As a poor kid growing up in northern michigan farm country it's all we had. Now i know better and fleece/lycra blends are soooo cheap.

So for walking/hiking, etc *always* start out cold (though always wear a hat and gloves for walking). Soon you'll get warmed up and you'll be glad you didn't overdress. For winter walking, some cheapie nylon trainer shell pants over some fleece long-johns like these:

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/hodgman-sleeveless-fleece-under-wader-wear-black.aspx?a=281391

work great. I have a "name brand" pair that cost about 5x these. Then i found the Sportsmans Guide and found something similar at the time for about $35. I promptly bought 3 pair - 1 for me and 2 as gifts for friends.

For the shirt, Wally World (their "Starter" brand) has polyester long-sleeve T-shirts for about $11 that are the exact same as The North Face, Marmot, Mountain Hardware, etc for about $65 which are "wicking" shirts - aka good for high-activity sports (hiking.etc).

Sorry for the text wall and i don't mean, by way of 1,000 suggestions, to presume that you don't know what you're looking for. I've been messing around with stuff for a long time and a good bit that time professionally.
 
The fleece lined jeans they sell at walmart are pretty dang nice for 20 bucks. I work outside all winter in michigan so when it gets really cold I wear some thick fleece pants under the lined jeans and I can get wet and still be warm.
I couldn`t tell you what to do for long johns I just wear whatever and if it`s warm I keep it.
For some warm boots that will last a long time try these ,if you really look around you might be able to get them cheaper but you want the white ones they are the warm ones the black ones are nice but not as warm also they are really waterproof.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/new-us-military-mickey-boots-white.aspx?a=733408
 
the guys are correct about the military poly longjohns. it doe'st get cold enough in texas for them but they are the real thing for severe weather. also the pac type rubber boots sold in many brands with interchangeable wool felt liners work good for ice & snow. it's a good idea to have 3 sets of wool felt liners for rotation.
dennis
 
I generally use polypro. Last year I bought a set of merino wool long johns. Was expensive and I thought they were a joke when they arrived by mail. They were so light I thought they had to be kidding. I wore them all winter and now its what I prefer more than anything else. Mine were MEC brand but they are very similar to WoolPower long johns. Expensive, but well worth it!
 
Polypropylene, silk or merino wool/combo long johns are great. For sitting or standing in cold conditions, various felt pac boots (i.e., Sorel, Columbia, etc.) work great; you can get them rated down to -140 F. However, they aren't that great for walking. Check out LL Bean or Cabela's for insulated boots if you're going to be doing a lot of tramping around in the cold.
 
For the last 4 or 5 winters I have been using Cabelas Guide series L.J's.
They seem to work good, and a fairly reasonably priced.
For winter boots, I've been using Danners for years. The hiker style soles don't last very long, so make sure you get a version that has a sewn leather upper and sole, then you can send them back, and they will re sole them.


EDIT... I forgot to mention, IIRRC the Cabelas Guide series LJ's come in three different weights
 
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I've been treading in a pair of Sorels for the last couple years and have no complaints. I do wear wool socks with liners, though.

As for thermals, I was gifted some silk and I'm never going back to the itchy waffle thermals. The silk feels good against the skin and keeps me warm in the nastiest of weather. I tested them at the Rockpile a couple winters ago, sitting on metal benches in the shade. Just the thermals and jeans kept me warm. Well, with the aid of a seat cushion and some beer. OK, alot of beer.
 
Check out Northern Outfitters line of boots. Their Mountain Pack boots might be perfect for you. I have a pair of their Arctic boots and love them. They used to be made here in Utah, but the company was bought out by someone from Florida so he relocated the company there. From what I hear, they are still as good. My right foot fell through the ice while ice fishing (someone's old hole) a few years ago while wearing my Actic boots. Only took a few minutes for my foot to get warm again and it stayed that way.

I also have a pair of mud boots with the foam or fleece liners. I bought them half a size to big (12 cause I'm an 11.5) and wear heavy wool socks with them. Seem to work fine and when it gets to cold for them, I switch to my Artic boots.

As for Long Johns, I'm in the market for some also so I'll keep an eye on this thread.
 
kgd said:
I generally use polypro. Last year I bought a set of merino wool long johns. Was expensive and I thought they were a joke when they arrived by mail. They were so light I thought they had to be kidding. I wore them all winter and now its what I prefer more than anything else. Mine were MEC brand but they are very similar to WoolPower long johns. Expensive, but well worth it!
Click to expand...


I had a similar revelation with socks about two years ago. This year I invested in some close-out merino john's from REI and am very much looking forward to a similar 'suprise'!
 
I just spent three days standing outside shooting in Oregon at 5,500'. Weather in the 20s and 30s with a chill wind, and not really moving.

I was wearing four or five layers up top, but below I wore:

* Icebreaker Merino longjohns, 200-weight
* Lined Cabelas hiking pants
* Cabelas or Smartwool socks
* Meindl 10" Perfekt boots.

I was never cold below the waist!

The best part: after three days, the longjohns still, ahem, smelled like they came from the store. Wool is amazing stuff.
 
Sorel 1964 Premiums all the way! Conquest for the uber-cold.

I've gone through a variety of poly-whatever longies and keep going back to my original Under Armour base and cabela's polar fleece pants and top.

I really like that the Under Armour wicks sweat away and really helps drying out while staying warm.
 
I have used most of the synthetic long underwear over the years and they all worked pretty well to varying degrees.

Last several years I have been using wool and it beats the syns unequivocally. It is lighter in weight, it breathes, doesn't absorb sweat, doesn't smell, and it feels better against the skin.

When working outdoors in sub freezing temperatures (splitting wood, cleaning stalls, loading hay, etc) the wool just plain stays dry and seems to adjust to the amount of exertion being done.

When wool comes out of the washing machine it is almost completely dry and hang drys in half an hour. Comparatively, out of the washer, the synthetics are noticeably slightly more damp.

I gave up on natural silk years ago, as on a number of occasions it got wet and clammy from sweat which caused me to get chilled. I also had noticed that it came out of the washer very damp.

Almost all my outdoor clothing is now wool. Socks, gloves, shirts, jackets, man I love the stuff.
 
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