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- Jun 5, 2006
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The thread on Vibram soles reminded me of this, it may have been done before, but let's talk about it some more.
My current favorite mukluks are the old military surplus canvas tops with rubber soles. You can find these through milsurp stores and fleabay for about $20-30, brand new never issued. They're OD green, 18 inches high, zip up the front, with lace-up ties at the foot.
I've got two pair, and I improve upon them this way:
They have no insulation so the first thing I do is go to my outdoor supplier and get a pair of flat sole felt inserts; and a pair of full-leg felt inserts about 14 inches high, like the kind they use for lining snow-mobile boots. The flat sole inserts go in first, and then the full-leg inserts on top of that, so I have a double felt lining on top of the rubber sole.
The first pair I left OD green. For the second pair, I got a can of flat black spray paint and colored them all black.
By the time you're done buying the canvas/rubber shells and the felt liners, you're probably looking at $60. Not bad.
Then I get a can of Sno-Seal (petroleum jelly and beeswax) and rub it into the fabric; and then go over it with a hair-drier to melt it in; repeat as necessary.
I've worn these outside in subzero temperatures for a couple of hours at a time and my feet never get cold or wet...don't know what it would be like after 48 hours, but I think I would be okay. They're great to wear after a heavy snowfall because they almost come up to my knee.
These are not the heavy rubber sno-pacs or Mickey Mouse boots. They are fairly light weight. And they breathe. The canvas does take some care, because you can get rubs and holes in it eventually...being canvas fabric...but care and Sno-Seal prevents that. My first pair, the ODs, are about 15 years old, worn but usable.
So, what do you like for mukluks?
My current favorite mukluks are the old military surplus canvas tops with rubber soles. You can find these through milsurp stores and fleabay for about $20-30, brand new never issued. They're OD green, 18 inches high, zip up the front, with lace-up ties at the foot.
I've got two pair, and I improve upon them this way:
They have no insulation so the first thing I do is go to my outdoor supplier and get a pair of flat sole felt inserts; and a pair of full-leg felt inserts about 14 inches high, like the kind they use for lining snow-mobile boots. The flat sole inserts go in first, and then the full-leg inserts on top of that, so I have a double felt lining on top of the rubber sole.
The first pair I left OD green. For the second pair, I got a can of flat black spray paint and colored them all black.
By the time you're done buying the canvas/rubber shells and the felt liners, you're probably looking at $60. Not bad.
Then I get a can of Sno-Seal (petroleum jelly and beeswax) and rub it into the fabric; and then go over it with a hair-drier to melt it in; repeat as necessary.
I've worn these outside in subzero temperatures for a couple of hours at a time and my feet never get cold or wet...don't know what it would be like after 48 hours, but I think I would be okay. They're great to wear after a heavy snowfall because they almost come up to my knee.
These are not the heavy rubber sno-pacs or Mickey Mouse boots. They are fairly light weight. And they breathe. The canvas does take some care, because you can get rubs and holes in it eventually...being canvas fabric...but care and Sno-Seal prevents that. My first pair, the ODs, are about 15 years old, worn but usable.
So, what do you like for mukluks?
