Cold weather observing shoes

[Allan]

I need some better shoes for observing during long, cold sessions. Can anyone give me a recommendation for shoes or boots they wear? Comfort is also very important. Thanks all.

[glend]

Allan, I have the same issue, but thankfully winter is about over for this year. There was a variety of footwear on display at Bretti last time, one regular seems to have some nice insulated boots that look sort of like apres ski boots. I have heard that the Aldi apres ski boots are good if you can get them. Now might be the time to look for end of ski season sales. Snowmobile boots would be ideal but probably only available from Canada. I used to have some snowmobile boots and wish I kept them. Let us know if you find something warm and comfortable.

Btw last trip to Bretti I used the chemical packet handwarmers, available from most outdoor stores, and they really helped warm my toes at bedtime after standing around in the cold for hours.

Update, you inspired me into action. I bought a pair of XTM apres ski boots today online.

https://www.snowcentral.com.au/product/xtm-predator-apre-boot-adult/

[multiweb]

As long as your foot is not compressed with thick socks you won't be cold. Make sure you have the socks you'll be wearing them with when you buy them so you get one size up. Costco has some good hiking boots for $40.00 on sales. The trick to keep warm is to trap that thin layer of warm air between your skin and your clothing. Too much or too little and you'll get cold. When we were kids the first thing we did in the morning was to fill our mitten with snow and stick our hands in them. Your hands get red and very hot quite quickly. Keeps you dry and warm for the whole day when you go skiing. You generate your own heat. Otherwise you'll freeze your fingers and it hurts like hell when the blood flow comes back into your finger tips.

[Allan]

You crack me up Glen. They look pretty good. When you get them can you let me know what you think. Particularly how comfortable they are, and what the sole looks like, as far as its suitability for climbing ladders.

Thanks Marc for your thoughts.

[OzEclipse]

I was up in the Arctic for this years solar eclipse we had temps down to possibly -30C at times and for the 3 hrs we spent out at site the temperature went from -16C to -23C back to -16C.

Also stood out on the snow and ice at -10C to -15C for 6 hours one night watching auroral displays.

I bought a pair of Neos insulated overshoes. You wear them over other boots. Feet were toasty warm the whole time. Never felt cold once. To keep the insides clean, I'd recommend you put a separate pair of warm boots or shoes inside them and have another pair for driving to the site and walking around unpacking etc. They are big and not great for walking around, carrying stuff. better to put them on after you are set up.

Goto my web page
http://www.joe-cali.com/eclipses/PAST/TSE2015/index.html

There is a link at the bottom to "technical descriptions" which has a link to the shoe supplies. There are other brands of overshoe available. I have big feet- Euro size 48. Neos had the biggest shoes and the only ones that only just fitted over my boots.

Note that you have to physically measure the heel to toe length of the boots you want to wear inside the overboots then look at the sizing chart and select an overboot big enough to fit over your boots. Also, I could not purchase direct, had to use an online personal shopper service to get them & freight to me in Australia. The website has the link to the shopping service but it did almost double the price of the boots. Think I paid about A$210 for them.

Joe

[N1]

Order winter boots online from any country that has actual winters and you'll be fine.

[Allan]

Joe, nice web site and photos. Looks like a great trip. On the boots, I'm not sure they will be user friendly for climbing up and down a ladder as they sound big and bulky, and I really only need something appropriate for temps down to zero or not much less.

[LewisM]

Thongs. Seriously. Ain't be cold up here at ALL except for 3 days.

I do have a pair of snow boots Aldi sold last year. Never worn them, but they look the ticket. When I move to my dark sky site later on, I will be using them.

[OzEclipse]

You didn't mention ladder in the specifications :D just warm!

Yes it was a great trip. Thanks for the comment on the photos.

cheers

joe

[multiweb]

Nothing like the sound of 500g nagler dropping on a cold toe in the dark. :eyepop:

[Allan]

Yes, oops, sorry. There is a ladder in my not to distant future.

[glend]

Yes I wondered about that reference myself. Perhaps a trailer will be needed as well.

[Allan]

Yes and a trailer to, and the list goes on.

[AstralTraveller]

I use the husky boots sold by the old owl and find them OK, though I should have ordered a size larger. I would also be nice if they were a bit taller. With them on I'm not often aware that my feet feel cold but after observing, when I take them off in a warm room a do notice that my feet are a bit cold.

One thing I've found work wonders at keeping feet warm is overpants. Your legs aren't very sensitive to cold but you can lose a lot of heat through them, heat that is on its way to your toes. When you think about it how often do you see someone with warm boots, jumpers, coats, beanie but only one layer over their legs? I wear a pair of heavy corduroy trouser with a pair of tracky daks over them. I use the double-layer nylon pants with zip-up ankles. That has helped heaps. Cheap too.

[lazjen]

I have noticed that I'm becoming more sensitive to the cold as time goes on. Therefore, it's layers everywhere and I probably resemble michelin man by the time it's done but I don't care.

I picked up some of the Aldi snow boots last year I think - they're solid and work well. My feet are normally warm in them. It's possible to drive in them, but they're not really flexible enough to be comfortable for more than a short amount of time.

You can also do layers on your feet as well - double sock can help in the really cold times.

[glend]

I was in the Chemist yesterday and noticed they had a display of toewarmer patches near the cash register. They were the chemical patch type that had adhesive on them to attach to the bottom of your feet. Price $1.95 As an emergency measure they seem ideal.