Boot Gloves

[Madroch]

Not sure if this has been discussed before- pardon if it has. I have always had cold feet- a situation which has worsened with a switch to a plug boot. So in anticipation of a very cold day in VT (today) bought some boot gloves. While not a cure all- my feet were more comfortable in 6.5 hours today in temps ranging from -10 to 12 (at the base) than they were in 2.5 hours at 5-11 F Thursday night. Generally speaking, they permitted me to ski almost all day (stopped due to general cold fatigue-very flat light, not feet) in weather I would not otherwise have been able to endure- and most of the time very comfortably. I don't buy the ads re: umpteen degrees warmer, but they kept me out on the hill on a very chilly day with minimum discomfort (stil had the usual marginally painful tinglies on the way home, but I did not have to stop skiing, and no real painful tinglies).

Still didn't make the debooting process any easier-- had to let the shells de thaw for about 40 minutes in the Castlerock pub before I could even think of getting them off- but that is a sacrifice one must make....:wink:

 

[Geoff]

With Hotronics and boot gloves, I can stay out as long as I want.

 

[Glenn]

I'm kicking around getting some boot gloves. But I may just go the heater route.

 

[wa-loaf]

I got some and then I forgot to put them on last week. I'm going to try them again on Thursday.

 

[bvibert]

I have some that I've used a few times when I got them ~4 years ago. I'm not even sure where they are anymore. They seemed to work ok, but I can't really say since my cold feet was due to ill fitting boots at the time. I could see pulling them out for my next below zero day, just to see how effective they are, but that's about it.

 

[SkiingInABlueDream]

I had always been skeptical of these but I gave them a try this past weekend at Jay and became sold. I don't remember the exact temps but saturday (jan 17) was a really cold day. Anyway one ride up on Bonnie chair, it occurred to me that my feet were comfortable while my legs were cold and I could feel the wind through my pants. Normally my feet are always colder than my legs. And this wasn't fresh out of the lodge either, we'd been out long enough for a good boot cooldown. So yeah, Im convinced they work.

 

[Geoff]

Boot Glove care & feeding:

They work fine to cut the edge off. For me, it was the difference between 1 or 2 runs and back inside when it was subzero; and 4 or 5 runs and back inside. They're also very useful on powder days when the constant contact with snow sucks all the heat out of your boots.

Hotronics are better. On super-cold days, I use both Hotronics and Boot Gloves and can stay out as long as I want without getting cold feet.

Beware that the strap that goes under your boot wears fairly quickly. Don't walk in them.

 

[drjeff]

Bought a pair today. Not a bad product at all. Definately kept the toes warmer longer today when I was wearing them. Ultimately though, without any additional internal boot heat source, the cold will eventually win out. However with them on today I was definately able to double and maybe even triple the number of runs that I would have usually taken before I needed to venture into the lodge and warm up

 

[Geoff]

Bought a pair today. Not a bad product at all. Definately kept the toes warmer longer today when I was wearing them. Ultimately though, without any additional internal boot heat source, the cold will eventually win out. However with them on today I was definately able to double and maybe even triple the number of runs that I would have usually taken before I needed to venture into the lodge and warm up

That was always my experience with Boot Gloves. 5 runs instead of 2.

You also get much better results on powder days where you really do need the added insulation to prevent the snow from sucking all the heat out of your boots.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Wimps I tell you, Wimps!

 

[deadheadskier]

Might look into them after today. I did three runs then four before I reached my breaking point. I generally don't have too much of a problem, but Tenney's summit lift is a solid 15 minute ride. I'd get to the bottom and my toes weren't too bad, but by the time I got back up to the summit, they were freezing.

Hot tronics might be the better option for me to help on the lift ride.

 

[Geoff]

Hotronics might be the better option for me to help on the lift ride.

On really cold days, I use both Boot Gloves and Hotronics heaters. In April/May, you should be able to find Hotronics for 50%-off. Honor the 11th commandment: "Thou shalt not pay retail". I'll keep an eye out on eBay and at the local ski shops.

 

[wa-loaf]

So I finally used mine last week. They certainly helped. My toes still felt cold, but I didn't get that "frost bite" feel I have been getting with these boots. Getting some new intuition liners on Sunday. We'll have to see if they are warmer than my stock liner. The boot glove is a pain to deal with.

 

[billski]

I don't get it. You guys must have extreme problems, or I have no blood. Maybe the later.
I just buy a box of toe warmers from Costco each fall (I think I paid $25) and slap them on whenever the temp is below zero. Good for 4 hours and I'm a happy camper.

I'm assuming you do all the regular precautions like starting the day with fresh, dry socks, changing socks midday, keep your boots warm before skiing and dry feet/making sure your feet aren't perspiring before you ski?

Then again, my wife makes me sleep in the backyard with my dog in his doghouse

 

[wa-loaf]

I don't get it. You guys must have extreme problems, or I have no blood. Maybe the later.
I just buy a box of toe warmers from Costco each fall (I think I paid $25) and slap them on whenever the temp is below zero. Good for 4 hours and I'm a happy camper.

I'm assuming you do all the regular precautions like starting the day with fresh, dry socks, changing socks midday, keep your boots warm before skiing and dry feet/making sure your feet aren't perspiring before you ski?

Then again, my wife makes me sleep in the backyard with my dog in his doghouse

Yes to all of this. It's just something with this particular pair of boots that they seem to transmit cold more than usual.

 

[Geoff]

I don't get it. You guys must have extreme problems, or I have no blood. Maybe the later.
I just buy a box of toe warmers from Costco each fall (I think I paid $25) and slap them on whenever the temp is below zero. Good for 4 hours and I'm a happy camper.

In my case, I'm skiing with liners that use the old Head/San Marco silicon injection system. Between my foot and the shell, I basically have bathtub caulk. It doesn't insulate very well but the fit is excellent and the liners outlast the shells instead of dropping dead at 100 days like stock foam liners. I use Hotronics pretty much every day and add in Boot Gloves on truly cold days and powder days to pick up some insulation.

My socks are thin enough that changing them mid-day isn't going to do a damned thing. If I sweat into the liner, it's going to be there until I toss 'em in the boot dryer when I get off the hill.

 

[Madroch]

I may just have poor circulation. My feet have always gotten cold. However, I always just gutted it out until I switched to the lange plugs this year. I don't know if it is the thin liner or the uber snug fit, but my feet were becoming numb blocks of ice on pretty moderate days (10-15 degrees). Boot gloves help, so they work for me.

 

[hammer]

I don't get it. You guys must have extreme problems, or I have no blood. Maybe the later.
I just buy a box of toe warmers from Costco each fall (I think I paid $25) and slap them on whenever the temp is below zero. Good for 4 hours and I'm a happy camper.

I'm assuming you do all the regular precautions like starting the day with fresh, dry socks, changing socks midday, keep your boots warm before skiing and dry feet/making sure your feet aren't perspiring before you ski?

Then again, my wife makes me sleep in the backyard with my dog in his doghouse

OK, dumb question...what part of the foot do you put the warmers on?

I tried the bottom of my toes and they wouldn't stay on the sock, and they ended up jamming against the toe of the boot, which didn't work...

 

[drjeff]

OK, dumb question...what part of the foot do you put the warmers on?

I tried the bottom of my toes and they wouldn't stay on the sock, and they ended up jamming against the toe of the boot, which didn't work...

Put the self adhesive chemical toe warmers ON TOP of your feet, right behind your toes. That way they don't interfere(atleast too much) with the fit of your boots, and they won't bunch up/jam.

Plus, the way the the blood flow in your foot is, the toe warmers ON TOP are much closer to the blood supply of your foot than if they were on the bottom.

 

[hammer]

Put the self adhesive chemical toe warmers ON TOP of your feet, right behind your toes. That way they don't interfere(at least too much) with the fit of your boots, and they won't bunch up/jam.

Plus, the way the the blood flow in your foot is, the toe warmers ON TOP are much closer to the blood supply for your foot than if they were on the bottom.

Thanks...I'll remember to try putting them ON TOP. :dunce: