Life in North Dakota "Man Camps"?

I've had the best luck with the Carhartt waterproof insulated, but I haven't had to wear steel toes. Any of the breathable waterproofs work, and add wool socks in the double-digit below temps. If you have really cold feet, spring for some of the Sorrell brand; you'll look like Minnie Mouse, but they are warm.

You have to be careful, you don't want too warm a boot or you feet will sweat in the truck and then the moisture will freeze inside the boot in the cold. That is a recipe for some nasty frostbite.

 

Personally I would never give up my Red Wings. I would just buy some galoshes to fit over them.

 

Rubbers over an insulated pair of Redwings would probably do the job and be easier to remove when you get in the truck. But for serious cold feet you would need -100 Sorels to keep you warm.
Your next problem will be keeping your hands warm.

 

Avoid steal toe, buy composite toe, buy large boot and put an felt insole shiny side down under the stock insole. Cold comes up from The frozen ground/ice you stand on. The boot should be big enough that it's not at all tight with a good warm winter sock. Try to buy a soft rubber tread, oil resistant hard rubber soles will result in repeated falls on the ice. Warm dry boots every morning helps too, I have one of these. http://www.peetdryer.com/ Use it year round, keeps the boots sent free

My feet stay warm to -40 with this method.

 

If you have leather boots oil then regularly. This will keep them waterproof and breathable. I use Red Wing boot oil on mine.

 

I was going to go with arctic Mucks but changed my mind. I think I'm going with a boot that I can wear year round.

Sand hauling isn't like working on a frac crew, we aren't outside all day long. We're out of the truck 1 1/2 hours, tops.

So, like some have said, a roomy composite toe should do. It's the polypropylene socks, though! I wore a pair today under my cotton socks and couldn't believe how dry my feet stayed. Boots are going on the boot dryer, tonight.

Was also considering the $85 Under Armor 4.0s. Considering...only considering... Instead I spent about $13 each for four tops and four bottoms of polypropylene long underwear. I think that was a score. It wasn't terribly cold today but the biggest deal, like the socks, I feel dry.

 

High quality long underwear like Under Armor is definitely worth the money. I spend all fall in my deer stand and all winter on the ice fishing. I've tried the cheap stuff and it doesn't compare to the high end stuff. As far as socks go I like them to have merino(sp) wool in them.

 

don't know what merino wool is but I saw a pair today for $20. Tried my Carhart wool socks today but feet felt wet. Totally sold on polypropylene.

 

Hey SS, how you doing in your first winter blast?

 

LOl, doesn't want to talk about it.