Dino socks?

As winter's coming it's time to break out all the cold weather gear. Especially for the more sedentary types of kayak fishing. Specifically speaking I've always had a hard time keeping my feet from turning into blocks of ice when Dino fishing. I've tried special socks, booties, and warming pads with only minimal results. The only next step I see is the battery powered socks. They'd be under my drysuit so don't need to worry about them crapping out because of water but wondering about their overall effectiveness and usability for kayak fishing. Anyone tried them before?
Thanks,

Z

I have used them (2 different manufactures, a few years apart) while treestand hunting deer. the first pair was around '94' and they were useless. Worked fantastic in the house, and failed miserably in the woods. The second pair around '00' heated up like crazy and made my feet sweat, then the batt ran out leaving me with cold wet feet. I can't remember the brands, but one set was from Bass Pro and the other from Cabelas. I asked a doc about it once, and he suggested it was due to poor circulation from sitting. Not sure if standing in your boat is an option, but if you can periodically it may help.

As winter's coming it's time to break out all the cold weather gear. Especially for the more sedentary types of kayak fishing. Specifically speaking I've always had a hard time keeping my feet from turning into blocks of ice when Dino fishing. I've tried special socks, booties, and warming pads with only minimal results. The only next step I see is the battery powered socks. They'd be under my drysuit so don't need to worry about them crapping out because of water but wondering about their overall effectiveness and usability for kayak fishing. Anyone tried them before?
Thanks,

Z

SIK's help. With a neo spray skirt on, it's cozy in there.

I have used them (2 different manufactures, a few years apart) while treestand hunting deer. the first pair was around '94' and they were useless. Worked fantastic in the house, and failed miserably in the woods. The second pair around '00' heated up like crazy and made my feet sweat, then the batt ran out leaving me with cold wet feet. I can't remember the brands, but one set was from Bass Pro and the other from Cabelas. I asked a doc about it once, and he suggested it was due to poor circulation from sitting. Not sure if standing in your boat is an option, but if you can periodically it may help.

thanks for then opinion Rav. I had a feeling something like that might happen. I've seen some models you dial up or down but they are pretty pricey.
 
'nook, Dino fishing in a SIK? Wow.

How about popping a couple chemical foot/hand warmers and stuffing them in the booties of your dry suit?  The warmers I've used hunting stay warm for up to 8 hours.  I have found that they do expire, so don't expect much warming after a year or two of storage. 

I have used those chem packs when wading and they help, but don't solve the problem.

The reel issue is core temp and blood circulation. What happens when your core temp starts to fall, is that your core starts pulling heat from the extremities....fingers/hands and toes/feet etc. Your core starts sacrificing the little things to keep the big things alive!

If you want to keep your toes and fingers warmer, keep your core warmer. Last winter I put this theory to the test and it works. I wore 2xfleece LS top, 1xfleece vest, 1xLS poly paddling top, heavy fleece pants, wool beanie, heavy wool ski socks, and glacier gloves.

Most of the insulation is around my core organs. I've never had problems with my hands after that, which is what gets me.

Also- Sprint your arse off and keep your feet & hand moving and force blood to them. I've never been cold after sprinting a kayak in a dry suit with 17 fleeces on.

How about popping a couple chemical foot/hand warmers and stuffing them in the booties of your dry suit?

I've tried special socks, booties, and warming pads with only minimal results.

Sprint your arse off and keep your feet & hand moving and force blood to them.
If you want to keep your toes and fingers warmer, keep your core warmer.

I've never had any trouble keeping warm while pedaling/paddling. It's just when I switch from paddling to sitting there for a while when the trouble begins. The places I normally dino fish are a pretty good paddle so when I put on more fleece it made the paddle very sweaty. No bueno. I think Nanook may have something. Bulking up all at once won't work for me but if I had some extra fleece I could put on once I got to my spot, it could work. As long as it's not raining/snowing..

Z

How about popping a couple chemical foot/hand warmers and stuffing them in the booties of your dry suit?

I've tried special socks, booties, and warming pads with only minimal results.

Sprint your arse off and keep your feet & hand moving and force blood to them.
If you want to keep your toes and fingers warmer, keep your core warmer.

I've never had any trouble keeping warm while pedaling/paddling. It's just when I switch from paddling to sitting there for a while when the trouble begins. The places I normally dino fish are a pretty good paddle so when I put on more fleece it made the paddle very sweaty. No bueno. I think Nanook may have something. Bulking up all at once won't work for me but if I had some extra fleece I could put on once I reached my spot, it could work. As long as it's not raining/snowing..

Z

I hear ya. I tend to be irritated by sweating for the first 30 min or so, but then I kind of get used to it I guess...You pee less, which is nice.

All that fleece is nice when I'm just sitting there though. For me, I'd rather get over heated than hypothermic, it's easy to cool off, but harder to get warm again. I have a snug fitting base layer top that wicks sweat pretty good, and one or two mid weight fleeces. the layers seem to wick pretty good, and the G-Tex lets the heat escape eventually. I can always pull the neck gasket and let heat escape.

You could go with your standard clothing/dry suit configuration while paddling to the objective, and once you get there, add on a heavy fleece jacket, and put a lightweight gore-tex or WP/B jacket like the Marmot Pre-Cip over it. 

You could do the same with the pants, but um, that could end up in a self-rescue.

Also, hand warmers aren't going to hurt, and they are cheap.

You could go with your standard clothing/dry suit configuration while paddling to the objective, and once you get there, add on a heavy fleece jacket, and put a lightweight gore-tex or WP/B jacket like the Marmot Pre-Cip over it. 

Um, that's what I wrote.

Bulking up all at once won't work for me but if I had some extra fleece I could put on once I got to my spot, it could work.

And yeah, stripping off your entire drysuit on your yak to put on/take off fleece pants would be a disaster.


Z

Right, you said it would work unless it was raining, and I said bring a lightweight WP/B (waterproof/breathable) jacket to put over the fleece. 

I'm talking about taking anything off, I'm saying put it on OVER your drysuit, then put a WP/B layer over that for protection from rain, snow, or wind.

You could go with your standard clothing/dry suit configuration while paddling to the objective, and once you get there, add on a heavy fleece jacket, and put a lightweight gore-tex or WP/B jacket like the Marmot Pre-Cip over it. 

Um, that's what I wrote.

Bulking up all at once won't work for me but if I had some extra fleece I could put on once I got to my spot, it could work.

And yeah, stripping off your entire drysuit on your yak to put on/take off fleece pants would be a disaster.


Z

I have had good luck by making sure my socks were not "tight/snug fitting". A little looser fitting high pile expedition weight sock keeps my feet warm all winter, trapped air is a good thing.

I'm talking about taking anything off, I'm saying put it on OVER your drysuit, then put a WP/B layer over that for protection from rain, snow, or wind.

Oh, over the drysuit and everything else. Yeah that could probably work. Maybe a pair of thick heeeuge neoprene socks would be the ticket.

Z

I have had good luck by making sure my socks were not "tight/snug fitting". A little looser fitting high pile expedition weight sock keeps my feet warm all winter, trapped air is a good thing.

+1

I grew up ice fishing and loose fitting wool socks and loose fitting boots really do the trick.  If I can't crunch up my toes or even cross my toes within my boots and socks, things are too tight.

bsteves, did you mean can or can't? 

Also, Banjo music is cool.