Little tips that can make a big difference?

[Ontario Hunter]

I'll start this with shoelaces. Okay, I'm sure laces are the last thing on anyone's outdoor gear list, but they can make a big difference. First, throw away paracord laces! Seems to be the in thing these days for hiking boots but that crap is worse than useless, especially as laces. Doesn't hold a knot, snags on brush and burrs, and frays and breaks in short order. Quality outdoors stores sell waxed braided nylon laces. Those hold up and hold a knot. I found these laces in our local work clothing outlet. They are tough and hold knots better than most. Also narrow so they slide through hooks and holes better to tighten laces. Ad literature says you can pull a car with them and I believe it.

For my kind of hunting getting a knot to hold, even with quality laces, is almost mission impossible. Snowberries and wild roses seem particularly skilled at untying knots. Double bow knots doesn't do it for me. About the third time I was retying my laces and the dogs put up a pheasant I finally decided to try something new. I still double bow tie but for the second knot I run the rabbit around his house twice.
Here's once around.

Here's twice around.

Here's knot pulled tight.

I have never had this knot loosen or come undone. However, it does require some dexterity and patience to untie it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For travel here's what I use for gun oil and cleaning solvent. Hoppies #9 bottles are VERY poorly sealed. Don't tip them over after they've been opened! The paper seal in the lid is a joke. They don't seal worth a damn and tend to fall out ... so my dogs can try to eat them!! I tried cough syrup bottle but solvent softened the plastic lid. This is a Scope mouthwash trial/travel size bottle and it seals up perfectly. You can buy them at Walmart or most drug stores. I cut the lable off Hoppies bottle and reattached so no questions what's inside. The gun oil is in a clean Visene eye med dispenser. Also seals tight and very handy for applying oil in right amount to the right places.

 

[bohannon]

Chapstick! The air in SA was so dry compared to what I'm used to here in the southeast US. I didn't have any chapstick and resorted to using hand lotion. So chapstick is definitely one thing I'd recommend bringing if you're used to a relatively humid environment.

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[roklok]

I use a simple square knot in my shoelaces. Haven't tied a pair of shoes or boots "properly" in ages.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I like the idea of bringing the last laces crossover for last hooks over the top of the hooks so tying off below them. The Irish Setter boots pictured in my tip have short tongues. Tying off above the last hooks leads to knot slipping over the top of tongue and loosening.

 

[Russ16]

I use the surgeon knot as show here. But I’ve never had a problem with a regular bow coming untied. I just really cinch down the ears. Making sure my pants cover my boots well keeps brush and thorns from snagging them. Even with paranoid which I agree is much harder to get to hold.

 

[Boyd Brooks]

I just use leather laces, for all my boots, no problem. The laces get mink oil with the boots a couple times a year.

 

[Uncontrolled_round_feed]

Hunting advice: clip your toenails before you go (forgot once and had no clippers….couple toenails turned purple by the end of an elk hunt)
Finding animals advice: get up earlier, stay out later, practice splatter vision and slow down
Stalking animals advice: if you think he probably left, he’s still there. Slow down.
Skinning animals advice: keep it sharp, and slow it down
Partner advice: you’ll spend more time eating than screwing. Kitchen skills matter.
Marriage advice: no prenup, no ring. And slow down.
Parenting advice: the days are the gift. Slow down.
Sex advice: you guessed it

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Hunting advice: clip your toenails before you go (forgot once and had no clippers….couple toenails turned purple by the end of an elk hunt)
Finding animals advice: get up earlier, stay out later, practice splatter vision and slow down
Stalking animals advice: if you think he probably left, he’s still there. Slow down.
Skinning animals advice: keep it sharp, and slow it down
Partner advice: you’ll spend more time eating than screwing. Kitchen skills matter.
Marriage advice: no prenup, no ring. And slow down.
Parenting advice: the days are the gift. Slow down.
Sex advice: you guessed it

Toenails...

I always have a bazillion prescription pill bottles, thanks to the myriad meds I am on. I always have one in my toiletries bag that is stocked with 3 things: nail clippers, tooth picks, and Q-tips. I am always happier wherever I am - a remote tent in Alaska to a chalet in Africa - if I can keep all nails in check, dislodge stuck things from my teeth, and keep my ears feeling clean.

 

[Sabre]

Treat all your clothes with Permethrin before hunting. For best results, don't just lightly spray them, completely saturate them.

 

[steve white]

Cheap vapor barriers--put on liner sock, carefully add thin produce bag, then put on heavy outer sock, without tearing produce bag!! The foot will stop sweating when liner sock is moist, thin plastic liner keeps outer heavy sock dry, and result is you can withstand cold temperatures WAY better.
Huge wet-wipe bathing size disposable towlettes. I get them from a relative who has a bunch of unused packages at the nursing home. (freebee)

 

[Sabre]

Cheap vapor barriers--put on liner sock, carefully add thin produce bag, then put on heavy outer sock, without tearing produce bag!! The foot will stop sweating when liner sock is moist, thin plastic liner keeps outer heavy sock dry, and result is you can withstand cold temperatures WAY better.
Huge wet-wipe bathing size disposable towlettes. I get them from a relative who has a bunch of unused packages at the nursing home. (freebee)

The foot does not stop sweating once a sock is moist as you have stated.

Maybe your feet don't sweat as much as others. But if someone's feet sweat a decent amount they will just fill that bag up with sweat and tear their feet up something terrible from trapping all the moisture in.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

When in the field, I always have wet wipes (or similar) with me. You never know when/where you will feel the thunder.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The foot does not stop sweating once a sock is moist as you have stated.

Maybe your feet don't sweat as much as others. But if someone's feet sweat a decent amount they will just fill that bag up with sweat and tear their feet up something terrible from trapping all the moisture in.

I used plastic bread sacks. Doesn't matter if the street socks against skin get wet with sweat. As long as the wool socks and pac felt liners on outside of plastic bag stay dry, my feet stay warm no matter how cold it is outside. I have hunted moose in -20s C weather and never had a problem with cold feet. My hands and face are another matter!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I used leather laces for years on my logging boots worn when packing livestock in the wikderness. Problem with them is they tend to stretch and then break, especially if heavily oiled. Admittedly, some leather laces are better quality than others. All leather coming out of China these days is junk.

 

[steve white]

The foot does not stop sweating once a sock is moist as you have stated.

Maybe your feet don't sweat as much as others. But if someone's feet sweat a decent amount they will just fill that bag up with sweat and tear their feet up something terrible from trapping all the moisture in.

Try it! I am speaking from EXPERIENCE, not conjecture. Try it. There are commercially made vapor barriers sold. It is a well know concept up north.
And no, your feet will not fill a bag with sweat.

 

[Sabre]

Try it! I am speaking from EXPERIENCE, not conjecture. Try it. There are commercially made vapor barriers sold. It is a well know concept up north.
And no, your feet will not fill a bag with sweat.

I am also speaking from experience and from medical knowledge. I have lived, and hiked long distances, in cold weather and snow my entire life. The foot does not stop sweating because the sock around it gets moist.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I am also speaking from experience and from medical knowledge. I have lived, and hiked long distances, in cold weather and snow my entire life. The foot does not stop sweating because the sock around it gets moist.

Feet get cold because the boot or its insulation gets wet. Whether feet sweat or not is immaterial if the insulation, i.e. wool socks and felt liner, stay dry.