Mountain Men white boots

[hittman]

For all you cold weather / Alaska members!

Watching Mountain Men I notice these guys wearing some kind of white rubber (?) boots. They look like part of a Pillsbury Dough Boy costume. It's been many moons since I grew up on a farm in NE Missouri and we had green "Northern" brand boots. If I remember right, rubber boots could be mighty slick on ice too. So what's up with these white boots? Are they popular just now? They standard equipment for you folks in way northern / snowy / frigid / icy areas? They super insulated? Have a rough texture on the soles?

 

[steveodtw]

I'm pretty sure they're milsurp "Mickey Mouse boots" from the Korean War era. Or knock-offs. Originally they were inflated by an air valve for added insulation. By buddy's late father swore by them as the warmest boots ever for hunting and ice fishing in northern Michigan.

 

[skeeter]

Haven't seen the show, but they sound like "Mickey Mouse" boots. White are supposedly much warmer than the black ones.

 

[protoolman]

Yes they are military Mickey mouse boots. I have both colors. you can ice fish all day in the black ones. The white ones are even thicker and warmer. They sell on e_bay if you want to see better pictures.

 

[wizofwas]

I haven't seen the show but they sound like Boots, Mouse, Mickey like we had in the military.

 

[powder smoke]

Yes they are military Mickey mouse boots. I have both colors. you can ice fish all day in the black ones. The white ones are even thicker and warmer. They sell on e_bay if you want to see better pictures.

Ten 4 yup remember those well. ps

 

[jimbo1096]

https://www.mickeymouseboots.com/

 

[jollymon]

Had them when I was stationed at Ft.Wainwright Alaska. The valve isn't to inflate, You open it , let it sit, close it and put them on, Now as your body warms them the trapped air expands ,you can open it to bleed some out, if not it will put pressure on your feet on restrict blood flow and you'll get cold feet.
If you trap moisture by blowing in to them ,that trapped moisture will cause a loss of insulation.
You also use it to equalize air pressure in Aviation and Airborne Operations
I would have kept mine but didn't want to pay almost 200.00 for them
The Black ones are the same just not rated for the extreme cold of the Artic.

 

[caryc]

I haven't seen the show but they sound like Boots, Mouse, Mickey like we had in the military.

Let me correct that for you.

Boots, Mouse, Mickey, Pair, one

In the Navy we had work shirts.

Shirt, Chambray, Blue, Mens, One. :mrgreen:

 

[Ordguy]

actually they are listed as "Boot, Insulated, Cold Weather: Men's and Women's, Rubber, White w/Release valve". More info about the history of them here; http://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_mm_boots.php

 

[cas6969]

I have to say, this thread threw me at first. I was thinking "I just saw this movie again a couple weeks ago, I don't remember anything special about their boots.'


While watching "Life Below Zero" in weeks past I noticed lots of bunny boots on that show as well.

 

[RoninPA]

The one thing you did not want to do a lot of while wearing those boots was to walk long distances. They retain heat so well your feet would sweat, then your socks soak up the sweat and that's not good for the feet. Most in the AF who wore them were the Security Police that stood post guarding the airplanes on the alert pads and flightline as they didn't have to move around a lot. Some aircraft mechanics (depending on their jobs) in the extreme cold places (like Minot, ND) wore them when they had to work on the flightline, but they were typically trucked to the aircraft and then back when done, not much walking. Those working inside the aircraft typically didn't wear them because they were too big and got in the way of them moving around inside the aircraft (especially fighter cockpits).

As said, great for ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc., where you didn't walk a lot.

 

[vortecMax]

My feet were never cold deer hunting or ice fishing. Still have a pair of each color.

 

[DeletedMember275]

The one thing you did not want to do a lot of while wearing those boots was to walk long distances. They retain heat so well your feet would sweat, then your socks soak up the sweat and that's not good for the feet. Most in the AF who wore them were the Security Police that stood post guarding the airplanes on the alert pads and flightline as they didn't have to move around a lot. Some aircraft mechanics (depending on their jobs) in the extreme cold places (like Minot, ND) wore them when they had to work on the flightline, but they were typically trucked to the aircraft and then back when done, not much walking. Those working inside the aircraft typically didn't wear them because they were too big and got in the way of them moving around inside the aircraft (especially fighter cockpits).

As said, great for ice fishing, snowmobiling, etc., where you didn't walk a lot.

Absolutely correct, which is why you carry extra socks, and change them regularly. I well remember going through this process at least once a day at Ft. Greely, AK.