over boots and mittens

OVER BOOT TESTIMONIAL

Unfortunately the writer signed “unknown” or didn’t sign so it is attributed to a person “unknown”.

Good Over Boots

I have worn these for 3 to 4 days a week for the past four weeks or so. Temperatures from -13 to around 20 above. Often in snow that was about four inches deep. Under the over boots I wore a mid-weight wool sock and a pair of leather work boots.

First, what they didn't do well. If you are looking at these to keep your feet warm while doing something static, like sitting in a tree stand or duck blind, they don't do that. Feet got cold in about half an hour while wearing them in weather around 20 degrees. This isn't really a surprise; don't know of many boots that will keep your feet warm in that weather while sitting still. I don't think these boots were designed for that anyway. Was worth a try though.

I have a problem with him having cold feet while wearing the over boots even with wool socks., and even if the boots he was wearing had goretex in them. His over boots have a vibram sole. When I first started making the over boots I used the same sole material I used for the mukluks. It was a ¼ inch flat rubbery material. I would wear them when I was hunting in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness at 12500 feet in November and the temperature was rarely above 0 degrees. I was wearing wool socks and Herman Survivor Lamilite boots of that era (1996 to 2005) and Lamilite socks did not exist. I never had cold feet. But he is a first since I have not had a single complaint since they have been on the market.

Now, onto the good points.

These worked great when I was moving around. Whether it was on a job site over steel toed boots, or hiking through the woods. Put them on, went out in the weather, came back eight hours or more lately and still had warm feet. The snow doesn't stick to them either like it does leather boots. Just brushes off. This leads to a nice feature. When you go to go in the house take these off and your boots don't track snow and dirt inside the house. Got them soaked one day, set them by the door and the next morning they were dry. No boot dryer needed.

Durability wise, they have held up well. Even after weeks on a job site. Kneeling and kicking frozen pipes out of the snow hasn't hurt them at all. Aside from dirt, still look good.

Over all, happy with them. Thank you.

– Unknown

Overall I appreciate the testimonial but I always like to have a name, so if you read the newsletters please let me know who you are. Thank you!

MITTENS

Mitten sales have been extremely good. The surprise for me has been the large number of Antarctic Extreme mittens being ordered.

One question from several of the interested buyers has been if they are waterproof. The answer is no, after all extreme arctic mittens or any item would not be dealing with liquid water. However moisture from hands specifically palms like the bottom of feet is more excessive than any other part of the body so it is extremely important that this moisture get out of the mittens. Using waterproof fabric would nullify this action and it could become detrimental.

It should also be noted that it is not any easier for liquid water to get through the Lamilite in the mittens than it is in any of the sleeping bags or jackets insulated with Lamilite. And finally if water does get into the Lamilite its ability to function as and insulation wet is not compromised, it functions the same as when it is dry.

Many years ago I had a friend who worked as a small boat shrimper on the South Carolina coast. During the winter he had to stick his hands into 50 degree Atlantic ocean water and he would freeze. he asked about my mits and I gave him a couple of pair thinking they would help to some degree. About a week later he called and told me he no longer has cold hands even though his mits get saturated. Lamilite keeps working wet or dry.

I believe some of those questioning the mittens being made with waterproof material are ice fisherman. I do not doubt that there are other companies who claim they have a product but I doubt there is anything out there even remotely as good. I know this for fact because there are no other companies that use Lamilite.