Insulated Knee-Boots | Build Your Own

Create your own Insulated Knee-Boots by adding insoles and liners to inexpensive Rubber Boots

 

Rubber Boots

Rubber Boots are widely available and can be purchased for as little as $10. Some of the different names for Rubber Boots are: Rain Boots, Chore Boots, Barn Boots, Tractor Boots, Slush Boots, Billy Boots and Swampers. Rubber Boots are generally scent-free and are superior to vinyl boots for traction, flexibility and durability.

A handsome pair of Swampers

Sources for Boots
The best sources for Rubber Boots are online rubber boot outlets, Safety Equipment Suppliers, Farm/Fleet Stores, Tractor Supplies and Sporting Goods Stores.


Boot Selection
You must select a larger boot, 3-4 sizes larger and wider than you normally wear. Only an oversized boot will allow an added insole, liner and thermal socks. If you have a large, wide foot or have trouble getting boots off, you should select an Overboot. Choose boots with dull, ecological colors for hunting, fishing or hiking. Make sure boots are labeled for sale as “Waterproof”. 

Boot Liners | The Felt Store

• Style 826BB 
• 12” Height
• 8mm Pressed Wool
• Reinforced Heel

I chose Boot Liners from The Felt Store because they have Boot Liners that are specific for “Barn Boots” or tall, Rubber Boots. Furthermore, after contacting numerous Boot Liner outlets, only The Felt Store replied with personal, detailed advice.

The Felt Store is a US and Canadian company that offers felt, wool, quilted, metallic faced and even Thinsulate™ Boot Liners for cold weather and most types of boot styles. The Felt Store also has insoles and Thermal Socks.

Reinforced Heel

The Felt Store is a technical, industrial supplier as well as a gentle purveyor of felt and woolen items.

  

Contact The Felt Store:

tfs / The Felt Store

Thermal Insoles

I certainly wanted to include “Thinsulate” for these project boots. Thinsulate™ is a thin, airy, microfiber material that insulates and manages moisture. I contacted 3M™ and requested an opportunity to evaluate the new 3M™ Thinsulate™ Thermal Insoles because these insoles have a strong presence and accessibility in stores and online.

Thinsulate™ Thermal Insoles have 4 separate layers. The top layer is a tough, moisture moving, antimicrobial fabric. The middle layers are conforming foam and Thinsulate™ insulation. The bottom layer is an energetic and shock absorbing foam that is also antimicrobial and drying.

The Thinsulate™ soles fit easily, feel really good, and are a convenient way to improve the performance of any boot or shoe during cold weather.  

Visit the 3M™ website for information and retail outlets:

3M™ Thinsulate™Thermal Insoles

Here is a link for a very useful hand-out from 3M™ with advice for staying warm:

Hand-Out/PDF

Socks

Nowadays, two pairs of socks are recommended for outdoor activities; a thin, liner sock and a thick, outer sock. I wear a thin soccer sock that reaches my knees and provides comfortable compression. Over these, I wear thermal boot socks rated for below freezing.

Snow and Gravel Guards

I picked up some “Gravel/Snow Guards” at a clearance sale. These are made from Neoprene and wrap around boots with Velcro.  

Pac | Pack Boots

Pack Boot is a term used to describe boots with removable linings. The main purpose of this type of boot is so that all the different parts of the boot can be removed, separated and dried between uses. Drying boots is very important during severe, cold weather.     

Update | My Favorite Boot

Because I have very wide feet, Overboots are now my preferred boots. Overboots are much wider than other styles of boots. I purchased an inexpensive pair of overboots that were on sale from Milwaukee’s Billy Boots/Pro Safety Co./slipfreeshoes.com. These boots came with aggravating buckles that are easily cut off with diagonal cutters. Buckles can then be replaced with split rings and laces for an awesome pair of boots.

About:

I requested the opportunity to independently test, review and give opinion for 3M™ Thinsulate™ Thermal Insoles. I utilized donated products for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with 3M™ and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from 3M™.

I requested the opportunity to independently test, review and give opinion for The Felt Store’s Boot Liners. I received a very small discount coupon for this. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with The Felt Store and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from The Felt Store.

Hunting with Float Tubes | Outcast Fins

An underreported, widespread practice, hunting with Float Tubes, offers a modest method for accessing water areas.

A float tube is a type of inflatable, personal watercraft.
These were originally made from vehicle inner tubes and called “Belly Boats”. Newer Float Tubes have an open design, a “U” or “V” shape, which allows easer boarding, disembarking or escape. Newer Float Tubes also have multiple and separate air chambers, bladders, cells, cushions and rests, all capable of providing enough floatation for the operator to survive a puncture or other mishap. Seating and operation varies among different Float Tubes. Some are designed so that the operator sits partially submerged below the water line, and others have seating that allows the operator to sit above the water. Some Float Tubes have oarlocks, oars or paddles, while others are manoeuvrable by kicking.

Compared to other types of watercraft, Float Tubes are very affordable, economical, easy to maintain, transport and store.

Deflated, most Float Tubes fit into a small bag. These take up little room, fit neatly in a small car, apartment, closet, back pack, game cart, or, can be easily hidden in the field at water crossings.

Waterfowl hunting near natural water areas requires either a highly trained dog or a watercraft to safely retrieve shot birds. Watercraft will also allow a hunter to safely set decoys. This is due to the unpredictability of wading in natural water areas. Vast areas of shallow water can have a soft bottom, unexpected drop-offs or holes that someone wading might sink in.

Use a Float Tube to set and retrieve decoys and waterfowl. Float Tubes can also be used to hunt big game on large tracts of public land that are surrounded by private property and can only be accessed or entered upon by water.

If you are going to use a Float Tube for hunting, fishing or any other activity, you are going to need a pair of fins to manoeuvre the Float Tube. Avoid the common mistake of believing you can safely push or paddle a Float Tube without fins.

There are very few offerings for Float Tube Fins and even less that can be effectively used with boots. The best and most affordable of these fins comes from a company called Outcast Sporting Gear.

Outcast Sporting Gear’s product line features Pontoon Boats, Float Tubes and all related accessories. They have an adventurous and romantic catalogue that is technically neat and features breathtakingly beautiful outdoor settings and fishing. 

Outcast Fins are “step-in” fins that you step into or slip on over boots and secure with a single, cinch strap.

The Kicker Keeper

Outcast Fins are made from a very tough, flexible material. These fins also come with a lanyard or tether called the “Kicker Keeper” that straps around your leg to retain the fin if it ever comes loose from your foot. Kicker Keepers are also available separately, for use with other brands or types of fins.

Under the Outcast Fin:

  3 precision Strakes
& a structured tread

Outcast Fins are available from major retail outlets and specialty stores

for approximately $35-$40.

Kicker Keepers

can be purchased alone

for approximately $7-$9.

Visit the Outcast Sporting Gear website:

 

http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/

 

Tips for Hunting with Float Tubes

 

Always wear a lifejacket near water.

Inflate a Float Tube as soon as you reach a hunting position and place it in the water. This will allow the air temperature inside the Float Tube to equalize with the water temperature. If the air in the tube shrinks, you can then add more.

You can raise the submerged seat in a Float Tube with one or two boat/floatation cushions. These cushions usually qualify as a U.S. Coast Guard Type IV throwable life saving device.

During the waterfowl hunting season, decoys are usually set predawn in placid water and retrieved later in the day when it is often windy making the water choppy. Make sure you wear quality fins for kicking and thrusting through windy, choppy water. A small anchor and stowable paddle are also a good safety measure.

Dabbling/Puddle Ducks feed in shallow water and Diving Ducks feed in deeper water, however ducks spend time sleeping/roosting, playing/loafing in areas very different from where they are expected to feed, therefore most types of ducks frequent both deep and shallow water.

About:
I requested the opportunity to independently test, review & give opinion for Outcast Fins. I utilized donated products for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with Outcast Sporting Gear and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from Outcast Sporting Gear.



Hunter Recruitment: The Truth About Non-Lead(Pb) Ammunition

It has been over 25 years since the ban of Lead(Pb) ammunition for hunting waterfowl began in the United States. 

The only changes practice facilities have made for this; is prohibiting the use of Hunting Ammunition at their facilities.

The reasoning behind denying hunters access to Practice Facilities is based upon the possibility of Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition ricocheting because of its hardness. Hunters are expected to practice with small, soft, low velocity, Lead(Pb) ammunition instead. 

Imagine the surprise when a hunter first pulls the trigger on opening day, when there is a 70% increase or change in velocity, recoil acceleration and aiming advance over practice ammunition. Or, imagine the absurd and unethical practice of only pulling the trigger on the first day of hunting, while being unsure of the results. 

It is dishonest to instigate Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition without first designing and building public practice/testing facilities for Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition. These practice facilities should occur in at least every county throughout the United States. The ubiquitous, pandering advice to "Pattern Your Gun" should be removed from hunting regulations until 3,142 public, Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition practice/testing facilities have been constructed.

Furthermore, mandating Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition without first providing public practice/testing facilities is practically an action to disarm the majority of the population, who live in cities, suburbs and other “No Firearms Discharge Areas”, whereas these people can no longer test or practice with their arms and ammunition.

80.7% of the U.S. population lives in urban areas (U.S. Census Bureau) and these “Urban Areas” are categorically, consequentially “No Firearms Discharge Areas” which “Prohibit the discharge of weapons within city limits, parks, on private property or other specific locations” (ATF). This means that 80.7% percent of the population may “Keep” their “Arms”, but must travel to a special facility to “Bear”, practice or test “Arms”. Because Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition is banned at practice facilities (Gun Clubs, Shooting Ranges), 80.7% of the population is denied or infringed the second half of Amendment II of Constitution of United States of America, when Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition is instigated. 

Because of ammunition rulings, many hunters have already been degraded to share a category with gangsters and criminals; the category of persons who cannot conceivably test their guns and ammunition before pulling the trigger on a living target. 

Lastly, when Non-Lead(Pb) ammunition is irresponsibly mandated, these actions become an oppressive form of GunControl, whereas 80.7% of the population can no longer take responsibility for their Arms, having been deprived of the ability to practice and acquire the experience necessary for understanding or using their Arms. 

D.I.Y. Shotgun Patterning Targets

Do It Yourself (D.I.Y.)
Shotgun Patterning Targets are extremely large, cumbersome and difficult to obtain.

Commercial Shotgun Patterning Targets are usually incorrectly sized, expensive, sold in insufficient quantities and heavily creased after being folded small for retail packaging and shipping.

To produce your own correctly sized targets in sufficient quantity, simply purchase a roll of “Builder’s Paper” from a hardware store.

Attach (tape) the paper to a utility surface.

Trim the paper.

Find the center of the paper and draw a 30 inch circle using a permanent marker and a “compass” made from a Furring Strip and a nail.

(Shooting plain, unmarked paper and later drawing a circle around the densest part of the shot pattern creates an invalid, illogical sample)

Paste a “Post-It” note in the center as a Bull’s-Eye.

After a few target making sessions, I had a sufficient quantity of targets in a big roll. This roll was heavy and would be too expensive to ship.

Now you are ready to test the accuracy, shot pattern, shot density and range of your shotgun, choke and ammunition. You will need a lot of targets for this. These targets are very big and should be rolled up and secured with rubber bands.

You will need to find an outdoor rifle range to test nontoxic and steel hunting ammunition. Indoor shooting ranges do not allow homemade targets and only allow soft lead to be fired from shotguns. This is because indoor ranges believe nontoxic and steel hunting ammunition ricochet.

Unfortunately, Gun Clubs that do not have outdoor rifle ranges, cannot accommodate the testing of hunting ammunition at this time, because these types of clubs are not designed for the hardness of nontoxic shot. For patterning, these Clubs usually have an impenetrable board that is painted after each shot and can only be used with soft or low energy pellets to prevent ricocheting or damage to the board. If a non-rifle Gun Club offers cardboard for patterning, they will still forbid the use of hunting ammunition.

Karsten’s Brand Adjustable Cheek Rest for Shotgunning

"Not everyone can afford a custom fitted shotgun or justify taking a luxurious show gun afield and on the water. Karsten’s Cheek Rest is a convenient and affordable way to improve the fit and accuracy of a basic shotgun." -TRF

Typically, when a shotgun is shouldered or mounted for firing, the shooter’s cheek should meet and rest on the top (and side) of the gunstock, buttstock or shoulder stock. This top ridge of the stock is commonly referred to as the comb.

The angle and height (pitch and drop) at the comb determines the shooter’s line of sight through the gun’s sighting method. If a shotgun’s comb is too low, thin, sharp or angled, shooting can be awkward, uncomfortable and inaccurate. In most cases, if you have high cheekbones, a smaller face or physique, you will need to raise your comb. If you have adjustable iron sights on your shotgun or if you have added any aftermarket sights such as light pipes, fiber optics, glow dots, scopes, red dots, holographic or reflex sights, you will need to raise your comb as well.

There are many different aftermarket methods and accessories for raising and adjusting a comb. Temporary comb raisers are wrapped, laced or adhered around a stock. Permanent comb raisers often require the stock be cut, divided or deeply bored. Furthermore, many comb raisers trap or absorb moisture.

Karsten is a specialty manufacturer who utilizes an extremely tough material called Kydex®. Kydex is stronger and has much more water, chemical and stain resistance than plastics, vinyl and fiberglass. Nearing a decade of production, these Kydex Cheek Rests have a very precision form and finish that outclasses most other comb raisers, cheek pieces or rests.

The unhelpful aspects of Karsten’s Cheek Rest are few but should be noted. This Adjustable Cheek Rest, should not be used with Monte Carlo style gunstocks that have a tapered relief in the form of a thick, sloped outcropping on the sides of the stock. However, if your shoulder stock has only the Monte Carlo style comb ridge without the outcropping on the sides, you should be able to add an Adjustable Cheek Rest. Additionally, the use of Karsten’s Cheek Rest requires two small holes drilled through the sides of the stock (these holes could be covered or plugged when not in use). 

Finally, I discovered that Karsten’s Cheek Rest also provided an unreported or unpublished benefit for shotguns with synthetic stocks. Most synthetic stocks for shotguns are much more slender. This often leaves the shooter’s line of sight off center from side to side. Although Karsten’s Kydex® Cheek Rests can be reformed for thinner stocks, I chose to add nylon washers under the sides of mine, which corrected my line of sight to the center of the receiver, resulting in a perfectly fit gun. 

Website:

http://karstenskydexcheekrest.com/

Email:

Karsten@xmission.com

Part II

I recently installed Karsten’s Brand Adjustable Cheek Rest on my shotgun. This shotgun is for hunting, but I immediately took this to an indoor shooting range to try out the newly installed cheek rest.

I was very pleased with the perfect fit, feel and line of sight through my gun, that Karsten’s Cheek rest provided.

My accuracy was dead on because I had a proper line of sight through my gun’s sighting method.

I am saving the paper targets from this range session because these show perfect, centered shots, the equivalent of golf’s “Hole In One”.

Special Note: There are many conditions that give good reason for adding additional sighting methods to shotguns . Loss of vision occurs normally as people age. Vision can also be decreased by diabetic retinopathy, high blood pressure, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, stroke, shingles, trauma or scarring. Furthermore, many people live in “Shotgun Only Zones” (where rifles are not permitted) and need to optimize their shotgun for all types of hunting.

About: 

I requested the opportunity to independently test, review and give opinion for Karsten’s Brand Adjustable Cheek Rest. I utilized a donated products for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with Karsten or Kydex®. and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from Karsten or Kydex®. 

Kick’s Choke Tubes For Waterfowl Season

Part I
I recently sought the opportunity to test Kick’s “High Flyer” Choke Tubes for waterfowl.

Choke Selection
Choke selection is the most important means a hunter has over how commercial ammunition performs, whereas the gun itself is more of a constant than a variable.

Shotgunning should be a serious and interested discipline. But, because life is brief, I have no desire to collect choke tubes. Kick’s Industries seems to understand this by simply offering 3 or 4 “High Flyer” Choke Tubes for each gun model. They even describe their Full Choke as an “All around choke that works well”.

Design
High Flyer choke tubes are installed and removed by hand. I thought these chokes were visibly glossy at first, but I took them outside, in the natural light and they do have a duller, black finish preferred for hunting. These chokes have stamped/engraved lettering for easy identification that remains visible when installed and during use.

The High Flyer is an extra long tube milled from solid 17-4PH stainless steel with a parallel section after the choke that stabilizes the shot constriction. It extends approximately 1 ¾ inches beyond the muzzle, and has a round/flat, precision crown. High Flyer chokes allows you to extend your range, barrel length and mass. A longer barrel handles more steadily and generally improves shot pattern. Increasing the mass of a barrel reduces recoil acceleration.

High Flyer chokes are designed for steel shot, non-toxic shot, tungsten, hevi-shot, lead substitutes and lead.

Porting | Braking System

Kick’s chokes are diagonally and directionally ported at a precise, prescribed angle of 135 degrees forward of the shooter. Upon firing, these ports vent forward, slowing the recoil and better protecting the shooter, bystanders and hunting position from shock pressure, smoke and debris.

The High Flyer’s heavy porting is very similar in appearance to many of the newest compensator designs and is a long-established, ballistic improvement characteristic.

24 sharp-edged cut outs, measuring nearly ¼ inch each, are oriented to provide momentary, retrograde traction for the stressed boundaries of shotcup-wads. 

Surface interruption by perforations (porting) also vibrate the wad by converting some of the otherwise wasted energy from wad stress. This vibrational energy yields a more efficient separation between the wad and pellets (author’s conceptual model based on improved pellet release and the deformation and shear of plastic components).   

Unhelpful Aspects

There are very few unhelpful aspects of the High Flyer choke. Ported chokes are generally louder and have an increased surface area that requires cleaning. Furthermore, because Kick’s has developed another choke called Vortex; that is specific to Federal Premium's Black Cloud ammunition, I suspect that the High Flyer Choke may not be fully optimized for Black Cloud.

Contact:
Kick's Industries Inc. 800-587-2779    

     

http://www.kicks-ind.com

Part II
Ranging and tower skeet testing for the High Flyer Choke:

http://the-reverend-fowl.blogspot.com/2011/08/kicks-choke-tubes-for-2011-2012.html

About:

I requested the opportunity to independently test, review and give opinion for Kick's “High Flyer” Choke Tubes. I utilized donated samples for this purpose. Currently, I am not otherwise affiliated or associated with Kick's Industries and have not received pecuniary compensation or incentive from Kick’s.