AKRaven Surplus sells those Bunny Boots that you see on the folks in Antarctica…and in Tok, Alaska. Gotta Get me Some.
Gotta Get Me Some Bunny Boots in Tok, AK
Posted by Aliza on January 3, 2009
https://livingintok.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/gotta-get-me-some-bunny-boots-in-tok-ak/
Living in Tok Alaska: City Girl Meets Rural Alaska 
Selena
/ January 6, 2009My dad informs me that if you buy surplus military bunnyboots, watch out because for some reason they slash them to sell as ‘defective’ instead of just tossing them….or some such. So if you adopt these poor abused bunnyboots you have to patch them with tire patches or the cold will get through the slash. Such is life in Fairbanks….and/or Tok. 🙂 -Selena
Linda Terranova
/ January 10, 2009Reading your blog brings back memories. I was sent to Delta Junction in Jan/Feb to do some cold weather testing in 97 and 98.
The bunny boots are incredible. I spent a lot of money for low temp boots from LL Bean. Once we reached Fort Greeley we were issued military clothing. It was about -35. There was no comparison. The boots have a vacuum in it so definitely check for seams or other damage. I assume that some are slashed because they were suppose to thrown out and someone is selling them anyway. The military boots have a valve in them for soldiers to adjust when they are up in an airplane. When I turned my boots in, the guy working there closed the valve, put them against his face and blew into them to see if they held the pressure of his breath.
There is also a commercial version of the boots that are black, if I recall. Consensus of the contractors who lived there full time was the military boots were better but hard to come by.
I was told to spray my feet with spray powder athlete’s foot spray because it slows the amount your feet sweat. Sweaty feet are the worst.
The other thing you really need is the military issue arctic weather polypropylene long underwear. I had access to the P/X where I bought several pair but I bet you can find them in a surplus store. I still ski in them today (with a windbreaker and no sweater). I have found nothing that is that warm yet wicks the moisture away.
Wait until the first day it hits -10. You’ll think it is a warm breeze against your face.
Nathan
/ January 10, 2009It’s a heck of a lot colder there than Minnesota’s Iron Range where I’m from, but the boots we used to wear when it got down to the -30 range were Steger Mukluks. They might be worth checking out too.
Theresa
/ January 10, 2009Bunny boots sound great — and maybe they’re just what you need up there — but, lemme recommend Sorel boots. Sorel is a Canadian brand, I do believe.
I have a pair of the Snowlion boots which should keep your feet warm down to -40F. I’ve only ever had them on at around -15F, and my feet were very toasty! 🙂
They also have a boot called Glacier which is rated to -100F! Also, the Intrepid Exlorer 100. I don’t know anything about these boots personally, but I can say that I’ve been very happy with the Sorel brand.
Good luck up there! 🙂
Michel
/ January 10, 2009Bunny Boots are definitely the way to go up here. I live up in Circle, we trap and whatnot in the winters. My very first year here, we went through the ice on the Yukon River, needless to say our feet got very wet. We got onto the river bank dumped the water out of our boots and put them right back on. Even though our feet were soaked and we had to hike 5 miles to the cabin upriver from where we went through, our feet were toasty warm, just a little squishy while walking. I would swear by these boots. Being from Cordova, down in Southcentral on the coast I never needed anything like bunny boots. I think that they are life savers out in the bush.
kobolila
/ January 23, 2009I got mine the other day, from loadup.com. Being one who wears short pants all year round in New England, cold is not much I worry about, but I always want to make sure that my hands and feet are protected. My tootsies were nice and toasty and them there booties.
K
kobolila
/ January 13, 2011A question: is there a particular type or brand of glove/mitten that is favored up there?
I have been looking for something for snow blowing; the handles are heated but when the gloves get wet its tough to keep the fingers warm in the wind