Alaskan Bunny Boots Give Warmth to Frigid Feet
Boots Keep Military and Alaskan Outdoor Workers Warm
Jan 16, 2009
Nothing can wreck a beautiful winter day outdoors faster than cold feet. And indeed, in very cold waether, the risk includes not merely discomfort, but frostbite.
A plethora of high-tech cold weather boots is available at any north-country outfitting store. But the people who know best which boots will keep cold toes warm in frigid temperatures are the folks who live and work outdoors in America's coldest state. Crews on the Alaskan pipeline, dog-sled mushers, and workers at Alaskan ski areas all agree: when they're looking for warm boots, the answer is "Bunny Boots."
Bunny Boots: What They Are
Bunny boots are extreme cold barrier rubber boots issued by the military for use in extremely cold environments. They are available new and used at army-navy surplus stores (There's one in Anchorage). In addition to the white Bunny boots; black models (called "Mickey Mouse" boots) are also available. But it's the white Bunny boots that have become symbolic of the Alaskan winter outdoors.
The boots are heavy (up to 6 pounds a pair), with a thick sole, high rubber uppers, an air valve (which must be open prior to flying because the air pressure differential could rupture the boot), and standard low-tech shoe laces. They can be worn with thick socks, or a felt bootie. It seems amazing that these rather basic looking boots could be warmer than newer offerings made with high-tech materials like Thinsulate and Goretex, but a quick comparison test in the field leaves no doubt. Bunny boots are warmer. Some models will protect a stationary wearer down to -40 Fahrenheit, and an active wearer down to -60 degrees.
Bunny Boots: When to Use Them
Because they are so heavy, Bunny boots are not the best choice for strenuous outdoor excursions, and they lack the traction and rigidity required by mountaineering boots. Long hikes become even more arduous when each boot weights two or three pounds. Most hikers and snowshoers, for instance, will choose lighter boots (although Bunny boots can be worn for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing, preferably with military bindings). On the other hand, those traveling into a wilderness area might consider that Bunny boots are a virtual survival item in extremely cold temperatures; in a deep winter wilderness, they might be worth the extra weight.
Bunny Boots are a great choice for people who spend all day outdoors: People working at a ski lift, people working on electric lines, snow-plow operators, police officers and guards at outdoor events, school crossing guards, mushers and volunteers at dog sled races, or tourists spending a lot of time outside (watching Northern Lights in 30 below temperatures, or participating in or watching an ice-carving event or a dog-sled race).
And, of course, they'd be a perfect choice for anyone in the lower 48 who spends a lot of time with cold toes in frigid winters, and who wants to avoid hypothermia and frostbite..
 |
