Roger. But if they are air tight, well insulated, it should help keep out the cold. Frequent sock changes are a must with any boot, and in the cold, heaters to dry your boots are usually available.

If you think you want air tight boots, try this low cost experiment: Take two plastic bags from loaves of bread, and pull them over your socks before you put your boots on. Then lace up and go do your thing normally. If you walk for 45 and rest for 15, do that, or whatever your routine is. Keep them on for at least eight hours and check your feet out. That is what they will look like after wearing the 5.11 HRT boots. There is a reason VB boots are warm, and are not marched in.

5.11 has started making the Coyote Desert boots without the sympatex lining (water proofing) and added vents on the instep. SF and SEAL units are trying them out now. Once I try a pair, I will pass on my impressions on them.

I do not know what you are basing your boot knowledge on, I have only operated as a grunt down to 55 below, so I may be missing something. We did not have boot dryers either.

TR

What little knowlegde I have is based on trial and error. At this time its the best I have to go on. I am a bit more susceptable than most as I have had frostbite before. What most can just suck up tends to cause me a bit more of a problem. Whatever knowledge you have on keeping feet and or hands as warm as possible in the cold would be greatly appreciated. As far as usage, marching in them is a very low probability. Battle drills in snowy icy conditions is where it is at. A good mix of urban and woodline. I originally intended to get the Matterhorn 4949 boots, but I decided on the 5.11.