IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Dressing for ice fishing => Topic started by: George_B on Mar 17, 2007, 11:18 PM
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Anyone use these boots. Season basically over for use on the ice, but wondering if their is any first hand experiences with this type of boot. Also where the purchase was made. Thanks in advance: George
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Most purchase them from surplus stores or e-bay.
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Quints Army/Navy in Scranton has or can possibly get the size you need in a day or two. I was their looking and pricing them, $89.95 new. George
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I got mine from cheaperthandirt.com for around 20 -30 bucks.They definitely keep your feet warm,but are a little heavy
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Mickey Mouse Boots or Bata boots as they are called are the best !!!
I suffer from a medical condition that basically means I have poor circulation to my feet and hands.I have tried many types of boots and sock combinations over the years to keep my feet warm but most failed miserably and my trips where usually cut short do to cold feet.
I was reluctant to try Mickey Mouse boots for years thinking how is some canvass and rubber boot going to keep my feet warm when expensive multi layer pac boots cannot do it. ???
I finally broke down and bought used pair of Mickey Mouse boots on Ebay to try for $20.
After my first trip I was hooked ,no more cold feet for me ,I can now fish all day and have warm dry feet.
Mickey Mouse boots are a bit heavy but not as bulky as other boots I own like my Ice Kings or Snow Stalker Extremes .
Most of the people I fish with now wear Mickey Mouse boots and everyone loves em.
I only wear one pair of cotton socks in mine and my feet stay toasty warm all day.I did pick up some polypropylene socks to try with them this season.
I did notice if you put on more than one layer of socks or wool socks your feet will become cold and sweaty in them and get chilly.
They are very size specific so shop around for your exact size,they come in all widths and sizes.They even make them in small sizes for kids.My three sons(8,15,16) all grew up wearing Mickeys and they still do wear them,never has any of the boys been able to trash a pair before they out grew them,just the opposite ,they have been handed down from brother to brother and still going strong.
We also wear them snowmobiling and quading .
Best boots on the market for the price in my opinion.
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I have been wearing mickeys for over 30 years, they are the best boot for ice fishing I have ever owned.
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Well I used to work on an oil rig. And that pretty much consists of being wet all day long in the winter and everything. But alot of men i knew wore them. There is no denying that the mickies are nice boots. However, There is a reason that the military discontinued them(father inlaws runs a army surplus store). If you are using them for extended peroids of time where you are working pretty hard I strongly suggest that you change your socks every hour or every other hour. Due to jungle rot..
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I've worn a pair of valve-less MMB's for decades and have no complaints.
Question: What is the purpose for the valve and how do you utilize it? ???
Are the boots with valves warmer than the boots without them?
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I use them up here in Alaska and they are the only option stopped my snowmachine on the lake last year stepped off the runner and found about 20 inches of overflow and had one of my boots fill with water its an hour and a half ride in over crappy terrain and the weather was 5 below I simply took my sock off dumped the water out and put my boot back on in 20 minutes my foot was warm again and fished the rest of the day just like that.
The valve on the boot is for air travel the boots are warm because of the vacuum between the layers of rubber and felt.
and NO the military did not discontinue issueing these boots.
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Hey Rdrash"
The valve on the boot is for air travel the boots are warm because of the vacuum between the layers of rubber and felt
Does anybody pump air into the boot before going out ice fishing??[/b ??? ???
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When I was twelve I had on a pair of my dad's old white mickeys when I broke through some shore ice and my boots were filled up with ice cold water. It was about 10 degrees out. My dad helped me dump the water out of the boots and wring out my soaked soaks. I put the wet socks back in the wet mickeys and within 10 minutes or less my feet were warm again.I bought as black pair when I was about 19 and still have them at age 52 . I wipe them off at the end of the season and coat them with armour-all and store them in my attic (which is not the best place). I have worn them up to Black Lake in Northen NYS when the daily high was -20 and had warm feet. Many boots claim to be cold tolerant but I know that a low level activity like ice-fishing is the toughest test. I know my mickies will keep me warm. I TRUST them. I will never give up my mickies. I know they are bulky and that you should put a pair of arch supports in them but I also know that they can be a little damp from the day before and still my feet are WARM. Warm is good. Cold feet send you home. M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E all the way.
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Another HUGE vote for MMB! I won't use anything else from here on out!
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Nothing better.. if you can find them at a military surplus store that's better than ordering through the mail.. sometimes the sizes run a little funny..
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Pair of cotton socks and away you go.....
Will be good to go all day with Mickey's
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How can one tell the genuine, good MMB's from cheap, imitation "knock-offs"? ???
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I would imagine their would be something stamped on the inside ref. Military Spec.s. If it doesn't have that or says made in China its probably not the real thing.
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Hi I am A newbe here , But the air valve on the side of the boot are for when you fly , you wood open it to keep the pressure regulated. Tim
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Keep the valve closed, if you get water inside the boot through the valve ,the boots are junk.I only buy the ones without the valves.I had it happen before.just my opinion.
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I have been wearing them since I was about 8 years old. I think there a great boot, I now have a golf sole embedded in the boot with screw in metal golf cleats. If you loose one just put another in. Its the best boot cleat combonation I have ever seen. My dad runs a similar pair as well as allot of people we fish with in Nebraska. I will try to get some pics posted if you would like. I know where you can get them installed if anyone likes them. The sizing is a little strange I wear size 10.5 shoes but 8 regulars in the boots.
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i am one who wears chest waders on the ice bc i kno i wont get wet.... but i was thinkin about gettin mick boots but would they be really heavy? or heavier then waders
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For their price and durabilty, you can't beat them!
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I totaly agree. Had mine for 9 years.....one is full of rips, but has no leaks ???
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This is strictly my opinion and I do not want to offend anyone but I would STRONGLY urge anyone NOT to wear waders on the ice. If you fall in you are certainly a goner. I would not wear them in a boat for the very same reason. I like Mickeys also because I feel that I can kick them off if I fall in and for that reason I do not tightly lace them.
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This is strictly my opinion and I do not want to offend anyone but I would STRONGLY urge anyone NOT to wear waders on the ice. If you fall in you are certainly a goner. I would not wear them in a boat for the very same reason.
This is an excellent point. A very good friend of mine very nearly met his maker because he fell in while wearing waders. And he wasn't even fishing.. he was duck hunting.
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Had a pair when I was a kid they were great, Used Sorels last season, trying to find Mickeys for next season. :tipup:
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Got my first pair of Bunny (Mickey Mouse) boots this year. I'm sold. I've always had trouble keeping my feet warm until now. Warmest boots I've ever worn.
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Yep, Bought a pair for last year. Couldn't be more pleased. Warm, dry feet.. :)
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I used Micky's while in the Air Force.
We always wore a pair of Thin Nylon socks covered by Black wool issue socks.
You could wring the water out of your socks at the end of the day.
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I use the mickeys too. Yeah they are heavy and you surely cant drive a stick shift with them on. Mine dont even have the felt liners and they are big time warm. Maybe I should look for some liners. If my feet are nice and warm now, I can't imagine how warm they would be with liners.
Yeah they are heavy to walk in for a longer hike, but sure beats cold feet.
If I know I'm only going to be out on a mild day for a couple 3 hours I'll just wear my Redhead Treestand boots, they are Goretex lined and have no problem keeping my feet warm. They are lighter and easier to walk in. I just cant wear them when its real wet on the ice.
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I've used MMBs since I was in the army in Alaska a while back. We called them VB (for vapor barrier) boots. They are great for ice fishing and I still have a pair that I use for that purpose.
The valve is for use for airborne troops to let the air pressure inside the boots adjust to the changing ambient air pressure experienced from takeoff to cruising altitude, back to ground level. The valve is not otherwise needed and should be kept closed.
I have never have cold feet with my VB boots.
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I am thinking of getting a pair. what does funny size mean. I tried on a pair of 9's and they had enough room to put two fingers at the heel what do you guys think size 8 or 7
Thanks
mike
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(http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u61/RLWagner/Mom1.jpg)
This is a pix from this years Deer season of my 66 year old Mom and her first Deer!! Notice the Mickeys??? She was able to remain out for up to 12 hours a day on stand during the cold November Deer season in Michigan because of the Mickeys. Her feet always get cold, till now!!
I like em a couple sized bigger than normal. I add felt liners to the inside bottom. Kinda like the ones you glue to the soles of waders for grip on rocks. They have wool in them and are soooo comfortable and help retain warmth. Make it much easier to walk long distances as well because it is like walking on a cushion!!!!
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Congratulations on the first deer!!!!
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I have had mine for over 18 years and love them. I used them when i was in the air force and didnt like them cause kept my feet to warm, but now oh god i dont think you can beat them. I wear them fishing, and hunting. Sportsmansguide.com has them for 75 bucks plus shipping whatever that is, Im thinking about getting me a new pair from there, since all the army surplus stores have closed around here and other places are way to expensive for me now, my father in law bought mine as a christmas present over 130 bucks at an outdoor store you can find em cheaper. the site i told you has them but dont wait to long they sell out fast.
dave
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wife says I have to wait till after Christmas. so dec 26 I will be ordering a pair.
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What do most of you wear, the black or the white ones. I do alot of walking on the ice and wonder if the white ones would be too bulky. Are the black boots plenty warm enough?
Thanks
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I started with the black. Then graduated to the white. The white are very dominate!!! You will see in the pic below that I started Mom off right with white :tipup:
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What do most of you wear, the black or the white ones. I do alot of walking on the ice and wonder if the white ones would be too bulky. Are the black boots plenty warm enough?
Thanks
I have the white one's.. Never tried the black.. They are a bit bulky, Not the best for a lot of walking But the sure do keep your feet dry and warm !!
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What do most of you wear, the black or the white ones. I do alot of walking on the ice and wonder if the white ones would be too bulky. Are the black boots plenty warm enough?
Thanks
The white ones are rated to a lower temp than the black.... I think the vlack ones are rated to -10 and the white are rated to -40 ...I may not be exact but i am close.
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I've got a black pair which I purchased off of E-Bay but the first pair I got were narrow and the first time I wore them my feet froze so make sure if you get them to make sure they are th right size or they will be no good. It is kinda clumsy walking in them but they sure are warm!
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The 2 guys saying waders will kill you if you go in couldn't be more wrong. The guy that fell in more than likely paniced and blamed the waders. Neoprene waders are basically nothing more than the bottom half of a 2 piece wetsuit, provides floatation and a thermal barrier. Please refer to "5mm waders" thread for a little more information on the subject.
Spin
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I use neoprene waders when fishing and hunting. My wife was nervous about me falling in and not making it out. so I put them on in the summer and dunked them in a shallow pond where I could stand up if needed. They do float. so drowning is out provided I dont go under ice or get smashed on rocks fishing. the other thing is they were very hard to walk in when they were full of water. I would think the only way to get out of ice or up onto a rock being pounded by waves would be to ditch the waders. just my 2 cents
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One tip, with MMBs you definitely don't need heavy wool socks. Use thin cotton socks and you'll be fine.
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One tip, with MMBs you definitely don't need heavy wool socks. Use thin cotton socks and you'll be fine.
Just my opinion, but cotton will hold your swet instead of wicking it away from your skin. Then when you sit for hours on end the wet socks made of cotton will freeze down. I have learned to leave my body void of all cotton as a first layer. Never ever get cold anymore no matter how many hours spent on the ice.
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cotton socks work fine in MMB's or bunny boots as we call them here. The design of these boots actually allows you to fill them with icy lake water and still warm back up. I'm not sure how it all works but I've accidently tested this and it works. Well insulated all ruber boot I guess. Hands down they are still the best thing going for standing on the ice for hours on end. I like mine so well that I've got a second set in the garage waiting for the first set to wear out.
Countless friends have attempted to wear Sorels or other more high tech boots on the lake but the "MMB's" still finish first at the end of the day. I heard a rumor a few years back that the military was going to quit buying them, so far I have not found that to be the case.
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I have been wearing mickeys for over 30 years, they are the best boot for ice fishing I have ever owned.
lol, If youve owned them for 30 yrs of course they r the best u have ever owned.
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I picked up a pair this year, They are a little uncomfortable at first but they will wear in good. Solid boot and they will keep you safe from all the elements you can encounter ice fishing, especially water. If your under 40 you can't seriously complain about the weight, you pull your sled right??? Great boot especially for the price.