Valves on MM boots???

[salmonslammer]

A friend of mine wants to get her boyfriend a pair of boots and was asking me what the valves are for ?????

She said that a new pair was 119, a used pair with the valves was 79 and ones without a valve were $50..... I have never owned a pair, but I told her that I thought the valves were to fill them with air so that they would insulate better...Am I right??? Would the ones without the valves be worthwhile or not??....

[andy capp]

I heard, first since they are military boots, I heard they are to release pressure when at high altitudes.

[WANNABEFISHIN]

I Have A Pair ,they Told Me Never To Fill Them With Air Because It Ruines The Insulation.they Told Me The Valves Are Only Use In High Altitudes.

[WANNABEFISHIN]

Great boots your feet dont get cold or wet had mine about 10 years and they still work great.

[salmonslammer]

Thanks for the info and setting me straight about them... Her BF is a plumber, so I don't think that altitude will be problem!!!

[yellowbelly80]

my feet get wet from sweating in them

[shadow7663]

my feet get wet from sweating in them
That is always my problem with boots, will these MM boots still keep your feet warm after they are sweating?

[ICEPAPPY]

I had a pair in Alaska and I have a pair now. The valves are to release pressure at higher altitudes (like in a plane). Never fill them with air or anything elsej just leave them loose. My feet have never been cold in them. Wear silk sox first then cotton or wool sox and fold them over the top of the boot to make a good seal.

[eyecatcher]

I Have A Pair ,they Told Me Never To Fill Them With Air Because It Ruines The Insulation.they Told Me The Valves Are Only Use In High Altitudes.

Thats absolutly correct the model with valves were made for the air born. I have owned MM boots since the 50s. bought my first pair for $0,50 at Silverstien's arm surplus on in Detroit. The thing to do if you have valve's, is open the valve apply water proof glue to the thread's, close the valve then put some glue in the opening,so the valve won't ever come open or take on water. If water gets inside,the felt insulation get's soaked then freezes and you feet are in a block of ice. The best sox to wear with them are light cotton, with a pair of polyproplene to wick the moisture away.
They come in two colors White good to -70 f and Black good to -20 f.
If you can find them with out the valves get them.

[ESOX]

Silverstiens? Wow, there is a memory from the past. Anybody know if they are still there? I have been going to Ark in Mt Clemens in recent years.

[eyecatcher]

ESOX no their gone just likea lot of the great old place of my youth.

[hi-tek redneck]

i have some that a buddies dad gave to me. but they are camo! are these mickey mouse boots? the do have the valves and they say something like do not open unless airborn! warmest boots i have ever had.

[bivenser]

I never knew the different colors were for different temp ratings. I got the black one because they matched my purse.

[bigjake]

I had a pair in Alaska and I have a pair now. The valves are to release pressure at higher altitudes (like in a plane). Never fill them with air or anything elsej just leave them loose. My feet have never been cold in them. Wear silk sox first then cotton or wool sox and fold them over the top of the boot to make a good seal.


I thought that you should never ware cotton anything, if you want to keep warm. Cotton will hold your sweat, when sweat or water evaporates it lower your body temp. I would think that you want to get the sweat away from your skin. Thats why wool ,silk and artificial fibers that don't absorb water will keep you warmer.

I haven't tried a pair of the mm boots. Because I never like the idea of rubber boot that holds all the sweat in the boot around your foot. Think of how they Grow bacteria , warm moist environment. Can you say athletes foot.
GROSS :sick:.. Than after you walk a mike to your fishing spot pulling a sled your hot and sweaty. Than you sit for hours moving very little I would think that those wet feet would get cold. With GORE-TEX and like fabric boots, you stay dry and comfortable when you're active and there's no sweat buildup to make you cold.

Just my thoughts
If I'm wrong please let me know.

Thanks

Bigjake

[bigjake]

I Just to make it clear in my previous post I'm not trying to rip on ICEPAPPY or anyone. Just my ideas differed and wanted to get some other opinions on it.

Sorry ICEPAPPY

don't want to start anything

Bigjake

[ficious]

For what its worth, open the valves, shoot some silicone caulk into them and close the valve*. Walking through the reeds and brush can sometimes open the valves, if you walk/stand in water, the insulation will get wet and won't dry out....I know, it happened to me. It ruined an almost new pair of MM's. I still wouldn't own anything else.

*Unless you plan to wear them at high altitudes.

Just my .02

[eyecatcher]

I thought that you should never ware cotton anything, if you want to keep warm. Cotton will hold your sweat, when sweat or water evaporates it lower your body temp. I would think that you want to get the sweat away from your skin. Thats why wool ,silk and artificial fibers that don't absorb water will keep you warmer.

I haven't tried a pair of the mm boots. Because I never like the idea of rubber boot that holds all the sweat in the boot around your foot. Think of how they Grow bacteria , warm moist environment. Can you say athletes foot.
GROSS :sick:.. Than after you walk a mike to your fishing spot pulling a sled your hot and sweaty. Than you sit for hours moving very little I would think that those wet feet would get cold. With GORE-TEX and like fabric boots, you stay dry and comfortable when you're active and there's no sweat buildup to make you cold.

Just my thoughts
If I'm wrong please let me know.

Thanks

Bigjake

You could pour water in the MM boots and your feet would stay warm. I like to wear a light cotton sock because they absorb the water and they are not real warm.I have been wearing polyproplene the last year orso and they work to keep you feet dry. I have wore MM boot for the past 40 years or so . I wear them on the ice and to work when I have to work outside in the winter. never have had cold feet or any type of athletes foot or other fungus. I have tried other boots and never found one that kept my feet as warm as MM boots. The only problem with them is the weight, they are heavy not made for a lot of long walks.

[tommy-n]

Hi-tech redneck, the camo ones are not the real deal, a copycat, the reel ones are either black or white, these are airforce issue. There is also another boot made without the air valve that is still warm and somewhat less bulky, I beleive they are marine issue, they are also black in color.

[shadow7663]

I think I may get a pair of these.

Ok now where can I find them in the detroit area on the east side?

[Houghton laker]

Ark surplus has them shadow......just north of 16mile on gratiot...

[shadow7663]

Thanks HL I knew there was one around.

[Houghton laker]

while you are there ...check out their air force style parkas in either green ,blue, or black with the nice fur around the hood....made by speiwack I believe....I have one up-north....LOVE IT !!! Have had it for around 4 yrs. looks like new....great coat!