This is just so fabulous, Jane. Thanks so much for all you do!

Still in use in the Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System, these boots were designed for use for temperatures up to from 20 below zero. These boots are genuine U.S. Issue. Originally designed and adopted around the Korean War, these boots offer a unique solution to water evaporation from the feet, the leading cause of frostbite and cold injury in winter. A layer of thick wool and felt is sandwiched between two layers of waterproof rubber, and compressed to make a thin, flexible, and completely watertight insulated barrier, unaffected by outside moisture or sweat moisture from the feet. The high blucher design features a seamless shell design, direct molded sole, and a gusset fused to the main body along its whole length. You would have to step in water that completely covered the top of the boot before any liquid could get in, and even if this happened, the body temperature in the feet would quickly warm the water and prevent frostbite.

I love tech details a close up of the boots would be great. Maybe FDl could research the best American made type clothes for camping and have a post on what you found have OWS people endorse it and have the companies advertise on FDL.
Synergy is ok as long as its the best we can find promoting stuff made ethically, American Made, union Made and the best quality I don’t think would violate FDL’s ethics.
Great Job Jane!

As I’m typing this from interior Alaska, we’ve got -45 temperatures outside. We are all about the bunny boots. In fact, in Alaska you’ll find wedding cakes decorated with images of bunny boots, bedazzlered bunny boots, etc. They don’t breathe and your feet can sweat like a son-of-a-gun and get really soaked, so sock changes are a necessity – probably more often down there in the tropics. They’re no longer manufactured and getting harder to find. We generally buy ‘em used.

Sounds like you’re making the right choices for keeping people warm.

I wonder why America can’t get behind the idea of quality clothing and having a government standard for quality.
I stopped buying clothes at Kohl’s when my new jeans started falling apart after a few months.
With a minimum standard of quality every one must meet then manufacture’s can just concentrate on fashion.
Low cost crap clothes that fall apart are in nobody’s interest unless you want to make money off repeat purchases but that wastes resources and everyone pays for that.
Carbon foot prints for cotton farming, tractor, transport, chemicals to grow the cotton, die the cloth etc could be reduced if clothes were designed to last longer.
And don’t tell me you can’t have comfort and fashion I’d rather pay more for comfort, fashion and long lasting clothes even if it means I have less clothes.

I love this! Awesome on research and testing too!

There was an interesting article in the paper this morning about a camp in Las Cruces, NM, of the “unhoused.” The city has sanctioned its location in proximity to the service providers, all clustered in the immediate vicinity. They mention that there is no connection to Occupy, and the campers have their own rules (that include no alcohol or illegal drugs), and they discuss the safety in numbers idea that everyone here is familiar with. Apparently the community has donated 4/5 of the tents, and they have a big container that has blankets and jackets donated by the community. The campers also have some type of governance that they have created.

I guess there are other places that have these sorts of camps that are govt. sanctioned, and they are not subject to eviction.

I am not sure if there is some kind of lesson for our movement, but I think that the injection of our political views is really what causes the most trouble, probably more than the “issues” of campers, which is given as the reason “unhoused” campers in Santa Fe have called for getting rid of the Occupy camp that has been sanctioned by the SF bureaucrats; ie: safety concerns for the group because of drug/alcohol problems, including violence.

Regardless, Occupy Supply remains a very hopeful and incredibly important support for our movement.

Thanks to Jane and everyone who is making it happen!

You be awesome Ms Jane. Bunny boots are the best for standing in the cold. Try walking 5 miles in the snow and then put on sneakers-you will feel like a yearling deer! Someone please get video of abunch of folks doing the soft shoe in bunny boots.

Great pics! When the snow comes, the boots will be invisible! Thanks to Donna, liaison in Boston for helping to reroute the boots.

Cool.

You shoulda’ just asked me. I spent 30 years working outside The first 5 years or so, I spent the GDP equivalent of Samoa on different brands/types of foot wear. Bought a USED pair at a military surplus store and was literally sold for life. Back when I had the ambition/opportunity to work 20 hours straight, even in 0 degrees, my feet never got cold. Of course, that was with the special ingredient: put a plastic shopping bag over your feet before putting on the boot. Even when cold, your feet sweat. If the inside of your footwear become damp/wet, you’re sunk. No boot will keep your foot warm. A tip for your hands: a pair of spandex/metallic liners, know as “Michael Jackson” gloves, followed by a cheap pair of knit gloves, said bag, (trimmed for fit), then a pair of LOOSE fitting deerskin mittens. Also, no matter what your choice for outerwear, (remember: layers), a pair of, again, loose fitting coveralls will keep the wind from finding any “gaps” in your set up, especially when active. With a blanket for your head/face, you can safely SLEEP outside in single digit temps. I’m a retired Teamster. Don’t ask me how I know! :)

Jane,

Thank you for posting this. There were white bunny boots, and black bunny boots. When you said military surplus, I had thought they would be used. But they were brand new. The tags inside the black boots said that they were made in 1976! Years before several of the campers were even born.

The white bunnies are from 1992. I talked to Rich a couple days ago, and he said he walks quite a bit, and his feet have not been sweating in the boots, and that they do not seem too heavy (but he had worked construction for years and so was used to rather heavy boots). He has had on a pair of cushy wool socks with them and that may be helping prevent moisture inside???

Another camper said there was condensation with the one of the black bunny pairs. BUT I need to find what socks he has been wearing.

The woman in the photo got a pair of thinner black boots with a removable liner. Those can be worn with or without the liner.

PS DON’T inflate them, if you have that kind. That will just make the boot tighter, which restricts blood flow. That was for cushioning when being used by paratroopers during landing. BTW, Mickeys are black, bunnies are white.

Do they ever hybridize??? Were they made for different temperatures at all?

I’ve got long experience with Bunny Boots. We wear Xtra Tuffs in the summer, bunny boots in the winter for a lot of outdoor activities in Alaska.

Bunny boots come in varying qualities (there are bunny boot knockoff roadside stands in Alaska in the late fall). The ones Occupy Supply has are among the best, and will be excellent for places like Buffalo.

I’m about to make my first political contribution of 2012 – to Occupy Supply. Obama’s campaign and a lot of Obama-supporting emails came in yesterday, begging me for $$$$. ALL my campaign $$$$ for 2012 will go to campaigns like fdl’s truly inspirational one. As I wrote yesterday:

Where’s Obama’s support going to come from in 2012? Not from me, at least not like Judy and I fervently supported him in 2008. He can go beg for money from Goldman-Sachs, the energy companies, the insurance companies, the health industry and defense contractors.

Oh, wait – he already is.

As stated earlier, Mickeys were good for -20 and Bunnies to -60. I never needed a Bunny. They were/are usually more expensive and, to me, noticeably heavier. Now, I can only speak to Chicago weather. I’m guessing that Occupy Nome could use Bunnies.

Amen. My wife and I decided the same basic thing. Although I’m gonna’ tip the Salvation Army a little heavier, too. I know some might be put off by the religious aspect of it. However, they don’t try to run it down your throat. And, you can’t argue with 91 cents of every dollar going to actually help people.

Glad to hear that the boots are working well. Something we learned in researching the boots is that the wool socks should be tall enough to fold over the top of the boot–this will protect the calf and shin from abrasion.

Also don’t stuff pant legs down the boots, they should remain outside the boot.

And as Melinda mentions above, change socks (or dry them some how) at least once a day to prevent moisture buildup. The feet will remain warm but the skin may become irritated from prolonged exposure to moisture.

I agree.

Some of the black ‘Mickey Mouse’ boots and some of the white ‘Bunny boots’ come with an air release valve on each boot. The valve should remain closed at all times, except if traveling in an airplane when the valve should remain open during flight and closed again upon touch down. The valve is merely a pressure release valve for the purpose of preventing the air expansion that occurs at cruising altitude.

And never should you blow air into the boots under the mistaken goal of making the boot fit more snugly–blowing air into the air valve will cause moisture to enter the lining of the boot, this moisture will freeze during cold weather, and thereby cause a DECREASE in the thermal protection of the boots!

One last bit of advice: do NOT “fix” the double lacing in the middle of the boot. That is a design feature, not a mistake.

The Salvation Army does a lot of wonderful work, particularly – from my experience as a correctional officer and administrator – in drug & alcohol counseling/treatment. Money donated to them is efficiently spent, and their proselytizing is very low key.

Hey! That makes sense – to wick moisture up. Thank you for the info. Getting a pair of wool/poly pro or blend fairly heavy socks that are that tall is a $20 or more proposition these days. Not everyone has socks like that yet – but hopefully soon will because Bev sent out an e-mail about a new shipment of heavy socks at Occupy Supply! The warmer socks most of the folks do have came from a donation from a lady in Boise who called me up after I had put up signs about needing used boots (before it was certain that the FDL ones would come). She wanted to buy a pair or two. By the time she called, I had heard that the FDL boots had been shipped, so I told her: Instead of buying boots, get some pairs of the heaviest socks you can find. And she did. While the thrift stores have some good qaulity women’s clothing available, men’s size boots of any quality are impossible to find and second hand heavy socks are non-existent.

I could use a pair or two of those here in NYC! While Iowa definitely has priority, please don’t forget us NYC #OWS Occupiers! I wear a size 11.

You can find me here, or just send ‘em to #OWS SIS.

Thanks! And thanks for all the sleeping bags, and tents, and tarps and food and everything else you wonderful people sent us this year! You are the pillars that hold up the Occupation! Whether you are with us in the streets, or just in spirit, YOU are Occupy!

Happy New Year! It’s gonna be OUR year!

Get ‘em big for wiggle/sock room. And, thanks for representing all of us that are too old/fat/bald … lazy to be out there! :)

In fact, in Alaska you’ll find wedding cakes decorated with images of bunny boots, bedazzlered bunny boots, etc.

That’s hilarious.

Great contribution! and no, I won’t ask.

Jane and everyone, great work!