Designed for winter camping, Outdoor Research’s Tundra Aerogel Booties now have a permanent place in my post-swim routine. They are exactly what I was looking for to warm up my chronically cold feet.
Sweet Relief
I’m obsessed with swimming in my neighborhood lake year-round. That means water temperatures down to 40 degrees F, sometimes lower. My neoprene wetsuit, gloves, hood, and socks actually keep me warm…until I get out of the water. Then I strip in the parking lot as fast as possible and put on dry layers. I usually feel relief immediately, but the weird thing about my body temperature is that even hours after my entire body feels back to normal, my feet ache with cold.
Wearing Outdoor Research’s Tundra Aerogel Booties has been a game changer for me. I put them on after my swims and go about my evening. The booties have a flannel-like lining that feels soft against my skin. Sometimes I wear the booties over bare feet, and sometimes I put on a pair of thick wool socks first. Either way, it’s such a relief to feel immediate warmth. It’s like I’m wearing little puffy jackets on my feet.
The ankle-high Tundra Aerogel Booties are so warm I don’t worry about my feet anymore. I used to feel a bit concerned that maybe I had frostbite from the water, but even on nights when the thawing out process takes awhile, I don’t get distracted because my feet are cozy and comfortable.
Streamlined Insulation
I absolutely love how Outdoor Research designed the Tundra Aerogel Booties. I want all the insulation I can get, but I don’t like floppy footwear. In fact, I haven’t worn insulated booties in a long time because my old school booties were bulky, baggy, and could be slippery on some flooring surfaces. The Tundra Aerogel Booties are miles better. They have a slim profile, with no excess fabric to trip over. A thick, dense padding in the sole give the booties stability, and anti-slip lettering on the bottom of the sole gives me firm purchase on the floor. I think of them as high-top insulated slippers or indoor shoes (of course I also wear them outdoors).
Just because my booties put my entire body in the mood to relax doesn’t mean I don’t still need to be nimble on my feet. The booties have a close but not snug fit so they don’t move around on my feet. The anti-slip sole is quite effective on uncarpeted flooring. (I don’t have carpets, so I don’t know how they work on carpeting.) I can adjust the warmth and block out cold air (when outdoors) by cinching the toggled drawstrings at the top of each booty.
Sustainable Insulation
The Tundra Aerogel Booties are made out of a polyester material filled with PrimaLoft® Aerogel, a synthetic insulation containing recycled materials and designed to provide high thermal performance at a very light weight. The bonus of this type of insulation is that it still works even when the material is wet. The booties are extremely lightweight and quite compressible for packing. The sole is quite durable so far after daily wear for several weeks. Each booty has a small fabric loop on the heel for hanging them to dry.
Details
Available in men’s and women’s sizes XS-XL. Read the size chart to determine which size fits your shoe size. Men’s booties are available in black and khaki. Women’s booties are available in black, light blue, and royal blue.
Bottom Line
I love these booties so much. They fit well, I can walk around in them without slipping, and they are exactly what my frozen feet need after outings in cold weather or cold water. I didn’t realize how much I need them until I had them!
$89 at Moosejaw On sales for less at Amazon.
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