Snow Moccasins
There are few expiriances in life as enjoyable and unique as wearing a pair of light toasty deer mocks on your feet while walking in deep fresh snow.
The pinnacle of foot wear for the cold snow. Rubber is a KILLER on or near your foot. The bucked hide, either of deer or moose, breathes - this is critical - and is tough - the latter (rubber) does not breath at all. There is a reason the Canadian military mucluck is made almost entirly from nylon breathable canvas and not heavy leather on rubber.
Moreover, on pack snow, rubber and other hard soled commercial boots will squeak and make a tremendous noise while stepping. A snow mock of smoked moose hide makes no such noise.
Avoid water and rough abrasion.
It does not take much to keep a moving foot warm in cold temperatures—but keep it dry.
Mocs are comfortable, light, natural and quiet in the woods, but near impossible to use during snow melt season for extended periods. The combination of cold and soaking socs and mocs will quickly become unbearable. Consider a bread bag as a liner when needed.
A fur on deer hide sock, in the moose moc, for cold cold temps will take time to make but can work well.
Avoid wearing over two pairs of commercial socks (including wool) as these will cut off circulation and thus cool your foot; you should half wear any additional socks when this is done however, by folding back the shoot portion of the sock so the opening is just forward of the toe of the sock.
Opt for wool socks or wool rags wrapped around the foot for a sock.
One of the best additional insulation and to keep the foot dry is to stuff it with dry wild grasses when and if available as this is a free, usually available, biodegradable, easly replaced when damp, very warm solution; it’s also abundant in the woods; cut it, dont rip it out, you can cut your hand; replace when damp and/or frozen which should be about every three or four days.
Know that rags if used as insulation, tend to migrate and bunch and are not replaceable when they get wet, frosty, and frozen. They would need to be dried, which can be a daunting but possible, chore in the freezing winter. All options have their pros and cons.
I have read the escimo used rabbit hide socks for the inside of their boot with dry moss.
My current preferred approach is to lay a generous inner sole of the moch with dried fur on deer hide. Wear two wool socks in very cold temperatures or one with a buckskin mock or other cloth wrap over the socks. Any cold spots that arise can be covered or stuffed with dry grass, usually in the sole. In minus 20c for full day use, with a fire in sitting time to warm your feet, this is a fine approach. Focus less on the top of the mock and more on making sure the your foot is well separated from the constant touching of the snow, easy with fur you may have available from the hunt season of otherwise. The fur peices are simple to ready by cleaning meat and laying in a dry place, periodically stretching open untill dry. Face cheeks are a great option in this use as it gives funtion to an often thrown out section of hide. Using thin-skinned furs is best, or you may need to work them a little first. The idea is that with time, dampness and pressure will give a more form fit to moc result.
The key to keep in mind is to focus less on the upper area of your moc, allowing your sock layers to work here, and more on the sides amd sole.
If you will be out briefly, moving often, I am fine in as low as - 30c temperatures limit with only two wool socks and a tight deer mock. The flexibility, lightness of the foot, simplicity, and complete lack of chemical byproduct make this set up my favorite option. Know however if you will be standing still for long periods, your feet will get cold which can become very dangerous if you have no method of warming them.
I have found that I can even wear a deer mock with one soc and a folded cotton rag in the base of the moc, and this will be enough in cold weather if im out breafly (couple hours) and moving.
A way to soften buckskin, if needed, after repeat water exposure is to rub tallow on the high soak area; not an oil. A hard tallow will more permanently maintain softness. Don't bother with a sole or other high traffic area that will soon need to be replaced.
If you need to know, running through deep snow is significantly colder on the feet than running over hard pack.
Keep in mind, buckskin, like most things, never really needs to be thrown out and can rather be repuposed.
