The insulation in the bunny (mickey mouse) boots are encased in rubber. The insulation can't get wet. Ideal for ice fishing or extended camping when it can be hard to keep your sorrel liners dry.

For extended use you do have to be careful to get your feet dried out every day, otherwise you can end up with trench foot.

 

I've owned and used both as well.

Sorrels work well long term when you have multiple sets of wool liners. One set on your feet, a dry pair in your pack, and a third can be hung over the wood stove drying out.

The soles of my Bunny boots do not have the same grippyness, and you must wear several layers of socks, since the fully enclosed rubber boot can not breath. This makes my Bunnies a little clumsy, and not suitable for any strenuous activity that might cause your feet to sweat.

Sorrels for working, Bunnies for sitting around.

 

Sorrels for working, Bunnies for sitting around.

Yup, mickey mouse boots are not great for hiking in.
I own a few of both.

 

Bunny boots are rubber inside and out with the insulation trapped/sealed between the two layers.

So fill them up with water and you can just dump them out and insulation is still dry.

They are slippery though so are useless here in the mountains which is why I went with Whites Pacs which have good traction and 2 liners so one can be drying while I'm wearing the others.

SD

 

Thanks guys. Good to know. Was thinking the Bunny Boots were some kind of well hidden secret and wanted to know what the Alaskans knew that I didn't. I've never seen them in Minnesota.

 

I live in northern Minnesota. I have my bunny boots for sure! first used them when at grand forks, nd in the air force. never found anything warmer. or heavier really. use them with some strap on cleats and your good to go. :thumb:

 

They used to be pretty easy to find in Army Surplus stores, but I haven't looked for them for quite awhile. I bought a few pair when they were cheap.

Cabela's used to sell new ones but they were spendy, the brand was Bata. Watch out for the knock offs made by Sportsman's Guide. They were junk, thin, less insulation and the seams on some opened up.

They are ideal for ice fishing, standing on the ice and kicking the ice out of the hole.

 

I used to chat with a guy up near Fairbanks years ago. He did some trapping and backcountry snowmobiling. I think one reason they are popular for Alaskan backcountry is when you run into overflow (water under the snow near rivers and streams) it is easy to get into water over your boots. Like someone said above with the mickey mouse boots all you have to do is dump the water out, put on some dry socks, and get moving again.

 

Anybody remember "Moon Boots" , from back in the 80's? My kids loved em. Those things were warm as bathwater! But if they caught on fire in a house fire the smoke from the foam would kill you very quickly, they quit making them for just that reason.

Your "Bunnies" sound similar but for sure much better made.

 

I had a big pair of silver ones in jr high. Loved them!

 

Some other good footwear to consider are mukluks. They are great for dry, cold conditions, walking, snowshoeing, dog sledding.

I have a pair of Steger mukluks and I love em. Light and comfortable.

 

Steiger is the guy that said "there is no bad weather, only bad clothes."

 

Canadian army mukluks are great in artic weather/snow.
Sorel inserts will fit in them also.

Gotta dress for artic conditions you are in.
Otherwise you can end up snow blind, hypothermic & frost bitten (or dead).

Nothing like a high wind white out @ -20F to test your cold weather gear in.

Coldest I have been in was -57F.
Cold enough with frost on your eyelashes, your eyelids can freeze shut.
Frost on your mustache can build up & plug your nose.

 

Being an Alaskan, I own both Sorels and Bunnie Boots, as well as a few other brands.
Sorels, are good for light outdoor use, chores around the house, outdoor events that keep you moving, etc... Anything below zero degrees and they are left behind.

Bunnie boots, are what most of us call tennis shoes or slippers. They are toastie warm and I never wear anything more than a regular sock or thin wool socks. At first they are awkward to walk in, but with time they are like any other foot wear. I wear them all day long for ice fishing, work, and anything that requires long periods of time in the cold. If they do get wet, all you do is dump the water out and put them back on, the heavy insulation will keep your feet warm even if wet. You do need to look for the real deal though, I think Beta or Batam as mentioned above are the knock off brands and will not perform the same. One last thing About bunnies is make sure you get the white ones, as the black version is not rated for -60

Another brand to look at for quality cold weather boot with a different soul are Baffins. They are rated from -60 to -148 farenheight. They are standard issue for Pruhdoe Bay

 

bunny boots/mickey boots

If it doesn't say BATA, on the arch then do NOT buy them. Do not buy USED surplus bunny boots because that means they FAILED proofing.(required once a year before freeze)and were DRMO'd.(you will see drmo stamp if not rubbed off/unscrupulous sellers) You can find new surplus and they make a great really, really, cold weather boot. You can hike in them but is sucks as they are heavy and as said in earlier post it is like shrink wrapping your feet wearing rubber boots with no liner. Spray your feet with antiperspirant, bring lots, and lots of socks. When you change socks take the wet ones and put across your shoulders(under jacket) your pack straps will hold in place and body heat will dry. Never ever, ever, ever, open the valves outside where water can get into the sealed felt area or God forbid blow into the valve to blow them up as this adds moisture into the boot and then the felt mildews and you lose all insulation. Need more information on these PM me.

 

Spray your feet with antiperspirant, bring lots, and lots of socks. When you change socks take the wet ones and put across your shoulders(under jacket) your pack straps will hold in place and body heat will dry.

Never tried antiperspirant, good idea. To save on socks while out camping I use vapor barrier socks. I put on a thin liner, then the vapor barrier, then a thick wool sock.

 

be aware of ambient temperatures. if it is over 20*F, the bunny boots will get real hot real fast especially if you are walking or working. if you are wearing wool socks, vapor barrier socks, etc., the build up of moisture inside these boots around your feet will certainly cause issues for you if left on too long.

 

Its the only boots I have ever worn when it really cold out. I can remember hunting up near Paxton with my dad in the late 70's, it was around -40 and my feet never got cold. They are a little clumsy but you get use to that. Its what I carry with me in my cold weather gear bad. Never leave home in the winter without them.

 

Give me sorrels any day.
My feet sweat heavily and having a second set of liners was great .
Normally by the stove, one set is drying, and another in use.
In an emergency, paper bag a pair and microwave them 2 minuets, and let them air for a while ,dry as a bone.
If I know it's a double shift I bring the second pair .
My jobs were running the compressors and water pumps for snow making, and working on the snow cats and other heavy equipment, in the shop or on the slope .
The sorrels are pretty tough boots.