Quoted:
Anyone care to try and explain (in layman's terms) the difference between 200g Thinsulate, 400g Thinsulate, 600g Thinsulate, 800g Thinsulate, and 1,000g Thinsulate? I get each represents better insulation, but how much of a appreciable/noticeable difference is there between each level? I'm mostly hunting in northern Minnesota in early to mid November, which means it can be in the 20F-40F range during the day. Usually no snow until late November to early December, but there can be snow or moisture in early November.
I don't know if I can explain too well in layman's terms, but here's what
I've found from
personal experience (and I live and work outdoors in southern MN):
200g - too warm for summer, obviously. Makes for a good insulation down to about 20F (for me) with light to moderate activity.
400g - the standard weight for my winter boots. Good in snow, cold, etc. Think typical MN winter (not like the last one). OK for light to moderate activity, but if you're moving around a lot then maybe too much insulation. I've found I'm OK down to about 0, maybe -5F, although not sitting still.
From your description of what you need, this is probably what I would go with.
600, 800g - never owned either one.
1000g - the heaviest I've worn. Too hot for anything but sitting still on a really cold day (think -20F). I don't even like that weight for snowmobiling. I have a pair of 1000g winter work boots (similar to a pac boot), but they're just too hot and bulky for most outdoors work. The last time I used those boots and actually put them to good use was out on a lake in January, doing a body recovery. Long time standing around, waiting for the divers, and it was -15F for the day with a pretty good wind. Everything else on me was cold, but my feet weren't.
If I'm snowshoeing, I'll wear a non-insulated waterproof boot down to about 0F. Below that, a 200g pair of boots. I won't wear anything warmer, no matter how cold it gets. If I'm out far enough from civilization that safety is an issue, I'll just carry a spare pair of heavy wool socks. My feet sweat like crazy while snowshoeing, and too warm of a boot makes for a bad day.
If you're worried about getting the right weight of insulation, think about this: get a lighter, general purpose pair of boots. If you're sitting in a stand, and it's too cold, get the insulated over-boots. I've never tried them, but seems like a good idea. Heat packs work OK, too, like someone else mentioned, but I hate the way they feel in the boot.
As for Red Wings, I haven't owned any of their stuff for 20 years.
Try Cabela's brand hunting boots. Good selection, good quality, and they're having a sale this weekend on all their hunting stuff, including clothes and boots.