BW Winter Boot Liner, Surplus

When it gets really cold, socks are no longer enough. But these thick felt liners will be even when the wolf comes to swallow the sun at the end of the world. These have a double layer of very wool-rich felt. They are also great as morning slippers, and as winter boot insulation in historical reenactment. Unused and all so act fast before they are out.

Features

German armed forces sure have fantastic winter gear. Just look at these felted beauties! There is c. 6 mm (¼”) of very dense white felt here, so they are extremely warm. They don’t come with any material data, but they seem to be quite wool-rich nevertheless. The heel is reinforced with something synthetic though. These are about mid-calf high, and the leg is split at the front to make it easier to put them on.

Use

If you don’t have suitable Bundeswehr boots, you can also use these with other reasonably loose-fitting boots and rubber boots. But they need to be wide and big since this is thick stuff. You don’t have to use these only as boot liners by any means. They also work as very warm indoor slippers. If the electricity prices or possible blackouts worry you, these will keep your feet warm no matter what happens. These also work as felt boots outdoors if you put a closure system at the front, especially if you sew a leather sole or such on them. And historical reenactors can build winter boots around them and use them for snowy trekking.

Sizing

These are technically in British sizes, but in practice, they have a veeery loose fit. So, if you pick what you normally wear, there will be a 25–35 mm / 1"–1.4" clearance before your toes and room for extra socks. If you want a snug fit, take a size or two smaller. We put the actual length of the sole piece in the chart below in millimeters and freedom units.

Condition

Unused German military surplus. Apparently, the Cold War wasn’t cold enough, or these were kept for that nuclear winter that never came. In any case, good for you because you now get awesome stuff for a very nice price.