Winter footwear preferences?

[MyKneesHurt]

Learning a lot from this thread. I must have Southron Foot Syndrome, I wear Steiger muks in a treestand if it's anywhere below freezing. Our winter paddling in Virginia is anything from 50 degrees to 20, so a pair of sealskinz or similar is generally enough to get going.

The insulated rubber Muck/Lacrosse/Muddy boot family are painful to walk in for me over any distance, and I've gone zero-drop for the last five or six years so if I wear them for more than a few hours they screw up my knees. If anyone knows an insulated (preferably leather) barefoot boot with an actual rubber sole (something more durable than the Mukluk goop) I'd love to hear about it.

 

[Alan Gage]

If anyone knows an insulated (preferably leather) barefoot boot with an actual rubber sole (something more durable than the Mukluk goop) I'd love to hear about it.

There's this one from Vivobarefoot:

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/tracker-winter-ii-sg-mens?colour=Obsidian

It has a waterproof lining, which I'm not a fan of, but some people are. I have no experience with it.

I've been wearing their Magna forest ESC for the past few weeks and have been very happy with it so far. I was afraid the leather was going to be really thin but it feels good. At the time of ordering I didn't realize the tongue wasn't leather (it's a stretchable/breathable fabric) which is a con for me. When walking in 15 degree temps I could feel a slight chill on the top of my foot and I'm sure it will offer no water resistance.

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/magna-forest-esc-mens-ss23?colour=Obsidian-Lime

I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't have gone with the Tracker Leather AT instead. At the time I chose the Magna Forest because the thread is deeper and I wanted more tread life.

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/tracker-leather-at-mens?colour=Bracken

Alan

 

[SilentWilderness]

I usually run a La Sportiva Bushido II trail runner year round. I wear a merino wool liner sock in them. I have hot feet so it works for me. Sometimes I use a waterproof sock in spring for the slush. I've been thinking I really could use a cold weather shoe though, I need something lined otherwise if I stop moving my feet cool instantly and the risk of frostbite if the temps are lower then -10 Celsius. I've been down to -10 Celsius with the shoe and the wool liner with little to know ill effect. Once at camp I switch to heavy wool socks and camp slippers to dry and heat my feet.

La Sportiva has a winter trail runner with aggressive grip, water proof and lining. Been thinking of trying it out, its the La Sportiva Blizzard GTX. It has aggressive grip and ice spikes in the sole. Biggest thing I like about these shoes are their lightness. They weigh almost nothing compared to a hiking boot/mountaineering boot. I go further with them. I was told a 1 lbs on your foot is equivalent to 15 lbs on your back. Never tested the ratio but, I no longer enjoy heavy boots though they do last longer. The shoes above have a 2-3 year window of wear sometimes less. My military wet weather Gortex boots have lasted over a decade and they can be repaired easily by a good cobbler but, are they ever heavy.

 

[Bob B.]

SilentWilderness,

In my uninsulated, walking around, sneaking in the timber boots, I use a wool footbed similar to those in the link below. They keep my boots light, stop the cold from frozen ground creeping into my feet when I am stationary but I can still feel rocks and twigs so quiet walking is still possible.

I agree, in very cold temps, my heavy pack boots wear like iron and are warm, sturdy … but in the steep hills of my area their weight is noticed and I can not hike as far as I can in my Mukluks which are MUCH lighter.

Alpaca and Wool Boot Inserts/Liners

These alpaca and wool boot inserts provide the perfect liner to keep your feet comfortable in cold and wet weather. Grown and made in the USA.

cottoncreekfarms.com

 

[Cookannapurna]

I alternate between a pair of Kenetrak pack boots and a pair of the higher end (forget the model) Muck hunting boots. The mucks are great b/c they are warm, waterproof, and easy to get on and off. The pack boots are better if I’m snowshoeing. They lace up and fit a little snugger. Both come up to just below my knee. Both are just a bit oversized to allow a thick pair of smartwool socks.

 

[Keeled Over]

For those using rubber/water proof boots are you getting sweaty feet? Mem said he carries an extra pair of socks so I'm guessing so. I'm assuming the boots have enough insulation to keep feet warm despite being damp inside?

I ordered a set of Steger Mukluks yesterday. They had a scratch/dent pair in my size at a discount. I'm curious to see how they do in varying conditions of cold and snow. But with the freakishly warm 'winter' we're having so far maybe I won't get a chance to find out. I'm certainly not complaining though.

Alan

I always carry an extra pair of socks.

 

[Roybrew]

I bought a pair of NRS neoprene boots. It rarely gets below 30F around here in the winter, so I don't need anything extreme. I got a size larger, so I can wear thick wool socks. Even when I get water in them, my feet still stay warm.

 

[soloskip]

When the snow is dry, and expected to stay that way, I typically wear my Steger mukluks. When the snow turns sloppy, I pull out an old pair of Sorels that I keep for general shoveling and other chores around the house. My mukluks are great when snowshoeing and for general walking around as well.

If I'm really "hiking" (i.e., little snow but still cold) I have a pair of Keen winter hiking boots that are supposed to be good down to - 20 F. I've only had them out in single digit temperatures but my feet were toasty warm. I also use these boots sometimes when I'm out on my Hok skis.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

Snapper,
How do you like your Hok Skis? I broke the tips on my skilom Xcountry skis about 35 or 40 years ago skiing at night

 

[dramey]

I have a pair of US Army Mickey Mouse boots for snowmobiling when it is warmer than -10F. I also have a pair of US Army Bunny Boots for when it is warmer than -55F. So far the coldest temperature I have ridden my snowmachine is -35F.

 

[snapper]

@soloskip - The Hoks really shine when in the woods. The shorter length makes them a lot more manageable off trail when things get tight. While I certainly prefer my true backcountry skis when on a trail, if I was relegated to only one ski at this point, I think I'd go with the longer Hok "Kom" ski. There is a choice of lengths so you can select what is best for you. For what it's worth, I like the Universal Binding as it allows me to wear both my Steger mukluks or my winter hiking boots (formally a pair of Keens, now a wide-width pair of Merrells).

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Steve in Idaho]

Snapper,
How do you like your Hok Skis? I broke the tips on my skilom Xcountry skis about 35 or 40 years ago skiing at night

I also have the Hoks and the Koms. The Hoks have been described as a sliding snowshoe, but I think that's underestimating them a bit. I actually have two pairs, one of each length. I bought the shorter pair for my wife after getting the longer pair for myself, but I find the shorter Hoks nice for trails that have a lot of tight switchbacks. Yeah, the universal bindings are surprisingly good.

I like them so much that I bought a pair of the kid size Balla Hoks for my grandson, and he took right to them at 9 years old. All of the Hoks go uphill amazingly well, and downhill with less glide than a skinless ski. They're more efficient than snowshoes but less intimidating than conventional skis.

The Koms are more of a high performance backcountry ski. Instead of skins, they have scales. They'll go uphill better than most scaled bases but not as well as the Hoks. They're faster on the downhills though. I have Voille Switchback bindings on those and use them with plastic Excursion style boots.

Between the two, I use the Koms for more high angle stuff (that's a relative term for me - I can't follow the cool kids), and the Hoks for general trail hiking and bushwhacking. The Hoks have all but replaced my snowshoes. They're so much more enjoyable to use.

I have a wide selection of XC skis for everything from groomed trail to deep powder and all sizes of snowshoes, but if I was to narrow my gear down to the minimum, I would ditch everything but the Hoks. They're probably the last skis I will ever use.

And I got no compensation for this endorsement.