Winter Backpacking Boots

[ImYourHuckleberry]

What are people using for overnight trips these days? For winter day hikes, I use either trail runners sized up 1/2 size with slightly thicker wool socks with gtx socks over them, or lightly insulated gtx boots. I almost always have down booties with me just in case I become immobile. And I don't go out on really cold days.

But when I used to spend the night out, which I haven't done in a couple of decades in the winter, I always used plastic mountaineering boots. I always brought the liners into my sleeping bag at night, and with plastic outers I never had to worry about the boots soaking out and freezing over a period of several days.

I'm planning to do some occasional winter backpacking again, and therefore in the market for whatever is the state of the art boot for this application these days. It seems like plastic boots have gone the way of the Dodo bird. What are people here using?

 

[nartreb]

Boot choice is really variable. Some people love a very warm boot, others hate getting sweaty feet. Some will hike all day in ski boots. Personally I won't put up with stiff plastic boots or a boot that's too heavy.

For hiking and camping I have plain old leather work boots, uninsulated, about one size too big. I can put extra-thick socks in them on cold days.
Since they're uninsulated, they don't accumulate enough moisture to really freeze hard. But it's still a good idea to keep them wide open at night. If they do freeze stiff, you can still get them on, then your body heat will do the rest.

For ice climbing I have stiffer boots with a closer fit. I don't usually combine ice climbing and camping, though - that's a lot of heavy gear.