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.

 

[Lone Stranger]

I tend to hike in my Limmers and carry serious insulated boots for camp. My feet don't get cold hiking, but standing around is another matter. Baffin Impacts are heavy on the pack, but great for star gazing on sub zero nights

 

[JoshandBaron]

Keen Revel IV high Polar 400g. Comparably lightweight, large volume for extra sock. Work great with snowshoes. You're probably making water before bed anyway, Nalgene bottles fit into the boots and will keep everything thawed through the night.

Handy resource: https://sectionhiker.com/winter-hiking-boots-fequently-asked-questions/

 

[Rhody Seth]

I've been using Merrill Polar 8s for the last several seasons. They have 400g of insulation and have worked well for me down to single digits. I bring the liners into the hammock with me and will try to warm them up a tad in the morning but sticking a hot water bottle in them. They've worked well for me.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Keen Revel IV high Polar 400g. Comparably lightweight, large volume for extra sock. Work great with snowshoes. You're probably making water before bed anyway, Nalgene bottles fit into the boots and will keep everything thawed through the night.

Handy resource: https://sectionhiker.com/winter-hiking-boots-fequently-asked-questions/

Thanks for the link. It's focused on day hiking, but in the comments he mentions the Baffin Borealis for overnight trips. It looks like those have a removable liner, so I'm doing some research on those now.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

I've been using Merrill Polar 8s for the last several seasons. They have 400g of insulation and have worked well for me down to single digits. I bring the liners into the hammock with me and will try to warm them up a tad in the morning but sticking a hot water bottle in them. They've worked well for me.

Thank you. Those seem to be d/c now. I've tried figuring out what they may have replaced them with, but it seems they only have options with 200g of insulation or 800g of insulation. I feel like 800g is probably too much. I would probably be fine with 200g though, as frequently I just use trail runners with a GTX sock for winter day hiking.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

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.

I still have a pair of La Sportiva Trango Extremes (or whatever they called them back somewhere around 1998) that I used for ice and mixed climbing and springtime overnights in Huntington Ravine, camping outside Harvard Cabin. I wish I could find my old Scarpa plastic boots. They were rigid enough for ice climbing, but imo still plenty easy to walk in as long as the ground was mostly snow covered. Light years better than the awful pair of Koflach's I bought in the late '80s.

 

[SAR-EMT40]

I have a very old pair of One Sport (there is no model name but I think later versions were called Moraine). I bought them probably in the late '80 and used them for many winter hiking camping climbing events. I look at them periodically and take them out once in a while and they are still excellent. They were always one of the most comfortable boots I owned. I know I have used them with step in crampons but I think I have used them with regular crampons also. It was really a great boot for me. I guess the company no longer exists but they made a great boot.

KR

 

[skiguy]

A higher end Mountaineering boot like in the La Sportiva line coupled with an insulated Supergaiter does it for me.

 

[DayTrip]

I wish I could find my old Scarpa plastic boots. T

What size shoe do you take? I have a pair of Scarpa Invernos I don't use. Wore them on I believe 3 hikes before I gave up on them. They just didn't really fit my feet right. (I have a hell of a time finding shoes that fit my feet but that's a whole other rant). Anyway, I'd sell them for a reasonable offer and ship. I think they are 11's but I'd have to double check. I can PM photos. They have some scuffs but are otherwise fine (I think. Haven't worn in about 6-7 years).

 

[focusonbalance]

I would say wear the boot that will appropriate for the weather/terrain conditions. All feet sweat, especially if moving, so wearing a warmer boot vs not quite as insulated really won’t matter much. Others can disagree, this is my way, choose if you will. Vapor barrier to prevent wetting out insulation, whether hiking or backpacking in winter, this works to prevent issues of cold toes for that day and for days following if backpacking. Boots won’t freeze if they aren’t wet. Your foot will stop sweating further once it hits a moisture point. I wear a very thin merino wool layer agains my foot then a medium weight food storage plastic bag that fits my foot well,from Amazon, then a thick alpaca sock over that. My flexible boot of choice is Salomon toundra aerogel boots for not long icy sections, if trail conditions are going to be more ice than snow requiring more crampon use, I choose my lasportiva nepal cube gtx, if it will be very cold I will throw OR X gaiters over them. Have backpacked with both. Lots and have never had issues with cold feet, and I do not run hot! The opposite is true, I can have cold feet in my house. over night I throw my boots between my sleeping bag and pad with a hand warmer inside, starts the day w a warmer boot.
To each their own, this is just my set up. I use to backpack in my scarpa invernos wearing inner boots to sleep. Not bad, but I enjoy my other two boots better. For me in winter to prevent cold toes it starts with the vapor barriers.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

What size shoe do you take? I have a pair of Scarpa Invernos I don't use. Wore them on I believe 3 hikes before I gave up on them. They just didn't really fit my feet right. (I have a hell of a time finding shoes that fit my feet but that's a whole other rant). Anyway, I'd sell them for a reasonable offer and ship. I think they are 11's but I'd have to double check. I can PM photos. They have some scuffs but are otherwise fine (I think. Haven't worn in about 6-7 years).

Thanks, that's really nice. I think mine were 9.5 for ice climbing. I could probably use 10 for hiking, but 11 is probably too large. But again, thanks for the offer. Much appreciated.

 

[dug]

I wear some Solomon ice climbing boots (Super Mountain Guide 9 - discontinued), lightly insulated (i.e. not a double-boot and no removable liner) and leather-lined. They are fully crampon compatible, but are positioned more as an approach shoe vs. a full-time ice climbing boot. I wear them with VBLs so they stay dry on the inside, and change out of them as soon as I settle in for the night. Since they are dry, they won't freeze on the inside overnight. They will likely be the last boots I buy for this purpose, and have had them for close to 30 years. I've never had a problem with my feet getting cold, but the keys are to keep them dry, keep moving, and change out of them when you stop for a long time (i.e overnight).