Winter Backpacking Boots

[DayTrip]

I don't use them a lot, but I've gotten ten years out of my Impacts so far. Baffin makes solid stuff for cold. Sizing was odd, had to go up a few sizes from usual, but oh so warm! Hope those Borealis work out for you.

I agree. I bought a pair of hard core Baffin boots a few years ago (forget the model). They are insanely warm and comfortable but too soft of a boot for hiking in my opinion, especially on side hills. And they have a huge exterior that is tight on pant legs, stretching spikes on, etc. Converted them to my yard work/shoveling boots.

When I first got them I went on a test hike in NW CT. It was fairly warm (maybe 30 deg F) so I stood in a brook with water about half way up the shin part before the cuff. I stood there for 30-40 seconds and did not notice any temperature change whatsoever in my foot. Might as well have been standing in my living room. That was pretty impressive.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

If it's a hard day hike, I may not wear insulated boots at all, just my regular Salomon's with a wool liner sock in addition to regular sock. Did Osceola's last winter and it never got above 10° and I was fine. To be fair, a little cold when we got back to the car (our beer was freezing while we drank it, pretty cold!).

My "winter" boots are Asolo Tahoe, pretty light insulation (GoreTex insulated liner, prob equivalent to 200g). When I get into camp I put a full-foot heat liner in and fresh socks. They go in a plastic bag in sleeping bag with me at night. I've only used a couple times and never all that cold but they were warm and are less "spongy" than some winter boots. If I was climbing Washington, I rent plastic boots.

Yes I've been mostly using trail runners with a goretex sock over a medium weight merino wool sock for day hikes, and carrying a pair of down booties as insurance (along with a summer weight down bag and lightweight bivy just in case). But some days that feels like it's really pushing it, even with the extra insurance.

I've thought about getting a pair of super gaiters for the trail runners, but decided I might as well just get an insulated boot.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Should be an interesting comparison. Let us know how you make out. I see the Merrell has 200 grams of insulation but cannot find the spec for the Baffin.

Yeah I cannot find the insulation spec on the Baffin either. Also kind of weird, but Baffin reports a pair of size 10 at 4.5 pounds while multiple reviews and forum comments have them (in that size) at 3 pounds or under.

 

[Lone Stranger]

I agree. I bought a pair of hard core Baffin boots a few years ago (forget the model). They are insanely warm and comfortable but too soft of a boot for hiking in my opinion, especially on side hills. And they have a huge exterior that is tight on pant legs, stretching spikes on, etc. Converted them to my yard work/shoveling boots.

When I first got them I went on a test hike in NW CT. It was fairly warm (maybe 30 deg F) so I stood in a brook with water about half way up the shin part before the cuff. I stood there for 30-40 seconds and did not notice any temperature change whatsoever in my foot. Might as well have been standing in my living room. That was pretty impressive.

My Impacts are sized for camp, not hiking. My feet move around in them too much to climb wearing snowshoes or spikes, but are fine for just walking around. I got them that way for sub zero camping as the loose fit really is warm when standing around. With 15 hours of dark the nights in the hammock were just too long. With the right gear I can stand around in the dark at -20° for hours enjoying the stars. Worth carrying unless I am expecting wind. Then I just end up going to bed early anyway

 

[helmethiker]

He who dies with the most toys, wins.

He who dies loses

 

[hikeritz]

For several years I did winter backpacking trips wearing Sorel Snowbears...basically snowmobile boots. Kinsman Pond, the late, lamented Desolation Shelter, Garfield, Crag Camp & Adams, and others. Big, floppy things without much support, but warm and dry. I just use them for snowblowing my driveway, and I now have a pair of Sorel Timberwolf boots for hiking. Also warm & dry, but built like hiking boots. Very comfy.

 

[DayTrip]

My Impacts are sized for camp, not hiking. My feet move around in them too much to climb wearing snowshoes or spikes, but are fine for just walking around. I got them that way for sub zero camping as the loose fit really is warm when standing around. With 15 hours of dark the nights in the hammock were just too long. With the right gear I can stand around in the dark at -20° for hours enjoying the stars. Worth carrying unless I am expecting wind. Then I just end up going to bed early anyway

Where do you put an extra pair of boots on/in your backpack with all the other crap needed for a Winter overnight? I get the logic and would actually like to try that. Seems like a lot of space and weight. But, as you said, nights are long and when I overnight I'm usually stargazing too. Guess I have to rethink this idea....

 

[Lone Stranger]

The extra boots carry about the same as snowshoes. Depending on snow depth I will strap either/both on top or the back of the pack using ball bungies. On top carries better, but being 7 feet tall is a bad idea when the snow is deep and you are pushing through the pines My winter pack is a SO Unaweep 6300 with a solid interior frame that makes it great for carrying crap externally if needed.

 

[skiguy]

He who dies loses

 

[helmethiker]

And yet a friend has done a lot of things with Parkinsons disease due to stubbornness. But now as the sign suggests it might well kill her. Sad in many ways, despite a lot of happy memories. 18 months ago we got to the top of Parkman using carriage roads and 1/2 mile of easy trail, but almost certainly never again. Not really on topic, but there it is.

 

[sierra]

He who dies loses

Everyone dies, in that regard we are all equal in the end.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

The Merrill Thermo Rogue 4's arrived today. They weigh barely over a pound each @ 35.2 ounces for the pair. I took them for a short spin and I'm very impressed. They really feel quite a bit like a trail runner. I wore a thin merino wool sock and a 3mm neoprene sock, which is something I'm testing this winter and will probably also wear with the Baffin Borealis. (Those haven't arrive yet.)

I think the Merrill's are going to be a great winter day hiking boot. And probably give me a little more of a safety margin than wearing trail runners with GTX socks. I'm going to wear them for a hike on Sunday and will report some more then.

 

[DayTrip]

. I wore a thin merino wool sock and a 3mm neoprene sock, which is something I'm testing this winter

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with Gore Tex socks (I believe the ones from Gore bike wear) and neoprene too (thinner than 3mm though), as well as Seal Skinz water proof socks (which I think is my favorite option so far). Been using with my Innov8 trail runners and Innov8 medium height boots. Comfortable feet in wet weather and cold into the 20's. The way they are made on the toe though I'm worried spikes will shred the material and/or be uncomfortable on the tops of my toes. I tried a similar set up 2 years ago with a different brand of trail runners and it was very uncomfortable.

EDIT: Why is "Gore" being asterisked out in my post????
EDIT 2: OK now it isn't. That was strange. Original all my "Gore" words showed as "****". Not sure what the heck that was all about.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

The Baffin Borealis came today. In size 10 they weighed 45.2 oz for the pair, or just slightly over 1.5 pounds each - not bad! The shells are a good fit for me, but the liner on my left foot seems tight. (My left foot is slightly larger than my right.) I fiddled around a bit because I think perhaps the neoprene socked bunched up a little, and got it feeling a bit better. Also these liners are supposed to mold to the foot, so they that one might give a little. The shell is definitely big enough and I wouldn't try to size up in the shell. I think I will wear them locally on a few walks and see if the left foot feels like a better fit with time. I am also considering trying a 1.5mm neoprene sock instead of 3mm.

Otherwise, the boots feel pretty good. Not clunky at all for a plastic boot. The plastic is soft though, and I'm guessing you need to be careful with any kind of cinch down binding not to cut off circulation. Will post more after getting some miles on them.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Went out today on a hike with The Merrill Thermo Rogue 4 boots using a thin merino wool liner and a 3mm neoprene sock. The boots felt great and the entire combo worked well. I think these are going to be a good winter day hiking boot for anything except really cold temps. (Did Hale via the Wardens Trail.)

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

One negative that I forgot to mention with the Merrill Thermo Rogue 4's above is that the gaiter keeper loop (a metal D ring on this boot) is too small to fit the clip of my OR gaiters. (Even when I used needle nose pliers to reverse the D so the wide side faced out, it still doesn't fit.) I'm not sure if other gaiters have a more narrow clip that would fit, but I believe that OR gaiters are very common and it sure would be nice if the keeper loop was designed to fit a variety of common gaiter clips.

Not a deal breaker for me, just a mild annoyance.

 

[ImYourHuckleberry]

Got my first walk in with the Baffin Borealis today, just on an easy local 4 mile trail. I wore 3mm neoprene socks over a thin merino wool sock. My first impressions are positive. They walk very nicely for a snow/cold weather boot. Some boots in this category are really terrible to walk in on dry ground, but these were comfortable. I'll need to get out in the mountains and see how they manage with snowshoes and traction devices (I generally use microspikes) before I have a really good idea about them. But so far, I'm impressed and think they are going to be a great winter backpacking boot. The plastic shell and removable liners are key for me, especially when out for more than one night.