Best snow-shoeing boots?

Hi Dale, I like my Targhees down to about 15f and change over for a pair of Keen 200gm2 primaloft boots for lower temps. Both are size large for thick socks.

Schnees Hunter II boots work for me, giving me a bit of extra protection when I inevitably fall over in three feet of Yooper white.

I bought these last winter. I climbed a few mountains in them and did some snowshoeing. They worked quite well and kept my feet warm and dry. http://www.vasque.com/USD/product/mens-footwear/winter-hiking/snowburban-udry-400g-bel-gold-07804

Not boots, but trailrunners, a size larger than normal and extra wide, with goretex socks and 40 Below Light Energy TR overboots.

similar to Doug I wear trail runners- if milder conditions I wear heavy wool socks, colder I wear goretex trail runners and heavy wool socks, if really cold- TR overboots goretex trail runners imo have one application where they actually work decently- in the winter; not to keep water out (although they do a decent job of that unless you have stream fords in your route), but to keep heat in- the reason they don't work so well other seasons

I'm tempted to try TRs for snowshoeing. However, I am concerned that they won't be adequately stiff when front-pointing on steep snow with the snowshoe's crampons. What's the experience with this? PS forgot to mention I'm using Vasque Snowblimes now.

TRs are going over your shoes, by themselves I agree they would be too soft (basically a neoprene over bootie) Over trailrunners they do just fine going steep up (or down). They do make nice "around camp" lounging footwear

TR overboots are a whole new concept for me. That blows away the super heavy winter boot tradition. I note they are not cheap! Thanks for the tips.

OK, many apologies… I read too fast (sloppy!) and got the TR acronyms mixed up… trail runners vs Forty Below TR Overboots. Link to Forty Below Light Energy TR Overboots Yes, I looked at the whole system last winter to compare the weight, cost, flexibility, functionality etc and decided just to stick with the boots for the time being as the weight differential wasn’t as much as I’d hoped. The main hang-up for me was the issue of overboot sole wear (and grip) when not using microspikes or snowshoes. The big weight savings I found last year were the Northern Lites snowshoes which cut my snowshoe weight in half — from 4.5 lbs for my Tubbs to 2.25lb for the Northern Lites.

Love my Northern lites snow shoes Bob..they are awesome!! I also just got my 40 below overboots..shortys. Obviously I have not used them over my trail runners yet, but I will this winter.

Dale: "TR overboots are a whole new concept for me. That blows away the super heavy winter boot tradition. I note they are not cheap!" Not cheap, but worth every penny! Happy to let you have a gander at mine if you'd like. I'm in Renton. Bob: "The main hang-up for me was the issue of overboot sole wear (and grip) when not using microspikes or snowshoes." Yeah, they're simply not meant to use by themselves – only with snowshoes or crampons/microspikes.

Heath, those boots together with OR Endurance Gaiters make a great combo. The Wrapid gaiters look like a lighter, cheaper option, but for me the Velcro did not hold and they were supremely annoying. But I wear size 12 boots, so maybe they work better for smaller feet.

Joe, I'll be very interested to see your set-up and to hear about your experiences using the tr/TR combo in our neck of the woods. Yep, I thought the Northern Lites might prove too fragile but I was wrong. I didn't baby them at all last winter and they are fine, although the aluminum crampons obviously are not going to last as long as the heavy metal ones on the Tubbs.

I've been using a pretty traditional setup: Vasque Snowburban boots with OR Crocodile gaiters. However, a couple years ago I bought a pair of Salomon X Ultra Mids (one size up from my usual size in order to wear with heavy socks). I was thinking about trying these with the OR Huron Gaiters. Anyone try these gaiters yet? However, I must admit those 40 below overshoes look pretty cool….Those look as if they would work well with my Salomon's as well. One thing I do like about the Snowburbans is the gaiter hook on the front and the ridge on the back that keeps the snowshoe strap securely on the boot.

Also worth looking at the new OR Huron gaiters, not as warm as the TRs, but offers neoprene over the front of the shoe

#ERROR!

Travis, which goretex trail runners and which gaiters did you use? I have some inov8 315s (gtx) that I use for trail running on snow/ice and I do believe as you and Mike say that gtx offers an advantage there. I'd just have to get them a bit larger to accommodate the socks and vbl. Coldest I've ever been out in -33F in the Adirondacks, and that was pretty damn cold! Can't imagine -55C!!

Yeah, she was cold. Needless to say, I wasn't wearing trail runners. A lot of the racers were, though, and there were a lot of cases of frost bite last year. We had to get air-support for a guy from Poland who had severe frost bite on his fingers. Made the local paper but I never did find out if he managed to keep all of his fingers or not. I've been using a pair of Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 and a pair of OR Crocodile gaiters. I tend to hike/snowshoe in cold/dry conditions, so waterproofness means little. As long as they are full-sized gaiters and keep snow from getting on your socks/in your shoes they do the trick. Biggest piece to the system as far as I'm concerned though, is the vapour barrier sock. Without a VB socks and shoes will wet out with sweat and then things will get ugly quickly. Two Swedish guys xc skied the Arctic Ultra last year from Whitehorse to Dawson City, about 700 odd km's in those cold conditions. Due to circulation, xc skiers are more prone to frost bite but i spoke w/ them after the race. They used vapour barriers for feet, hands, and the rest of their bodies and had nothing more than a few small blisters on their feet from hot spots. If you got trail runners/boots that you like, i'd say get them in goretex, size up generously, and you'll be laughing.

Travis, "The best system I've found for hiking/snowshoeing is liner sock, vb sock, wool sock, goretex trail runner (not for waterproofness, but to limit cold air) and gaiters. I used this system all year last year and can only remember a few really cold days (-30c or cooler) where i'd find my feet getting cold. And that was usually after a long day of hiking or during breaks." What wool socks were you wearing? This is very different from my experience. My toes were cold with the same system (except using GoreTex socks) at 10F (-12.2C). I was only using a medium weight wool sock, and my trail runners were a bit snug though. I really should've upsized 1 size on the trail runners, and even more with a thicker sock for lower temps. I also wonder about the amount of frozen moisture in the non-waterproof trail runner. Even though it was a minimal shoe (Inov8 Roclite 295), it can hold quite a bit of moisture in the padding. Icing my foot down wasn't exactly a good thing.

As you mention, snugness is definitely a problem (leading to direct conduction of heat), and gtx socks are just the opposite of vbl… the material is designed to permit vapor transmission, when condenses and freezes. Try some of those thin produce bags over a liner and under your main (thick wool) sock for a huge difference. Sorry for my blathering if you already know all this…

where can you buy VB socks? Ive searched internet and some reason I come up nadda.

Rab makes some. http://rab.equipment/us/shop/vb-socks

RBH designs makes quality VB socks http://www.rbhdesigns.com/category/170/footwear.htm

I generally use mid-weight wool socks. Nothing too thick. I've found that if my feet ever get cold in the winter the two main culprits are moisture or circulation. I learned ice fishing with big winter boots that if my socks were too thick and I didn't have enough circulation my feet would freeze quickly. Quickly as in I'd have been better off with only a thin liner sock. I like to size up 1 1/2 to 2 sizes for winter and use as a dedicated winter shoe. As for moisture, last year the only time my feet got cold was in pretty mild temperatures (maybe -15 to -20c). I was sweating under my gaiters and my wool socks absorbed the moisture and wet out my shoes. The goretex socks could be a problem if they are allowing even a bit of moisture to escape. And with a non-waterproof trail runner I imagine you're bound to get moisture in. Even the slightest bit of moisture in your socks/shoes will compound over time in cold weather. As for VB socks. I have a pair of Integral Designs VB socks. I think Rab bought them out, and it sounds like Rab is continuing to produce the socks. Cheers…