why overboots?

[Roland]

Good Morning..
I’m not into winterhiking, I’m just getting interested in. So I followed the thread on Ryan’s winterlist and I have a simple question. Why does Ryan use trail running shoes and overboots instead of VBL Socks and Sorel boots or something like that. I mean you don’t have to carry the boots, you just wear them..mmhh I just wonder
Thanx for helping me understand :>)
Roland

[Ryan Faulkner]

I will be a newbie to snowshoeing this winter also.

but are you planning on winter “hiking”
or snowshoeing

[Anonymous]

Regular highly insulated winter boots are real heavy, and many lack good support – you tend to slosh around in them. An extra few pounds on the feet really add up after a few miles on snow, especially if you are wearing snow-shoes also.
The trail shoes/overboots is a good combo. I have also used an oversized (1 to 1.5 sizes larger than my usual size) light weight quality boot with some built-in insulation, and then wore 2mm neoprene socks underneath (the neoprene acts as a vapor barrier and has insulating value too). The trick with any footwear in winter is to ensure you do NOT compress the socks you are wearing or have the footwear too tight. If the circulation to your feet is in any way constricted, warm blood will stop flowing to your feet and they will get cold, regardless of how much you are wearing.

Oatman

[larry savage]

I get the mixed pleasure of working off snowshoes, the company provides tubbs oval snowshoes w/ rawhide lashing and sorel boots. It is absolute bliss to trade off to a lighter footwear and snowshoe combination, kinda like the difference between riding a mtb bike with lugged tires on the road and changing to a high end road bike. Go with the lightest combo that will support your weight [include the weight you expect to carry] and you’ll be quite content.

[Author]

Posts