Snowshoe Boots?

Traditional Sorels will work but I abandoned mine years ago because they were too heavy and exhausting to wear for any length of time. Sometimes I'll use a pair of waterproof Rocky boots with 400 gram Thinsulate insulation. Size 9.5 is just over three pounds. My favorite footwear is something I adapted from snowshoe racer Tom Sobal. He uses neoprene socks inside running shoes and Neoprene overbooties on the outside. I don't have Neoprene socks so I'll wear Goretex socks over a thin liner sock inside my trail runners and cyclists' Neoprene overbooties over them. This is actually a pretty warm and comfortable combination. Sometimes I'll skip the Goretex socks and just wear a thicker pair of wool socks inside. If I know that I'll be spending a lot of time standing around such as on an overnight trip, I'll carry a pair of insulated NEOS to wear over the trail runners in camp.

Sometimes I will wear insulated supergaiters over a light hiking boot. Unlike overboots, supergaiters leave the sole free to operate as the manufacturer intended, and the supergaiter doesn't take the main abrasion from the surface, the boot sole does. (Supergaiters use rubber rands over the lower part of the boot, with a cross piece just in front of the heel, to keep the snow away from the boot, and then there is a fabric portion that extends over the calf. These used to be more available than they are today, but there are still a few being made.)

Salomon makes a nice snowshoe boot that I use a lot but if you want a real bargain Land's End has a 400 gram insulated boot that I've been using all late fall and winter. I work in the snow daily and use snowshoes often … I cannot find anything to complain about these boots, they are perched on the boot dryer after wearing them all day [4 degrees/48 inches of snow].
Sorels and all pac boots really belong in the below zero world, they are just too clunky to use with snowshoes, above zero the vapor barrier effect won't work and your socks will get wet then your feet will get cold.
[I recently read that the average persons feet produce a quarter cup of sweat everday, that's without factoring in exercise.
Try to match boots to your expected temp. and you'll be a lot more comfortable.

Larry – are these the boots you wrote about?

http://www.landsend.com/pp/400gramZipfrontBoots-71539_152376_253.html?sid=6601120728887179070&CM_MERCH=SRCH

Land's End also has these for sale:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/ExtremeSquallBoots-55302_132251_-1.html?sid=6601120728887179070&CM_MERCH=SRCH

Check out Keen boots too. The Growler is near purpose built for snowshoeing. Otherwise the Lands End boots are nice. In fact, the whole Land End "Squall" line is pretty good stuff. Not the lightest, but it is very good for snowshoeing and such. I wore a squall jacket for about 10 years, until someone stole it out of a coat room. My wife has worn hers for about 5. It still looks new.

Eeck, I've accidently misled you. The boot I've been using is the 600 gram lace-up snow boot priced at $79.50.
http://www.landsend.com/pp/600gramLaceupSnowBoots-55302_152381_-1.html?sid=6601120728887179070&CM_MERCH=ALT_55302.
I apologize for thinking they were 400 gram boots, it wasn't until you asked me that I took a look, thanks for the correction.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Larry – those 600 gram boots look like a good deal.

Dondo – I'll look at the Rocky boots.

Robert – I'll take a look at the Supergaiters to.

JR – have you used the Squall boots along with the jacket? I like the price, but you usually get what you pay for. The growlers look like a sweet boot.

Supergaiters are not easy to find, nor are they cheap. However, you can move them from boot to boot since the rands are expandable (rubber).

MOUNTAIN TOOLS GLACIER SUPER GAITERS & BUZZARD INSULATED SUPERGAITERS
"Our SUPERGAITERS boost the warmth of your feet by trapping a layer of air around the boot upper and prohibiting cold ice, slush or water from ever touching your boot. A sticky, stretchy strong elastic 5.10 Stealth Rubber rand forms a gasket seal – just above the welt – leaving the front and heel of your boot sole exposed for hiking and climbing traction on dirt, snow and rock. Great for snowshoeing, skiing, mountaineering, ice climbing and expeditions – where approaches or long hikes involve "dry" trails, scrambling or cross country travel. Uppers are waterproof-breathable Ultrex lined with Endurlon – a hydrophilic polyester – to absorb and spread moisture and move it to the outside. Convenient front zip, hook and loop storm flap and elastic draw cord. Choose the uninsulated GLACIER for 3 season use and the Thinsulated boosted BUZZARDS to extend the temperature capability of your boots for winter and extreme cold. SUPERGAITERS fit all mountain boots and high volume double boots and will not interfere with crampon bindings. Insure the best fit by measuring boot circumference (just above sole) before ordering. If between sizes, choose the smaller size (see below). Easy installation directions included with order."
size: SM (27"), MD (28"), LG (29"), XL (30"), XXL (31") GLACIER SUPERGAITERS 20 oz $99
BUZZARD INSULATED SUPERGAITERS, 23 oz, $119
http://www.mtntools.com

>. In fact, the whole Land End "Squall" line is pretty good stuff. Not the lightest, but it is very good for snowshoeing and such.

I like my Lands End Squall boots (size 12: 44.5 oz), but not so much below freezing. I used them on an overnight snowshoe trip last year and while they were comfortable, I had to spend hours re-warming my toes. They were fine as long as I was moving fast on compacted snow, but when the snow was deep enough to cover the boot-tops they got cold very fast and stayed that way. I do have problems with cold toes, so YMMV.

I was thinking of trying them with my OR X-Gaiters (with closed-cell foam inserts: 21.0 oz), but I picked up a pair of L.L. Bean Baxter State snow boots (800g Primaloft insulation; size 12: 75.1 oz) which I will try next.