SnowShoe boots?

If all you are doing is easy terrain and snowshoe use then a pair of warm Sorrel-type boots will work fine. That is all I use now in MN.

But as most of my stuff in CA involved climbing and crampon use too I used either plastic-doubles or one-piece mountaineering boots there.

Even though you will be "warmer" while hiking I think you will still want some insulation in the boots, especially if you have to wear them in camp. (I bring down mukluks.)

Have fun, that is a great area.

Backpacker gave a really good review to the Vasque Snow Junkie:

http://www.zappos.com/vasque-snow-junkie-ultradry-beluga-bone-white

They're lightweight and breathable, but they have some insulation so you won't lose toes. The fit isn't especially narrow or anything. Plus, they don't break the bank!

Enjoy,

M

A pair of NEOS overboots with a QUALITY feltpack liner and a good heat-mouldable insole will do it for a system that is quite a bit lighter than a Sorell feltpack overboot.

BUT, you need a VBL lining to keep sweat out of the feltpacs. I like a thin neoprene diver's sock that I've seam sealed. It gives me insulation and a VBL in one.

Wear a thin poly liner sock under the VBL.

I have snowshoes the high Sierra in trail runners. Would likely do the same if I had another trip coming.

I've used slightly oversize minimalist trail runners with GoreTex socks and thick wool socks down to 10F. My toes were cold until I hiked for a few hours that morning, possibly partially due to the tight fit of the GTX socks. (They were oversized too.) I don't like boots at all, but a mid-cut boot seems better than low cut trail runners because it prevents snow which creeps under the gaiter from getting into the shoe and cooling things down. I think I'll use GTX mids (debating about insulated vs. minimalist) or just non-waterproof mids with a plastic bag along with vapor barrier socks.

For colder temps below 0F, I plan to get a pair of Steger mukluks (debating about traditional vs. the waterproof Camuks).

Id like to find a waterproof winter boot for snowshoeing.I dont like high boots so mids are what im looking at.What ive seen so far is overpriced,weak quality.in fact this stuff looks like jazzed up running shoes or cheap stuff from Hi-tec.The only thing that seems decent are sorels but those are like lead weights.
I bought the Merrell Norsehund Beta Mid but when i took them home i noticed the tongue had a low gussett-wtf,these are for winter and supposedly waterproof???I havent used em yet but they look and feel like hi-tec stuff-probably made at the same factory.Cant find any reviews on them either. I paid 110$ and now i am wondering why and what justifies this price.These companies are making a killing off these boots.I got them at rei so i can return them if they fail.

While I love trail runners for day hikes and light backpacking, I would caution you against using them if you go on offtrail snowshoeing. I tried them on couple of snowshoeing trip with a lot of off the trail hike and my ankles were not very thankful. Switched back to my Salomon Quest boots for snowshoeing trips. But if you are hiking on a nicely graded trail train runners with Goretex socks should do fine.

I'm also on the hunt for a pair of light, yet sturdy snowshoe boots to use with my MSR shoes. I currently use a pair of Inov-8 Roclite GTX mids, sized up to pair with some expedition weight wool socks. Great combination for winter hiking well down into the teens – the traction on packed snow is excellent too. Unfortunately, the forefoot region is a little too flexible and the uppers too thin, so the front snowshoe strap digs in and causes discomfort after a handful of miles.

One of the lightest, warmest boots I've ever used, with a wide footbox, is the Keen Growler. Unfortunately, they are discontinued in the US. BPL gave these a fantastic review…enough to drive me to find them. You can still find them on the Keen Canadian website..maybe they will ship here if you ask?? They pop up on ebay too, which is where I finally got mine. Super warm, with snowshoe and winter specific features on the boot (e.g., gaiter lace hook, heel ribbing for snowshoe straps)

If you can afford it, buy appropriate boots for the occasion. I snowshoed in my 5lb double plastic mountaineering boots exactly 1 time before I vowed to never do it again. We're talking like 4+lbs per foot after you strap on the snowshoes…you won't get very far.

Remember to size up for your winter boots…in my keens I sized up 1/2 a size for thicker socks.

If you like minimalist shoes, check out the Oetzi Troop Boots. A boot with a flexible sole and waterproof liner.
http://www.livingbarefoot.info/2011/11/oetzi-troop-leather-review/

I've been using the NEOS over boots for 10+ yrs snowshoeing. I liked'em as I could wear my favorite trail runners inside. I have found them to be very warm, dry, and comfy….a huge step up from the old school Sorrel winter boots with felt liners, at least for me.

Last yr, I ridded myself of all my shoes with heal rise to go barefoot or to wear Luna sandals or Vivobarefoot Breathos. I wore the latter in the NEOS but the heel slipped inside so, on a whim, I decide to try my leather soled fleece house slippers in them. Liked that combo so much that I've been doing it all winter. Walk my daughter to school every morn (single digits) and went on an overnight snowshoe trip 2 wks ago in the high teens….though it was only 4.5 miles. The slippers fit better in my wife's smaller NEOS….

Perhaps a "weird" method but it works for me. Warm, not too heavy and about as barefooty as I could go without frostbiting my toes.

I would recommend getting some lightweight 3 season goretex hiking boots (Vasque Breeze comes to mind) in one size larger than your normal size.

Then add some Toasty feet insoles, a liner sock, VBL sock or bag (optional for lower temps), and some thicker merino socks outside the VBL to provide insulation. Top it off with a really good calf height goretex gaiter (I like OR)

This is what Andrew Skurka uses in similar snowshoeing conditions in Colorado..

By far the favorite snowshoe boot that I’ve used so far is the New Balance 1000. My feet have been fine snowshoeing in the single digits but do get a bit chilly when standing around. If you decide to go this route, pair them with a thick ragg wool sock, and size up–way up. You don’t want anything restricting your circulation in the cold. The trail runners that I use in summer are 10 D but my snowshoe boots are 11 EEEE.

Being cheep I picked up a pair of Snow Runners a couple months ago and like them so far. Mid height boot, dry-plus(their Goretex knockoff), 400 gm Thinsulate. On sale for $59 for Men's and $44 for Women's. They are fairly light and pretty warm, too warm to wear inside. I can stand around at ten degrees Fahrenheit comfortably so they may be too much for milder temps. Seems to have a lot of good reviews.

Probably want something with a stiffer sole for latter season though.

I like using light runners and thick wool socks in Neos overshoes. The Neos are high so I don't need gaiters. My snowshoes are older Atlas with a flexible binding. A stiffer binding might put too much pressure on soft shoes.

This has only been when I had heat at night. There was a lot of condensation, frost, and ice inside the NEOS at the end of the day. For multi day use it would require vapor barrier socks.

I also use the Neos over camp booties.

I hate Sorels for more than about a mile or so of hiking. When I plan on also using crampons I use either mountaineering boots and gaiters ( for steep stuff and aggressive semi-auto crampons), or lighter leather hiking boots inside the NEOS and BD Contact strap crampons with extra-long springy bars.