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Footwear for challenging conditions

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PostedJun 22, 2007 at 9:36 pm

I have a unique challenge for footwear that I need to resolve before late august. I will be working as a hunting guide in the Mackenzie Mountains of the Northwest Territories starting around this time. Conditions will be variable, but may frequently dip to -15C. There will be long days afoot with rough ground and even some muskeg, and also frequently packing heavy (100+lb) loads, but also long periods of inactivity where frostbite would be a major concern. These are remote conditions, without a real base camp to rely on for up to 5 days. Obviously, having the right footwear is imperative.

So, what to wear? I am leaning towards either adventure racing shoes or hiking boots with layered socks and a layer of Gore-Tex socks, and carrying a pair of insulated overboots for the inactive times. I would prefer the shoes for walking long distances, but, even though I discount most of the hype about ankle support, these are extreme circumstances. As for overboots, the only ones I have found that seem appropriate are those made by Wiggy’s (http://www.wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=43), but I would be interested in other options.
I would appreciate for any thoughts or advice.

Jason Brinkman BPL Member
PostedJun 22, 2007 at 11:10 pm

Great question, and one that I plan to research more as winter approaches. I haven’t found the time to read them in depth yet, but BPL had a great looking series of articles on this subject called Lightweight Footwear Systems for Snow Travel. You can do a search for ‘winter footwear’ or jump to Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3.

Will also reviewed a promising combination of overboots, the Forty Below Light Energy and Simple Slipper.

PostedJun 23, 2007 at 1:28 pm

If you can't find what you need in Cabela's extensive line of footwear it probably doesn't exist.

For REALLY cold weather their Rocky SnowStalker boots are my 1st choice. The removable EVA foam liner (similar to that used in plastic double mountaineering boots) means the liner can be brought into your sleeping bag so you don't wear "ice blocks" in the 1st hour of the bitter cold morning.

BUT, ***you need to duct tape shut the liner's breathing holes to keep your sweat from getting into the main boot's insulation & compromising the insulation's R value***. And you need to wear dry poly pro sock liners & medium weight synthetic socks (like Thorlo Light Hikers) every day. They will get wet with the non-breathing EVA liners.

If there's a better really lightweight bitter cold weather boot out there please let me know.

Eric
Eric

PostedJun 23, 2007 at 5:24 pm

I went out today and picked up a new pair of shoes for this particular trip: Inov8 Mudclaw 'o'330s, coupled with my short gaiters. Unconventional for this sort of job, but they fit my criteria perfectly, and I am looking forward to hiking around all day in them. I will buy either Rocky's Goretex socks or sealskinz socks to layer in wet conditions. I would go for the Rocky's in an instant, but I am tempted by the knee-high sealskinz model that promises to allow total submersion. In muskeg, this could make all the difference, because I am afraid the Rocky's might not be high enough to prevent flooding.
My main concern now is finding an overboot that is very warm, easy switch on and off, resonably durable, and not useless when wet. Cheap would be nice too.
I'm looking at these as good, cheap option:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0020696830362a&navCount=11&podId=0020696&parentId=cat20588&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=cat20564-cat20588&catalogCode=UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20588&hasJS=true

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