boots or shoes for snowshoeing

I followed the advice in an article by Will Reitveld before heading out on long snowshoe trips last winter. I ended up wearing a silk liner, midweight merino wool sock, Rocky Gortex sock then my usual non gortex trail runners (one size larger) and MLD long winter gaiters. This system worked well for me and kept my feet warm while hiking but is was necessary to change into fresh warm socks, down booties and ext liner after making camp. I've also used the same system but with plastic bags instead of the gortex socks and stayed just as warm, even when post holing for hours (I was caught without snowshoes that day). Here's the link to the article:

https://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lightweight_footwear_systems_for_snow_travel_part_2.html#.Us8W4H-9KSM

del

Thank you for your replies.

I was very happy to read the extensive research done ao by Will Rietvelt (sounds like a dutch name to me….) and I have to read it a couple more times to get everything clear in my head….

The vasque boots i saw online, but are not available in Europe, and it's too big a risk to order shoes without fitting them….. they look great though.

del

Crocs boots

I drank the Backpackinglight koolaid and went on a trip last year(2012) with a pair of trail runners and Rocky Mountain Goretex socks and ended up with a debilitating knee injury. Do yourself a favor and get a decent mid ankle waterproof hiking boots, I use my Salmon Goretex Quest 4D and been very happy with it.

For summer backpacking I till use trail runner(Nike) and Innov 8. But I learnt in a hard way that in winter you need to need to get conservative and set aside backpackinglight koolaid.

How were your trail runners related to your debilitating knee injury? I don't see the connection here.