Winter boot fans, start drooling now…

Good find Adam.

Not bad for maybe down to around 0F I'm guessing. A VBL sock would be required.

It would really help if they supplied more details about the liner, such as thickness, insulation weight, and if replacement/spare liners are available for purchase.

I am online now with Patagonia Customer Support, any questions to ask?

Yeah, I'd be curious about the temp rating. They couldn't answer that for me last time I called. All I could find out was that it comes to stores and the internet later in Sept. They are slightly different than the prototype I saw by chance last winter, but looks like all the changes are improvements. I'm particularly excited that for once I can find a pair of boots that may work well both for the street and the mountains, and that there's a removable liner for preventing a frozen boot scenario in dead winter. I'm sure a VBL sock would go a long way for those who like going that route… I prefer the sock plus liner method myself. Please let us know about any additional info you can get out of the customer support staff!

They said they wont be available until Sept 26th. I will chekc back then.

Here's parts of my chat with an online representative:

Looking at the previous chat you are not considering treking in these are you?
You: Yes, I am. Is that not advised with these shoes?
Peter: These are uber light weight and not going to stand up to the rocky travel you will encounter. They are great for running to the market in , but not for hard hiking.
You: Oh ok. So, more like city use?
Peter: Yes exactly
Peter: They do not have much structure to them and light weight construction. They maybe okay around basecamp in the place of a down bootie, but not much else.
You: Let me clarify something. I actually hike in Vibram FiveFingers (those odd toe shoes) if you've seen them?
Peter: I know them well
You: I don't like structure/ support around my ankles. It actually hinders my walking. I prefer minimal support.
Peter: Your feet maybe strong enough, but the Activist are not, they may last a week if we get lucky
You: Oh ok. So, even the soles aren't meant for rugged terrain, then?
Peter: They are not,
Peter: Like I said a grocery store and city street is as far as I would recommend in them.

deleted

Yeah of course they are more "urban focused" BUT I cannot imagine that a set of these with some micro spikes will somehow suck in the slightest. I for one am willing to take the risk. You pay the higher prices for patagonia and you get the higher quality customer service. At worst they'd replace them if they tear or separate, and I'd have a pair of city shoes. But realistically I think that's from the perspective of a representative that hasn't needed something in this exact category…

I don't really want support or padding, but I don't like all out minimalist shoes that leave my ankles, toes and bones at risk of injury due to my clumsiness or nature's way. I also doubt patagonia would put a shoe that was for city use out that had a sole that couldn't take walking on the rocks… cities are made of pavement, at least they are where I live in NYC. I beat up my hiking boots TWICE as fast if I wear them on pavement. I bet that they can take the snow and the rock just fine, I am willing to take the risk.

If patagonia designed a shoe for winter that took R&D money and investment I highly doubt they are dumb enough to make it so poorly that it is only for sitting around a campfire scenarios. Probably makes sense to remember that we're talking about a company that will replace a down jacket for free (twice) when you rip it open due to your own idiocy on two occasions, right? (Yes that actually happens and I've seen it with my own eyes.)

Yeah but the La Sportiva frost GTX boot you list doesn't have the removable liners. I already have some nice winter GTX boots. What I think that myself, and maybe a reasonable number of others are looking for, is a boot that replaces the alpine hard boot that uses the removable liner. For some types of hikers or backpackers that need or want some additional ankle support or foot protection when spending multiple days in the mountains this is key. Right now there are very limited options for UL boots with removable liners. You get the hard mountaineering boots, and some other mediocre options. Nike had a great boot out a couple of seasons ago but it was impossible to buy any because they sold out so fast. Anyway, we'll have to see what the ultimate end product can handle with our own experience, but if you can't take the liner out and put it in your sleeping bag to dry out and not get frozen in your boot overnight, you need to have somthing like this. Sneakers aren't going to cut if for me in the Adirondack high peaks and New Hampshire white mtns. Winter hiking there requires some kind of boot in my world, and I prefer one that is flexible and light over stiff and supportive any day. I'm not ice climbing, but scaling small person-sized ice walls are necessary on many of these hikes.

Here's the Nike boot if you're interested in seeing it. If you happen to have a 7.5 men's foot then you're in luck and you can still buy them :)

http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/lunarterra-arktos-boot/pid-777017/pgid-777020

Adam – Fair points. I was not aware that Patagonia has such excellent customer service. Good to know. That said, I'm still tempted by this boot for an 18 day mostly uphill trek over predominantly rocky/ dusty trails with some snow fields thrown in for good measure…

Wonder if these will fit the bill – take the liner out when not needed, and put the liner in when colder and on snow?

del

Boot

this is how Patagonia describes a previous Activist shoe with the same or very similar sole :
November 10th, 2013
These shoes are ultra-lightweight are fit like lace up slippers. You literally glide along on paved or other smooth surfaces. Do not mistake them them for hiking shoes as the sole is too soft for rocky terrain. But around town or in the parks they cannot be beat.

They are for après ski (do you use that term there ?)

"Well I could certainly imagine how these would suck to the fullest in most Winter mountain trekking scenarios that I've experienced. At worst you might suffer a serious foot injury or maybe even die. ALL FABRIC UPPER with thin synthetic suede rand and flexible soles? No thank you!"

You do realize you're addressing a crowd that actually does often or sometimes wear running shoes on witner hikes, right??

To elaborate, most of us aren't ice climbing with shoes like that. When using ultralight gear its always going to be somewhat of a compromise but its nice not wearing a clunky boot. If you don't need more than microspikes, there's nothing that's going to stop you that these boots can't handle. Just because there's a soft rubber bottom doesn't mean they won't be good.

Its important to note that in many scnearios, the sole of this boot won't touch the ground without snow or ice on top of it, plus you've got the microspikes. Of course I'm talking without having walked in the boots, but could they be thinner than minimalist shoes with some padding? I doubt it.

Yes, apres-ski exists here, and sure I wouldn't be too pissed about them being used for apres ski except when it comes to price. Either way I plan to get a pair to try in the city first.

del

Or you could drool over something that comes in GTX or non GTX, low cut or mid cut, with a removable liner as well.

http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/outdoor-features/new-footwear-range-from-arcteryx/13019.html

"Well I could certainly imagine how these would suck to the fullest in most Winter mountain trekking scenarios that I've experienced. At worst you might suffer a serious foot injury or maybe even die. ALL FABRIC UPPER with thin synthetic suede rand and flexible soles? No thank you!"

Not everyone is climbing mountains.

Have you looked at primitive indigenous footwear from the arctic, which is extremely warm and effective?

Okay, the sole won't hold up when walking on rocks, but how would they work with snowshoes?

del

Exactly my experience, Rick. I used some lightweight Hitecs snowshoeing last winter and nearly got into trouble with pinched forefoot and cold toes… lucky I was on the way out of the woods.

I got the Vasque Snowblime (3 lb/pair) and they worked great. Not super lightweight, but far better than the Scarpa Invernos I previously used. With VBLs between liner and outer sock, one can go day after day with no moisture build-up. I like the weight on those Snow Junkies, though!

looks decent for casual cold weather.

Not sure if people know this, but Patagonia Footwear is "designed" by Patagonia but is actually manufactured by Merrell/Wolverine. I learned this from a Patagonia Rep at REI a couple years ago.

If you compare some of the patagonia trail runners and merrell barefoot shoes you will see some very similar features. Just something to think about.

The thin all fabric upper would not serve you well for long days in the snowshoe binding. The binding needs to be tight and without a stiff upper support over the forefoot, will cut the circulation to your toes.

That was exactly my expectation when I read Will Reitvild's articles about UL winter footwear. But my experience does has not matched that expectation. Mukluks are similar and work well for with snowshoes.

Note that my usage is in boreal forest, not mountains where binding requirements may well be entirely different. (However Will does do winter travel in mountains)

"Adam sez, Sneakers aren't going to cut if for me in the Adirondack high peaks and New Hampshire white mtns. I look forward to your trip report from the summit of Mt. Washington wearing these boots next February."

For the summer I totally feel that way. Mostly for mud. For the winter, its a different story, because snow is soft. Of course I'm not going up Mt Washington wearing those ya jerk, you think I'm crazy? :)

What about all the other lowland hikes, smaller peaks and non-insane higher peaks that don't require life threatening conditions year-round? Of course these can't replace mountaineering boots for mountaineering. I think you're missing the point I was trying to make, which is that for some of us, doing less technical hiking and not really mountaineering, this middle ground is what's missing. Nike probably was the first to plug that hole in terms of what I could find.

"The thin all fabric upper would not serve you well for long days in the snowshoe binding. The binding needs to be tight and without a stiff upper support over the forefoot, will cut the circulation to your toes. And if it is cold enough the snow melt will eventually freeze inside between the fabric and waterproof membrane too, encasing your feet in little blocks of ice."

Like Jim, this has not been my experience. The three days I spent in snowshoes in Michigan, 2 days mostly on frozen Lake Superior (but not entirely, and still sinking about 3-5 inches in the snow), and one day entirely in deep snow (often sinking 6-10 inches with each step), and my feet never got cold or circulation cut off. I was wearing NB trail runners with 40 Below overboots.