Bogs?

All of the bogs that I've handled are very heavy.

They are very multi-purpose – hiking, waders, warmth – I've slept in them on a 36-hour slog and that worked fine – better than most anything else for sleeping in all my clothes.

But there are heavy. And "one pound on your feet is worth seven pounds on your back" because you're picking up that weight, accelerating and decelerating that weight several times each second.

But thrashing around an Aleutian Island, not having to change into waders, nor throwing boots across a stream and dry my feet before redoning my boots, not having to worry about cold feet at night or in camp – that was worth something. On the JMT, PCT or AT, I'd use lightweight low-cut hikers and have a small arsenal of socks to vary for the situation and for any mishaps. In more extreme conditions, if I wasn't trying to do more than 10 miles day, Bogs might again be an option.

I also wear them a lot on power boats when fishing for salmon or halibut. And for clamming. And when walking on the beach with the dog in the rain. I rarely need hip boots while canoeing – usually Bogs suffice and are far lighter and more comfortable. Other times I really need chest waders (when in the surf), but between having Bogs now and always having had chest waders, I haven't used my hip boots at all in a decade.

Just what I was thinking for the Bogs. Nonsense for long-distance hiking, but perfect for 500 other uses I find myself needing boots for.

As for the weight, is there anything that saves substantial weight over the bogs for -30º temperatures? My understanding (and I could be wrong) is that most UL backpackers either don't camp in the winter, or triple their baseweight in the winter due to necessary insulation and protection.

I don't think bogs are very warm by themselves.
Yeah they are rated to like -40 temperatures, but I don't think that's true. I see guys landscaping with them around here when it's 50 degrees out.
Of course some super thick socks would solve that.

Remains flexible at low temps, non insulated.

:( I thought they were insulated….

Bogs are insulated in that they are made from neoprene. But they aren't insulated like pack boots (Sorel, etc) are.

For lighter weight in sub-freezing temps (no liquid water), look at what natives did for thousands of years:

http://www.mukluks.com

We each have a pair. I have the canvas-topped Arctic model shown above, my wife has the all leather style. We use them below 15F for walking on trails, snowshoeing and for standing around (e.g. watching the kids at ski meets, watching friends dog mush, etc).

What is the lightweight boot of choice for wading an icy cold river that is two feet deep and has a rocky bottom? If I need to cross only one time, and then cross back, I don't need expensive boots. Even if the water is cold, I'll probably only need these wet boots for two or three minutes in each direction. They need to have just a bit of sole to prevent rock punctures.

–B.G.–

We need cottage made waterproof waders.

http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=5