Forty Below Light Energy Shorty overboots

well, for those of you who care or have an interest..I emailed 40 below with mu inquiries and they responded within the hour..here it is..

Hi Joe!
Love your email address by the way…

Yes this overboot fits on your trail running shoes nicely. They can be used for snowshoes, crampons, micro spikes, etc. However, while they are well made, with strong materials, they are not suited for use on ice, pavement, rocks, etc. They also will get worn and develop holes, cuts, etc with any metal interaction, especially micro-spikes and similar metal traction aids because they have sharp metal points or parts that cut into the fabric, especially on the bottom and lower sides. (not as much with crampons as they have flat decks that the overboot sits on). One nice feature is that they are easy to repair.

We make the Light Energy to be insulative, and as light and compact as possible for superlight snowshoeing. The company NEOS makes shoe covers that have rubber traction soles and are generally more suited for use of walking on dirt, rock and ice trails, traction aid devices, etc. They weigh more and are much bulkier, but work well. They usually will not fit into any crampons.

The Light Energy is made of stretchy closed cell foam, and has 2 different closed cell foam inserts that go under the shoe inside the overboots so you can adjust for different footwear and heat loss. I have attached an article about the use and range of these overboots.

Please check out the info and get back to me with any questions, etc. Love to help out!

Joel Attaway
Forty Below Ltd
P.O. Box 39
Graham, WA 98338 USA
Tel: (253)846-2081 PST
http://www.40below.com

Looks like I will be buying these real soon. Cant wait to try them out!!!

A++++ I love seeing company representatives actually take the time for 1-on-1 conversation.

+1 for 40 Below's customer service. I also gave Joel a call before my last trip and ended up getting some NEOS on his recommendation. Super helpful and I still plan on getting some Light Energys when I know I'll be on snow the whole time.

+1

"I also gave Joel a call before my last trip and ended up getting some NEOS on his recommendation. "

Note that 40 Below does not sell NEOS overboots. But Joel is more than happy to recommend the "right tool for the job". A company that cares.

Kudos all around.

I currently have the neos and shorty overboots…..debating which ones to take on the next trip. Which conditions did 40 below recommend the neos over the light energy?

Totes Men’s Work Boot Style Rubber Overshoes

GO HERE

Back in the late 70’s when the wife and three sons and I XC Skied from Kalkaska to Empire, Michigan we used Totes over our wool pile boot liners when in camp over the wool pile boot liners. Preformed great in keeping our body heat to our feet and prevented snow moisture from degrading the wool felt liners. They are light weight, tough and inexpensive.

40 below emailed me that response. He also attached a document to down load..2 page report. If you want, feel free to email me at dirtbaghiker@yahoo.com and I will gladly forward you the original email with the document attached. Or, if you are not comfortable with that I'm sure you can email them directly and receive the info…

I use mine (40 Below Shorties) exclusively for snowshoeing and they work very (very) well- they are also nice around camp too

I agree that they wouldn't work that well w/ microspikes or crampons (short durations, probably fine though) or hiking on dry ground (again short durations probably fine).

I think I am mainly just concerned about slushy snow…or warmer temps in the daytime where there is wet snow. Neos overboots would be completely waterproof, whereas I heard the 40 belows are more "water resistant"

I've used mine through some very slushy conditions and have never had a problem w/ water getting; I'm not sure if the are completely waterproof, but I have no worries w/ slush