Deep Cold Winter Boots

[David D]

Not to be a bummer with summer temps still lingering but snow is just a couple months away in these parts and I need to get on finding a new pair of winter hiking boots.  My old faithful’s bit the dust last spring, and stock for 13W clown feet usually disappear by November.

There were no recent discussions on the topic so I’m wondering if there are any recommendations?

• 32F to -25F .  Last boots were -25F and warm enough at those temps while moving
• compatible with cramp ons (Kahtoola microspikes), gaiters (OR Rocky Mountains) and snow shoes
• comfortable and light enough for up to 25km/day (no pack, day hike)
• all terrain spanning post holing, bushwacking, frozen flat trail, cliffs, hidden ankle high water
• waterproofish.  Last ones were Goretex which worked well for years.  Replacing them as they now leak

Grazie tutti!

[AK Granola]

You can have some of your criteria but not all. For all except lightweight, I suggest Salomon Toundras. Warm, great tread, waterproof. Work well with snowshoes. I haven’t tried them with spikes, because the tread has been solid on all the surfaces I’ve tried. But I haven’t done mountains.

[Daryl and Daryl]

Here’s what I did around 1970 when I had a similar goal.

I bought a pair of Korean boots.  These were the black ones with wool insulation between two layers of rubber.  I then had Dave Page, a respected cobbler in Seattle, put a vibram sole on them.  They were warm and I could wear crampons.  They were heavy but I was young and didn’t worry about such things.

About 10 years later a friend of mine bought a white pair of Korean boots for a climb of Mackinly (sp?)I believe these have closed cell foam between two layers of rubber.  He had a size 15 foot.

[nunatak]

Look at the Baffin Borealis. Warm double boot that is surprisingly comfy for plain walking too. Keep the liner in your bag at night to dry. I like them

[Thom]

https://sectionhiker.com/baffin-borealis-double-insulated-winter-hiking-boot/

[David D]

Thanks for the suggestions!  My Quests were narrow enough to injure my foot when cliff scrambling, but I’ll check these out, hopefully they’re wider.

The Baffin’s look great for overnights, if a bit heavy.  nunatak, have you had any issues with the low cut in back causing easy ingress of snow?

I also see more people wearing mukluks but I can’t wrap my head around that concept yet as a modern option.

[John Vance]

I’ve been using the Baffin Summit Ultralights and like them.  Not ultralight by the folks here but very light for what they are.   You can pull the liners and put them in the bottom of your bag to keep from freezing.  Snowshoes, Alti Hoks, and flexible crampons have been great.  Size up at least one size.   I measure an 11 and the size 12 is good.   I just wear thin socks with them as the boots keep my feet warm.   Super warm on the move and good for standing around down to about zero Fahrenheit.

[nunatak]

No, but I use gaiters.

[Khris R]

I bought a pair of Salomon Toundras last year. I wore them down to 15F and they were always super warm and toasty. One issue is they fit really wide even with winter grade socks so I wear them with doubled footbeds.

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