Modular boots or shoes.

Uggs are worn year round from the beaches to the snow.  Popular with women but now in men’s too.   Have you checked out Uggs ?

That’s funny :-) I know ARC’TERYX makes a modular boots which has different liners for different temp but even the most breathable one is still too hot in warm temperature. I am looking for something i can bring for long and varied conditions, e. g start in India in summer and finish in Nepal in winter.

I’ve kind of been working on this same thing.  I love wearing my huaraches and really don’t feel like putting on boots despite the snow outside.

As long as it’s dry I’m good with just sandals down to mid 30s. Thin toe socks add a bit of warmth.  Polar fleece socks add more warmth. For cold and wet I slip some LL Bean waterproof socks over everything.

This system is definitely a work in progress but I’m pretty happy with it so far.  Only tested down into the 20s but I am fairly confident it would work down to 0.  It would probably e easier keep the old tootsers warm in the lower temps because I wouldn’t have to deal with melting snow.

http://www.mindyourheadcoop.org/blog/?s=TABI

Check this guy out. Rocking Luna sandals, boiled wool socks, and microspikes at -10.  The Molly’s Purl site linked on his page is dead but there are other people on Etsy making similar socks, just not tabis.  If you’re into expedition sandals that works for you, though.

I use GTX  Merrill Moab Mid “boots” (barely boots) or Merrill Moab low cut shoes (non-GTX) in the summer, both desert and mountains.

** In winter I use the GTX boots with a thin neoprene divers’ sox over very thin polypro liners and no other sox. This setup, WITH gaiters, keeps me warm to 10 F. as long as I’m moving at a moderate pace. I haven’t tested it below 10 F. but this combination may be good to zero, F.

And Redmond, thank you for the babelicious photo illustrations of Uggs. They are easy on the eyes.

yr dreaming …

there are folks who use trail runners for most things, but in cold temps they often need to size up for thicker socks and a WPB sock

not to mention that once it gets icy and hilly, it should attach well to crampons/snowshoes, etc …

;)

“India in summer and finish in Nepal in winter”

Specifically, what kind of trekking are you doing? And for 1/2 a year?

At that duration, you run the risk of wearing out a single piece of footwear by the winter, (assuming you are putting on a bunch of miles a day.)

If this is the case, I wouldn’t be looking for a silver bullet, but would focus more on what works for the season and terrain you are in. Perhaps a very light & comfortable sandal plus a good walking shoe for the fowl weather. And if something happens to one pair, you have a backup. You can always add WP socks to either system as well.

(While I would LOVE to wear Sanuk sandals in the snow, they just don’t have enough traction to make it worthwhile.)

“what kind of trekking are you doing? And for 1/2 a year?”

That’s just an example, I am not going to do a half year trekking, but it will be a mix of many things if I go, city sightseeing, beaches, hiking, travelling, serious trekking (Nepal), anything outdoor. Recently I have done a mini version of this, started in Berlin. It was around 13 degree celsius, which was very warm for December, I was wearing a GTX boots and almost cooked. Then the last stop was Abisko in Sweden Arctic circle, it was -25 degree there and my GTX boots with wool socks worked just fine.

As long as it’s dry I’m good with just sandals down to mid 30s. Thin toe socks add a bit of warmth.  Polar fleece socks add more warmth. For cold and wet I slip some LL Bean waterproof socks over everything.

Thanks, WPB socks may be a good idea, when it’s around 0 F I definitely feel the need of water proof protection.

 http://www.mindyourheadcoop.org/blog/?s=TABI

Interesting! I am talking something like a keen, but this is even cooler!