Sierra Winter Footwear Advice

Hi Lowell,

Excellent question about hiking in Sorels with a 30 pound back. My experience in the Adirondacks was with a the Rochester NY Winter Mountaineering Society which was a group of 10-15 men wanting to bag peaks in the Adirondacks during the winer. Picture a single line of men with packs on with the lead on snowshoes breaking trail for 100 yards and then moving to the rear for the second in line to break snow and ad infinitum. I had at least a 30 pound  pack since we always camped overnight on, or near, the top.

And 5 to 8 miles sounds like a pretty good estimate of how far we traveled. The problem with answering your question is I never hiked in these conditions without wearing snowshoes. It was simple impossible given the snow depth. Always had them on except when it got really icy and I switched to  10 point flexible crampons – the kind that have a seperate front and back set of spikes attached via a flexible metal joint/rod – not microspikes.

Based on my limited hiking experience just wearing Sorels, sans snowshoes, I would not recommend hiking in just Sorel Caribous. They have no defined sole lug pattern which means no traction. And if you decide to use flexible crampons for any distance the boot sole is too soft and flexible. Your feet will quickly become sore due to the stiff rod between the front and rear crampons. Maybe microspikes would work – I haven’t tried that approach.

Other forum users replying to your question have offered very good alternative foot wear using either insulated hiking boots or purchasing over boots. If you’re not planning to use snowshoes on the bottoms of your Sorels my recommendation is not to use your Sorel Caribous. I do not think a 30 pound pack weight is an issue. Traction is.

Sincerely,

Russ

ONCE MORE , WITH FEELING!

As I’ve posted here many times over the years there 3 items that will give you decent amount of warmth down to 10 F. (when moving).

1. mid boots W/GTX or other waterproof breathable membrane (Merrill Moab Mid boots are my favorites.)

2. VBL – US Divers brand 3mm neoprene divers’ socks over thin poly liners (factory seam sealed and Left and Right shaped)

3. GTX knee high gaiters

1.-> the GTX boots keep wet OUT

2.-> the VBL (Vapor Barrier Liner) keep sweat IN. “Sooooo what stays dry?” you ask. Well, the inside of your boots, and any insulation they  may have. The 3mm closed cell neoprene gives good warmth too.

3.-> the GTX gaiters keep water and snow out of the inside of the boots at the ankle AND keep your feet at least 10 F. to 15 F. warmer.

Never tried a VBL? DO try it. And the US Divers VBLs are amazing. With thin poly liner socks and 3 mm VBLs will be OK fit-wise for your regular hiking boots IF they are one size wider than your street shoes – as they should be anyway. Feet literally widen by day two under the load of a pack.

@ Lowell If you already own the Sorels, try them out. I own a pair find the fit a bit too loose personally for hiking, even for snow shoeing and they are almost too warm for normal Sierra winter weather WHILE MOVING.  But they are cozy around camp and VERY water proof and as noted above you can dry the liners at night which can be a godsend on a multinight trip.

That being said, many members of the Sierra Club snow camping section I did a lot of camping and snow shoeing with packs with wore them.  I cannot speak to how they work walking on snowless or icey trails. I think your Oboz would work better in those circumstances.

I’d be inclined to advise Berghaus style Yeti gaiters/overboots, they only include the rand and not the actual sole of the boot.
These have been my go-to cover for my leather winter boots for decades. Drawback is that they are hard to find and expensive and they don’t insulate the bottom of the foot which can be a major heat loss area so you need to get a boot fit that allows for a thicker/warmer footbed

Plastic double boots

Pros-

Feet Always dry and warm

Stiff sole makes walking in snow and kicking step easy and protects toes from bruising

Takes strapless crampons (no cold fingers lacing up straps)

Edge well when climbing

Cons-

Heavy

Too stiff for much bare trail hiking

No smearing when on rocks, only edging