Spring - the "season" that we who live and play in the mountains generally refer to as Thank-God-winter's-over - offers unique challenges as we hang up our skis and begin again to fantasize about walking long distances. In my trekking home - that high swath of mountainous land in Southwest Montana and Northwest Wyoming known as Greater Yellowstone, "spring for trekkers" comes to our foothills sometime in March and lasts into the high country well into June. Foremost among the challenges that spring hikers face is the presence of melting snow and the prospect of continuously wet feet. As such, finding hiking partners to join me in these conditions - and help me test my theories about ultralight footwear - is challenging!
Unlike during the winter, when insulated, waterproof footwear is a must, spring offers some latitude in your footwear choices.
In the spring of 2006, I evaluated many different footwear systems while I trained for a trek in the Western Arctic. Temperatures, which were generally above freezing, meant that keeping my feet warm on dry trail and hardpack snow was not a great challenge. But the presence of moisture-heavy snow, the prospect of postholing, and the need to wade cold creeks flush with melt water meant that having footwear that managed moisture was important. Waterproof footwear systems keep external moisture at bay but result in hot feet in drier, milder conditions. And, the well-draining footwear common among summer hikers fails to keep feet warm at colder temperatures. Selecting trekking footwear for spring walking can be a great challenge!
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- My Challenge
- My Options
- The Overboot System
- The High Gaiter System
- The Warm Sock
- Conclusion
# WORDS: 1350
# PHOTOS: 1
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to:
Spring Footwear: Lightweight Footwear Systems Built Around Thin Neoprene Overboots and High Gaiters
Brian, I know some people here have used them. Maybe do a search. I'm not sure if it was the same model you linked to but I recall people discussing them. 2.2 lbs is killer though…
Joe, I'm not sure I'd actually count on the sock to dry fast. My spring socks for wet junk are thick, gushy, mountaineering socks. They don't dry fast, if at all. This is my system for "hopelessly wet" conditions where temps are cold (and I thus want the thick sock insulation) – packrafting, river wading, and other sloppy snowmelt conditions.
In the fall, as it starts to get cold (and it's drier), I prefer a GTX boot (see forum post above) because it's just plain warmer (and I'm not dealing with a lot of snowmelt water conditions – dry trails, etc.), and 0 to 15 degree mornings are a lot more common than in the spring.
Wet is OK, cold is not.
Hi Joe
> Wet is OK, cold is not.
Cheating! Summarising a whole article and extended discussion in six words.
But six correct words.
Cheers
Brian, I have an old pair of NEOS overshoes similar to the Adventurers. My Large size weighs 38oz. I've been wearing them recently in knee deep snow and slush. They're not particularly warm so I've worn the Inov8 Roclite 390 GTX boots inside with medium weight merino wool socks. In warmer weather I've used them with non-waterproof trail shoes. I like them.
anyone else wearing ankle high neo-prene socks in cold wet conditions?
inside a pair of inov-8 terrocs this is the simplest and probably lightest solution.
and should it really be getting hot, I replace the neo-prene socks with a pair of thin merino socks.
no need for gaiters, overboots and all that.
Daniel,
Situation dependent, that probably is the lightest solution, and as long as it stays wet, your good to go. Problem is when temps drop, your shoes will freeze. Overboots will excel in winter conditions.
Liner Sock, VB Sock, Hardrocks, 40 Below Overboot. Keeps my feet warm and dry all day and night – so far so good!
Steve, it's funny to see this picture posted, it could have been taken of my own feet this past weekend in the White Mtns of NH. I used RBH insulated socks, Montrail Streaks, Simple Slippers (when really cold), and the LE overboots with a pair of Elites under them. 40Below synthetic booties completed the package in camp. Far and away the best winter footwear system I have tried, having been thru plastic boots, bunny boots and Steger mukluks. This system combined the best of all of the others and provided a level of convenience I have never experienced. I went into further detail about my experience with the LE's under the Reader Review section…
Christian
Does anyone have experience using these:
http://www.overshoe.com/recreational/products/detail.php?s=ANN
Brian, I have a couple of pairs of older NEOS, one comparable to the Villager and an insulated version similar to the Explorer. They're a versatile solution but I no longer use them because they're a bit heavy and cumbersome for my taste. The insulated neoprene booties linked in my post above work a lot better for me because they feel more nimble. But the insulated NEOS are warmer for standing around camp.
Check it out! They seem to be warmer! AND lighter! AND cheaper! then forty below LE.
I own a pair of these as well Huzefa, they are comparable to the Simple Slippers, but even then don't offer the same level of protection or ease of use. They are in no way however, in the same league as LE's, nor are they meant to be. LE's are meant to keep your footwear dry in snowy conditions, my experience with CMs is that they work like a neoprene wetsuit. My wife has a pair that she will use INSIDE her LE's to help boost temp ratings…but like the Simple Slippers they really don't have any kind of durable outsole and so will not last long on anything but snow (and mayble even still) unless protected by a snowshoe or other traction device.
Huzefa,
The crescent moon bootie is in no way comparable to the LE Overboot – if you told Joel at 40 below that you were doing a head to head between his LE Overboot and the CM bootie, he'd probably be less then amused. I only want to clarify so that readers do not get confused here.
The LE Overboot is a fully enclosed knee high overboot weighing 14.4 oz in my size 11. The sole is a dotted rubber of some sort, the lower section is neoprene and the upper is a breathable integrated gaiter. A velcro strip up the middle allows installation and removal.
The Cresent moon bootie is a neoprene sock designed to fit over your footwear weighing 9.5 oz (from the web). It has a partial sole and no integrated gaiter. I actually like the design of it, but it really isn't fair to say it is a replacement for the LE Overboot.
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