Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Winter Access Forum What boots in winter

Anybody have a recommendation for the type of boots they are using during this time of year. I know people have there favorites just trying to narrow it down.

Thanks for the imput.

That depends on what I am doing. If I am heading up into high Sierra in winter conditions for a full day or more, I would wear plastic mountaineering boots. My leather mountaineering boots just do not keep my toes warm enough. I wore my leather boots on a day climb of University Peak a few weeks ago and my big toes were partially numb for several days.

Plastic mountaineering boots. Anything else doesn't keep my feet warm.

I have the La Sportiva Nepal's I wear them with a Smartwool mountaineering sock and Smartwool liner. I haven't had any problem with cold feet in the Sierra's.

La Sportiva Mountain's for dry stuff
Technica Alpine Pro's for most stuff
Scarpa Invernos when I feel the need to bust out the pink boots.

I am curious about how winter boots, which look like they must be way stiffer than 3 season hiking boots, feel when you are wearing them in different situations, on solid trail, or with crampons, snow shoes or skis? It seems like it would require a significant adjustment and changes in pressure points and foot ankle leg mechanics even above and beyond the equipment you are using.

Drop by your local shop and try some on, or order some from zappos.com and walk around your house. While striding on level ground, a full shank (stiff sole) pretty much blows. The steeper and snowier/icier things get and the more your motions resemble a rest-step and/or climbing technique, the more the stiff boots will shine. I like a lot of rocker in the sole so I can at least pretend to walk normally while hiking. Rocker makes the boots feel like they want to roll off the toe even though they don't flex more than a few mm. The La Sportiva Trango Extremes and Spantiks seem especially good at this to me.

Ski boots are a whole different kettle of fish. You need to figure out what type of skiing you're in to. Telemark and nordic boots have various amounts of flex in the forefoot, which can be nice for hiking. Personally I love my AT boots with plenty of rocker in the sole. They hike well enough and climb even better and of course, they shred on the ski down.

I have been wearing Lowa Mountain Experts for several seasons now. They are insulated leather boots that I have worn down to the low teens and stayed warm. I have also used them on multi-day trips without any complaints, however be prepared to toss any leather boot in your sleeping bag overnight to keep them from freezing. I don't think plastics warrant the extra weight for the Sierra, it just rarely gets cold enough in my opinion. A good pair of leather mountaineering boots that are insulated should do the trick just fine.

Scarpa Summits. They pretty much rock for everything from snow to ice, loading a heavy pack or kicking steps.

You'd change your tune if you saw my new bright orange Tecnica's. of course I just glued on purple supergators to cover the orange. I'm bringing 90's style back baby.

so winter campers, what are you using for keeping your feet warm around camp? It sounds like either you're wearing insulated boots or diving into a sleeping bag. Does anybody carry warm and light footwear for kicking around camp? You need to air out your boots sometime...even if they are pretty pink or purple ones.

I wear down booties, they are very light weight and feel great after wearing boots all day. You can sleep with them in your bag for added warmth and they are great for nature calls early in the morning.

I'll be wearing the liners of my double boots around camp.

Down booties all the way. They go great inside your plastic shells too.

Seriously? I would think the down would provide no insulation underfoot due to compression and would absorb all my foot sweat.

Gotta use the ones with a slice of dense closed cell foam underfoot and don't go jogging in them.

^^^bingo

plastics. wear the liners to bed for warmth, & to dry them out.

Wear tennis shoes and run really fast.
Otherwise wear plastics.
I have an old school pair of Vasque boots that are leather and those have worked fine too in winter but they are reeeeeaaalllly heavy. What size do you wear? A friend of mine has an old pair of koflachs he's looking to sell, size 11. Good shape. Smell like old feet but that's better than frost bite. =)

I wear my La Sportiva Baturas(Leather) for one day trips and my Lowa Civetta Extremes(plastics) for any multiday day trips.

Both are great walkers and keep my feet very warm.