Moved from the beach to the mountains and need to prep for the upcoming winter. Gonna be hitting the thrift stores and online markets trying to find some snow boots. Where I’m at it doesn’t get super cold very often so I don’t think I need heavy insulation. I just need traction in snow and on ice. What brands should I keep my eye open for, to get a boot that will last me a few seasons?
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I know you said insulation is less of a concern but I gotta put in a good word for Baffin boots. Waterproof, with replaceable and removable insulated inner liners. The difference wearing those makes in snow is immediately perceptible, and they all have good traction too. I have bought used pairs and all but one set (my kid’s) still look pristine after multiple seasons.
Bogs also seems to be good quality, though I haven’t worn them myself. Their insulated rain boots have withstood an impressive amount of abuse from my kiddo.
My boot brand recommendation in general is Danner, they can get pricey but they’re worth it, and many of them can be recrafted with new soles, liners, etc.
But brands recommendations are very individual, some people swear by one brand or another while someone else may think that those brands are the most uncomfortable shoes in the world.
And really it also all depends on what you want to do with your boots. If you just need something to get from the front door to the car and then into the office, probably you don’t really need much. Any decent waterproof hiking or work boot is probably more than sufficient. Rubber rain/muck boots could work well with some heavy socks, you can even find some designed to fit over regular shoes if you want to take them off when you get to work and not have to wear boots all day. You also may want to go a half size or so large depending on how thick your winter socks are, so make sure you’re wearing whatever socks you intend to wear with your boots when you go to try them on.
I tend to like taller boots that I can tuck my pants into so they don’t get wet if I’m trudging through snow and slush, or you can also get gaiters to cover the bottom of your pants.
Traction on snow isn’t usually a huge problem, but if things get icy or slushy I’ve never really found any pair of regular rubber soled boots that inspired a lot of confidence. I usually use some sort of slip-on ice cleats if I’m going to be dealing with that, personally I’ve had the best luck with kahtoola microspikes, I tried a couple yaktrax models and they always seemed to break on me partway through the winter, but I’m sure some people have had the opposite experience or have other brands they like. I also had a pair of cheap logger boots for a while with a thick sole that I screwed some fishing wader studs into, and that worked pretty well but probably only worth it if you’re going to be outside for a long time and don’t mind having to change your shoes when you come in.
If you’re expecting to be outside for an extended period of time, avoid steel toes unless you really need them, that toe cap can get cold.
Pac boots are sort of the gold standard for insulated boots if you do decide you want that. They have a removable inner bootie that you can take out to dry faster between uses if they get wet
Insulated hunting boots are a pretty good bet, again I like Danner, but there’s certainly other good brands out there. I also know a lot of people who really like LL Bean style duck boots.
Also as far as cold weather boots go, I think the military style “Mickey Mouse” or “Bunny” Boot is always worth mentioning. They are almost certainly overkill for anything you’re likely to get up to, and you certainly won’t win any best-dressed awards in them, but if you find a pair in a military surplus store or something, I’m pretty confident that you will never find a warmer, more waterproof boot in your life, arguably they’re probably even too warm and waterproof unless you happen to live in the Arctic circle
Most importantly get some good wool or synthetic socks, cotton looses basically all insulation value if it gets wet, and even if your boots are 100% waterproof, even just sweating in your socks will make your feet cold eventually, so be prepared to change your socks if you need to. You can also get thin sock liners for extra insulation/moisture wicking, and can also help prevent blisters (instead of your sock rubbing against your foot causing friction and eventually blisters, you have one layer of sock sliding against another. I wear synthetic sock liners with my heavier cushioned hiking socks even in the middle of summer.) I’m a fan of darn tough socks personally.
Wyoming (Grand Teton Mountains) resident here. Where exactly are you going? You can DM me if you do not want to share.
Boots and socks are not things you want to go cheap with. Most other mountain gear you can get second hand and from thrift stores, but boots, socks, and gloves should be top tier.
If indeed it doesn’t get very cold, then the YakTrax suggestion is probably what you need.
Two options for you:
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NEOS (New England over shoes). Think of them as waterproof socks over your normal shoes / boots. I’ve worn mine over my leather moccasins house slippers. I’ve had my pair for over a decade in a cold / wet / northern climate and they’re beat up but still waterproof
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XTRATUF rubber boots. Particularly if it’s not super cold. I have a pair that go to my knees for working in the mud and muck, but I used them while snow blowing last year and they were dry, grippy and warm
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TBH don’t worry too much about good boots. It’s good to just have a pair of boots for when you actually plan to be out in the snow, but unless you do a lot of hiking (where you’d probably want a pair of boots even in the summer) you’ll likely find that you won’t truly spend that much time trudging through snow. And it sounds like you don’t even anticipate getting all that much of it either.
I just have a few pairs of insulated and waterproof socks that I wear when going out in winter and just wear my usual sneakers with them. Sneakers that actually have traction though, none of those flat-soled Vans or similar, or you’ll slip on ice. Ice will be a bigger concern than snow.
Yea most of my shoes are low traction or meshy besides my old steel toed work boots. I do need something with a bit more traction than my shoes and lighter than my work boots. My heeler loves the snow and i got him some boots so we can do more hiking and longer walks on snow days this year.
Talk to the locals and maybe try a few different kinds from the thrift store before going hardcore BIFL. Snow is no big deal, you just want something waterproof with decent treads. I got through many Boston and NY winters just fine with those green duck-looking boots. If you’re going out on a glacier or something, you might need something more hardcore.
Yea my plan is to find something at a thrift store, I’m just working a minumum wage job so I’m trying to minimize multiple buys. But good call talking to the locals I’ll ask some of my coworkers what they use
I personally love my Solomon boots. Light and durable and warm. Would hightly recommend.
Right on I’ll keep my eye open for Solomon as I’m perusing, thank you
When i have to do stuff in the snow i wear rubber boots, warm socks, and neoprene toe covers (my toes go numb).
Right on, any rubber boot suggestions?
I don’t have specific brand recs, but what i looked for were fully rubber boots that were calf-high. No fancy designs, no materials that will wear out, just rubber boots that i can jam an insole in if necessary.
Mine weren’t bought from anywhere fancy, probably Walmart before i started boycotting it. Admittedly, i don’t wear them a ton but they’ve lasted well from mud-trudging, winter snow work, and mowing the lawn here and there.I should add that they wouldn’t be ideal for ice traction, specifically.
Sorry i don’t have a better recommendation! Just wanted to share an option to consider because i think good rubber boots are BIFL in nature.
Yea I hadn’t considered rubber boots, but it’s something to think about. Thanks for sharing
[off topic]
Buy some heavy duty socks.
Done and done. Got plenty for snowboarding
I bought Vans Sk8-Hi MTE goretex boots for something to wear to the ski area on snowboard days. Thinking I could stomp around the parking lot slush and throw them on for powder days as my kind of driving shoes.
That was like 3-4 winters ago and they are still going strong. I use them a lot more than I planned and in a lot more ways. I wear them in the rain and sometimes all day at work if rhe weather is crappy. They have never leaked and show hardly any wear. They even became my winter hiking and snowshoe footwear. They should be thrashed but they are like new, way outlasting fancy hiking boots from other brands.
Obviously the style is what it is, they look like big sneakers and have a flat sole. The grip of the sole is amazing, they are pretty great.
The fit is typical goretex shoe where they are kind of roomy and something you might want to try on rather than order online. They don’t stretch or break in, the shape is pretty much set because of the goretex. They are fully waterproof and have a mid-weight insulation.
If you need traction, just buy traction. Kahtoola and YakTrax come to mind first, they slip over any shoe or boot and embed into the ice/snow. If you want actual boots, then just purchase anything that can be resoled Andy is in generally decent shape.
If you need traction, just buy traction. Kahtoola and YakTrax come to mind first, they slip over any shoe or boot and embed into the ice/snow
This is excellent, thank you for turning me onto these
I hate YakTrax or any of those slip over things. They fail way to often. Your better off just using some wire or paracord and making a wrapping around your boots. Its simple enough and you probably have the materials around your house already to do it for no cost.
Oh nice love me some DIY solutions, thanks
