What to Look For In A Pair Of Winter Boots: Buying GuideIf you know you’re going to hike in frigid and snowy weather conditions where warmth and good traction (to avoid slipping on ice) are crucial, you must definitely invest in a good pair of winter boots. Besides protecting your feet from hazards like sharp rocks and protruding tree branches on the road,
top rated hiking boots for wintry conditions can keep your feet warm with its insulation capability. They’re also waterproof to keep your feet warm and usually have very sturdy and adhesive soles to stabilize you on slippery, ice-coated trails. Many are also compatible with crampons or microspikes to further aid in balancing.
In this buying guide, we’ll show you how to choose an excellent pair of winter
hiking boots for yourself.
Check This Out: Best hiking bootsWinter Hiking Boots vs. Mountaineering Boots vs. Pac BootsDifferentiating between winter hiking boots, mountaineering boots, and pac boots is an important first step.
Mountaineering BootsMountaineering boots aren’t known for their insulation capability. Though they do offer it, they’re not excellent when compared to other types of cold-weather boots. But what it will offer you is the ability to use in conjunction with crampons to give you better grip while climbing ice-covered surfaces: a highly coveted feature among mountaineers and climbers.
Wondering how it managed this?
Mountaineering boots are usually constructed with thick, solid soles, which are perfect for use with crampons, though they aren’t really comfortable to walk for a
long day in.
Winter Hiking BootsWinter hiking boots provide better insulation and weather-proofing capability. In addition, these
Top Rated Hiking Boots for winter have softer soles to make it easier to hike in. However, the soft soles make it not as ideal as mountaineering boots for use with crampons. Though winter hiking boots can be worn with certain types of flexible crampons, they’re often not rigid enough to be used for professional ice-climbing.
Pac BootsGet pac boots when you require maximum insulation and weather-proofing ability. These shoes are typically made with an upper made from high-quality leather or synthetic material and the lower half is usually made from thick rubber. These
pairs of boots will also be shipped with a removable liner.
Because they’re built very solidly, pac boots are super warm and can keep your feet protected from the most extremes of cold weather conditions.
The only disadvantage is that since the insulation does add up a lot of bulk, they’re quite heavy and hard to walk around in. They’re also infamous for not having great
ankle support for the wearer despite having a high neck.
Features to Look For in the Best Quality Hiking Boots For Winter UseTemperature Rating: The temperature rating will give you an idea of how warm the selected model of boots is compared to others. But this ought to be used for reference only since this manufacturer’s measurement tends to not be reliable.
Reinforced toe cap: Aside from providing your toes with protection, reinforced toe caps will keep your boots from caving in when you use it with crampons and microspikes.
Gusseted tongue:
Great hiking boots with gusseted tongue (the tongue sewn into the internal of the boot rather than exposed) have excellent
water resistant ability.
Cuff: A comfortable cuff is a must if you’re going to hike for a
long distance in the cold. A tight-fitting cuff that hugs your calf will provide your feet with better heat retention.
Lugs: When you’re walking on slippery surfaces like ice, traction is crucial. Find boots with systems like
Vibram outsoles that provide better traction on ice and can enhance the efficiency of your boots when used with crampons and microspikes.
ConclusionWe hope this short buying guide has given you a better understanding of
the Best Rated Hiking Boots for winter and cold-weather use.
