The Best Snowshoeing Boots

The Best Snowshoeing Boots

Snowshoeing is a hobby that is finding more and more fans. It is excellent aerobic exercise, takes you into the backcountry beauty of deep powder snow, and it allows for the kind of winter sport that does not rely on packed slopes for enjoyment. There are no long lines of waiting, and there is no need for copious returns to the lift. Best of all, the equipment needed for snowshoeing is relatively inexpensive: you need snowshoes and snowshoeing boots. Picking out the best snowshoeing boots is not hard to do, and with these tips and info, you can make an informed choice at the store.

Do not try to save money by buying bargain basement snowshoeing boots. Remember that these boots will last for a good many years, and you will not need to replaceand therefore not have the opportunity to upgradeyour snowshoeing footwear for a while. A good example is the Merrell Thermo Juneau waterproof snow boot that features an intricate inner insulation system for added warmth and foot protection. Buying the best snowshoeing boots you can afford now ensures that the latest innovations in the technology will see you through the next few innovations, until it is time to buy the next pair of boots.

Compare various kinds of snow boots. The best snowshoeing boots will double as snow boots in a pinch, since there is a good chance that an outing in the backcountry may become a hike through freshly falling snow. For survivalists, it only makes sense to have a snowshoeing boot that will see you to safety if you need to abandon your snowshoeing adventure in favor of getting out of a potentially dangerous situation. If you simply wear a winter boot, you may find that the lack of waterproof protection and the potential for getting snow inside the boot make it impractical in deeper snow. Take a look at the Keen Betty Boot that combines snowshoeing capabilities with snow boot features.

Pick a stable sole over the looks associated with a flexible boot sole. Boots with flexible soles offer more opportunities for material selection and are therefore more attractive, but boots with stiff soles protect your feet and ankles during prolonged snowshoeing. This is especially important if you plan on snowshoeing up a mountain or find yourself having to hike in a storm. A flexible sole is comfortable for a short period of time, but thereafter the lack of support for foot and ankle makes it hard on the extremities.

Choose Adequate Size and Heel Design

Wear your snowshoeing boots with at least two kinds of socks. The initial sock is made from a material that will wick away moisture from your feet as they sweat, while the second sock is designed to keep your feet nice and toasty warm. Choose a snowshoeing boot that is sufficiently big to allow you to wear these two socks. Moreover, take a good lock at the heel portion of the boot; it should have some kind of ridge across the back that corresponds to the snowshoes' bindings. These ridges are often found in the backs of snow boots, and their purposes are to allow the bindings to grip the boot and prevent any accidental slippage. A great example are the Salomon B52 TS GTX snow boots, which offer the kind of insulation and grip needed for a good snowshoeing boot.