Question for the people who lived/live in countries where it snows regularly:
I have a pair of normal hiking boots. I am going to Japan in winter, which will probably include hiking in the mountains -snow- and walking in the city -icy sidewalks, cold rain conditions.
Now, from past experience in similar conditions, certain so called “snow boots” let the rain in. I also remember a couple of falls in the sidewalk with my sturdy all weather, waterproof shoes -sole too hard, easy to slip.
Should I definetively take 2 pairs of shoes, one for each terrain? What kind of shoes are best then?
SNOW! How cool. I’m envious. I used to love my Sorel boots for walking in snow. Waterproof, very warm, removable liner is easy to remove and dry at night.
[quote=“Mother Theresa”]I used to love my Sorel boots for walking in snow. Waterproof, very warm, removable liner is easy to remove and dry at night.
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Right - if you want to find good winter boots, just obeserve what chairlift operators at ski resorts wear. They’re standing in the snow and slush all day. And they’re almost always wearing Sorels.
Spot on with the Sorel boots! Man I miss these so much…
I doubt you’ll find them here though.
My advice is to bring only one pair. Better to travel light.
Whatever boots you’ll bring, keep in mind that socks are very important.
You want them thick but not too much. You don’t want your feet to be too tight in there, you need to have good blood circulation in your feet so they stay warm. A good pair of wool/synthetic will do the job and will last you for years.
Better not have totally waterproof boots if you’ll be walking a lot. You want them to “breathe”, let humidity escape.
Spray them with a water repellent. You can find that in any outdoor shop in Taiwan.
I used to wear Ecco Gore-Tex shoes, very comfortable, but quite expensive. You can get them on this island for about NT$4000 or there abouts. They do boots as well.
There’s also the ever so unfashionable option of going with a pair of moon boots although they’re not very water proof
[quote=“Maoman”] just obeserve what chairlift operators at ski resorts wear. They’re standing in the snow and slush all day. And they’re almost always wearing Sorels.[/quote]That was in the old days, but at your age, you’re forgiven. Nowadays, lifties almost all wear snowboard boots or hiking boots. But yes, those wearing a good old pair of sorels are probably keeping warmer.
The only thing with sorels is that they are heavy and not the best for long walks. Not what I would choose to go to Japan. It doesn’t get THAT cold in Japan. I’d go with a pair of snowshoewing/winter hiking boots.
Perhaps not this specific brand, but something like that:
[quote=“TheLostSwede”]I used to wear Ecco Gore-Tex shoes, very comfortable, but quite expensive. You can get them on this island for about NT$4000 or there abouts. They do boots as well.
There’s also the ever so unfashionable option of going with a pair of moon boots although they’re not very water proof [/quote]
Yep, just what I used to have, the waterproof loafers that I bought and used during my training in Chicago. And yep, the proper snow boots I also owned for ages -and lost when I moved from Shida- did let the water come through. Not sorry to see them leave.
I am not familiar with those Sorel’s but I’ll give a try. Marboulette, those looks great, love the sole that looks like having a lot of grip, but do they really need to be so high? As you said, Maybe they will not be confy for walking a lot -and I love to walk.
Actually, last time I went back to Scotland (the highlands, lots of snow, -20C) I wore these all the time I was there. And you can get them here. They cost around NT$10,000, but they’re worth every penny. The “Mercedes Benz” of trekking boots, they called ‘em in Forbes’ review of the 50 things for the person who has it all
[quote]Marboulette, those looks great, love the sole that looks like having a lot of grip, but do they really need to be so high? [/quote]They are snowshoeing boots, so my guess is they are tall to keep the snow out. Maybe something like this is more up your alley:
They are rated for -25 to -32 celcius. The Timberland I showed above can go to -52 celcius. The merrels would be better for walking, though. Lower and lighter. I like this model, too:
They are the same boots, but with a zipper instead of laces. You can always use gators if you go hiking/walking in deep snow. Great for walking around in slush or wet condition. Light weight and a good middle ground between a hiking shoe and a winter boot. You can always use gators if you need to go in deep snow.
I am personally fond of these boots:
Not too tall, not too short, and excellent to keep the snow out. Quite affordable, too, compared with the above models.
But my favorite boots are these bad boys:
A bit tall, but well designed and light weight. Probably the best all round winter boots out there, IMO. And you can fit crampons on them, too. It’s a must for me.
Thanks, Marboulette. Wow, those look really cool. I like Merrells a lot. I’ve seen the ones in the second picture in a store near my house, wil check them out.
Don’t think I’ll ever use crampons, though.
And what are gators?
The Merrills do look great. I’ve had a few pairs of Merrills and have been very happy with them. Although various pics of beautiful hard-core mountaineering boots have been posted, those definitely aren’t necessary for tramping around Hokkaido. Years ago I hiked the Annapurna circuit, in Nepal, climbing over a 17,800 foot pass in deep snow, wearing a pair of low-top shoes like those Merrills and a pair of cheap gaiters, and they were just fine. If you buy low-tops like that, you should definitely check out a few local outdoor stores for gaiters to keep the snow from getting in your boots. Cheapest ones available would be just fine. They’ll be very light, small, simple to use, and nice to have just in case.
Actually, I have a pair of leather heavy trekking boots, one piece uppers, very thick, with Vibram soles that are superb for snow and slush trekking. lathered liberally with beeswax (I like SnoSeal brand), they allow me to stand all day in a bog and still have dry feet (i did have to do that for a while when i was doing fieldwork). they’re heavy and solid enough to kick steps, and i have even worn crampons once with them (Footfangs). lots of space inside them for socks: two pairs of woolies if it’s cold, one pair and laced a bit tighter if its not too cold. I dislike the boots with Goretex or other liners, as the liner dies faster than the boot, normally, and then you’ve got a leaky expensive waste of a boot that you can’t really repair.
if it’s not cold, then I’ll wear really light trail running shoes. But in the cold and slush, nothing beats a heavy pair of headstompers.
