Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Don't get cold feet... be sure you've got the right pair of winter boots. With proper winter footwear, you can enjoy the frozen outdoors without sacrificing the feeling in your toes.

If your boots aren't performing, you may need a sturdier pair, thicker insulation or a more rugged outsole. Enter the Guide to Winter Boots. All you ever needed to know to buy the perfect pair of winter boots is just a click away.

Here's an excerpt from the guide:



Insulation

The removable felt liners found in pac boots are usually made of polypropylene, wool, acrylic, Zylex® or a blend of these materials. They offer exceptional warmth but a loose fit. These liners sometimes come in a stated thickness, around 8 or 9 mm.

Thinsulate® insulation gives non-bulky, lightweight warmth that's best for active winter recreation. Here are a few rough guidelines to follow so you pick the best amount of Thinsulate® insulation for your needs:

* Uninsulated to 200 grams: Not good for cold weather – these are spring-to-fall boots.
* 400 - 800 grams: Best weight for high activity in cold weather or less activity in semi-cold weather.
* 1000 - 2000 grams: The best for frigid, mid-winter weather or many hours sitting motionless.

Finally, fashion boots often use natural shearling for insulation. The warmth comes from the thick underwool of sheepskin, which has been turned inside-out so it cradles your foot. This form of insulation is surprisingly effective, but usually these boots are poor at repelling water and are best for snow-covered sidewalks or nights on the town.

Many pac/ winter boot manufacturers provide temperature ratings for their boots, such as "Rated to -50° F." These ratings are determined based on varying scientific measures, and will not apply to everyone the same way. Use these ratings as a general guide to figuring out which boots are the warmest, but don't expect the boots to perform to that exact temperature rating. Your health, activity levels, clothing, perspiration, exposure time and other factors can all alter the effective temperature rating.

Read the entire Winter Boots Guide.