It's the end of November, time to put on snow tires. Right?
What if I told you it was also the time to switch to your winter hiking boots? Winter hiking boots? What are winter hiking boots and why would I need them? You may wonder.
Boots
I spoke with Gerry Johnson, the hiking boot guy at
Hiker's Haven
on the QEW in Oakville. He explained that there are 3 main differences between summer and winter hiking boots:
1. Winter boots are insulated. They are rated from -20 to -40 degrees C.
2. They are usually higher cut to keep snow out of your boots.
3. Most importantly, they have a sole made of rubber that, like snow tires, stays soft and pliable when cold.
This means that winter hiking boots keep your feet warm and dry, and give you great traction in snowy conditions and superior traction on ice. Gerry said, "I wear my winter hiking boots as my winter boots." He explains that in addition to being warm, they are NOT bulky like Sorels or other warm boots.
Icers
If the trails are icy, you can add icers, whether they are winter or summer boots. Slipping icers onto your boots is akin to putting chains on your snow tires. They come in various degrees of "aggressiveness," with
Yaktrax
($34.99 and up) being about a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Gerry likes
ICEtrekkers
with a diamond pattern ($54.99) because they are more aggressive than Yaktrax (about a 6 on the scale) and don't slip sideways. One feature he likes is that you can leave them on for sections of the trail that are clear of snow or ice.
Kahtoola MICROspikes
($77.99) are more aggressive yet (8 on the scale), but won't stand up to walking across hard roads or along clear sections of trails.
Socks
In the sock department, Gerry turns to merino wool. "Even thin merino wools socks are warm," he says. "So there is no need to use thicker socks, which might not fit well, especially if you are (don’t tell Gerry!) using your summer hiking boots."
Poles
They aren't footwear, but using hiking poles is a great idea, especially if the trails are icy. If you do so, make sure the metal tips are exposed.
Gerry says that from early fall until late spring he has his icers on his boots or in his pack – just in case. He always hikes with poles and loves merino wool socks. He has three pairs of hiking boots: one pair for winter, another well-ventilated pair for those hot days and then a pair for everything in-between. The only other thing you may add is a pair of gators if the snow is particularly deep.
Happy Winter Hiking!
Author Bio: From Loops & Lattes Hiking Guides’ author and avid hiker Nicola Ross. Visit
www.nicolaross.ca
to purchase one of her four hiking guides, sign up for her newsletter and receive info about hiking trails, books, contests and more.
