X-country boots and snowshoes

“At the first Hike Maine winter trip, Pennsy and I were discussing cross country skiing gear. (Who better to talk gear with?) The boots, in particular, caught my interest.

On this trip, I had no less than 4 pair in my truck, and ended up taking 3 pair of boots. The weight addition from 3 boots was just ridiculous. I left my Cresta hikers in the truck, which actually would have worked quite well on this hike, as the snow was well packed. I took with me: cross country ski boots, snow shoe boots and insulated winter hikers. Incidentally, the insulated winter hikers were way too warm for this particular trip.

SB and I have X-country ski boots that have a velcroed flap to cover the laces, so they stay dry and the help shed the snow off your boots when the going is deep. That is a nice feature. Gore tex was decided to be a nice feature. Of course insultion is important. Twigeater has a pair of x-country ski boots that will work in her snow shoes.

You gotta believe that Twigeater's boots cought our eye. One boot, suitable for both x-country skiing and snow shoes. Goretex wouldn't be that hard to find, but the shoelace cover flap is a bit rarer.

BTW, twigeater has skiis with metal edges on them, and many others in BSP had that feature also. I ended up finding 2 pair of them for SB and me. I didn't buy the bindings, because I want to match them to new boots that will do double duty, and grant us a weight savings. I still have both pair of skiis still wrapped in the plastic.

Back to the boots. I have found exactly one pair of x-country ski boots that will do double duty. I found them at Bean's, and looked at them again last night. They have a heavy duty back country binding. Boots are $109, and bindings are $75. Of course, the all important Bean's gaurentee and the Bean's price. There is a square back heel, with a lip to hold the snow shoe strap securely in place. And in the case of where you need to unstrap the skiis or shoes, these baby's have some gnarly tread on them. I believe they were Salomon's. Thes baby's are sweet. Problem, they don't come in SB's size. Other problem, I can not find a competitive design to offer a choice.

Insert link here, I can't find the link on Bean's site, bummer

Yes, those boots fit me perfectly. I ain't a gonna feel right getting a pair for me and none for my lady.

Most x-country ski boots are rounded under in the heel, for that sleek look. No way to strap a snow shoe on so it stays. We prefer not to use a three pin binding, liking the NNN style or other step-ins. (My, ain't we lazy). But at this point, it looks like we'll consider any ideas.

Suggestions please”

“I use Saloman Backcountry 8 ski boots for snow shoes. It works pretty good. That model is no longer around, but any of their backcountry line would work. I lust after the X Adventure 8's.

Saloman backcountry bindings have served me very well in extreme conditions. I especially like the bar that runs the length of the boot giving some heel control.

The benefits are one boot (especially nice when packing), great warmth. The stiffnes of the shank can take some getting used to, but it didn't bother me.”

“http://www.salomongear.com/salomon_SAL0319.html

Check out this boot, I found a link at Salomon gear, same one they have at Bean's.”

“I though lizs was shopping again.”

“I have found that REI has them, and they go down to size 5, unisex. SB has really tiny feet, 5.5 womans. So we would really benefit from being able to try them on. There are 3 REI's in the Boston area. I hear REI spoken of quite well on this board. Can someone give me quick rundown on them. Warranty, return policy, are they similar to LL Beans? anything you want to volunteer about REI. We have (to our shame) never been to an REI, or bought anything online from them.”

“IMHO, that would be a good value boot and I would be willing to use it for snowshoeing.


REI: I've been a member since 1984 or so. Service has always been great. You might beat them on price if you search, but on average they offer good value and good selection. Membership=dividends and special mailing for sales.”

“Customer service is also very good. Pretty much the same as Beans. Try it if you don't like it take them back. I have a buddy that returned a tent after a season becausee it started to leak. course he hadn't seam sealed it.”

“PS-Saloman X-C ski boots are the best cold weather boots I could find for Fairbanks. I skied in mine down to -40F with Thorlo Expedition socks and gaiters.”

“I thought I heard someone talking about me! :)

my boots

I couldn't get boots with the flap over the laces because my instep is too high.”

“hmmmm, twilight zone music....

Before I saw this thread, I was just thinking how I need to go for some dayhikes in my X-Country boots to make sure they can be worn on crap-snow or non-snow trail conditions. I have NNN-BC bindings and bought a matched binding pair of Alpina Backcountry x-country boots last year at REI for around $125 to replace the wussy pair of boots that came with my original ski package. It was nice to see that X-country boots are being made more beefier nowadays.

I wore these boots at FYAO last year (sub-zero temps) and they performed outrageously well in the skis and snowshoes and walk about boots in the packed snow. Matter of fact, I was very pleasantly surprised with how my feet never got cold in the low temps.

Carrying multiple pairs of boots is sick! I've done it in the past I swore I wouldn't do it again! (yea, right)

The last question to answer is whether I can wear these boots over distance on regular trail and without getting blisters (they are definitely stiffer than an ordinary boot). At $125, I don't mind beating these boots if they proove to be as versatile as the have proved to be so far. Then it would be worth buying a second pair next year, when AmyG sends out the discount codes!!!”

“I was forced to hike most of 13 miles in mine last winter. Skiing into Tolovana Hot Springs AK. We tried to ski, but switched to snowshoes/hiking because the snow was too thin. The boots did great. If the Saloman's still have the bar in the toe, it is a pretty good design, easy to keep clean. I should also say again that the Saloman backcountry bindings rock.”