boots, whats the best for the mountain?
- Thread starter neverenoughsnow
- Start date
H
Highmarker
Well-known member
Have only used Klim boots and Ski-Doo boots. The ski-doo boots were crappy. My feet never got cold in them but were wet every day. With the klim boots i am warn and dry all the time after two years of use. love them. I also like the smaller size of them. Had some sorrels too but only wore them sleeding once. I cant stand having a huse pac boot on when trying to ride.
White Dot's
Feet are always warm and dry.
Feet are always warm and dry.
I have Klim Velocity boots (snowboard style support), which I got after using/wearing Altimate [also a stiffer, snowboard style boot] (http://www.altimateboots.com/store/...20673114286b1d95c2140269f39f82&products_id=80)
The Velocity is similar to the Klimate I think...older model.
The Klim is lighter and smaller..and definately noticable during the day.
Both boots I end up with wet feet, but yet, plenty warm all day.
Left side foot gets soaked (clutch heat + foot sweat).
Right foot gets a bit damp..
But as long as my feet are warm, I have no problems, and they both stay warm.
Getting them dried out by next days ride can be an annoyance tho..
It took a bit to get used to the snowboard ankle style boot, but I like them a lot now. They are GREAT for stand up riding. But sit down riding all day, they'd get uncomfy, of doing a lot of hiking in em. I have no probs with the typical walks through the snow to get buddies unstuck tho after you get them broke in some and used to em.
If you go snowboard style, I'd really encourage a velcro strap for the top of the boot, I noticed Klim went away from this? But it adds a whole lot of support/leverage to get your ankle/shin support tightened up, compared to just laces.
I also like the HMKs take on this, with their lacing system, I was looking into those if I wasn't able to fix my Klim's..
The Velocity is similar to the Klimate I think...older model.
The Klim is lighter and smaller..and definately noticable during the day.
Both boots I end up with wet feet, but yet, plenty warm all day.
Left side foot gets soaked (clutch heat + foot sweat).
Right foot gets a bit damp..
But as long as my feet are warm, I have no problems, and they both stay warm.
Getting them dried out by next days ride can be an annoyance tho..
It took a bit to get used to the snowboard ankle style boot, but I like them a lot now. They are GREAT for stand up riding. But sit down riding all day, they'd get uncomfy, of doing a lot of hiking in em. I have no probs with the typical walks through the snow to get buddies unstuck tho after you get them broke in some and used to em.
If you go snowboard style, I'd really encourage a velcro strap for the top of the boot, I noticed Klim went away from this? But it adds a whole lot of support/leverage to get your ankle/shin support tightened up, compared to just laces.
I also like the HMKs take on this, with their lacing system, I was looking into those if I wasn't able to fix my Klim's..
Adrenaline for sure. I've spent hundreds on every kind of boot made and always had cold feet. Finally I figured out it was due to sweat. GORTEX to the rescue!!! I love mine and my feet are warm and dry. The Radium felt too stiff and bulky to me and have the same amount of insulation as the adrenaline. On multi day trips I always bring my white bunny boots too because they can get wet and be dried immediatly. My feet do sweat in them though, so I prefer klims on day rides.
R.U. Outside Bill Townsend boots. Warm, dry, and comfy all day long
Price isn't bad either.
Price isn't bad either.HMK. Feet stay warm all day but are wet at the end of the day melted snow comes in at the tongue
I have two pair and a PEET the BOOT dryer.
My first pair are snow border boots that do not have hooks that could tear the seat. They are a little more flexible than my second pair KLIM; but my feet always come home wet in the snow board boots.
The KLIM boots keep my feet dryer, I do not have the newest version and I feel like there is just not quite enough room in the toes so sometimes at the beginning of a ride before I start working hard my feet get cold in the KLIM boots but they are usually the warmest at the end of the day.
I like the support af a pretty stiff boot.
My first pair are snow border boots that do not have hooks that could tear the seat. They are a little more flexible than my second pair KLIM; but my feet always come home wet in the snow board boots.
The KLIM boots keep my feet dryer, I do not have the newest version and I feel like there is just not quite enough room in the toes so sometimes at the beginning of a ride before I start working hard my feet get cold in the KLIM boots but they are usually the warmest at the end of the day.
I like the support af a pretty stiff boot.
The best I've found so far.. Rocky Mnt. gortex hunting boots. 1000 grams of insulation, and gortex water proof. Feet stay warm and dry all day...and you can usually find them on sale for under 100.00, The Klim's where nice but the running boards tore them up pretty bad.
T
Trenchmaster
Well-known member
Love my Klim adrenalines, only get wet when snow comes in from the top. They have great support and still look brand new after 8 or 9 rides. Three of my riding buddies bought them this year and we are all very happy.
Great Post!
I was going to ask the same question today and saw your post. We all got so much good info when I asked about everyone's favorite gloves for boondocking (by the way I'm still in love with the Klim Powercross gloves) the question needed to be asked about boots as well.
Here's my .02 on boots.
Bunny Boots........... I have been in military since 1979 so yup, I have used bunny boots while riding (both white and black) the black dont show the grease and belts residue like the white do. I found them to be too bulky for riding. I do wear them in the garage and around the house all winter. Your feet never get cold but your socks sure get twisted into knots.
Snowboard boots.............. several years ago Sledheads sent me a pair of then brand new Klim Radium boot for testing. I wore them for four or five trips and I sent in a less than glowing review (that never made it into the magazine) of the boots. They were just too darn stiff for me. They felt like downhill ski boots and If I had to walk more than a block in them my feet would have just fallen off.
Gortex Hunting boots.............. I have used both my my military gortex hunting boots, my Cabelas Outfitter 1000 gram hunting boots and they seem to work ok but it sure seems to me like wider boots (Sorels, buuny boots, snowboard boots) just don't sink as deeply into the snow when walking as hiking boots do and hiking boots harder soles tend to slip more when walking in the snow. There is very little ankle support with hunting boots and the reason I quit using them is because the the speed lace hooks absolutely tore the crap out of the back of my snowmobile seats when crawling all over the sled while boodocking.
Sorels.............. I still use my Sorel Glaciers (very tall boot) once in a while. I love tall boots that will not allow snow into your boots from the top. They are a little bulky but never leak and they feel like wearing my most comfy house slippers all day but, there is literally no ankle support with them but they are sure great for trail riding or when you venture into really deep snow.
RU Outside Renegade............. I used these boots for two seasons. My left foot kept getting wet. The company replaced them with Bill Townsed boots (thank you RU Outside) and I'll be damned if my left foot still wasn't getting wet with the new boots. The Bill Townsed boots are touted as "waterproof" but it's just a spray on coating on the outside of the boots. I waterproofed the new BT boots for our last outing and my left foot was dry but, I have to wonder how long until the waterproof spray ceases to work. Why is it always the left boot that leaks? Clutch heat and sweating?
Klim Adrenaline............ I wore a pair of my buddy's around for a while a couple weeks ago. He just loves them and they sure are lightweight. To me they feel like hunting boots and fit great. They sure don't feel very insulated but I'm sure they are. The issue I have with them is they don't have a removable liner. I think some of the time when my feet get wet it's from some deep snow getting into the boots from the top. Then it doesn't matter if you have a gortex boot or not, your feet will get wet. Then what? If you are riding the next day you had better have a boot dryer with you or those gortex boots will still be wet the next day. I won't buy another pair of boots without a removable liner.
So then what........... Ok, I want a pair of boots that provide some ankle support but not so much that they feel like snowboard boots (I may still need to walk out of the mountains in them). They have to be lightweight with a good solid sole for kicking the ice off my running boards. They won't have speed laces that tear up my seat. They WILL have a waterproof liner of Gortex (or one of the knockoffs since Gortex's patent expired). And they WILL have a removable liner so I can dry them out overnight for the next day ride.
The only boot that I know of that meets this criteria right now is the new RU Outside Tundra boot BUT after my Renagade's leaked and my Bill Townsend's leaked I'm not so sure I want to take another chance on RU Outside. Although, the Tundra boot has a Gortex knock off liner where the others did not. That might make all the difference in the world.
Bottom Line.........like not getting wet hands after digging out sleds all day. I will no longer tolerate gloves that won't keep my hands dry. The Klim Powercross so far still impress me for being so lightweight and allowing so much dexterity that I can run the tiny buttons on my GPS with them on and after four or five hours of digging my fingers were still warm and dry as a bone. They don't make it as far as Iknow but, I guess what I want is a pair of Klim Powercross boots with a removable liner.
Frosty
I was going to ask the same question today and saw your post. We all got so much good info when I asked about everyone's favorite gloves for boondocking (by the way I'm still in love with the Klim Powercross gloves) the question needed to be asked about boots as well.
Here's my .02 on boots.
Bunny Boots........... I have been in military since 1979 so yup, I have used bunny boots while riding (both white and black) the black dont show the grease and belts residue like the white do. I found them to be too bulky for riding. I do wear them in the garage and around the house all winter. Your feet never get cold but your socks sure get twisted into knots.
Snowboard boots.............. several years ago Sledheads sent me a pair of then brand new Klim Radium boot for testing. I wore them for four or five trips and I sent in a less than glowing review (that never made it into the magazine) of the boots. They were just too darn stiff for me. They felt like downhill ski boots and If I had to walk more than a block in them my feet would have just fallen off.
Gortex Hunting boots.............. I have used both my my military gortex hunting boots, my Cabelas Outfitter 1000 gram hunting boots and they seem to work ok but it sure seems to me like wider boots (Sorels, buuny boots, snowboard boots) just don't sink as deeply into the snow when walking as hiking boots do and hiking boots harder soles tend to slip more when walking in the snow. There is very little ankle support with hunting boots and the reason I quit using them is because the the speed lace hooks absolutely tore the crap out of the back of my snowmobile seats when crawling all over the sled while boodocking.
Sorels.............. I still use my Sorel Glaciers (very tall boot) once in a while. I love tall boots that will not allow snow into your boots from the top. They are a little bulky but never leak and they feel like wearing my most comfy house slippers all day but, there is literally no ankle support with them but they are sure great for trail riding or when you venture into really deep snow.
RU Outside Renegade............. I used these boots for two seasons. My left foot kept getting wet. The company replaced them with Bill Townsed boots (thank you RU Outside) and I'll be damned if my left foot still wasn't getting wet with the new boots. The Bill Townsed boots are touted as "waterproof" but it's just a spray on coating on the outside of the boots. I waterproofed the new BT boots for our last outing and my left foot was dry but, I have to wonder how long until the waterproof spray ceases to work. Why is it always the left boot that leaks? Clutch heat and sweating?
Klim Adrenaline............ I wore a pair of my buddy's around for a while a couple weeks ago. He just loves them and they sure are lightweight. To me they feel like hunting boots and fit great. They sure don't feel very insulated but I'm sure they are. The issue I have with them is they don't have a removable liner. I think some of the time when my feet get wet it's from some deep snow getting into the boots from the top. Then it doesn't matter if you have a gortex boot or not, your feet will get wet. Then what? If you are riding the next day you had better have a boot dryer with you or those gortex boots will still be wet the next day. I won't buy another pair of boots without a removable liner.
So then what........... Ok, I want a pair of boots that provide some ankle support but not so much that they feel like snowboard boots (I may still need to walk out of the mountains in them). They have to be lightweight with a good solid sole for kicking the ice off my running boards. They won't have speed laces that tear up my seat. They WILL have a waterproof liner of Gortex (or one of the knockoffs since Gortex's patent expired). And they WILL have a removable liner so I can dry them out overnight for the next day ride.
The only boot that I know of that meets this criteria right now is the new RU Outside Tundra boot BUT after my Renagade's leaked and my Bill Townsend's leaked I'm not so sure I want to take another chance on RU Outside. Although, the Tundra boot has a Gortex knock off liner where the others did not. That might make all the difference in the world.
Bottom Line.........like not getting wet hands after digging out sleds all day. I will no longer tolerate gloves that won't keep my hands dry. The Klim Powercross so far still impress me for being so lightweight and allowing so much dexterity that I can run the tiny buttons on my GPS with them on and after four or five hours of digging my fingers were still warm and dry as a bone. They don't make it as far as Iknow but, I guess what I want is a pair of Klim Powercross boots with a removable liner.
Frosty
I have HMK Highmark 4?s i believe they are. Tons of support, after about a week they are comfortable as can be, and warm to the point where i quit wearing my good wool socks, and went to a sport sock. The only thing im not happy about is after a year, im already wore through the sole at the heal's. I know its from kicking snow off the boards, so i dont know. Im going to try one more pair of HMK's, and see if they hold up now that i have No Snow boards.
All great posts....one thing I do that I didn't read about is to make sure you like the way they fit/feel when on your sled...I don't like to small a boot that feels sloppy in the foot wells nor one that is to fat that nearly doesn't fit or takes some awareness to slip in the well...The flex of the boot while you simulate riding, at this point, should be a consideration....
I have some HMK 4's for sale. Love the boots very comfortable and warm. They are size 14 but are to tight. I were size 13 shoes. I will be getting bigger ones but sticking with HMK's
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HMK-...010QQitemZ200190341310QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HMK-...010QQitemZ200190341310QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
I bought Klim adrenalines, and they were well worth it. I use the boots, sledding, ice fishing, on the trapline and there the best boots I have ever used. Coldest I've been is -20C and my feet were still nice & warm and dry. Highly reccomend.
I agree with this guy,I bought some and used themfor the first time on Saturday and all I can say is they were WELL worth the price of $159.00................The last thing you want is your feet to get cold and wet.By the ADRENALINES.
I agree with this guy,I bought some and used themfor the first time on Saturday and all I can say is they were WELL worth the price of $159.00................The last thing you want is your feet to get cold and wet.By the ADRENALINES.
I bought Klim adrenalines, and they were well worth it. I use the boots, sledding, ice fishing, on the trapline and there the best boots I have ever used. Coldest I've been is -20C and my feet were still nice & warm and dry. Highly reccomend.
I agree with this guy..I just bought some and wow I stayed dry and Warm....
A
AkLogan
Well-known member
had FXR Octanes last year loved them great ankle support soles did well after 2 years kicking snow off pro-x runnin boards dont have sweaty feet so wet feet are not a problem for me i only wear no show ankle socks regard less of weather its -50F out side right now still ankle socks
this year i got HMK Pro Boa's LOVE them warm and fairly light and they fit in the stirups on my IQR (FXRs didn't) and the Boa Coiler system is amazing fast and very adjustable
i stayed away formt he klims due to the lack of support for my riding style
this year i got HMK Pro Boa's LOVE them warm and fairly light and they fit in the stirups on my IQR (FXRs didn't) and the Boa Coiler system is amazing fast and very adjustable
i stayed away formt he klims due to the lack of support for my riding style
