You may have heard of a three-layer rule. Well, it applies to feet too. For maximum comfort and protection, you need polyester socks as a base layer to wick sweat and moisture from any melted snow and prevent blisters and cold feet. Then, you need an insulation layer - typically, winter athletes use 100% wool or wool-blend sports socks. Finally, you want durable waterproof boots. At GRITR Outdoors, you’ll find an array of high-performance men’s and women’s winter boots that you can also wear on your snowshoeing or winter hiking trips.
In some regions, winters are green, meaning there’s no snow there. So, winter shoes and boots are insulted footwear with no protective features, while snow boots are performance wear built to deal with very wet or snowy conditions. Yet, many manufacturers use these terms interchangeably.
Look for rubber lowers and tall shafts for waterproofing. Prioritize breathability in mild climates. Warm waterproof winter boots with a water-repellent membrane are suitable for cold weather. 0-100g insulation is enough for mild winter. Cold weather short hikes will require 200 grams. Cold-weather hiking boots for long trips use 400g of insulation.
Most winter hiking boots are built to be a roomier fit to accommodate feet with thick socks. So if you size up, too much movement will cause sores, while tight-fitting insulated boots will cause circulation issues. Pick boots based on your sock system.