Pick Out the Best Boots Money Can Buy
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Do not try to save money by buying bargain basement snowshoeing boots. Remember that these boots will last for a good many years, and you will not need to replace---and therefore not have the opportunity to upgrade---your snowshoeing footwear for a while. A good example is the Merrell Thermo Juneau waterproof snow boot that features an intricate inner insulation system for added warmth and foot protection. Buying the best snowshoeing boots you can afford now ensures that the latest innovations in the technology will see you through the next few innovations, until it is time to buy the next pair of boots.
Look for a Multi Purpose Snow Boot
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Compare various kinds of snow boots. The best snowshoeing boots will double as snow boots in a pinch, since there is a good chance that an outing in the backcountry may become a hike through freshly falling snow. For survivalists, it only makes sense to have a snowshoeing boot that will see you to safety if you need to abandon your snowshoeing adventure in favor of getting out of a potentially dangerous situation. If you simply wear a winter boot, you may find that the lack of waterproof protection and the potential for getting snow inside the boot make it impractical in deeper snow. Take a look at the Keen Betty Boot that combines snowshoeing capabilities with snow boot features.
Value Stability Over Looks
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Pick a stable sole over the looks associated with a flexible boot sole. Boots with flexible soles offer more opportunities for material selection and are therefore more attractive, but boots with stiff soles protect your feet and ankles during prolonged snowshoeing. This is especially important if you plan on snowshoeing up a mountain or find yourself having to hike in a storm. A flexible sole is comfortable for a short period of time, but thereafter the lack of support for foot and ankle makes it hard on the extremities.
Choose Adequate Size and Heel Design
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Wear your snowshoeing boots with at least two kinds of socks. The initial sock is made from a material that will wick away moisture from your feet as they sweat, while the second sock is designed to keep your feet nice and toasty warm. Choose a snowshoeing boot that is sufficiently big to allow you to wear these two socks. Moreover, take a good lock at the heel portion of the boot; it should have some kind of ridge across the back that corresponds to the snowshoes' bindings. These ridges are often found in the backs of snow boots, and their purposes are to allow the bindings to grip the boot and prevent any accidental slippage. A great example are the Salomon B52 TS GTX snow boots, which offer the kind of insulation and grip needed for a good snowshoeing boot.
