Looking for advice for Winter boot, please read entire thread

[forrrresty]

I'm in serious need of a rough and warm work boot. Will also be used for daily and hunting trips. As of right now I am considering Hoffman pacs or Baffin Snow Monsters. First let me tell you about my job....


I'm also open to any other opinions



First off I live in the High Sierras and I work on Towers and Reapeater Sites, we also have some very unique Solar Sites.

So I'm spending ALL day at 8k give or take with sometimes 8ft of snow. I climb which also is very exhausting work followed by sitting still for hours with the wind blowing 20mph and temps before wind chill are 10 degrees. Other days I'm working the ground standing in deep snow for 10 hrs. I can get called out at 1am for a trouble call and experience even worse conditions.

Currently I'm wearing either a pair of carhartt insulated pac boots or some insulated LA crosse rubber boots. Neither are keeping me warm. I feel like my toes are much colder then past years. As I'm getting older I just don't want to tough it out anymore. My job is dangerous and hard enough as is, I need to be comfortable.

I am open to any and all suggestions, thanks. Also I'm excited to be part of the forum after lurking for many years!

 

[Coldtrail]

Pacs with good felt liners, not the thinner thinsulate ones. Put the boots on only before you need to be outside. Hoffman's probably has the best combo for durability in that style

 

[jolemons]

I have Schnees Outfitters and Hoffman Voyager. Schnees makes me cold if I'm inactive much below 20 for long periods. The Hoffmans are furnaces and not even their earnest l warmest boot. Only complaint is that the size closest to my foot was a little too small so i had to size up almost a full size, so they're pretty clunky feeling.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

 

[forrrresty]

Are pac boots or the hoffmans supportive though? Imagine standing on something as thin as a shapree for hours on end. I did also forget to mention that infrequently I am required to climb trees.

 

[Coldtrail]

Are pac boots or the hoffmans supportive though? Imagine standing on something as thin as a shapree for hours on end. I did also forget to mention that infrequently I am required to climb trees.

I'd look hard at Hoffman's, they can prob get you something you'll be happy with.

 

[hwy1strat]

I don't like pac boots because their soles are flimsy and unsupportive. But they are probably about the same as your Lacrosse rubber boots. So, if those work for you then the pac boots should work. I have hoffman pac boots and have worn them out in 0 degree weather with 3 feet of snow on the ground coyote hunting and my feet were fine the entire time. For something more supportive Zamberlain came out with a boot called the ULL. I have no personal experience with it but it may be worth looking into

 

[JohnOD]

Hoffman Lineman Felt Pac

These may be worth checking out

 

[Htm84]

Get some mountaineering boots. La sportiva, scarpa etc. if your feet get cold easy go with a double boot. Spantik, g2, invernos or phantoms.

Edit to add. Those Hoffman lineman pacs look interesting

 

[forrrresty]

Get some mountaineering boots. La sportiva, scarpa etc. if your feet get cold easy go with a double boot. Spantik, g2, invernos or phantoms.















Edit to add. Those Hoffman lineman pacs look interesting







I have heavily thought about mountaineering boots. My coworker rocks a pair of scarpas but his feet don't get cold or have problems with cold feet. The problem with mountaineering boots, you're meant to be on the move. There are seriously some days when I walk less then a mile but put 16 hrs in outside. I'm just very conflicted. I've been dealing with cold feet for a few years and everything I buy is a bust after a few times out. Then I'm stuck holding them cause no one wants to buy a high dollar pair of used boots.

 

[hwy1strat]

I would give Hoffman a call and talk to them. I have the benefit of living near them and stopped in there to talk to them about pac boots one day. They were super helpful and spend a lot of time with me talking about the different boots they had. They even sewed up a fresh pair and sent me home with them that day

 

[Hunt the Top]

Hoffmans makes a great product no doubt.

I would also consider Crispi Wild Rock Plus GTX, and order a good half to full size bigger than normal, to have a good thick sock and some room for your foot to stay warm. Tight fitting boots will obviously freeze your feet.

Wild Rock Plus

Are you not seeing your size? Select the size and color and click the "Notify me when in stock" button to receive an email notification when your boot is available. Gore-Tex® Insulated Comfort Lining Vibram® sole with dual-density polyurethane shock-absorbing midsole 3 Flex Rating...

www.google.com

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I've never found a pack boot that was actually comfortable to walk around in. I haven't had those exact ones but I've had other quality ones and they've kept my feet warm but always just sucked to walk in.

I'd recommend Danner Canadians a half size to full size larger and some thick socks.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Heated socks might be worth considering

 

[Beagle1]

Just posted the below information on another thread. The Lenz socks will get you into a pair of comfortable less clunky boots.

Lenz electric socks are crazy expensive but if you want warm feet they are the gold standard in electric socks. I recently comfortably stand hunted in 10* weather while using the Lenz socks on the medium setting with a pair of heavyweight wool socks over them in a pair of Merrell 200 gram insulated hiking boots. A game changer.

Lenz Heat Socks 5.1 Toe Cap Regular Fit with rcB 1800 Batteries - The Warming Store​

 

[ropeup79]

Meindl Kibos might work. I have the Himalayas and really like them. https://meindlusa.com/products/kibo-gtx

 

[cgr1971]

There are a couple of tricks to making the pac boots better for walking. I wear my pac boots far more than the leather hiking/work/mountain boots if it's sloppy, wet, and cold and comfortably walk around in them

1. Size them snug like a hiking boot. Not tight, if they are too tight your toes will get cold, but they don't need to be sloppy on your feet, you don't want to be sliding around in them. If you find your a half size between and have to size up, you can add an arch support inside the felt liners, underneath the felt liners, or you can also add a wool insole that Hoffman sells. https://www.hoffmanboots.com/felt-insoles

2. You can cut the liners short. I used to wear 12" pacs, and always hated how hot my legs got above the ankle because of the liners going so far up my leg. I came up with the idea of cutting the liners short just above the seam and letting the leather upper lace up against my leg. It works fine that way and allows you to lace the boot up and give yourself more support and a less sloppy fit. I have found no negative to cutting the liners short and only positves, in both comfort and mobility. Here is a picture of my Hoffman liners cut short. I have worn them in both 10" and 12" boots.

 

[*zap*]

I think add a heat source in your boot...one that you can regulate. Make sure your boots are not to tight and maybe use boot blankets also when stationary.

 

[Dust Rider]

Lenz heated socks. 5.0 toe cap model with 1800 battery pack. About the thickness of a Smartwool medium ski sock.
Get the 1800 battery pack as it will keep heat all day. The heated socks are expensive but a game changer when outside most days of the winter.

I work construction, outside in cold most of the day. I climb ladders and scaffolding. I have Schnees Hunter pack boots. They are ok. Not good for ladders and climbing. Good for light duty active cold days. My Schnees get cold quick if I’m not moving. PAC boots can get wet if your feet sweat, just like muck boots. I mind less if my feet are wet as long as they are warm. This is where Lenz work great. I wear my Kenetrek Mountain Extremes with gaiters when it’s ladders and scaffold days.

As posted earlier I would also check out a serious mountaineering boot. That combo with good pac boot would cover most situations. I’m also going to try Hoffman’s pacs as they get such high praise.
Asolo, Koflach, Scarpas. I have been looking at the Koflach Degre as a potential work boot, it has a Intuition liner so maybe can be heat molded to foot profile.

 

[fwafwow]

Just posted the below information on another thread. The Lenz socks will get you into a pair of comfortable less clunky boots.

Lenz electric socks are crazy expensive but if you want warm feet they are the gold standard in electric socks. I recently comfortably stand hunted in 10* weather while using the Lenz socks on the medium setting with a pair of heavyweight wool socks over them in a pair of Merrell 200 gram insulated hiking boots. A game changer.

Lenz Heat Socks 5.1 Toe Cap Regular Fit with rcB 1800 Batteries - The Warming Store​

I think your posts on a few threads helped me decide to get the Lenz socks. I’ve only worn them twice and it’s my understanding (from their CS) that I’ve yet to see their full potential. I had not thought about wearing socks over them - thanks for the tip. I did decide to get the Lenz, in part, to allow me to go with the Vivo boots. I probably shaved 4 lbs off my feet - and there’s plenty of room for circulation - but I’ve yet to sit in truly cold weather for an extended period.

I have thought about still using my boot suits if needed.

 

[Dust Rider]

I think your posts on a few threads helped me decide to get the Lenz socks. I’ve only worn them twice and it’s my understanding (from their CS) that I’ve yet to see their full potential. I had not thought about wearing socks over them - thanks for the tip. I did decide to get the Lenz, in part, to allow me to go with the Vivo boots. I probably shaved 4 lbs off my feet - and there’s plenty of room for circulation - but I’ve yet to sit in truly cold weather for an extended period.

I have thought about still using my boot suits if needed.

Was skiing on Friday and it was 1° below zero. 5“ of fresh snow and wind chill of -15°. My feet never got even close to cold in plastic ski boots with the Lenz socks on medium setting. The rest of my body was done after 4 hours, but feet were warm.