Minimalist winter footwear for backcountry hunting in low temps

Joined
Jan 18, 2023
Messages
35
Location
Central Alberta
Hey all,

Been wearing barefoot shoes for a decade, but I’ve been having trouble finding an option for winter hunting. I live in Alberta where it can get down to -30C (-20F?) in November.
I’m trying to find a solution for good hunting footwear that will accommodate spot and stalk as well as sitting during glassing/stand hunting. I know there is no “ring to rule them all” but I’ve been toying with a few ideas after coming back from a back country spot and stalk whitetail hunt this last weekend…
I wear magnas (I don’t like ankle support even with heavy loads) and found my feet got quite cold while glassing. Little heat packs on my toes kinda helped but I still got cold toes (-5°C). I have a pair of neos navigator over boots and will be demoing those next hunt. But have any of you found a good solution, other than wearing heavy pack boots or similar?
Also just packing a pair of down booties for glassing and putting my shoes back on when I’m ready to move again.
Would appreciate any feedback.
Cheers
 

yfarm

WKR
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
632
Location
Arroyo City, Tx
About as minimalist as you can get, if its really dry at your temps go with their moosehide model as it breathes better.
 

Wrench

WKR
Joined
Aug 23, 2018
Messages
6,153
Location
WA
Some overboots for your favorite shoes will do wonders when you need it and come off when you don't.
 

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
9,904
Hey all,

Been wearing barefoot shoes for a decade, but I’ve been having trouble finding an option for winter hunting. I live in Alberta where it can get down to -30C (-20F?) in November.
I’m trying to find a solution for good hunting footwear that will accommodate spot and stalk as well as sitting during glassing/stand hunting. I know there is no “ring to rule them all” but I’ve been toying with a few ideas after coming back from a back country spot and stalk whitetail hunt this last weekend…
I wear magnas (I don’t like ankle support even with heavy loads) and found my feet got quite cold while glassing. Little heat packs on my toes kinda helped but I still got cold toes (-5°C). I have a pair of neos navigator over boots and will be demoing those next hunt. But have any of you found a good solution, other than wearing heavy pack boots or similar?
Also just packing a pair of down booties for glassing and putting my shoes back on when I’m ready to move again.
Would appreciate any feedback.
Cheers


The answer is the new Vivo Barefoot Tracker winter/arctic shoe.
 

Luke S

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
232
I like mukluks in Alaska but not for mountain hiking. I know a musher who really likes Neos overboots. Over barefoot shoes they might work.
But I still like normal shoes/boots if I can get away with them. So those Vivo Barefoot shoes look intriguing.
 
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Messages
984
Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
A friend of mine that predator hunts all winter in interior Alaska swears by these goofy bastards

 
OP
AlbertaFisher
Joined
Jan 18, 2023
Messages
35
Location
Central Alberta
Thank you all for the fantastic information! I wasn’t aware that vivo addressed my needs. I will probably give a review on them after a season of use.
 

ThunderJack49

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 2, 2021
Messages
124
Location
Montana
A friend of mine that predator hunts all winter in interior Alaska swears by these goofy bastards

I have these. They don't suck and are fairly light.
 

Luke S

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
232
ThunderJack, are those boots zero drop style or do they have a tall heal (something I don't care for). They would appear to be a bit of a compromise between true mukluks and a boot. For the price they look cool.
 
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