Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:02 am
I guess it's hard to wrap my head around what you need. Those Raichle nova xcr boots actually look pretty lightweight; it's hard to imagine them costing more than $120 in the US.
Where do you go that you benefit from such boots, especially Gore-Tex lined? The wetness probably makes a huge difference.
For cold snowy stuff, I have insulated waterproof boots, either Kaylands or cheap Columbias, with stiff enough soles to take crampons.
For almost everything else I wear light shoes, typically called "approach shoes". I have full over-the-toe gaiters and neoprene overboots, and have used such light shoes for modest summer snow travel with this gear. I wear out about two or three pairs of approach shoes per year, typically $100 US/pair. I still have over-the-toe gaiters I bought 27 years ago.
Unless boots are very stiff, you really don't get much ankle support. My main ankle support comes from keeping my ankles fairly strong. I've turned my ankles more in stiff boots, than in approach shoes.
I have a friend who wears athletic shoes for almost everything in the outdoors... but we live a generally dry place.
Where do you go that you benefit from such boots, especially Gore-Tex lined? The wetness probably makes a huge difference.
For cold snowy stuff, I have insulated waterproof boots, either Kaylands or cheap Columbias, with stiff enough soles to take crampons.
For almost everything else I wear light shoes, typically called "approach shoes". I have full over-the-toe gaiters and neoprene overboots, and have used such light shoes for modest summer snow travel with this gear. I wear out about two or three pairs of approach shoes per year, typically $100 US/pair. I still have over-the-toe gaiters I bought 27 years ago.
Unless boots are very stiff, you really don't get much ankle support. My main ankle support comes from keeping my ankles fairly strong. I've turned my ankles more in stiff boots, than in approach shoes.
I have a friend who wears athletic shoes for almost everything in the outdoors... but we live a generally dry place.