Winter
Hiking Boots
If you're planning on a trip to Antarctica you'll need some suitable substantial
footwear. These notes are specific to those going to Antarctica, but
are applicable to any hiking boots that you may need for cold and
rugged climates.
 | As you will be on a ship and making
boat landings ashore, waterproof or at least
water-resistant boots would be very useful. While
you won't deliberately be wading through water, a missed
footing into just a couple of inches of water could
result in an uncomfortably soggy foot for quite a while afterwards.
GORE-TEX® liners
make boots waterproof but allow sweat to escape - these
are found in the best quality footwear. |
|
| Antarctica is rugged. There
aren't any footpaths and walking will be at best on
sandy or pebble beaches. The landscape that is not snow
and ice is rocky and pretty rough at that. So a good solid
substantial sole to any footwear is needed so that you
don't feel all of those rugged Antarctic rock formations
too directly |
|
| Temperatures will be at Northern
hemisphere spring or fall (autumn) levels at best. It may
well get below freezing point, so the boots should be
warm enough and roomy enough to take a pair of under socks
and also thicker warmer hiking socks. |
|
Your footwear therefore needs to be warm,
water-resistant, supportive (ankle height) and with a good sole.
Comfortable also helps of course and fortunately modern walking
boots are much, much better than then used to be not so many years ago.
Gone are the days of breaking in boots long before you needed to use
them in earnest from a stiff uncompliant starting point.
Also gone
are the days when it was necessary as my grandfather advised me to
my great horror as a fastidious teenager, to p**s in them and leave
them over-night (that's what they used to do in the army apparently
- India, Northwest frontier circa 1922).
It is sensible to get used to your boots and
wear them around town or at least the house for a while before you
set off for the airport to go south. It's not a good idea to put them on
for the very first time in your cabin to go ashore and see your first penguin
colony close-up. They do arrive pretty much ready-to-go, but
as with all footwear it depends on how standard your feet are!
Socks - Don't "spoil the ship for a ha'porth
o' tar". Get some nice comfy warm socks too. A good quality
light-weight pair for next to your skin and then some "hiking"
socks to go over these. These are usually made so as not to have seams in
uncomfortable positions and may be specially cushioned on the areas where
the weight is taken.
|
Montrail Torre GTX - $163.95
A reputation built on a good fit
men's
|
women's |
|
Keen Mid Targhee II
Waterproof leather upper.
eVENT® waterproof breathable membrane.
Men's
$130.95
Women's $130.95 |
|
Salomon Mega Trek 6 Light GTX
Lightweight modern styling with
GORE-TEX®
liner
Men's
$148.95
Women's $133.95 |
|
Vasque
Sundowner GTX
Classic styling with a modern GORE-TEX®
liner - quality never fades
Men's $185.95
Women's $173.95
|
|
Men's Salomon Hiking Boots
See
all Salomon men's hiking boots |
Women's Salomon Hiking Boots
See
all Salomon women's hiking boots |
Salomon
Mega Trek 6 Light GTX Men's
$148.95 |
 Salomon
Mega Trek 6 Light GTX
Optimized fit for women
$133.95 |
| Lightweight
textile vamp construction allows for the perfect mix of performance
and protection. Upper consists of split suede leather and
strategically placed textile parts. Lace locking hardware.
Protective rubber toe cap. GORE-TEX®
Membrane lining. Mountain Contagrip™ outsole. Advanced Chassis™
chassis. PU midsole. Ortholite® foam insole sockliner. |
|
 Salomon
Mega Trek 6 LTR Men's
$163.95
now on sale! |
 Salomon
Mega Trek 6 LTR
Optimized fit for women
$158.95 now on sale
|
| An all
leather-lined trekking boot that provides excellent climate control
and comfort. Oiled nubuck upper. Lace locking hardware. Protective
rubber toe cap. Leather lining. Mountain Contagrip™ outsole.
Advanced Chassis™ chassis. PU midsole. Ortholite foam insole
sockliner. |
|
|
Men's Vasque Hiking Boots
See
all Vasque men's hiking boots |
Women's Vasque Hiking Boots
See
all Vasque women's hiking boots |
 Vasque
Breeze GTX - XCR men's
$148.95 |
 Vasque
Breeze GTX - XCR women's
$143.95 |
| Looking
to cover a lot of miles in a short amount of time? This aerobically
inclined boot is a willing companion. Features GORE-TEX® technology
in which external water is repelled while internal moisture is
allowed to pass through the membrane, keeping feet dry and
comfortable. 2.0mm Waterproof Nubuck Leather and Airmesh Nylon
Fabric upper for outstanding comfort and durability. Contoured
Phylon midsole. Molded TPU Plate. Vibram Contact® outsole offers
the perfect blend of flexibility, traction and support for day hikes
or light overnights. Nylon lining and DryTech footbed for addition
cushion, comfort and support. Gusseted Tongue. Padded Collar for
extra comfort. Features Vasque's Integration Technology (I.T.)
System in which each technological element is biomechanically
designed to maximize performance. Shoe weighs 2 lb 6 oz. |
|
Vasque
Sundowner Classic GTX - men's
$185.95
|
 Vasque
Sundowner Classic GTX - women's
$173.95 |
| A
mid-weight backpacker that has a reputation for comfort and
old-school style, which may explain why it's as common at the
grocery store as on the trail. It's also equally at home under
the weight of a pack or on a casual day hike. 2.6mm Waterproof
Smoothout Leather Upper for outstanding comfort and durability.
Trailweight Monoflex insole for support, stability and flexibility.
Medium Density Rubber Plate lining. Tri-Wick Contoured footbed.
Features GORE-TEX® technology in which external water is
repelled while internal moisture is allowed to pass through the
membrane, keeping feet dry and comfortable. Padded Collar for extra
comfort. Features Vasque's Integration Technology (I.T.) System in
which each technological element is biomechanically designed to
maximize performance. Shoe weighs 2lb 12oz. |
|
 Vasque
Ranger II GTX - men's
$100.95 |
 Vasque
Ranger II GTX - women's
$100.95 |
| A
redesigned, more durable bottom package. Updated styling and
high-cushion EVA midsole make this classic boot one of the best
values in the Vasque day hiking line. GORE-TEX® Technology
provides a breathable, waterproof and comfortable wear. 2.0mm
Waterproof split leather and nylon fabric for outstanding comfort
and durability.. EVA midsole. Vasque Scout outsole. Nylon lining
plus padded collar for addition comfort and support. Contoured EVA
footbed. Shoe weighs 2 lbs 12 oz. |
|
|
Men's Montrail Hiking Boots
See
all Montrail men's hiking boots |
Women's Montrail Hiking Boots
See
all Montrail women's hiking boots |
| Montrail
Torre GTX - men's $163.95 |
 Montrail
Torre GTX - women's $163.95 |
Waterproof
and durable with an extremely supportive design, the Torre GTX sets
a new standard for lightweight boots built for extended trips in the
outdoors. A rugged all-leather upper, GORE-TEX® liner and
exceptional fit ensure its place as a best-seller for years to come.
Waterproof GORE-TEX® construction keeps feet dry while allowing
moisture to escape. Durable all-leather upper enhances fit and life
span. Nylon lasting board provides the support and stability needed
for multi-day trips with heavy packs. Width-specific last ensures
the same custom fit for both medium and high volume feet.
Shoe
weighs 1 lb 6 oz. |
|
 Montrail
Traverse GTX Men's
$143.95
now on sale!
The Traverse GTX was modelled after the Torre, but designed to be lighter
weight. Montrail reduced the weight by using a lightweight polyurethane in
the midsole and substituted some of the upper leather for a nylon cordura.
Since the boot is built on the same Integrafit™ last as the Torre and
features many of the same design details, the fit is similar. Some people
notice that the upper is not as supple as the Torre when it is new, but then
find that it softens nicely with use and conforms to their feet. Use this
boot for backpacking or day hiking. Being waterproof / breathable, it is
suitable for a wide variety of conditions from dry heat to snow.
GORE-TEX®
liner supplies waterproof protection with breath ability. |
 Montrail
Stratos XCR
$143.95
Built for extended backpacking in
all conditions and through all kinds of terrain, but it is also ideal for
light hiking or walking. IntegraFit™ last design is Montrail’s solution to
providing a good fit through design. High Traction Outsoles are designed for
optimal traction in a wide variety of conditions from slick mud and wet
polished rocks, to dry dusty dirt. The hardened thermoplastic sheets
(counters) are molded to cap the toe-box and provide light-weight impact toe
protection. EXO construction places the waterproof/breathable layer on the
outside of the shoe keeping the whole shoe dry. Airmesh inner bootie creates
a contoured sock-like fit. |
|
Men's North Face Hiking Boots
See
all North Face men's hiking boots |
Women's North Face Hiking Boots
See
all North Face women's hiking boots |
 The
North Face
Adrenaline Gore-Tex® XCR™ Mid - men's
$113.95 |
 The
North Face
Adrenaline Gore-Tex® XCR™ Mid - women's
$113.95
now on sale! |
| Multi-purpose,
waterproof/breathable, GORE-TEX® XCR™ mid-cut shoe designed for
fast-paced outdoor performance activities. Lightweight, molded
EVA midsole cushions foot. TNF Trail Grip™ rubber cupsole for
traction on varied and uneven terrain. Thermo Plastic Urethane (TPU)
shank plate with articulated forefoot flex notches enables your foot
to flex comfortably and protects it from sharp rocks. Upper made
from 1.6–1.8 mm waterproof Nubuck leather. Gore-Tex® XCR™
waterproof, breathable membrane keeps your foot dry. Gusseted tongue
forms to the contour of your foot for a comfortable, friction-less
fit. Molded rubber heel counter for support. Reinforced toe box
resists wear. Waterproof ballistic textile. Waterproof sealed seams
keep moisture from seeping through stitching. Wicking lining keeps
your feet dry. X-2™ cushioning offers the best combination of
durability, lightness and energy return to protect your joints. |
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