14ers.com

geg86 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:25 pm If I’m still cold, I’ll tape hand warmers (they work better than toe warmers for some reason) to the inside of my ankle (around the posterior tib area/pulse).

jscully205 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:55 pm Specifically what boot are you wearing OP? Also, and it might be obvious, getting the sizing correct is critical. As stated, circulation is super important and not lacing your boots too tight helps with that. If they are a little small though it'll definitely have an effect on how cold your toes/feet get. I've regretted buying boots a half size too small much more so than a half size too big.

dreaming13000 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 7:53 am

jscully205 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:55 pm Specifically what boot are you wearing OP? Also, and it might be obvious, getting the sizing correct is critical. As stated, circulation is super important and not lacing your boots too tight helps with that. If they are a little small though it'll definitely have an effect on how cold your toes/feet get. I've regretted buying boots a half size too small much more so than a half size too big.

Merrell Thermo Rhea Waterproof boots. They seemed to stay waterproof entirely and they are quite warm. I had no issues until I was on the last windswept steep push for the summit, side note, I did have micro spikes and gaitors on. I did have one layer of smartwool socks that have always proved warm enough on snowboard days. These boots are size 9 and I wear 8-8.5, and without wool socks they are loose, so I think the size is good. I am thinking I need possibly thicker wool socks instead of the smart wool, something a little thicker. I am going to be shopping for that soon. Someone has mentioned getting mountaineering boots, and that would be fantastic if money wasn't an concern, but for as often as I hike, it is difficult to justify spending that sort of money.

jscully205 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:53 am

dreaming13000 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 7:53 am Merrell Thermo Rhea Waterproof boots. They seemed to stay waterproof entirely and they are quite warm. I had no issues until I was on the last windswept steep push for the summit, side note, I did have micro spikes and gaitors on. I did have one layer of smartwool socks that have always proved warm enough on snowboard days. These boots are size 9 and I wear 8-8.5, and without wool socks they are loose, so I think the size is good. I am thinking I need possibly thicker wool socks instead of the smart wool, something a little thicker. I am going to be shopping for that soon. Someone has mentioned getting mountaineering boots, and that would be fantastic if money wasn't an concern, but for as often as I hike, it is difficult to justify spending that sort of money.

Thanks for the clarification. I think as long as you can wiggle your toes if need be, then sizing is okay. Actually making a conscious effort doing that is a good tactic to help warm your feet too. As far as boots go, there inlies the problem. I looked those boots up and although they look warm, I just don't think they are enough boot for cold approaches up standard 14er routes in the winter. Those look like what someone would wear to some outdoor patio apres ski happy hour in Breckenridge. Anything in neighborhood of sub 20 degrees and you're gonna want a burlier boot. Yes, you can use chemical toe warmers but at the end of the day it's really just a band-aid. I understand that there is a cost barrier but can you really put a price on comfort and possible frostbite? You deserve better than that. Heck, one way to look at is having insurance for each one of your toes.

easyridertme wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:37 am

jscully205 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:53 am

dreaming13000 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 22, 2020 7:53 am Merrell Thermo Rhea Waterproof boots. They seemed to stay waterproof entirely and they are quite warm. I had no issues until I was on the last windswept steep push for the summit, side note, I did have micro spikes and gaitors on. I did have one layer of smartwool socks that have always proved warm enough on snowboard days. These boots are size 9 and I wear 8-8.5, and without wool socks they are loose, so I think the size is good. I am thinking I need possibly thicker wool socks instead of the smart wool, something a little thicker. I am going to be shopping for that soon. Someone has mentioned getting mountaineering boots, and that would be fantastic if money wasn't an concern, but for as often as I hike, it is difficult to justify spending that sort of money.

Thanks for the clarification. I think as long as you can wiggle your toes if need be, then sizing is okay. Actually making a conscious effort doing that is a good tactic to help warm your feet too. As far as boots go, there inlies the problem. I looked those boots up and although they look warm, I just don't think they are enough boot for cold approaches up standard 14er routes in the winter. Those look like what someone would wear to some outdoor patio apres ski happy hour in Breckenridge. Anything in neighborhood of sub 20 degrees and you're gonna want a burlier boot. Yes, you can use chemical toe warmers but at the end of the day it's really just a band-aid. I understand that there is a cost barrier but can you really put a price on comfort and possible frostbite? You deserve better than that. Heck, one way to look at is having insurance for each one of your toes.

dreaming13000--I tend to agree with jscully205 that if you're going to be doing a lot in the winter, you'll want a warmer boot. As people have noted, mountaineering boots are going to be the gold standard in warmth, but I'm not sure you have to go quite that far. There are lots of women here that can give better boot recommendations than a dude like me could, but I'll throw one option out there that's still affordable and almost certainly warmer than your Merrells: Oboz's Bridger 9" insulated (https://obozfootwear.com/products/women ... waterproof). The Bridgers have twice the amount of insulation as the Rheas and look like they cost around the same. I haven't worn Oboz personally, but I've definitely seen the brand recommended around here a lot as a great non-mountaineering option.

Another option you could consider is checking out craigslist, Facebook's marketplace, or the Swap/Shop for a used pair of mountaineering boots. I've seen a lot of examples of people selling mountaineering boots for relatively cheap that they used for a trip or two and then never again. The challenge there is that you'll be on your own to both ensure a good fit and to make sure the boot is actually appropriate for what you want to do. Even within the same model of boot, some brands make both insulated versions that may work well for winter ascents (e.g., La Sportiva's Trango Ice Cube GTX) and uninsulated versions that would be great for a snow climb in late spring, but a terrible choice in the dead of winter (e.g., La Sportiva's Trango Cube GTX).