300winmag
12-08-2010, 17:46
It's winter now and most if not all of the AT will see snow sooner or later.
To me using Vapor Barrier Liners (VBLs) is an absolute must to keep your insulation dry and thus effective.
You can get waterproof, seam sealed ripstop VBL socks or
(my preference) thin diver's neoprene socks and seam seal them yourself W the seal compound used for urethane coated tents.
Either way you'll need a thin, synthetic liner sock like polyester or polypro, and one clean pair for each day if you're winter camping.
Also your outer shoe/boot needs to be either Gore-Tex or totally waterproof as in a NEOS overboot. I also use a Sorrel feltpac in very cold weather but I've sealed its leather seams and coated the leather top inside and out with many coats of Nikwax, heated in with a hair drier beteen coats.
Finally I'd recommend using knee high GTX gaiters with all boots except the NEOS and feltpacs. They will add another 10 F. of warmth to your feet and keep snow out of your boots. Nothing worse than snow in your boots as it melts with your body heat.
Now get out in the snow and play.
Happy Holidays everyone!
To me using Vapor Barrier Liners (VBLs) is an absolute must to keep your insulation dry and thus effective.
You can get waterproof, seam sealed ripstop VBL socks or
(my preference) thin diver's neoprene socks and seam seal them yourself W the seal compound used for urethane coated tents.
Either way you'll need a thin, synthetic liner sock like polyester or polypro, and one clean pair for each day if you're winter camping.
Also your outer shoe/boot needs to be either Gore-Tex or totally waterproof as in a NEOS overboot. I also use a Sorrel feltpac in very cold weather but I've sealed its leather seams and coated the leather top inside and out with many coats of Nikwax, heated in with a hair drier beteen coats.
Finally I'd recommend using knee high GTX gaiters with all boots except the NEOS and feltpacs. They will add another 10 F. of warmth to your feet and keep snow out of your boots. Nothing worse than snow in your boots as it melts with your body heat.
Now get out in the snow and play.
Happy Holidays everyone!