It poured rain here in N.Y. this morning while I delivered my newspapers. It got me thinking that I'm going to have to get a great pair of boots for this coming winter. I have a pair from Lands End that I've worn for at least ten years, and they are fine for the occasional twenty minutes of snow shoveling. This year is different. I'm going to be out there walking, sometimes in knee deep snow, for over an hour ever single day. (Papers must be delivered by 6AM!!!) So, I'm looking for a pair of boots that are up to my knees, VERY warm, good tread, and hopefully won't weigh a ton. Any other tips you may have to keep me warm out there will be greatly appreciated. It gets real cold here in N.Y., right Patty?

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), August 07, 2000

Answers

Cathy, 10 years ago I bought a pair of knee boots, (barn boots) that have full length felt liners, I think I got them from Cabela's or Gemplers, they were spendy, about $75, then. I bought extra liners and switched them every day. I have a problem keeping my feet warm in the winter and these did the trick. they also have a good heavy non- slip tread and you could get steel studs for the also. These boots are made in Finland, so you know they are a truly cold weather boot, they are made of real rubber and are 16" high. At the time I got them I lived in western NY and spent a lot of time in the snow, now that we live in OR, I no longer have use for them but they are not far away for the occasional snow & cold spell.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), August 07, 2000.

Cathy, I just tried to send you the web page for those boots,from Cabel's they are "Nokia Retki", $90. if you do not get the page, just look through their web page, go to boots, then rubber boots,etc. good luck.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweg.netm), August 07, 2000.

We don't have such cold weather out here, but I find Goretex lined boots to be indispensable in the rain. I guess a fleece lined Goretex leather boot would be what I would look for in your situation. Boots sure are expensive, but they are like a good tool I guess.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 07, 2000.

When I worked on the maint. crew at a ski slope in NJ, I'd be in my boots 12 or 14 hours a day in-season. I had good luck with an insulated pair of I think it was "Georgia Boot" boots, or it might have been a higher end Wolverine, and a pair of Cabela Gore Tex socks, and a pair of gators. This kept my feet warm and dry, even if the boots got wet, kept my lower legs dry, plus I could still operate the brake, gas, and clutch pedels in the trucks, tractors, and groomers, climb labbers, etc.

If I knew I was going to be out in the snow for extended periods of time making repairs to equipment on the mountain, I had an old pair of Sorel's that I'd wear with an extra pair of wool socks.

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), August 07, 2000.

I'm with Eric.We don't go out around here in snow without our gaitors on!

-- nobrabbit (conlane@prodigy.net), August 07, 2000.

Eric, what are gaiters? Also, the Cabela picture and info came thru just fine, and those boots with the felt liners look great. You probably thought I was nuts asking about winter boots in August, but now I have plenty of time to budget the money for them. Thanks, Cathy

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), August 07, 2000.

For all things warmth, check out http://www.wiggys.com/

The Herman's Survivor boots with wiggy's mukluks would be overkill, but would keep you warm. Maybe just the survivors would be enough. I am not sure if either configuration would go to your knee.

-- Mike O (olsonmr@yahoo.com), August 08, 2000.

I've got a pair of boots that I've had for 15 years and are still going strong. They're muklucks that I was issued by the Air Force, they are boots with green canvas uppers that go to my knees and have a tiestring and black rubber lowers and sole, inside the boots there is a felt liner. These boots are extremely warm, dry and comfortable, I soak the uppers in waterproofing silicone spray (stuff called "campdry") about once a year and have had to patch where the canvas is bonded to the rubber once with stuff called "ShoeGoo" (great stuff!!) I've used them to snowshoe for hours and hiked all over in them in the winter. They're not exactly pretty or stylish but they sure do work and dont cost nearly as much as a regular store- bought boot. I've seen the exact same boots in military surplus stores in 4 different states - Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Florida so I imagine that a surplus store near you will have them too.

Hope it helps a bit

-- Dave (AK) (daveh@ecosse.net), August 08, 2000.

Even if I wasn't in Maine, I would recommend L L Bean. I was stationed in Alaska, and bought a pair of LL Bean Boots about '69/'70, for as much money as I could then afford. They spent 2-3 weeks hunting with me until '95, when I noticed some dampness as I crossed a stream. Contacted Bean (remember, these are 25 years old!), and they asked me to send them to them, whereupon they offered to fix them with new bottoms - FREE! They then somehow lost them, and allowed me to pick any pair of boots they had, free. I wound up having them make a pair that used the top of one and the bottom of another - FREE! They may cost a bit more, but they'll be the last boots you'll ever have to buy! And my wife likes hers just as much! GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 10, 2000.