What do you wear on your feet in winter if you like lightweight, flexible footwear? Chris Townsend reviews two pairs of lightweight boots with synthetic insulation which might provide an alternative to heavier traditional boots.

Walkers and backpackers who like lightweight flexible footwear have problems when there is snow on the ground and temperatures are below freezing as most such footwear isn’t warm in the cold, even if it is waterproof. Standing in snow you can feel the cold coming through the footwear.  Thicker socks help but only if there’s room – lightweight footwear is often designed to be worn with thin socks. Stuff thick ones in and they can be so compressed that the extra insulation is lost as well as being uncomfortable. Traditional winter boots made from thick fabrics are warmer but also much heavier. If you don’t want that extra weight and clumsiness then lightweight boots with synthetic insulation are the best answer. These look and feel like lightweight footwear but are much warmer. The insulation adds little to the bulk or weight.

I’ve been wearing insulated footwear in sub zero weather for several years now. In the prolonged cold of the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 winters I wore insulated boots regularly. This winter has so far only had short bursts of freezing weather but these have been enough for me to try two new insulated boot models. I found both warm and comfortable. The fit is very different though and I’d use this for making a choice rather than any design features.

I think one word of warning is needed though. For both models claims are made for better grip on snow and ice. Compared with ordinary rubber boot soles this is true. However it doesn’t mean they’re suitable for use on steep icy terrain without crampons. They most definitely are not. Flexible walking crampons can be fitted and should be carried and used.

Keen Revel      ****1/2   Recommended £120

SPEC                                            

Upper: nubuck leather/ synthetic panels

Lining:  200 grams charcoal bamboo Keen.Warm/ Keen.Dry, waterproof/breathable membrane

Midsole: moulded EVA

Sole: dual climate rubber

Weight: 1232 grams (9.5)

Sizes: men 7-14, women 5-11

Likes: warmth, grip

Dislikes: none

Keen’s latest insulated offering, the Revel, has the usual chunky Keen look with its distinctive big toe bumper. As normal with Keen footwear the fit is quite wide and I found these boots comfortable with thick socks. Keen do warn that they run half a size small though and sent me a half size bigger than usual to test. Measured against other boots they are effectively a size 9. I guess it’s too expensive to change all the labels.

For warmth the Revels have insulation made from charcoal bamboo plus a three section insole with a reflective layer, a heat-trapping honeycomb layer and a felted wool top layer. I’ve worn the Revels in several inches of snow and in temperatures down to -5°C and my feet have been very warm. Indeed, in temperatures much above freezing on snow free ground my feet have felt hot. These are definitely cold weather boots. The boots have Keen’s own waterproof/breathable membrane and it works well as my feet haven’t got sweaty. The waterproofing has been tested quite a few times in boggy ground. Warmth when wet was inadvertently tested when I went through seemingly firm snow into a slushy pool and got my right foot wet. For a few minutes my foot felt really cold but it soon warmed up and I forgot it was wet. When I eventually removed my boots an hour or so later the right one was wet, the left one was dry. My feet felt exactly the same.

The Revels are well-cushioned and comfortable to wear. The outsole is made from “Dual Climate Rubber” that is said to harden in the cold for better grip on snow and ice. There’s also a central section with very thin lugs that are pushed apart when you press down to expose more edges for grip on icy surfaces. To test this I wore the Revels for a walk on the Cairngorm Plateau when there was a light covering of wind-packed snow with ice under it in places. Mostly the grip was fine but I did slip a couple of times. Overall I’d say the grip is a little better on hard snow and ice than most rubber soles but the sole isn’t a replacement for crampons, which are still needed on any slope where a slip could result in a long or dangerous fall. I fitted Kahtoola KTS crampons to the Revels and they worked well. The soles are flexible at the toe but stiff side to side so they can be used for edging on snow. The big snow bumper is good for kicking steps.

The Revels are quite light but still feel substantial. I think they are excellent winter walking boots.

Keen

01572 772500

www.keenfootwear.com

Teva Forge Pro Winter Mid WP    ****1/2  Recommended £120 

SPEC                                           

Upper: synthetic leather & mesh

Lining: 200 grams Thinsulate insulation, T.I.D.E. Seal waterproof membrane

Midsole: nylon shank, polyurethane/EVA pad in heel

Sole: rubber with fibreglass-infused pods

Weight: 994 grams (size 9)

Sizes: men 6-13, women 3.5-9.5

Likes: lightweight, warmth, grip

Dislikes: non-waterproof membrane 

Lightweight mid-height boots that keep your feet warm and dry in the snow and grip on ice sound too good to be true but that’s what Teva claims for the Forge Pro Winter Mids. Looking like a trail shoe with a slightly high ankle these boots don’t appear suitable for winter. The secret is in the hidden details however. Warmth is provided by a 200 gram Thinsulate lining, waterproofing by Teva’s own membrane and grip on ice by fibre-glass infused pods in the sole. The boots also have a stretchy heel collar to keep out snow and mud, a stiffened ankle, a hard toe cap, a tough rand and thick cushioning underfoot. The weight is just 994 grams for a pair of size 9s.

Does all this technology work though? To find out I took the boots on a walk in the frozen Cairngorms. The temperature never rose above zero and there was much ice and hard snow on the ground. The boots kept my feet warm. The waterproofing was tested by paddling in an icy stream. It worked. The boots were a little damp from sweat inside though so breathability isn’t that good. To be fair Teva doesn’t claim the membrane is breathable. The heel collar kept out most of the snow but when pushing through heather some of the loose snow did get inside. In deep snow gaiters would still be needed.

The real challenge was for the soles. Could they really grip on ice? Are crampons redundant? The answers are yes and no. The grip on ice is far superior to any other rubber soles I’ve used but I did slip occasionally. For icy patches on gentle paths and tracks they are fine. For long steep icy slopes I’d still want crampons. The boots have a nylon shank in the sole and are quite stiff side to side. Walking crampons fit ok. I tried them with a pair of Kahtoola KTS ones and they fitted fine. The stiffened toes allow for step kicking in snow and the lateral stiffness means you can kick in the edges. They’re not mountaineering boots of course and unsuitable for any graded winter climbs.

Overall these are good lightweight boots for winter walking on terrain where technical crampon use such as front pointing isn’t required. The fit is on the narrow side and I could only wear lightweight socks inside them. However the warmth was such that my feet didn’t get cold. 

Teva

02030 279 009

www.teva.co.uk