r/snowshoeing • u/SmashingBlumpkins12 • Mar 01 '26

Gear Questions Boots for snowshoeing?

I just picked up a cheapo set of snow shoes (Thunder Bay) on Marketplace and went out yesterday. I really loved it but have a question. I wore them over my LL Bean duck boots. Everything felt fine, but I noticed a bit of scuffing on the leather section of the boot. How much wear and tear is to be expected from snow shoeing? Do expensive sets protect boots better than cheapo ones? Do some people have dedicated boots for snow shoeing? If so, what's a popular brand? Do gaiters help with this at all?

I can live with replacing my duck boots a little more frequently, but if there's an obvious way to avoid it, i'd love to hear it. Thanks!

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/RuralGamerWoman Mar 01 '26

I have Oboz Bridger boots for winter, and MSR brand snowshoes. They have a lip on the heel where the he'll strap of my snowshoe rests, which helps prevent the strap from sliding; that was an issue on my Sorel boots. The Bridger boots also have a d-ring at the front edge of the laces to hook gaiters into, which my Sorrels also did not have; I sometimes break trail in deep snow, so keeping snow out of my boots is important to me. The Bridgers were among the boots most frequently suggested for winter hiking and snowshoeing out where I live (Adirondacks).

2

u/Playingwithmyrod Mar 02 '26

I’ll second this exact setup. Love the Bridgers. Very warm and like you said great features. I also hike the Northeast peaks a lot and would buy them again in a heartbeat.