I have a trip to Big Bear coming up in late December. It’s my first time in the snow since I was maybe 3 yrs old so I don’t even know what’s passable as a decent snow shoe/boot. Most boots are so functionally fit for the snow, I’ll have no use for them outside the trip, so they’ll sit forever. But with Salomons, I can find more use out of them due to Los Angeles’ many hikes and trails. Anyone know if they can handle snow activities in big bear? If not, what are good alternatives?
No. Waterproof low-tops allow ingress of water so easily that you’re pretty much guaranteed to get them wet, and then, they won’t dry for a very long time. Even with gaiters, it’s very easy to get water inside. It’s much better to go with a taller boot, plus gaiters, for snow.
@Rylan
List of boots…
Boots: Asolo Fugitive GTX, Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo, La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX, La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Mid II GTX, Lowa Zephyr GTX, Lowa Renegade GTX, Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX, Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX, Meindl Comfort Fit Hiker, Extreme, or Hunter, Hanwag Tatra, Hanwag Lhasa II, Hanwag Tatra II, Kenetrek Mountain Extreme, Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR, Zamberlan Vioz GTX, Zamberlan 971 Guide LUX GTX RR, and Zamberlan 972 Guide MAX GTX RR.
@Rylan
La sportiva ultra raptors do very well in snow and are still suitable as a year-round hiking shoe. If you know you’re only going to use the shoes for this trip, take them to a gear consignment shop afterwards, you can probably get 40-50% of your money back once they sell since they should still be in pretty good condition
@Ashby
I’ve used these on snow with wet feet with neoprene socks. Okay as long as you keep moving and warm and have a dry foot plan for camp. If I were in serious snow I’d use skis. Some use 40 below brand over boots over trail runners and spikes or snowshoes
@Rylan
Did you write this list?
Sullivan said:
@Rylan
Did you write this list?
Yes, I did. They’re the best boots that I’ve either personally had or that friends I trust have had. I made it a comprehensive list since everyone has a different foot shape and volume. I went through well over a dozen boots before finding my perfect boots (Asolo 520s and Asolo Fugitives), so I like to help people find the right boots and avoid all the hassle.
@Rylan
Are your feet wide, narrow or average?
Sullivan said:
@Rylan
Are your feet wide, narrow or average?
Average. 10.5 D. I buy the wide width of Asolo, which is very similar to the regular width of the Salomon Quest, for reference. That said, the profiles of my feet are a bit odd due to pronation and extra bones in my arches, which cause my toes to angle outward slightly instead of being in-line with the rest of my feet. I also wear thick socks, Smartwool full cushion. I use SOLE Performance mediums with metatarsal pads for my insoles. They’re fairly thin (3.2mm), so they leave a lot of space in the toebox.
If you have C width feet, go for the regular width first. It’s between C and D. If you have D width feet, depending upon the profiles of your feet, you could wear either a regular or wide width in Asolo. If you have E or possibly EE width feet, and especially if you wear thicker socks, go for the wide for sure.
They use the same insoles for both regular and wide width models, so you can’t pull the insoles and stand on them to check width, only length.
All that said, they’re some of the best boots I’ve found, and I highly recommend them if they fit. They’re on par with Scarpa and Zamberlan, and they’re a bit better than Lowa. Great boots.
@Rylan
Thanks for the info. Do you size up half a size because of thick socks?
Sullivan said:
@Rylan
Thanks for the info. Do you size up half a size because of thick socks?
They run a little bit long, so I’d say that buying them true to size and possibly wide [for the thick socks] is good. I’m a 10.5 D, and I bought them in 10.5 wide. There’s plenty of room for my feet, and they’re very comfortable. The Fugitive GTX is semi-rigid, rigid enough to be very supportive and good for a heavy pack but flexible enough for comfortable walking on flat ground. The TPS 520 GV Evo is very rigid and excellent for carrying lots of weight, and it’s very supportive and protective of both the feet and ankles. It’s a bit fatiguing on flat ground for some people due to the rigidity. Personally, I like [and need] a lot of rigidity due to some genetic disorders and injuries. I find the weight and stiffness less fatiguing than my feet and ankles being allowed to flex excessively.
Honestly, these are hiking “styled” shoes. The XT6s are really more for show than they are for anything technical. It’s actually in the name, Sportstyle. They also aren’t insulated enough to be suitable for snow. I know what you mean about people using them to climb mountains, but they’re just making a poor choice of footwear for the sake of aesthetic.
Go with a pair of winter specific boots like others have recommended. If you want salomons specifically, I would recommend something like the Toundras for only $50 more.
That said, the XT6 are really nice looking shoes for every day use or some light hiking.
Sorry- I didn’t mean to be a jerk but they are shoes and you’re asking how will they do in snow… Sure they can ascend a mountain in snow and yea it’s been done before, but obviously they are not the proper equipment for the situation.
No, they are not,you will need something that is at least 5 inches. Also, get some gaiters and micro spikes.
What do you think? Honestly take a minute and think about this question…
Hadi said:
What do you think? Honestly take a minute and think about this question…
Man why are you here if you’re not going to input 
If you search Salomon’s in snow, people are ascending whole ass mountains in these. I’m just trying to see if they can handle a few inches of snow
@Ash
On top of that, spending $150+, I’d like to use my purchase more than a couple times a year