Winter is upon us and that means cold, wet and snowy conditions. If you’re like me, you don’t let the weather conditions stop you from enjoying the outdoors. I really enjoy winter day hikes. The scenery is beautiful, it’s generally pretty quiet and there are no damn bugs out flying around. You do however need to adjust your kit for the changing climate.
One of the pieces of gear that should be at the forefront of your mind is footwear. Without the proper footwear you risk serious injury. In the winter months keeping your feet dry and warm are that much more important. Hiking through snow and ice will make the exterior of your boots wet. Your boots need to be waterproof to keep this moisture at bay in order to preserve your feet. The boots need to also have the ability to keep your feet warm, but not too hot if you’re outdoors for a long period of time. Finding a boot that is comfortable, waterproof and keeps your feet dry can be tough sometimes. The boots need to be able to regulate the micro climate they create inside the boot for your feet.
Today we are going to take a look at the Cold Spark Winter Hiking Boots by Vasque.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5rQdN4BYp0
Colors: Beech/Flame Scarlet (shown in this review) and Jet Black/Chinchilla
Sizes Available: All men’s sizes
Weight: 2 pounds 3 ounces
Upper Material: 1.8mm Waterproof Leather & Softshell
Outsole Material: Vasque Monolith with ColdHold
Fit and Sizing: I typically wear a 10.5 and that’s what I ordered with these. They fit as expected and are true to your regular shoe size.
MSRP: $139.99 direct from Vasque
Unique Features: UltraDry Waterproofing System, 200g 3M Thinsulate Insulation, Fleece Collar, ColdHold Dual Density winter sole compound.
Application: Winter Hiking and Snowshoeing
Pros: Lightweight, Rugged, Traction
Cons: None yet. We’ll see if anything rears its head when I get some miles on these boots.
Bottom Line/Overall Performance: I’ve only had these boots for a very short time and have been impressed with the overall comfort and light weight they offer. Once the fall weather breaks and winter hits, I plan on putting some miles on these boots in the Northeastern Ohio Winter.
