Rain boots
Comfortable, like any other type of shoe you’d wear. As with hiking shoes, make sure your boots provide enough room for your toes, but otherwise fit snugly so your feet don’t slide around in them. It is also important that you can unwind your feet properly when walking.
Decent rain boots can be recognised by removable soles, sturdier sole constructions, and a soft inner lining that doesn’t rub against your legs. Rain boots will never be your most comfortable pair, but that is more than compensated by how practical they are!
It depends entirely on how cold and icy it is and how long you will be hiking. Technically, nothing bad should happen. Your rain boots will keep you dry: that’s what they’re made for.
The thing is, they are simply made of a layer of rubber, which does not otherwise provide much warmth or insulation. If your boots are wide at the top and do not fit around your leg well, they’ll let in a lot of cold wind. Choose boots with a soft, warm inner lining or put on a pair of thick and high hiking socks for extra warmth and comfort. When making your choice, also pay attention to how much grip your sole has. Snow means ice and ice means slipperiness!
Want to hike in the snow in comfort? Then choose winter shoes, which are really made for it.
The big advantage of rain boots is that they come up so high. Splashing water – because obviously you’re required to jump in at least one puddle while wearing your wellies – won’t get in. This is different from waterproof shoes that come up to just below or above your ankle. There are no issues with those as long as you calmly wade through that one puddle or stretch of wet grass. But if you start getting a little wilder or it starts raining harder, there is a chance that water will seep into your shoes from the top.
You can solve that by wearing gaiters. Gaiters are a kind of long, waterproof socks or leg covers that you can attach to your hiking shoes and completely seal off the top!
You have two options:
- Buy rain boots with a warm inner lining.
- Wear thick, warm hiking socks in your rain boots and possibly even add a liner (which is a kind of ‘undersock’) for even more warmth!