Snow Skills

A great day of snowshoeing is only as great as your footwear. As snowshoeing is all about mobility, footwear is key and I’ve been having great success this season using L.L. Bean’s Cresta Hiking Boots.

My experience with the Cresta is that they are outstanding winter boots for practically every activity. Thanks to a Gore-Tex lining, they are fully waterproof, able to wade through puddles up to your instep before spillover. They are warm and the Cresta has a full upper that provides excellent support, both important for hiking and snowshoeing. The Vibram sole is aggressive and relatively stiff, giving them solid footing in any condition. I prefer the full leather upper model instead of the leather/fabric model as I feel it’s more durable. Any waterproof boot needs occassional waterproofing and I apply silicone to my Cresta boots with liquid silicone about once a month.

All of these features also make them excellent ‘wear-to-the-slopes’ footwear. If you’re looking for one pair of boots to get you from November to April, try the Cresta.