Trailrunners in snowy and wet conditions

Hi!

So I've been hiking for a few years and I'm definitely no pro since I've just been on one or two hikes per year but I've learned a lot since I began. Anyway this year I was planning on a trip to Kungsleden (The Kingsroad) in Sweden (where I live) where I also hiked last year. I've grown tired of my boots and after some research I decided to buy a pair of trailrunner instead and ended up with Altra's Lonepeak 2.0. I absolutely love them - they're so comfy and I feel so much lighter and my feet is definetely happier.

But. I did count on encountering some snow up there since I been there before and know the conditions but now it's apparently more snow than it as been for years and there has been some places you couldn't even walk because of all the snow and that was in the middle of june. It has begun to melt now and there's still two weeks left before I go so I'm not that worried.

What I am worried about is how my trailrunners will cope with the trail being so snowy for a lot of parts and very muddy and wet for others and if I should take my boots instead to be safe. But I really don't want to. I don't think I care about the wet part because I knew when I bought them that I would be wet and since my boots also get wet sometimes and then takes forever to dry I don't think thats a problem. But will it be to cold? The temp. up there (now) is around +10 (celsius) so it's not that cold in the air but will the snow make my feet to cold?

Well this became a very long question haha. What do you think? Is there someone who has experience with trailrunners in cold and snowy conditions?

Hi, and welcome!

California is half a world away from Sweden but I've used trail sneakers on spring snow with good success. I actually prefer mid-height to low-tops, but will also low-tops so long as I add gaiters. I also sometimes carry traction aids (such as Kahtoolas) if I think I might run into icy snow.

In sum, as long as the soles have aggressive tread and the rubber is hydrophilic, add gaiters to keep snow from coming inside and you should be good to go.

I don't know that brand and model; I've been wearing Adidas Terrex mid-height Goretex that have Continental rubber soles. They're great for mixed conditions. Good wool socks keep my feet warm, even if they get wet.

Cheers,

I've used trail runners in snowy conditions. I stayed dried with the help of gaiters, the only problem is insulation. Can you keep moving with thick socks to keep your toes and feet warm? I recommend gaiters for sure, but then it's just matter how cold it is to keep feet and toes warm. If your trail runners can keep moisture out, i say go for it. Change your socks every so often as possible. I think it your feet will feel wet when it's not because of all the snow pressing on the materials. If you plan being ankle deep in snow it might be safer to wear boots. If you're on top of hard packed snow I say keep wearing trail runners, but i hike in different climate in the U.S. than you encounter in Sweden. So, in giving you a long-answer :), do a trial run locally by dipping your feet in snow locally with trail runners before you embark on the hike-if it's possible?

I've done quite a lot of hiking in various types of snow in trail runners; long distance hikers do this in the U.S. all the time.

That said, I highly recommend that you practice this in a safe environment, somewhere you can bail out from if it's not working for you.

Some will use Goretex socks inside, and I like those fine. What's more important IMO is to check the wool content on your hopefully decently thick wool socks. So many synthetic blends these days, sometimes a pair of "wool" socks doesn't have much actual wool.

Bread bags or some sort of vapor barrier can be helpful. If it's very cold then I'd want that when walking; more typically, it's so I can change into dry wool socks in camp and not get them wet when walking around camp in my wet trail runners.

You might also consider whether your wet shoes will freeze overnight; this too is something to have thought through and be prepared for.

I don't think this is for everyone, and it's certainly not always for me either. If I'm doing a relatively short winter hike or backpacking trip, I definitely prefer waterproof insulated boots!

Trail runners do well in snow as long as you keep moving and don't settle down. Mine are NOT waterproof (new balance, lower priced versions) and still stay dry unless I'm in slush, but it doesn't matter. They work fine wet. It's when you stop that you have to be careful and keep your feet warm/dry. I wear the thinnest nylon socks. Two pair at a time, still thinner than normal socks. They dry quickly and tend to be warm.

Thank you so much for your replies! Yeah theese things are really hard when there's no clear yes or no answer. I still can't really decide though I'm thinking I will take the risk with the trailrunners. I bought gaiters and I will bring extra pair of wool socks. Unfortunately I can't try it out before in similiar conditions since I live in the south of sweden and right now it's +28 and no snow for miles. I'm thinking about soaking my shoes though and see how fast they dry. Really thank you for your help and input!

I think it is a very bad idea. In mild conditions, maybe, but you can't guarantee conditions will stay mild. If your feet get injured from the cold and you can't walk, unless someone is there to rescue you, you will die, plain and simple. The benefit of dry, warm feet cannot be overstated. When I go snow camping in California, I wear a boot of some type. I don't care about the extra weight, I care about being safe and comfortable. If you insist on wearing trail runners, buy a pair of insulated Neos overboots or something similar.
www.overshoesneos.com
The other shoe you should look at if you want something light are Steger mukluks. They are for colder weather and need to be treated to be water resistant.
www.mukluks.com