Schnee Pac Boots Field Tested and Reviewed
Schnee's Hunter II
March 2006
by Diana Rupp
When an early storm dropped fifteen inches of snow on our camp during a high-cuntry hunt this fall, I knew one thing for sure: At least my feel would stay warm. That's because, despite a deceptively mild weather forecast, I'd brought along my Schnee's pac boots just in case. They turned out to be the ideal footwear for the hunt, and I was the envy of my guides, who had to endure cold feet after having neglected to bring their own pairs of Schnee's to our backcountry camp.
Schnee's aren't like other pac boots, mainly because they are built for hiking. They're made with contoured uppers that fit your leg, solid shanks for climbing mountains, and firm heel counters that provide support and fit just like a hiking boot. But no hiking boot is this warm. The removable liner is 400-gram Thinsulate with a thin layer of 3mm wool felt on the outside and Cambrelle on the inside. The Thinsulate wraps your feet in warmth without the bulk of traditional pac-boot liners, the Cambrelle wicks perspiration away from your feet, and the wool layer adds comfort and keeps the warmth in even when the liners get damp. I took an extra set of these easily packable liners on the hunt so I always had a dry pair.
These boots help you hold onto terra firma during your stalk; the outsoles combine air bob centers for snowy conditions with solid lugs for slick rock and scree. These certainly aren't the heavy old moon-boot type pacs that I used to wear on deer stands-they're high-tech, high-quality boots that are ideal for snowy mountain conditions.
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