Can Doc Martens work as winter boots?
I can only share what a good friend of mine, a goth, has to say.Last year I was in the position of needing to buy new winter boots. Since I am into combat boots and industrial style, and I had enough money, I decided that it was the right time for it. So I asked around my friends, what they recommended.At first, I thought about Doc Martens. So I asked my goth friend (I call her Goth Pudding, because she’s sweet and jiggly). She told me this, and I cite her: “the leather is thin and unless I have warm socks, it’s not good for our winters.” But here’s the thing. Estonian winters are humid, with a lot of sleet, snow, ice and can go below -30 in February.What I ended up doing was going to a local store in a hipster-populated area (happened to be located there) that makes leather shoes by hand, including combat-boot style boots in your choice of colored leather, with different detailing, with or without fur inside. You get to totally customize your boots for the same price as a pair of Doc Martens. Because I’m minimalist, I had a pair of black leather boots made, with black sheepskin inside (both the leg part and the sole) with the fur, black detailing and no additional accessories. It ran me a bill of 175 EUR, which is about 200 USD. Totally customized. It would’ve cost less without the fur inside. From other friends who had bought shoes from the same master told me that in constant use, they only needed repair after four years. My feet were never cold this last winter. Never, ever. They were dry and cozy from January when I got the boots until April when it was warm and dry enough to stop wearing them.What do I recommend? Get your money to a local person who makes them by hand with tender love and care, especially for you. By doing this, you help promote local trade and the skills necessary to make such items. You’re doing the world a favor by buying local. Who knows, the boots could be even better. But then, if you live somewhere with milder and drier weather, perhaps Doc Martens are better suited. This is simply my take on what my friends have shared with me and my own experience.In short, if you live in an area with harsh winters, buy locally handcrafted boots that fit the weather; if you live in a temperate area with mild weather, Doc Martens and some wool socks are totally fine.
Would you be able to wear normal fur lined boots as snow boots on snow at a ski resort?
no because normal boots will not fit the bindings. you NEED snowboard boots. i highly advise you to burton though. the most comforatble and suitable boots on the market. just check your bindings first aswell.
Would you recommend Dr martens as winter boots for Montreal winter?
To a large degree yes, with the caveat that they do require that you wear a very thick sock.The sole is well insulated being rubber with a vaccuum between the internal surface of the boot and the bottome of the rubber sole, so acts a good insulater. Aso the tongue of the boot is quite long and in one piece from the toe cap through to the length of the boot and largely water tight.The only issue I have found with them is if you are on sheet ice, or even snow which has a small layer of ice below it. The rubber, rather like the tread on a tyre is not 100% “skid proof”, and it you can slip quite easily, so if you are climbing up and down things, yes, they can be a help since you have the support of the ankle and above element of the boot and the flexibility of the sole means you can spread the weight over a large area than a hard soled boot.They are comfortable, but not as warm for extended periods as proper snow boots which are like traditional walking boots, with a thick “cuff” around the ankle depth and a much deeper cut tread to the sole, so that you have greater grip.Dr. Martens are good, but they are not designed to be a specialist boot to cope with snow and ice specfically, although it will do what most people requir it, providing you are not trying to scale the the “Rockies” -:)
Are hiking boots the same as snow boots?
If you're hiking through snow you should have mountaineering boots. I work/ed at a ski resort and saw many people wearing these because after a month of working in ski/snowboard boots your feet are killing you... Check out: http://www.koflach.com/main.html
Do most people wear their ski-jackets around town in the evening?
at the resorts they wear the same coat cuz its so cold. but at home they normally wouldn't wear that same coat. i wouldn't wear mine because it's sooooo puffy and keeps me really warm.
What is the weather like in toronto, Canada in mid march?
The average daytime temperature in Toronto in March is about 4C/40F at the beginning of the month, warming to an average temperature closer to 10C by the end of the month. Of course, you never know.... You could get lucky, and arrive during a warmer-than-average period, or a colder-than-average one. There probably won't be any snow on the ground in March. (There's typically snow on the ground in January and February, but that's about it...unless we get a late snowfall.) It's still going to have that grey, winter look, though, everywhere you go. By most standards, it's still cold in March, and even colder at night (of course). A warm coat, scarf, gloves, and even warm footwear might be in order, if you plan to be outside/walking a lot. There is "skiing" at a few Toronto parks with hills. Earl Bales and one near Yonge St. in North York come to mind. However, these are not ski resorts with snow-making machines, so skiing will likely be finished by the time you arrive. If they are still working, they do have rental equipment, tow lifts, and instructors available. Barring that, there are proper ski "hills" around Toronto. Lake Ridge, Dagmar, and others. Then you get a bit farther away with Mount St. Louis/Moonstone, Blue Mountain, Horseshoe Valley, Halton Hills, etc. They may still have skiing at that time of year, but they're not exactly close to Toronto (0.5-1.5hr drive). (I use quotation marks for "skiing" and "hills" because there isn't any really good skiing in this area. If you've ever skied on a real mountain, then these hills will seem a bit boring. I mean, you're down in a matter of seconds, or a minute or two, for the most part. Avid skiers probably won't be impressed. When I ski in Canada, I like Whistler/Blackcomb (B.C.) or even Mt. Tremblant (Quebec). Good luck! And welcome to Toronto!
Are snow pants the same as ski pants?
Ski pants have a few features that snow pants do not. The inner side of the cuff is reinforced to resist abrasion. The cuff usually has an inner sleeve that goes over the ski boot to keep snow from getting inside your boots. Ski pants may also have full length zippers so you can take them off and on without removing your boots. Your snow pants will probably be fine for casual skiing. If you get more serious, then you can get real ski pants.
Do I wear all my gear "TO" the mountain for snowboarding?
Winter riding I wear everything to the mountain except my snowboard boots, goggles, gloves, and helmet. If I don't have a full car I put my boots right behind my seat on the floor with the opening toward the heater to warm up my boots on the ride there. When I get there I sit in my backseat to put on my boots so I stay warm. Everything else that is left I put on in the parking lot. Spring riding I wear my base layer if needed, sweatpants, t-shirt, hoody on the ride there and then when I get to the mountain I put everything else on in the parking lot. The footwear question, not sure if I am understanding this correctly or not. You need to have actual snowboard boots and not regular boots when you snowboard. When I am in the car I wear my skate shoes because they are easy to get on and off quickly but wear what you feel comfortable with in the car for the ride up.