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How to Keep Snow Out of Boots? (All You Need to Know)

Snow season can undoubtedly be one of the best seasons to enjoy some outdoor time with your friends and family if you are geared for it properly. To make the most out of the winter wonderland, keeping your boots warm and dry is a huge priority. No one wants to deal with wet, cold feet after all.

How to keep snow out of boots?

To keep snow out of your boots, place your socked feet inside a plastic bag before putting your shoes on. These bags can be sandwich, carrier, or chopped bin bags. You can also wear gaiters specifically designed to keep your feet dry and warm. For further protection, use waterproof waxes or sprays.

When using waterproofing materials, make sure to check if they are compatible with your shoe and its make. You can also make sure the cuff of your boot is well protected against snow, shoes with cuffs that aren’t exposed and vulnerable should do the job.

All in all, you should go for a waterproof boot, preferably mid-calf with a good lacing system. To further keep snow out of your boots, use longer snow pants and invest in a well-made gaiter, which some call snow defense from the gods.

Will snow ruin boots?

Unless the shoes are made specifically to combat winter weather, snow can and will ruin boots. If you are wearing a pair of leather boots that haven’t been taken care of, snow, cold, and salt will dry it out, crack it and eventually destroy it.

First, make sure your boots are weather-appropriate. If there are no alternatives, the least you can do is treat it with water-resistant sprays or waterproof wax and creams.

How do you keep snow from sticking to boots?

If you are determined to keep snow from sticking to your boots, there are a few options you can consider. First things first, check where snow sticks to your boots- usually the buildup happens in the bottom of the crampons.

Cooking Spray:

This is one of the cheapest ways you can combat snow sticking to your boots. This requires a few coats every day, however. Dry your shoes and 30 mins before getting into them, spray a coat on the bottom.

WD 40:

If your boots have metal crampons or they are made of aluminum, you can use WD 40 to keep it rather snow build-up proof. Keep in mind, though, that you have to be careful when using this appliance since any oil can damage the rubber part of the snowshoes.

Waterproofing:

Waterproof your boot to stop material from becoming spotted in salt or water. these items are usually in aerosol spray forms. You can find them at shoe stores or simply contact the manufacturer to provide you some.

Basically, you have to use protective agents that keep the boots from fading or falling apart. Such items can be found in leather-repair stores, shoe stores, and even hardware stores. If all fails, you can get in touch with the boot manufacturer and they can lead the way.

How do you keep snow out of kids’ boots?

If it is hard to keep snow out of adult, grown-up boots, you can assume it will be harder to deal with kids’ boots. However, there are ways you can ensure maximum wear out of your kid’s boots with just a few simple steps.

Buy the Right Kind of Shoes:

This goes without saying, but a lot of your hassle would become non-existent if you buy the right kind of shoes for the occasion. Smart shopping will go a long way, essentially becoming your stitch in time. 

Go for a pair of snow boots that can work with snowy and icy conditions. They usually are waterproof so moisture can’t harm them, and they are insulated enough to keep their feet warm.

Waterproof Them:

While we have mentioned the ways you can waterproof your items to prepare them for snow by using waterproof or water-resistant creams, oils, and waxes, you can also consider getting them waterproofed professionally.

Your local shoe repair stores can become a resourceful place where you can learn how to care for different types of shoes and the products you might need to do so.

Plastic Bag Protection:

This method has been described above as well. Essentially, what you have to do is simply wrap your feet in a plastic bag from the grocery store before you slide into your boot. This way you keep the cold out and the heat in.

Other common methods include using gaiters since most people swear by them. Gaiters provide an extra layer of protection against the cold as well as keeping snow out of your kid’s boots.

How to keep snow out of ski boots?

Keeping the snow out of ski boots is done by pretty much the same methods you use to keep your snowshoes dry and snow-free. Always check the type of shoe and the material it is made of before modifying it in one way or other.

Silicone-based spray:

You can start by cleaning the bottom of your boots with any washing-up liquid and then spray a blitz of silicone-based spray on them. You should be careful afterward as it dries up since it can be very slippery.

Duct tape it away:

You can also use duct tape to keep snow out of ski boots by taping the toe dam. A lot of people use this method, usually preferring to go an eye-catching color just to flex.

Snow on your boots in winter is inevitable, especially when you are skiing, but this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your feet to have a good time. Prepare properly and you should have snow out of your ski boots as you go on about your day.

How does snow find its way inside your boots?

If we can figure out how snow finds its way inside our boots, it will be significantly easier to deal with them and keep them out. 

The main way snow gets into your boots is by getting in through the lower cut or lacking a snow gator- something that will keep the snow out.

When taking your shoe out, see where the wet spots are- this is a general indicator to see where they are sneaking in. Places where boots typically leak are under the “tongue”, over the cuff, and seeping through the toe box.

If you are particularly unlucky, it could simply be through manufacturer damage and defects.

How do you protect your boots from the snow?

One of the best ways to protect your boots from snow is to get a sealing wax or waterproofing wax. Different waxes have varying levels of effectiveness and mostly depend on how well you are applying them.

No matter what you do, however, the first thing you have to do is make sure the boot you are using is made for snow weather. Unless that criterion is met, there is no guarantee for full protection.

You might need to repeatedly coat your boot thoroughly to keep it snow-safe through the whole winter. Let it dry before applying another coat.

Does insulation work to prevent snow from sticking to boots? 

Insulation works wonderfully if you want to keep your feet warm and provide extra protection against the cold. Boots with insulation will also be effective against wind and dampness.

In that manner, insulation does technically work to prevent snow from sticking to boots. As it keeps you and so the boot warm, snow has less chance to stick to it.

How do you keep water from getting in your boots?

Very few things can be as bothersome as water getting in your boots. Waterproofing your boot is an easy solution to avoid this happening to you.

You will know you have to waterproof your boots whenever they look and feel extra dirty, or for a more visual clue- when the water stops beading on the surface. Time-wise, this means you have to waterproof them once every few months.

Waterproofing products usually come in the form of oils, pastes, sprays, waxes, and creams.

As mentioned earlier, whenever you plan to treat your shoes, make sure you know the materials the boot is made of in order to avoid any mishaps.

How do you make snow boots dry faster?

So you have spent hours in the snow and now you need your boots to dry as soon as possible so you can do it all over again. Here are a few tips as to how you can dry your snow boots faster.

Stuff the insides with a newspaper. For even faster drying, you can wrap the paper around the outside of the boots and keep it in place with rubber bands. This is because newsprint paper effectively absorbs dampness like it’s nobody’s business.

Avoid high heat since they can dry out your footwear.

You can also look into purchasing a boot dryer. While it is expensive if you think you will get a lot of use of it, treat yourself.

Snow boots are an absolute necessity when it comes to venturing out on winter days. Knowing how to keep them dry and looking after them properly after a day in the snow will surely come in handy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Are Snow Boots Slip Resistant?

Are Snow Boots Waterproof?

Can Snow Boots Be Stretched?

Can Snow Boots Go in The Washing Machine & Dryer?