Effectively you discovered the saying "be bold, start cold" on your own. The main enemy of doing anything in the cold is ultimately your own sweat. Which is why a breathable boot can many times be warmer than a waterproof boot because your sock will get soaked in sweat and because it cant breathe because its waterproof and insulated(this applies to jackets and pants btw), you'll be super cold from the sweat. I prefer a leather moccasin boot in the winter that is not "waterproof" but just resistant, (Russell Moccasin specifically but there are much cheaper options from Lowa and others like them). In the summer/spring/fall you want max breathability, no waterproofing at all so it can let the sweat escape. And also people have died from hypothermia in 50 degrees due to winds and being soaking wet, so staying dry is more important than anything! I hope this helps you stay warm and safe!
Thank you for the insightful advice! I appreciate the emphasis on staying dry and the importance of breathability in cold weather gear. Your experience with leather moccasin boots is valuable, and I'll definitely consider these factors for my outdoor gear choices. Stay warm and safe out there!
Effectively you discovered the saying "be bold, start cold" on your own. The main enemy of doing anything in the cold is ultimately your own sweat. Which is why a breathable boot can many times be warmer than a waterproof boot because your sock will get soaked in sweat and because it cant breathe because its waterproof and insulated(this applies to jackets and pants btw), you'll be super cold from the sweat. I prefer a leather moccasin boot in the winter that is not "waterproof" but just resistant, (Russell Moccasin specifically but there are much cheaper options from Lowa and others like them). In the summer/spring/fall you want max breathability, no waterproofing at all so it can let the sweat escape. And also people have died from hypothermia in 50 degrees due to winds and being soaking wet, so staying dry is more important than anything! I hope this helps you stay warm and safe!
Thank you for the insightful advice! I appreciate the emphasis on staying dry and the importance of breathability in cold weather gear. Your experience with leather moccasin boots is valuable, and I'll definitely consider these factors for my outdoor gear choices. Stay warm and safe out there!