One thing moving from the mountains to the high desert has done is make me rethink my cold weather backpacking/bikepacking gear. One constant struggle on cold nights for me is cold feet. I have been using a very nice pair of 40 Below booties, but the use case is different in the high desert. I am not walking on feet of snow around the camp so I don’t need a rubber sole. And with me being a slight weight weenie I looked for something new. Enter the Enlightened Equipment Torrid booties. These ultralight insulated booties are good for keeping your toes warm winter backpacking.
These booties are made of Climashield Apex which keeps your feet warm even when cold. And more importantly they pack down incredibly small.
I liked them enough I ordered a jacket from them. Enlightened Equipment makes custom, but they also have ready to ship gear.
These are a nice highly packable bootie for cool weather ultralight backpacking/bikepacking. They do have two drawbacks. They went a little too ultralight on the ankle, meaning they slip off at night in your sleeping bag. For the size, they are not as warm as you’d imagine. Also they are missing a stuff sack. But I think ultralight people are anti stuffsack, not me though. I love being organized 🙂 So for cool weather backpacking these are a good option.
Enlightened Equipment says: https://enlightenedequipment.com/sidekicks-stock/
For cold feet and colder nights, we bring you The Torrid Booties, a sleeping staple in foot comfort. Built using our ultralight fabrics and continuous filament CLIMASHIELD™ APEX synthetic insulation, Torrid Booties offer great all-weather performance and moisture tolerance. It’s also easy to wash your Torrid Booties of dirt, sweat, and oil.
The ankle closure features a thin shock cord and cordlock to secure the Torrid Booties on your feet. When you’re not using them, the Torrid Booties pack down small to fit just about anywhere in your pack. Like any sock, Torrid Booties aren’t meant for walking around outside your shelter.
Need your Sidekicks in a different insulation, color, or fabric? Consider a pair of Custom Torrid Booties.
________________________________________________________
Fill:
4oz/yd² CLIMASHIELD™ APEX insulation performs better than down in wet and humid conditions, dries quickly, packs small, and is easy to clean.
CLIMASHIELD™ APEX weights may vary +/- 10% due to production variances. Read more about our Fills.
Fabric:
Ultralight nylon fabric. DWR finish. Available in Black 10D exterior and Charcoal 10D interior fabric. Fabric colors might appear slightly different from images shown. Read more about our Fabrics.