Do we need Snowboots in April - Les Arcs 1800

A snowHead

Sorry if this is a silly question but do we? for when not skiing? out and about having a look around?

Our 1st ski trip, lessons booked in mornings but if son wants a break in the afternoons will we need them? to have a look round Mille 8, get some lunch etc?

A snowHead

The resorts do a pretty good job of keeping paths clear, I wouldn't worry too much about snow boots especially if you have a pair of walking boots that you could wear.

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@chrisdjsax, Check the resort webcams and weather forecast before you go. Unless there has just been/you are expecting a mega dump, you will probably be fine in trainers as the temperature may well be quite warm. Obviously, if you are expecting to be actually in the snow, building snowmen etc. then take something waterproof, but you probably won't need it for walking around town unless it is snowing a lot.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

If it helps I've never owned a pair of snow boots and never found myself wishing I had some.

As Scarlet says normal shoes are fine unless it's wet/heavy snow in which case wellies/walking boots.

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Personally I can't abide trainers in the snow. Your feet get wet if you have to walk through more than a cm of snow and, more to the point, they are slippery. A pair of walking boots is ideal, and you can make them much less slippery with simple crampons available from Amazon.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Oddly I found my walking boots MORE slippery than my casual shoes - but think that may be more down to age (of the boots) than anything else.

After all it is free

But unless there is fresh snow at the time, you'll be walking on concrete not snow. In warm April weather, heavy boots will be hot and hard work on pavements.

Actually ordinary shoes are fine. I wear gortex walking shoes (approach trainers) almost all the time in the UK and for the trip to the Alps and for walking around the resort. In fact these are the only shoes I will have with me.

@pam w, I am ashamed of you Wink

cannot you recall the advice we had as children - in slippery conditions put a pair of socks over your boots for extra grip. No need to buy crampons. Or have I slipped into a snow socks versus chains for snowy driving thread by mistake?

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@Mjit, my walking boots aren't too bad. I walk a lot in quite deep snow - sometimes 6 inches between my apartment and my garage, and ordinary shoes would just be hopeless. I do have a pair, bought in France, with built in crampons - you can fold them in or out, depending on conditions. I also have a pair of the "slip over" crampons for other footwear.

@johnE, I do quite often go around looking like a bit of a bag lady but I draw the line at wearing socks over my boots. Plus, I don't think I have a pair of socks which would go on over my walking boots. Plus, they would wear out in a couple of hundred yards.

One of the hazards of ski resorts in mild/wet weather is deep and muddy puddles of melt water in between piles of slushy snow. Waterproof footwear is essential in my view.

But then I spend weeks in the mountains every winter and it's easy to be there just for a week and only be walking on concrete.

@Scarlet, I don't find walking boots hard work. I walked 8 miles in mine today (round Chichester Harbour), in all conditions from deep mud, substantial puddles, beach pebbles and tarmac lanes. They kept my feet dry and weren't hot at all. In summer I walk in boots on rough terrain or if it's going to be muddy.

I do have a real fear of falling on an icy pavement and breaking a wrist. It has happened to several people I know. I reckon icy pavements are far more dangerous than most pistes!

I agree that somebody going to a ski resort for a week shouldn't buy snow boots before they go. If they hit a snowy week they can buy something suitable in resort.

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I'd have thought snow boots would be a good idea for Arc 1800. We have always taken them for all members of the family.

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I've never owned a pair of snow boots. Like Pam, I find walking boots comfortable and fine for walking around resort.

Shorts and flip flops come April. Can get pretty warm

You know it makes sense.

Do take some waterproof shoes / boots or just some wellies
Chances are you may end up walking in the snow at some point, either sledging, building snowman, doing some apres ski (snowmobile) or just watching some ski instructors show
April, chances are it will be quite warm, so won't necessarily need snow boots, but yes to a good pair of waterproof

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Only time I really need my snow boots is for digging the car out. Fully waterproof walking boots essential though as others take ages to dry out. Might get away without in April but who knows.

A snowHead

I might add that decent boots (which don't have to be expensive) are essential for kids, for whom climbing into enormous piles of snow, whenever they present themselves, is a crucial part of any ski holiday.

And you need shoes with a really good grip for toboganning!

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Thankyou all so much for replies, has put mt mind at rest Happy

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No, walking boot are fine, in most places (including L2A in February) trainers are fine as well

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I really don't understand how people can say "trainers are fine" without knowing about where people will be staying and what they will be doing. Anyone renting an apartment in a development like mine could well find themselves having to trek through deep snow, for example to get to and from a garage. Paths around private apartment blocks will generally be cleared sometime during the day - but anyone walking in trainers could get very wet and cold. Similarly, I can't imagine wearing trainers (except really tough, expensive, waterproof, Salomon type "approach" footwear when playing with kids in deep snow, building snowman, playing snowballs etc. Walking back from one of the local restaurants late, after an evening out, you could well find yourself in quite heavy snow after the last snowplough of the evening has departed.

Much of the time trainers would be OK - but by no means always.

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I've also frequently walked through several inches of slush/puddles. Hideous, in trainers.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

This was late March 2006.

After all it is free

that is a lovely picture, we will be staying in the Le Belmont and do plan to do some exploring as well as skiing as don't think we will be very confident to start with.

Help!!

Do we need Snowboots in April - Les Arcs 1800

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