Totally toasty toes
One thing you quickly learn on a long hiking trip is that looking after your feet is pretty close to top of the priority list. Slipping on a fresh pair of socks after pitching up is nice, but not always warm enough when the temperature starts to drop. The Torrid booties from Enlightened Equipment are basically mini sleeping bags for your feet and will take you to the next level of comfort when you’re having a bit of downtime after clocking up the miles. Made with warm and moisture resistant Climashield Apex insulation they work especially well if you’re using a sleeping quilt, helping add just that little bit of extra warmth overnight. They’ve slightly oversized the fit to make sure they’re really easy and comfortable to slip on to tired feet, giving them a chance to recover in comfort and warmth before hitting the trail again in the morning
- Warm and cosy Climashield Apex insulation traps heat even when damp
- Ultralight 10-denier Nylon shell and lining fabrics, with a durable water repellent outer finish
- Drawcord at ankle to help seal in warmth
- Small pack size means they can stash easily in your pack
- Made without sewn through seams to reduce any cold spots
- Please note: The Torrid Booties are not designed for use as slippers and don’t have a rubber sole.
- 4oz/yd² CLIMASHIELD™ APEX insulation
- CLIMASHIELD™ APEX
- Ultralight nylon fabric. DWR finish
Sizing Info: Booties are sized a half size up to give a loose and comfortable fit.
| Size | UK | EU |
| Small | 2 - 4 | 36 - 38 |
| Medium | 5 - 6.5 | 39 - 41 |
| Large | 7 - 8 | 41 - 42 |
| XL | 9 - 10.5 | 43 - 45 |
When to comes to backpacking, light is always right. That ultralight ethos initially emerged back in the mid-‘90s, from US backpackers tackling epic thru-hikes like the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. Wanting their gear to be smarter and lighter, these pioneers sought out new and innovative solutions to the problems of load-lugging, sleep and shelter.
Soon, more long-distance hikers started to ‘see the light’, and demand for ultralight tents, packs and sleep systems grew. But the big, established brands initially saw it as a niche market, which meant it was down to hikers themselves to make and customise their own gear. One such pioneer was Enlightened Equipment founder Tim Marshall, who started sewing ultralight backpacking quilts by himself in his basement in 2007.
Why quilts? Well, quilts offer superior warmth-to-weight compared to a conventional sleeping bag. Not only that, but they’re also more versatile and more comfortable, especially for side sleepers. They’ve lightened the load on countless backpacking adventures, great and small. Today, more thru-hikers use quilts than bags. And Enlightened Equipment has more than 50 employees creating quilts in a 50,000 square foot building in Winona, Minnesota. Not bad for a ‘niche’ business that began in a basement.
