Question:
Can anyone recommend LIGHT boot covers to cover my new Salomon RS
Carbon boots to protect them while learning to roller ski? Several
roller ski buddies told me that the first few weeks on roller skis
could destroy my boots and recommended I cover them. Since I'll be
learning in warmer May/June weather, can anyone recommend a boot cover
that is not particularly warm or windproof so it won't be stifling in
spring NE weather.
A neighbor and member of our rec.skiing.nordic, recommended these
bicycle shoe covers below. Not bad, except that they are dark and are
still designed for warmth and wind resistance. Hoped someone may have
seen something else that would work that's even lighter (and perhaps
light colored so as not to absorb sunlight). Even plain cloth would
work. Heck, I may even ask my local seamstress to sew light white
cotton covers (who cares how dirty they get).
Answer:
My personal bias would be to go get some used or beater ski boots to
use for dedicated roller skiing (or best case use an old pair of your
own, trickling down the old snow pair). You will feel a lot better
when you scratch them up or get them dirty. Covers might keep them
cleaner but still think they will experience faster wear and won't be
as exciting to get them onto snow next winter. Also think any cover
will make the boots hotter than they already are in the summer.
But guessing you probably already thought through this route already.
Am curious how the covers work for you.
In 30 years of roller skiing I can count the number times I have fallen on
one hand. Two of those times where on brand new boots. They no longer looked
new after the falls.
Last week I fell roller skiing down a hill on a dirt road that I had no
business on.
I found Defeet light cordura stretch shoe covers (cycling) that Steve
and Gary had suggested in White, which should make them much cooler in
summer. I'd love to have another pair of boots, or an older pair of
boots to use for roller skiing, especially ones I could drill
ventilation holes in, but that's a more expensive proposition than $14
shoe covers. These are happily the first pair of skate boots I own,
so I don't have an older pair to use.
