lanejohann

i dont own warm boots..not ones for the candian winters at any rate...we will be staying in banff and later vancouver...i will have a chance to do a quick shop around in calgary -only a few hours before we drive to banff

so...is there a good store in calgary or should i wait til we get to banff where ill have more time to browse- seven days compared to only a few hours?

id really appreciate any advice...i just need some practical warm boots that will allow me to walk safely and comfortably on the streets

thanks for any information

LindainOhio

I have not been to Calgary but there were a lot of sporting goods/skiing/hiking stores in Banff. My husband forgot to pack his hiking boots one visit and he purchased a pair in Banff.

You could also order online before you leave from REI or other online sellers

ShelliDawn

Where are you coming from and what time of year are you visiting Banff? Also, what activities do you expect to be doing in your boots?

If you are just walking around town and doing some light walking (e.g. walking around Lake Louise), "normal" winter boots should be sufficient. Make sure they're waterproof though in case it's slushy or for when you come inside and snow melts on them. Also, make sure the sole is made of soft rubber, not hard or plastic. Hard rubber and plastic will harden in the cold temperatures and you will lose gripping capability.

For example:

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwe...ots-womens.jsp

or

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwe...oot-womens.jsp

If you are planning on doing snow-shoeing or walking in heavy snow and/or for long periods of time, you probably want a warmer boot like these:

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwe...ots-womens.jsp

and the ultimate boots (in my opinion as I own these):

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Footwe...ots-womens.jsp

They are quite bulky and I wouldn't wear them sight-seeing around town. I have only worn these boots while snow-shoeing in the back country in very deep snow and very cold temperatures (-20C and lower). Otherwise, I have them as part of my emergency winter car kit in case I get stranded.

I would suggest buying in Banff because of time constraints, but chances are you will pay a higher price for the same item bought in Calgary.

The links above are from an outdoor gear store in Calgary which is a co-op. To shop there you have to have a membership ($5 for lifetime which you can pay when making purchases). They are Calgary's premiere outdoor gear store.

lanejohann

oh thank you both..an instant education!

we are leaving oz and i dont think ive ever really seen boots engineered for sub zero temps here..im sure there are some places but in our general stores ( dont know about our wellknown outdoor gear stores but i dont trust their prices anymore...they seem to play with their prices so i never know if its a real sale or not)

i dont mind paying a few dollars more...i dont really want to
drag OH into a boot-shopping adventure when he is itching to get to banff to hit the ski slopes...so ill follow advice and do a leisurely shop in banff and ensure a good fit without rushing into a decision

i will be doing light walking i think...the township of banff and later vancouver/ v.island...i doubt ill be getting up to jasper unless i find a tour that operates in feb..
thanks again

amer_can

When are you coming?? You may not even need boots..Sidewalks are well cleared as are the streets..Sub zero may or may not happen and celsius zero is your 32 degrees..so 20 belowC would be roughly 4 below F. We often wear sneakers and heavy sox because sub zero boots are not needed for what you describe as your walking..There is good shopping in Banff and they have to be fairly competitive pricewise with Calgary. Don't stop in Calgary just hurry on out to our mountainous wonderland.

lanejohann

we will be arriving in early feb...staying seven days in banff and then heading back for a week in and around vancouver..
coming in to canada from LA to vancouver and transferring to calgary..driving to banff
then doing it all in reverse

we will overnight in calgary cos arriving after far too many hours in the air from OZ

dottyp

Hi, lanejohann,
Are you driving yourselves to Banff from Calgary or travelling on a coach? I had thought about driving Calgary to Banff but feel it would be unfair to whoever is driving as they wouldn't be able to see all the cool things to see - like bears walking across the road in front of you (hopefully, the driver would!) or waving to you from the side of the road! As we may possibly not return to this area again I decided coach was the best way to go. We will both be retired in July, thus ending the travelling-when-and-where-we-want income! However, we will still be able to pop over to Aus occasionally, and hopefully save enough to be able to see more of Canada!
Please post a report after your trip if you are able to. I would be interested to read your impressions as we will be there in late September to mid October. I read your NZ trip report which was interesting from an NZer's view.
Dot

dottyp

Now, where did I read a report on your trip to NZ? Was it just a comment made on another post? You mentioned about a fair in November but I can't find it

sludick

lanejohann, enjoy your boot shopping in Banff! Some object to the fact that the townsite has an emphasis on shops, but it is a lot of fun to walk around and buy a special something there. Right now I am having a glass of wine from a Banff wineglass, packing my Banff coat for a business trip, having packed away my Banff christmas ornaments. All purchased on separate trips to Banff.

And I live in Florida.

If you can, suggest you make a day of it with your better half - walk around, enjoy the hunt for boots, have a nice meal, maybe go up to the Fairmont for a glass of wine and explore that historic property. A good way to "settle in" and get your bearings.

There is a National Parks office & store right there also, and a good place to stop in for some information about what there is in the area.

Have a wonderful time.

laverendrye

<<I had thought about driving Calgary to Banff but feel it would be unfair to whoever is driving as they wouldn't be able to see all the cool things to see - like bears walking across the road in front of you (hopefully, the driver would!) or waving to you from the side of the road!>>

I have driven between Calgary and Banff many many times, and have yet to see a bear walking across the highway, or even at the side. It's a busy multi-lane autoroute, and the main distraction for a driver would be the sight of the Rockies as you near, and then enter them. A magnificent sight which thrills every time.

There's a far better chance of seeing bears once you are in the park and away from the Trans-Canada Highway.

dottyp

Sorry, laverendrye, I was being rather silly with my bear comment having talked with friends yesterday who did have a bear walk across in front of their coach, although that was between Banff and Jasper. Now you have firmed my resolve to take a coach at the mention of the busy Trans-Canada Highway as we are not used to driving on the right side of the road. I am hoping to see at least one bear in the week we are in Banff / Jasper. We are taking some tours while in Banff and Jasper that say you might see some wildlife. I am hopeful we will see some of the animals that the area is known for.
Dot

sludick

Keep in mind you are only talking about an hour's drive between Calgary and Banff. It is amazing how close this beautiful place is to the capital of Alberta. Although it does remind me somewhat of the Denver/Rocky Mountain National Park proximity, Banff is even closer and more convenient than that.

dottyp - you should see plenty of elk (check the golf course for the Banff Springs Hotel). I think you will be lucky if you see any bear, though, although the odds are much better in Jasper. We did see a bear on the Icefields Parkway enroute from Jasper to Banff; it ran across the road in front of the car.

I am hoping to see a wolverine at some point, although that is really pushing it....

Hoping to see a trip report from both of you, lanejohann and dottyp

dottyp

I promise there will be a report when we arrive back, probably posting late October/early November.
Dot

sludick

Will be watching for it, enjoy.

lanejohann

thanks everyone for posting!
OK Dottyp..re: my posting in the nz thread ..the victorian fair was in Oamaru...east coast of south island...between christchurch and dunedin

and yes we are hiring a car in calgary after flying in from LAX and vancouver and driving to banff..OH needs a car cos he will be meeting up with friends each day in lake louise to ski and ill be staying in banff and basically doing my own thing...no doubt will be up in lake louise too but i didnt want to stay there for the whole seven days...banff has more to do i think for a non-skier

i havent done a full report about our nz trip..just bits and pieces ...i hate writing formally..as you can gather from my style of posting and i do apologise for the lack of punctuation...( i hate using the shift key you see ) and yes i just did that when i had to do the brace but my thoughts come so rapidly and crazily that i find it hard to write most times

sludick: glad youre enjoying your banff haul and yes i will have a day with OH..will make sure that the ski slopes arent the focus every day lol...he does miss his skiing now that we are in oz...so cant begrudge him his passion
i have been in banff before..back in 2005 in the early summer and i did some shopping but not for outdoor wear..hence the question bout boot shopping
thanks again to all who have contributed to this thread!