What is barebooting?

Barebooting up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the base of Mt Washington

In winter, it’s common to wear snowshoes, microspikes, or crampons when hiking for additional flotation in deep snow or traction on icy trails. The downside of wearing these flotation and traction aids is that they add weight to your feet and legs, so you tire more quickly. Barebooting is where you hike without snowshoes or traction aids, usually on packed powder, and only rely on the lugs in your boot soles for traction. It’s basically an energy saving technique.

Winter traction and when to wear it