Even when the temperature plummets, your feet do not have to freeze! Whether you are ice fishing, watching the 50 km ski race or standing by the track at your child's ski training: cold feet ruin the experience. Protex asked some of the most knowledgeable cold-weather experts – mushers.
Few know better than they do what it means to be outdoors in winter, and they have the following tips for you:
Warm up your core first
When your body cools down, it responds by keeping the most vital organs warm while reducing blood flow to the extremities. Earlobes, hands and feet are “sacrificed”. That is why hands and feet tend to get cold first. The most effective way to keep your toes warm is therefore to keep your upper body warm. A good parka or a warm vest does the trick.
But this is about feet.
Wool is what counts
Wool is one of nature's magic materials. The fibres are both water-repellent and absorbent, and stay warm even when damp. A higher wool content gives better insulation, but can come at some cost to durability. Go for at least 70% wool.
Choose roomier shoes
If your shoes are tight, thick socks will not help – quite the opposite. If your circulation is restricted, you get cold. You should be able to wiggle your toes freely. If your shoes are a little tight, choose thinner socks instead. Remember to size your shoes for the number of socks you plan to wear.
Layers – on your feet too
If your shoes are roomy enough, wear a thin inner sock under a thicker wool sock. The layer of air between the socks insulates well. Merino wool works well closest to the skin, with coarser wool outside. Two layers of socks can also reduce the risk of blisters. In extreme cold, you can step up to three layers: a very thin liner that wicks moisture, a medium wool sock and a thick wool sock.
Overboots on the outside
A windproof and waterproof layer over your shoes traps air and insulates on the coldest days. It also keeps snow out. The same goes for gaiters.
Insulation underneath
Thick soles keep the cold out. Try cutting insoles from an old sleeping mat. Trace the original insole, cut it out and place it under wool insoles or sheepskin. Wool insoles are inexpensive and effective, while sheepskin gives luxurious comfort. In a pinch, newspaper works surprisingly well.
Bring something to stand on
If you will be standing still for a long time, insulate yourself from the ground with a piece of foam board or an offcut of sleeping mat.
Block the moisture
Put a plastic bag between the inner and middle sock to stop moisture spreading through the layers. Your toes and inner sock get damp but stay warm, and the insulation stays dry. Not something most people need day to day, but worth considering on longer trips.
As polar explorer Børge Ousland says: on expeditions lasting several days, he uses plastic bags in his boots. Thin wool socks closest to the skin, then a plastic bag, and several warm socks on the outside. That keeps the insulation dry, even if the innermost sock gets wet and then dries on his body in the sleeping bag. On the longest trips he even sleeps in a plastic sack inside his sleeping bag.
Fortunately, most of us can skip that.
SEE OUR PRODUCTS FOR WARM FEET:
Bonus tips
Activity increases circulation, so jump and move around a little – but not so much that you sweat. Always bring spare socks; dry socks in the morning work wonders. And remember: caffeinated drinks can draw heat out of the body … but skipping coffee? That is going too far.
Pick and choose, or use them all
Whether you are planning to take part in Finnmarksløpet, spend days ice fishing or simply follow the kids on skis, you will find good ways here to keep your feet warm and comfortable.
You will have to judge which tips suit you best. The author uses several of them regularly – and the shoes need to be two to three sizes larger to fit everything and still leave enough room for air.
