On The Subject of Cold Feet.

[dreadi]

My feet get chilly and I've thought about this way too long without a conclusion. So here's my thoughts. The warmth of your feet is partly due to blood circulation and at the end of the day, my Darn Tough wool socks have left indication of constriction. Wearing them around the house with slippers, my feet are still cold. If I wear big fluffy Fred Meyer socks around the house with slippers, I don't have signs of constriction and my feet are warm.  I can't get regular shoes on with big fluffy socks. They do however fit quite well with Much Boots.

How do I go about selecting "warm" socks that also wick away moisture without them being so fluffy that I can't get regular shoes on?

[ghosthunter]

I bought a bigger shoe.
I wear every day what most folks would call heavy socks . Not wool.
I simply take a pair with me when I try on new shoes.

[Okanagan]

Ditto to ghosthunter.  Get loose socks and bigger boots/shoes.  Finding good socks that work for my situation is a bit of trial and error.

   Here is one old guy's way to keep feet warm:  Agreed that circulation of warm blood in feet is a huge factor.  I was about 10 years old when I discovered that loose boots and non-constricting socks kept my feet much warmer.  As have aged I find I need socks with less elastic.  I cut elastic in some of my better wool socks to loosen the top.  My all time best are hand knitted Icelandic wool with no elastic, prohibitively expensive to buy but fabulous.

I have had to up the size of my hiking/hunting boots twice in the past 25 years.  For winter predator calling, ice fishing etc. I simply wear huge boots a couple of sizes too big with loose big socks and don't plan to hike a lot. 

My impression is that sock makers are putting ever stronger elastic in sock tops.  Maybe it is me, but I think they are designing them that way more.  You can find looser top socks on-line by searching, some call them diabetic socks. 

A tear open hand warmer tucked on the inside of my leg above my ankle is good for sitting in the cold.  I put it outside a liner sock and inside a heavy sock and loose boot top.  That helps a minimal sleeping bag on cold nights as well...

[Mudman]

I have wide feet so as result my boots tend to be a little longer then required.  Loose so to speak.  Normal cotton socks.  Warm feet.  Tight boots make my toes cold.  Irish setter 800g is a good decent priced comfort boot for me in cold n wet weather.  15 degrees and snow I was fine.

[Magnum_Willys]

Boots at least 1/2 size large.  Antiperspirant stick on feet.  Toe warmers in cold.

[pcal]

Costco sells toe warmers for a cheap price,$15 for 30 pairs.I use them after I get on my stands.I even use them in my waders while fishing.The hand warmers won't work in your shoes as there isn't enough oxygen to activate them.Don't use them as handwarmers as they will burn you.You can use them on the tops or the bottom of your toes but if its cold enough to need them while hiking then put them on the tops.

[buglebuster]

I use the Costco merino wool socks all year long. I wear uninsulated crispi boots and never get cold feet. It was -16 in Montana the other week no issues

[huntnfmly]

Bigger boots

[ghosthunter]

I have one more tick.

If I am hunting cold weather like on a deer hunt or turkey hunt. And my feet start getting cold. When I get at camp after dinner I soak my feet in epsen salt.
In Water as hot as I can stand for about half hour.

For some reason my feet are warmer for several days afterwards.

[dreadi]

That’s a very interesting tip.

I’ve asked these same questions in a couple other places and “bigger boots” has come up a few times.

How do you guys wear larger boots and still have a correct fit. I wore bigger boots a couple times and my toes got all beat up.

[Jpmiller]

Boots at least 1/2 size large.  Antiperspirant stick on feet.  Toe warmers in cold.

I've always wanted to try the antiperspirant on the feet thing but have heard unsubstantiated rumors that it wasn't a good idea. Ever run into any issues doing that?

[ghosthunter]

That’s a very interesting tip.

I’ve asked these same questions in a couple other places and “bigger boots” has come up a few times.

How do you guys wear larger boots and still have a correct fit. I wore bigger boots a couple times and my toes got all beat up.

One thing I do is lace my boots different. I saw it on a hiking site.

You lace back and forth like normal to the top of your foot. Than skip all the way to the last top eyelet. Than back and forth Dow to top of foot and tie off as normal.

If you grab the laces before you skip to top and pull you can cinch down real tight.

Works for me.


https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/know-this-hiking-boot-lacing-technique-the-heel-lock