Socks suggestions - cold feet people

[RXPXSkier]

thanks for all the suggestions. I was all for intuitions and the bootfiter got me in a new boot so im starting there. Thin socks are next. thanks again all.

[llyon]

This is a solid thread, filled with good info. I thought I would bump it up to see if anyone else has some good suggestions.

I frost bit my toes pretty badly two winters ago, and now am extremely sensitive to the cold. I've tried a lot of things to keep them warm, here is my current setup:
- Dynafit Mercurys, one size too big
- Intuition Powerwrap Plus, the warmest liner out there (that I'm aware of), one size too big
- Anti-perspirant spray on my feet
- Varying thickness socks, depending on how packed out my liners are. Kind of mid weight at the moment
- Hotronics, for really cold days or long and cold boot packs. I don't really have a good system with these. I found that running the wire outside the liner causes it to rip easily if you tour a lot in AT boots, and that it isn't very comfortable inside the liner. Would love suggestions on this one.
- Boot dryers every night and in the morning to get them warm before I put them on

All of this helps a little, but I still get cold feet pretty much all the time. Even when it is warm, temps in the 30s.

I think this has a lot to do with failing to keep my feet dry. Anyone have effective solutions here? Anti-perspirant spray helps some, but I have sweaty feet, and hike every day, so they always end up pretty soaked at the end of the day.

[Hugh Conway]

You doing things to promote circulation - good hydration, no smokes, no booze, no caffeine?

[neufox47]

Llyon, wrap the cord with electric tape, run on the outside.

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using TGR Forums

[Jethro]

Chili powder on your toes

[sb]

I have found that the thinnest sock I can find helps my cold feet. Also Intuitions in all my boots and some days I use the Hotronics. So far last year I ran the cord inside the liner cause I did not want to cut the liner but next year its going out and up.


I can do fine touring as long as I am moving but when I stop the feets will eventually get cold.

[Harry]

I use those neoprene ski boot covers. I may look like a gaper but my tootsies are toasty.

[skiJ]

http://mtntools.com/cat/techwear/Gai...woverboots.htm

llyon - for the boot packing. ... seems like I saw photos of a couple of legendary Canadian ski alpinists using overboots ;

something else I don't see mentioned elsewhere in this thread is, unless you are using a vapor barrier system, regularly changing into DRY Socks has merit .


If you actually froze part of your feet(,) you may have permanently affected your Circulation .


finally, a couple year's ago, the was a post by a pioneer maggot that said something to the effect of,

' I ain't a racer. I wear Two Pair of socks and my feet stay Warm. '

it is a significantly different mindset to bootfitting and [safety-and-comfort] in the Backcounty .


Good Info. in this thread --

J

[LightRanger]

Chili powder on your toes

That occurred to me too. Never tried it, but heard it works.

I use those neoprene ski boot covers. I may look like a gaper but my tootsies are toasty.

Same with these. Chatted up an elderly, weatherbeaten Squaw instructor with them a couple years back and he swore by them.

[TahoeJ]

I have cold feet issues. Definitely use the thinnest sock possible if you have a good shell fit. But at the end of the day: hotronics are just fucking awesome. I was hesitant to drop the money on them originally and now I'm so glad I did. No problems in AT mode if you have them installed correctly (I have them in my Cochise Pro 130's).

[grskier]

I always go merino, and always go point6

[bbense]

If you actually froze part of your feet(,) you may have permanently affected your Circulation .

FWIW, my feet/hands eventually recovered from my poor choices in boots/gloves during my brief ice climbing phase. It took decades though.

I'd give Vapor Barrier socks a try. Ping Big Steve.

[SILENCER]

Get intuition, get thin socks and don't overtighten, enjoy and repeat

^^^ this.

My cold feet blog:
- Feet froze initially
- Bought Ultimax socks (made by Wigwam, fyi), have never changed. They are the best thin ski sock ever. Wasn't enough though.
- Even with excellent boot fit feet still froze, so went to Hotronics. Helped for sure, but $$ and adds swing weight for touring. Not a big deal on the latter, just had to get in better shape. But I kept severing the cable down the inside of the hard shell and had to replace twice (rubbed against cuff release mechanism inside my boots). Also would suck when I'd forget to charge them, etc.
- Tried that cayenne pepper deal for a season. "Burns" is a better adjective than "warms", but helped a bit. Makes a mess. But funny to try at least.
- Got Intuitions two seasons ago. Best money ever spent on any gear in my skiing life. Gone are boot heaters and cayenne powder. Back to just the boot and my Ultimax socks. Life is good, let's go skiing.

[XavierD]

Most, if not all, has been covered allready. That said I have really cold feet, and this is a proven 8 step program to get you to warm and happy feet. Unlike most 8 step programs, you don't have to reach step 8, just go until your feet are warm. Steps 6 and 7 can be swapped.
1. Get boots that fit
2. Get Wigwam Ultimax socks
3. Get Intuition Liners
4. Get electric boot heaters installed
5. Get boot gloves
6. Tough it out
7. Quit skiing; move somewhere warm.

[TahoeJ]

^^ The variation of 6 or 7 is try snowboarding instead, but fuck that. NTTAWWT ;-)

[Jethro]

I don't have much empathy for people with cold feet. I ski in Dobermanns, with tight, cold Conformable liners. Since the liners fit so well though, I do not have to crank the buckles. Having said that, this thread is full of good advice. I had heard of the pepper powder trick, but I suggested it as a joke. Personally I would not go that far, but I don't get cold feet often. It needs to be like -20 before my feet get cold, and by then everyone else has called it quits.

[llyon]

Lots more good suggestions in here, things I plan to try. This thread is definitely the source for cold feet solutions.

Vapor barrier socks intrigue me, as it is radically different from anything I've tried yet. Anyone else have success with this?
Sounds like Seirus Hyperlite Stormsocks are the best fit for ski boots?

[splat]

I was recently given some socks made from nano bamboo with infused charcoal and geranium. No shit. I'm giving them to a guy I know suffering from neuropathy in his legs and feet from diabetes. There's something in this shit that is pain relieving and blood flow enhancing that is a trip. Got a back brace made of the same stuff, too. It the first back brace I've ever had that works like you would hope one would. Local guy who does thermography is selling them.

[GoldenBC]

I've tried a lot of different things but the straight-up simplest, non hokey, works for everyone solution is boot heaters. Obv pair with nice socks and fitted boots. But really, boot heaters. Too easy.

Run cord on outside of liner.

[Beyond]

1)thinner socks will probably be warmer, since you'll have better circulation
2)better fitting boots will probably make a bigger difference than socks, since you'll have better circulation
3)even boots that fit well, with thin socks can still be cold, depending on you, where you ski, and the liner. in that case, hotronics or (my recommendation):
4) intuition liners are awesome, super warm, super light, great fit and performance. the only downside of them is that they can smell after a while

This, mostly. Although Intuitions shouldn't smell unless you leave them in all winter to develop a nutrient broth for our little microscopic friends. I have cold damage on both feet, can't be bothered with electronics, so just SmartWool thin racing socks, Intuitions, make sure your boots are warmish before putting them on, and in extremes, yeah Boot Gloves ain't sexy but they work.

[Gaperious Basterd]

Does anybody know if hottronics are hot enough to melt the thermoplastics used in some custom footbeds? (i.e. conformable)

[XXX-er]

hottronics fall under the 3 rule ... if something has tits tires or transistors eventually its gona give you trouble

So I use chemical heater packs & the boot glove cuz they have no moving parts or technology to fail

Mostly in my alpine boots I put them on the boot 1st thing before my feet get cold

Boot gloves work with boots that have tech fittings altho my feet don't get cold when I am touring