Warm Feet, Happy Trails

Do you struggle to keep your feet warm in cold weather? If you do, believe me you are not alone, and the best news is that we have a solution for you. There are several important factors that will make a world of difference when it comes to keeping your feet warm, and we are going to cover each of those in detail. If you want to say goodbye to cold feet and hello warmth, you are in the right place my friend. Let’s get right into some solutions shall we! 

Six Essentials That Will Change Everything

The six key essentials that we are going to discuss in this article are as follows:

1. Base Materials
2. Liners
3. Boots
4. Body Temperature
5. Activity Levels
6. Staying Dry

Base Materials

Let’s begin with the inner most layers of your new warmth strategy, which would be your socks. This layer is critically important, because the material you choose can have a massive impact on your ability to maintain warmth. Not all materials are created equal, which leads me to my first point, DO NOT WEAR COTTON SOCKS IN COLD OR WET WEATHER!

Cotton may be comfortable when it is perfectly dry, but it is the absolute worst material you can choose when it comes to cold weather. The main reason for this is that cotton has virtually no insulating properties when damp or wet, and this is exactly what you don’t want. So what do you want? What you should be using is a material that has excellent wicking properties to help pull moisture away from the skin, while also retaining its insulating properties when damp or wet.

Depending on your level of activity (which we will cover more on later) you should consider a thin polypropylene or polyester blend sock for your first layer. These materials have a high degree of breathability and they also wick moisture away from the skin very effectively. These make an ideal first layer due to these specific properties. In addition, a thin sock made of this material will be perfectly complementary for adding an additional second layer. 

When it comes to your second layer, look no further than wool or merino wool socks. The beauty of these materials is their ability to retain a significant portion of their insulating properties and warmth, even when wet. It is worth noting that real wool can be fairly itchy for many people, but this is where the poly blend layer is particularly useful as well.

If you simply wear a thinner layer under your wool socks, it will not only provide you with the wicking benefits, it will serve as an effective barrier to any irritation that wool might cause. Merino wool, on the other hand, tends to be much more comfortable and less itchy for most people, and it also has amazing wicking and thermal properties. 

There are a variety of thicknesses available for most of these different materials, and you may be surprised to find how effective a thinner sock made from the right materials can help to keep you warm and comfortable. It’s up to you to decide what works best for you, but I recommend starting with a thin poly sock and then add a light to medium wool or merino wool sock over that. This combo can work amazingly well, especially when combined with everything else we will be covering next. 

There are also over the calf socks available in these materials, and this can provide much better coverage for your entire lower leg. This could be very appropriate depending on the conditions or temperatures you are dealing with, but also for the type of boots you may be wearing like ski or snowboard boots, for example. 

Liners Are Your Friend

Let’s move on to liners. Now that you have your socks dialed in, you want to think about a comfortable insulating layer for your entire foot. Naturally, this will be highly dependent on the conditions and/or activities, but it is worth discussing and will certainly be applicable in cold conditions. Ultimately, you are learning an effective layering system here that is easily adjusted according to your own specific needs. 

In colder weather, a comfortable and effective liner for your boots will be extremely beneficial. There are two specific types of liners that I will speak about here. The first type is the overall insulating layer of your boot, which typically is simply a layer that is the shape and size of the entire boot, this fits perfectly inside your boot to form a barrier or liner. Many good winter boots come with this insulating layer as part of the boot system, you have an outer boot and an inner insulating liner that can be removed so it can dry.

I always recommend choosing a wool or a wool blend liner if that is an available option for the type of boot you are purchasing. As we mentioned previously, wool has superior insulating properties when wet which makes this an obvious choice for maximizing your protection and comfort. Ideally your foot will always stay dry, however, getting your feet wet combined with being out in cold weather can spell trouble quickly if you aren’t prepared for that. The bottom line here is to pay a little extra and get a liner with great insulation properties such as wool when possible, it will be worth its weight in gold when wet. 

The second type of liner we should discuss is a simple foot bed liner. Now there are many different options and materials to choose from, and I bet you can guess which type I would recommend. You guessed it, wool baby, for all the same reasons we have already discussed. A foot bed liner is a good option if your boots don’t actually have the full foot or boot liner as we have mentioned, because it can help insulate your foot better from the cold ground and also help retain warmth if your feet happen to get damp for any reason.

I have also heard some novel ideas for other types of foot bed liners that can work quite well, such as neoprene (which is a great insulator), or a reflective sunscreen shade cut out into the shape of your foot liner and put under your insole liner (highly insulating as well), and even plastic bags between your socks and your foot, which can help to keep a moisture barrier between your liner and socks. My mom told me that they used to do this as kids out in the hard New York winters, and it worked great. Today, we have lots of highly effective materials and options that probably work slightly better, but hey do what you got do.

The important takeaway for liners here is to carefully consider your options like what you can afford, the type of conditions that you will be out in, and what activities you will be doing. If you are out on an icy lake fishing all day, you might want to bring as many layers as possible. If you are just walking around town doing some shopping in cold weather for a couple of hours, maybe some simple sock layering will suffice. It really depends on you, your activity, and the time you plan to spend out in it?

Let’s Talk Boots

Boots are very important, and winter boots have one main important factor to consider which is different from all the other shoes that you wear. You need some extra space inside of your cold weather boots, unlike your normal everyday shoes. Many people make this crucial error, and it will play possibly one of the most important roles in keeping your feet warm and comfortable in cold conditions. So here’s what you need to know.

First off, it’s a good idea to size up at least a half size for your winter boots. Depending on the fit, you may even want to go up a full size, but here is how you can actually determine what works best for you. When trying on boots, be sure to put on both of your layers of socks together. Just use your thin base layer and then a thick warmer wool or merino wool sock to make sure that you will have a proper fit. 

Next, you want to make sure that you can freely move your toes around in the toe box with your thicker socks on. Your toes don’t need to be completely free or have a full range of motion, but you should be able to wiggle them around fairly well inside of your boots. The main idea here is that you are allowing some space for good circulation in your feet. If your feet are too tight and compressed you are going to get cold, so don’t do this to yourself. 

In addition to this, be sure you never lace up your boots too tight over the toes. Leave the area over your toes slightly loose for better circulation, and then tie your laces up tighter above the ankle instead. Make sure you give yourself enough support that you won’t roll your ankle easily, but leave enough space for your circulation to flow nicely. You will find the sweet spot, and just knowing this will make all the difference in keeping your feet warmer.

Another important reason to leave some extra space is so that you can use hand or foot warmers inside your boots. These are amazing and can make a huge difference in extreme cold, but they do require slightly more space than you would normally have if you haven’t sized up your footwear as we mentioned, so just keep this in mind. 

Our conversation wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t talk about waterproofing. If you can buy waterproof boots, I would recommend that you do that. If they aren’t waterproof, then you can certainly buy some waterproofing product to apply to them. Try to get a waterproofing product that is made for type of material you are waterproofing, so read the labels on your boots and buy the right product for the right material. 

Staying dry should ALWAYS be a top priority in the outdoors, and having a waterproof boot is going to be a key factor in achieving this goal. Most winter boots have some level of water resistance at the very least, but getting something truly waterproof is best and easily worth the extra cost, especially if you are frequently out in wet or snowy conditions that could get very cold. Protect your feet so they don’t get wet, and that alone will go a very long way toward keeping you warm and comfortable. 

You might also consider wearing gaiters over your boots, especially if you are out somewhere that moisture has the potential to get in over the top of your boot. Not only will gaiters help protect you from getting snow and moisture inside your boots, they will also add an additional insulating layer which can help with maintaining good circulation through the leg and foot. 

About Body Temperature

Often when you find that your extremities are getting cold, it is likely because blood is being diverted elsewhere to help keep your core temperature up. This means that your body is beginning to get cold and needs help warming back up. People often don’t notice or think about their core temperature as much when their hands and feet are feeling cold, but they are all related. Proper circulation is such an important factor for staying warm, which is why I recommended that you are careful not to lace up your boots too tight around the toes and foot.

Let’s talk about some simple things you can do to keep your core temperature up so that your entire body will stand a much better chance of keeping warm and comfortable, even in extremely cold temperatures. Obviously, layering your clothing properly is a key factor and something that you should always be very aware of. You can refer to my video where I go into more detail about that here.

There are a few simple, but highly effective, tips that can make a significant difference in keeping up that core temperature. The first is to simply wear a warm hat, one that can ideally pull down to cover your ears if needed. There is a common myth that says you can lose up to half of your body heat through your head, but that really isn’t true. Some studies have shown quite clearly that in reality it is much closer between seven and ten percent at best. Regardless of the percentage, cold weather does rob you of both heat and energy, and simply covering yourself up better is both a smart and effective strategy to help keep you warmer.

Another simple way to help keep your core temperature up is to bring a warm drink along with you. I know I love to take a thermos of hot tea with me when I go out into the cold. I used to always do this out snowmobiling in subzero temps, and let me tell you this was an absolute game changer for helping me to keep my core temp up. It made a very significant difference in some extremely cold weather, so much so that I never went out without a warm drink. If you are going to be out somewhere cold for the day, keep a little backpack with you with some hot coffee or tea. A nice warm drink can do wonders for you on those exceptionally cold days. 

I had mentioned hand and foot warmers earlier, and these really are fantastic. They are cheap, easy to carry, and they can make a significant difference when you are struggling to stay warm. I highly recommend you keep a few of these handy when you plan to be out for prolonged periods of time in the cold, just make sure your boots can accommodate them of course. 

Staying hydrated is another really important strategy to keep in mind. Our bodies need water to help us maintain our core temperature, and the truth is that our bodies have to work harder in higher altitudes and colder weather. Cold air tends to be drier and our lungs need to work slightly harder to humidify that air and warm it back up, so be mindful and make an effort to replace the water your body needs, it will make a difference.

Activities Assessment

What you will be doing outside is a very important factor to consider when you are gearing up to head outdoors, and depending on what that is you may need to switch up your strategies to stay warm and dry. A great example I used earlier is if you are going to be out ice fishing all day. Sitting out on a big frozen lake all day is not only an exceptionally cold surface, but you likely won’t be moving around a whole lot. With less movement and a very cold environment like that you will likely want an extra foot bed liner to help insulate you from the icy surface. 

If you are, on the other hand, going snowshoeing on a nice sunny day then you can probably get away with some lighter layers because you will be much more active and sweating more. You always want to find a balance between your level of activity and what layers you might need for that. You want to use your layers to manage how much you are sweating when active, but also staying warm enough when stationary. It is always a good idea to have additional layers with you and available so that you can change as needed. Conditions are always changing in the mountains, and it is smart to always be prepared for the worst.

One more very practical example would be if you happen to be skiing and wearing ski boots, take a moment to consider everything we have talked about so far. Ski boots fit quite tight in general, and wearing thick socks in really tight boots is going to reduce your circulation which will make you colder faster. Make sure you consider this when trying on ski boots to rent for the day, or when buying your own. Bring your sock layers and walk around in the boots with the layers you prefer to wear for colder days, making sure you that you can wiggle your toes a bit. This will go a long way to keeping you warm on those really chilly days. 

Your activity level will always be a significant factor in how you layer and dress, this applies to upper and lower layers. Try to always keep some extra layers with you in your pack so you can change according to conditions. Try to avoid sweating too much by peeling off a layer when needed, or putting one on if you are feeling too chilly. Keep a dry pair of socks with you as well in case you want to change at some point throughout the day. Layers are generally rather light and easy to pack and carry along with you, so keep some with you and you can always stay warm and comfortable.  

Staying Dry

As I have already mentioned, staying dry should always be a top priority in the outdoors and especially in the high mountains. Regardless of the gear you have and the properties which it possesses, try to keep yourself dry in all outdoor situations. I can’t express the importance of this enough. It is always a good idea to keep this top of mind, because once you are wet it can be very difficult to get dry again and if it's very cold you are at increased risk for developing hypothermia. 

The last thing you ever want out on a cold day is to get wet, whether that is from perspiration, stepping in a huge puddle, or filling your boots with snow. Be mindful of protecting yourself in this way and it will go a long way toward keeping you safe and warm. Mountain weather is unpredictable and staying dry means you stand a much better chance of staying warm. 

Another important thing is to remove all the liners from your boots at night so they can dry. If you are at home, this will be easy and taking out the liners will easily help them to dry out overnight so they are all ready to go the very next day. If you are camping out in the cold, this can be a bit more challenging, but entirely possible. Set your boots and liners next to a warm fire, if possible, so you can dry them out the best you can before morning. 

A great trick for wet boots while camping, especially if you don’t have removable liners, is to heat up some rocks that will fit into your boot. If the rocks get too hot, let them cool down enough that they won’t melt or burn your liners when you use them. You can also wrap them in a think cloth of some kind if needed and just drop them into your boot. This will help heat your boots up from the inside to evaporate the moisture and help them dry before morning. You can just leave them like that overnight in a pinch to avoid having to wear wet boots the next day. 

Final Thoughts

I realize that this was a ton of information for something seemingly as simple as keeping your feet warm. The thing is that these factors are all very real and part of a larger system that will help to keep you warm. Some of these points may not be entirely obvious to someone that hasn’t spent much time out in the cold, or maybe they live somewhere that this isn’t a big factor for most of the year? 

Whatever the case may be, I wanted to break down these important concepts so that if you are traveling or visiting somewhere that will be very cold you now have the tools to deal with that effectively. I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful, and I would love to have you on our mailing list so I can share other tips and tricks with you when they become available. Please subscribe below, and here’s to staying warm! 

“People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy.” — Anton Chekhov