The Causes of Cold Feet and How to Keep Feet Warm
Keeping your feet warm is not as difficult as it seems, as long as you have a basic understanding of the causes of cold feet and how to keep feet warm.
The first step in answering the question, "How to Keep Feet Warm?" lies in your socks. A foot secretes 2oz of water EVERY DAY, and during vigorous exercise, this increases. Since water is a conductor of cold, it is imperative to get the perspiration away from the skin as soon as possible. Therefore, quality socks with high wicking properties are essential to keeping the feet warm. The principles of Layering for Cold Weather outlined in our Layering Guide apply to your feet also.
Your socks should not only wick moisture away, they should also have good insulating properties. Since the sock does not provide heat to your foot, it must be able to trap the warm air within its fibers. If the sock has high "loft", meaning the fibers have space between them, AND the sock is made of a wicking material, it should go a long way towards eliminating the cause of cold feet. Although cotton is extremely comfortable, socks made of cotton absorb water and do NOT wick the moisture away. This can quickly lead to cold feet. (TIP: Wool is one of natures best materials for both wicking and insulating.)
The second step you must take to keep your feet warm, is to make sure your shoes or boots are not too tight. This is even more important as you add thick socks. Shoes or boots that are too tight constrict blood flow to the feet. When your activity lev el increases, blood flow to the arms and feet is reduced even more as more blood is needed for the heart and lungs. Exercising outside in cold weather with shoes or boots that are a little too tight is a double whammy that will guarantee cold feet - no matter how good your socks are.
Another common cause of cold feet is a lack of proper ventilation in your shoes or boots. Shoes or boots that are not breathable trap moisture inside the boot. The excess moisture acts as a conductor - transferring heat from inside out, and the cold from outside in.
Being aware of the causes of cold feet will help you to make the right decisions in your choice of footwear. Those decisions can ensure your comfort during your next outdoor adventure.
Quick Tips For How to Keep Feet Warm:- Wear socks that have a high wicking value. Socks made from wool, polyester (and its many blends), elastane, LycraŽ, polypropylene, too name a few.
- Avoid cotton socks.
- For extended periods in the cold, change your socks often to stay warm.
- Don't tighten your boots or shoes too tight.
- Make sure your boots or shoes have enough room in them to comfortably wiggle your toes while wearing a thick pair of socks.
- Wear a hat. Yes a hat!! Your head acts like a furnace vent, funneling large amounts of your body heat away from your body. How? Well, as the blood travels through your exposed areas, it cools and brings down your core temperature. That cooled blood travels to your feet. Put a hat on your head to keep the heat in. This will keep your feet warmer.
Hycreek carries a wide range of warm socks for cold weather that have been tried and tested by our staff in the most extreme conditions. Our wool socks and synthetic wicking socks will give you an entire arsenal for your feet.
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