Anyone who spends much time in the outdoors during the winter months knows how difficult it can be to keep their feet warm, especially the toes. This is especially true in Montana, where not only is the weather cold, but is also damp too. So, to help people who spend significant time outdoors and have problems keeping their feet warm, I’ve prepared this guide. It highlights why a person’s foot gets cold and what can be done about it.
Keeping your feet warm in winter weather is vitally important and not always easily achieved. Generally, cold feet can be avoided by utilizing a mix of old technologies, new technologies and a dose of common sense. The rest of this article will go over ways to keep your feet warm during cold weather.
Article Summary
Since this article spans several pages and is rather dense, I'll summarize what you need to really know.
Dry Feet = Warm Feet - To keep your feet warm, first you need to keep your feet dry and protected from outside moisture. Which means you should have waterproof boots.
Breathable Boots - It is crucial, especially if you engage in strenuous activities outdoors during cold weather, to have a boot that is fully breathable since it allows your foots perspiration to escape. Jump to this page.
The Importance of the Sock - Do you like cotton socks and wear them all the time, regardless of the weather? Well, put those socks away since you don't want to use them outdoors, or indoors for that matter, in the winter months. Why? Simple, they make your foot colder. Instead, use socks made of fleece, IsoWool and similar type fabrics. If you suffer from cold feet, this article should also help you keep your toes warm. Jump to this page.
The Snow Gaiter - No, it doesn't have teeth and it doesn't swim. Instead, the snow gaiter wraps around your lower leg and prevents the snow from entering the boot. Jump to this page.
Winter Boot Insulation and Temperature Rating - In cold weather, getting a boot with the right type of insulation for your uses is critical. Moreover, you need to get one "rated" high enough for the climate you expect to be in. Read this section to enter the exciting world of winter insulation, how boots are rated for their temperature and the various factors that can affect the rating. Jump to this page.
Conclusions & Recommendations - Some suggestions on what to get to keep your feet warm, whether you are outside or inside.
Dry Feet = Warm Feet
First, it is important to remember rule #1. This rule states that Dry Feet = Warm Feet. If you don’t bother to read anything else in this article, try to remember this rule!
The primary reason for cold feet and toes in cold weather is that the foot itself is often wet. If you can keep the foot and toes dry, you can prevent many cold feet and toe problems.
Waterproof Boots
It goes without saying that a boot that absorbs water (is not waterproof) is going to get your feet wet, too. Happily, there are many types of boots on the market that have various types of waterproofing on them.
The most popular type of waterproofing will be found in Gore-Tex and similar type fabrics that are specifically designed to prevent outside moisture from entering through the shell of the boot. Leather boots, when properly treated with a water proofing treatment, also work very well in keeping moisture from penetrating the outer shell of the boot. And finally, there are boot types such as Sorel’s that have leather uppers (which are fully waterproof when treated) and rubber lowers. The rubber lowers allows the person wearing the boot to wander through water and mud at will, since the rubber completely sheds the water.
Thus, the first step in keeping feet warm and dry in cold weather is to make sure you have a boot that won’t defeat your efforts by allowing water to penetrate into the inner part of the boot through the boots outer shell.
Next Page - Breathable Winter Boots