How do you keep your feet warm?

[Greg]

What buckle is "buckle 1"? If that's the first buckle over the toes, then I can't buckle that one down without killing my toes...

Yup. Toe buckle. Be careful with buckle 2 as well - cranking down that one can splay the foot and block circulation. I like buckle one snug, but not too tight, buckle 2 a bit tighter. I crank down buckle 3 to lock the ankle, and 4 is just snug.

 

[hammer]

Yup. Toe buckle. Be careful with buckle 2 as well - cranking down that one can splay the foot and block circulation. I like buckle one snug, but not too tight, buckle 2 a bit tighter. I crank down buckle 3 to lock the ankle, and 4 is just snug.

It's good to finally have boots that fit...

• Buckle 1 just tight enough on the first notch to not come loose
• Buckle 2 tight enough to feel secure (tweak as needed with the but never beyond the first notch)
• Buckle 3 cranked down (almost to the last notch on one foot...have to check with Jeff to make sure nothing else is needed)
• Buckle 4 snug and power strap tight as well

My big toes were still a bit cold yesterday but it was not too bad...

 

[Rushski]

1. Make sure the boots fit correctly
2. Do not put feet into cold boots
3. Long underwear should not tuck into tops of boots
4. Do not allow any wrinkles in socks

Don't completely agree w/unbuckling of boots for the lift ride. I have problem feet and my semi-fitted boots don't give me any comfort/cold problems...

 

[dl]

- anti perspirant is a great idea. it may not solve your problem but it's part of the solution
- good wicking socks (i like eurosocks and hot chillys but there are many others)
- disposable toe warmers (put on the top of the sock on the top of the foot) worked for me over the weekend and didn't affect the fit/performance of the boot.
- boot gloves for those who don't mess with the lower buckles (take the boot gloves off when you come in the lodge will help)
- hotronic foot warmers for people with real/regular problems with cold feet. $175+ for hotronic can be justified if you compare it to the price of a lift ticket and how much longer you can stay out on the hill.

 

[JPTracker]

I find that overdressing on the upper body will cause my feet to get cold. If you are overheating your legs and chest then your body will slow your circulation and the feet will get cold. I have had cold feet on a 20 degree day then I take a break remove a layer and my feet are fine the rest of the day.

 

[cbcbd]

Also, a tip for rewarming your feet if they have gotten cold and you can't get to a warm place fast enough and don't have an external heat source
- the best way to rewarm your feet is to stand (without skis), brace yourself on poles or tree, and vigorously swing your entire leg, straight-legged, back and forth.

Even doing this it will take a while for your feet to rewarm, which goes to show how hard it actually is to come back from some states of frozen feet - but there are some circumstances (like skiing BC, no warm open facilities around, or you just don't want to head inside just yet just to warm your feet) where it might be the only way to get your feet warm again so you can safely avoid frostbite.

Just work yourself past the screaming-pukies and you'll have warm feet again.

 

[Marc]

I find that overdressing on the upper body will cause my feet to get cold. If you are overheating your legs and chest then your body will slow your circulation and the feet will get cold. I have had cold feet on a 20 degree day then I take a break remove a layer and my feet are fine the rest of the day.

If you are overheating your core, then your heart rate should increase and the vessels in your extremeties should dialate and receive more blood. Not the other way around. There is probably another reason behind this...

 

[Marc]

Also, a tip for rewarming your feet if they have gotten cold and you can't get to a warm place fast enough and don't have an external heat source
- the best way to rewarm your feet is to stand (without skis), brace yourself on poles or tree, and vigorously swing your entire leg, straight-legged, back and forth.

Even doing this it will take a while for your feet to rewarm, which goes to show how hard it actually is to come back from some states of frozen feet - but there are some circumstances (like skiing BC, no warm open facilities around, or you just don't want to head inside just yet just to warm your feet) where it might be the only way to get your feet warm again so you can safely avoid frostbite.

Just work yourself past the screaming-pukies and you'll have warm feet again.

The best way would be (if you have enough to eat) to start aerobically exercising and generate heat through that method. By letting your extremety's vessels redialate on their own because of excess heat production you assure you are not sacrificing core temperature to save an extremety and can also be less painful as the dialation is more gradual than by forcibly opening the vessels with blood pressure using centrifugal (kind of) force.

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

Equipment wise properly fit boots with custom footbeds and thin socks. Once my boots are set, I rarely adjust the buckles.

Sensibly taking a quick hot chocolate break every couple of hours doesn't hurt...

 

[awf170]

Just let them get really cold, after an hour or so they will fell warm again.

 

[SkiDog]

I use those boot warmer thingies....I like my boots tight and I dont like unbuckling...this is the only solution I found that works for me...

M

 

[bigbog]

....

Lots of agreement....relaxation along with some exercise previous to skiday seems to be helping immensely. Hotronics are great and have just bought Boot Gloves(but have not used yet),...and would like to trying the baby powder and some sort of pepper(black?)/cayenne-powder mix...but it may just come down to the amount of restricted circulation, with everything else as additives;-)

 

[ctenidae]

In my experience, if you keep your butt warm, the rest will follow.

Other than that, what everyone else said.


Oh yeah- man up, Nancy-boy, and quit yer bitchin'!

 

[Edd]

If its 20 degrees or less, I must wear toe warmers. I wear them on the bottom, just like the package tells you. These things are stone axe reliable. They can bunch up when you put your boots on, but you just flatten it out and try again. Once you have it flat, you will not notice it skiing. After you get the hang of them, you're hooked. I think people give up on these things too quickly.

 

[loafer89]

I bought Hotronics in January 2003 while skiing in -25F + weather at Sugarloaf and they have been my best friend for cold weather skiing. Recently I got electronic battery packs to upgrade the system which keeps my feet warm for many hours.

This will be tested this weekend at Sugarloaf with high temperatures in the single digits and teens.

 

[RISkier]

Fortunately, I don't seem to have much problem though I do use the anti-perspirant trick. When skiing multiple days in a row I also use a boot dryer. My wife has used the stick on toe warmers with great success though I don't think I could ever get my boots on with them. Lots of instructors use the hotronics

 

[pimothy]

I think perhaps bigbog comes closest of these posts. In years gone by I have recommended to some trying cayenne pepper before putting on socks at the mountain.
Don't do it unless it is going to be very cold, and it can be too hot for some people. It might be good to experiment on one foot and use sparingly.
Check out cayenne pepper in wikipedia.com, it refers to the physiology.
I overdid it the first time at Wildcat, and had to remove my boot and sock beside the trail. When I shook out the pepper on the snow a lady skier thought I was bleeding. We had a good laugh when she found out what happened.
This is probably the most cost effective method, but go easy.

 

[MarkC]

2 words: Jack Daniel's

 

[Marc]

Just let them get really cold, after an hour or so they will fell warm again.

Hey, where those movies at, frost bite boy? You should have plenty of time to upload them now, right?

 

[awf170]

Hey, where those movies at, frost bite boy? You should have plenty of time to upload them now, right?

Actually I'm doing them right now along with a few Jay Peak pics. Maybe if I feel really productive I'll even upload those Wildcat pics I promised like a month ago (probably not though).