How do you keep your feet warm?

[thetrailboss]

Since it was a bitterly cold weekend on the slopes recently, and some saw consequences, I'd figure I'd open this question up.

What do you do to keep your feet warm?

Here are some thing I make sure to do:
-Keep well hydrated
-Unbuckle my boots at the lift
-Swing my legs while on the lift
-Wear not too thick socks - for fit and to prevent sweating in my boots

I would think that if you're one who has sweaty feet, taking a second pair of dry socks to switch halfway during the day would be a good idea.

I try to stay out of using artificial external sources of heat (ie. heat packs), because, well, sometimes things like that fail, or you just don't have access to them, or it's already too late to make a real difference.

IMO, staying warm in the winter time is a very proactive process, especially for extremities.

Some other simple, but easy to forget things to do:

*Have boots that fit.
*Wear more clothing elsewhere so that your "core" is warm. If it is, then the rest of you will be as well.
*Take some warm up breaks every once in a while.

Boot heaters work well too....Ms. TB can attest to that. :wink:

 

[tcharron]

2 words: Jack Daniel's

1 word:

tree

 

[tcharron]

On cold days like this past weekend, I use 'Boot Gloves". Boot Gloves are made from neoprene rubber (think wet suits for divers and surfers) that fit over the fore foot of the boots and are held securely in place with velcro. These work great for me with thin socks in side my boot. They may not work for you if you are always fiddling with your boot buckles.

I have also put anti-perspirant on my feet to cut down on sweating if it is really cold out. I have heard that along with the anti-perspirant rubbing your feet with Ben Gay will keep your feet warmer.

Hrm..

Wouldn't the plastic shell just wick the heat out from under them? Or are there some sort of heating pads that can be placed under then?

They look like a good idea, but then again. Aww hell, they sure look cool.

 

[cbcbd]

Hrm..

Wouldn't the plastic shell just wick the heat out from under them? Or are there some sort of heating pads that can be placed under then?

They look like a good idea, but then again. Aww hell, they sure look cool.

The Boot Glove is not there to heat your foot. Much like the rest of your body, the only heat generated is coming from your own foot (clothes are just there to keep your generated heat in). The Boot Glove material is there to better insulate your foot from the elements and wind (which sap away your foot heat).
So, your foot produces heat, it heats the inside of the boot and shell and the neoprene keeps that heat in and the wind out. Much like a neoprene booty used over cycling shoes in the winter.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I just got some silk sock liners, I hope they help some. My feet were a bit cold last wed.

 

[tcharron]

The Boot Glove is not there to heat your foot. Much like the rest of your body, the only heat generated is coming from your own foot (clothes are just there to keep your generated heat in). The Boot Glove material is there to better insulate your foot from the elements and wind (which sap away your foot heat).
So, your foot produces heat, it heats the inside of the boot and shell and the neoprene keeps that heat in and the wind out. Much like a neoprene booty used over cycling shoes in the winter.

What I was referring to was the ability for the hard plastic to basically act as a 'heat sink' for yours toes. Basically, you still have part of your boot exposed, which in turn it underneath the boot glove.

 

[cbcbd]

What I was referring to was the ability for the hard plastic to basically act as a 'heat sink' for yours toes. Basically, you still have part of your boot exposed, which in turn it underneath the boot glove.

Ok, I see what you mean... I guess it would depend on how well of a heat conductor plastic is.

 

[MarkC]

1 word:

tree

how did you know. I like the trees too. Anything in moderation is ok.

 

[dmc]

What I was referring to was the ability for the hard plastic to basically act as a 'heat sink' for yours toes. Basically, you still have part of your boot exposed, which in turn it underneath the boot glove.

Kinda like the way climbers always take off their crampons as soon as they reach camp because they conduct cold onto the boot sole..

 

[Joshua B]

Do any of the big ski boot brands make a boot that comes with pre-installed heating?

 

[Glenn]

Good socks for me.

My wife has heated boots. Best $ we ever spent. On the coldest day of the year her biggest complaint? "My feet are kinda hot..." Cha-ching.

I can see being worried about the failure aspect, but they are fairly simple units. I'm thinking if they're taken care of, charged properly and stored correctly, they'll last for years.

 

[Starter Jackets Rule!]

Kinda like the way climbers always take off their crampons as soon as they reach camp because they conduct cold onto the boot sole..

DMC hit on something it is the metal screws that are the "Cold Sink" on any ski boot.
Most "Race" type boots do not use them, but the paper thin liners do not help with keeping the tootsies warm..
Smart wool makes some toasty sox!
But knock wood my feet only get cold at around -20F, luck me eh?

 

[andrec10]

Funny this thread should be restarted. I think I am going to have Keith at the Pro set me up with boot heaters. I love my Fischer boots, but they are a little cold, though still better than my sons plug boots on me, teenagers have better circulation, plus my son is like a Eskimo anyway. Gotta drop them off after skiing on Sunday and pick them up early Friday.

 

[Mildcat]

Do any of the big ski boot brands make a boot that comes with pre-installed heating?

A couple of years ago Atomic and Dalbello had boots prewired with Thermic heaters. I don't know if they still do it.

The heaters are not hard to install. You do have to put a small slit in the back of the liner but that has never been a problem for me.

 

[RootDKJ]

Never wear the socks you plan to ski in on the drive to the hill. I keep my ski socks in my bag until its time to get booted up. Starting the day with sweaty socks is a bad way to start.

+3

 

[Hawkshot99]

A couple of years ago Atomic and Dalbello had boots prewired with Thermic heaters. I don't know if they still do it.

The heaters are not hard to install. You do have to put a small slit in the back of the liner but that has never been a problem for me.

Dalbello does not anymore. Most liners no a days come precut for the wire for heaters.

 

[mondeo]

Intuition Gold liners. Nice and toasty.

Plus my toe box is so cramped my toes go numb...

 

[Mildcat]

Dalbello does not anymore. Most liners no a days come precut for the wire for heaters.

It makes sense that they don't prewire it anymore because a lot of people use custom footbeds. I just checked my new boots to see if the liners were precut but they aren't. That's okay, not a problem to cut them myself. I'm thinking of upgrading to the new batteries because my batteries take twelve hours to recharge. The newer ones recharge quick.

 

[Mildcat]

Do any of the big ski boot brands make a boot that comes with pre-installed heating?

I forgot to mention in my last reply, it's just the heating element prewired into the liner. You would still have to buy the batteries and charger which is only about $20 cheaper than the whole kit.

 

[JasonE]

Do any of the big ski boot brands make a boot that comes with pre-installed heating?

Be aware - I got new boots this year. I paid extra for custom foot beds, plus the boots came with a custom liner (they heat up the liner to mold it to your foot). I got them at Strands and was fitted by Lief Mikkelson himself (I consider the man a boot-fitting god).

Anyway, Lief cautioned me NOT to get installed foot warmers. He said the cheap chemical-reaction ones you stick to the bottom of your socks are ok, but the battery operated ones are bad. Because both the custom footbed and the custom boot liner are heat activated, he said that if I put in a battery-operated foot warmer, it is very likely that either the footbed or the liner (or both) will heat up enough to lose their customized shape. Which means I just blew a lot of money for nothing.

He also cautioned very strongly do not, not, not put the boots near a heat source to dry out - we always used to put them near our stove blower so they'd get warmer and dryer faster, and he said doing that would without question cause the footbed and liner to de-shape.

Just thought I'd give you a heads up.