The Fall is almost here and if you are one of those people who spend much time working outdoors then I am sure you are well aware of the fact that it is quite difficult to keep your feet warm in winters, especially the toes.
The weather is not only cold but damp and therefore it becomes a necessity to keep your feet warm. But this vitally important task is not easily achieved and can ultimately lead to serious conditions like frostbites.
That is why we are here to tell you some easy hacks by which you can keep your feet cozy no matter how cold it is. So, let’s get started!
Best Ways to Keep Feet Warm When Working Outside
1. Dry feet means Warm Feet
As a rule of thumb, get it straight that keeping your feet dry is the first step to keep your feet warm and toasty. Why? It’s quite simple to understand if your foot is wet it becomes the primary reason for reducing heat to many folds.
How can you achieve this task? One of the simplest ways to keep your feet dry while you are working in a cold and wet environment is by investing in a pair of waterproof boots.
Interestingly there are various boots in the market that have various types of waterproofing on them. The most popular type are the ones that are manufactured using Gore-Tex and similar types of fabrics which promise to protect the shell of your work boots from outside moisture.
Apart from fabric there are special types of boots that have fully waterproof leather upper and rubber lowers which gives you full freedom to wander through water and mud by creating a protective layer and shedding the water completely.
2. Understand the importance of winter socks
If you are spending a significant amount of time outdoors then I would advise you to understand the importance of quality winter socks. Winter socks when paired with the right boots work perfectly to keep your feet warm and insulated.
Is there something special about winter socks?
Yes, a sock made of wool, IsoWool, shearling, fleece, and similar types of synthetic material has great potential to trap the heat.
You’ll be glad to know that no matter how wet these socks get because of excessive perspiration, they do not lose their insulating properties. Not only this, these winter socks come in different styles which are far thicker in comparison to a thin cotton sock.
Let me help you with some of the amazing recommendations for winter socks. If you ask me, my personal favorites are Carhartt Men’s Arctic Wool Boot Socks, Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiker Boot Socks, Smartwool Men’s Hiking Light Crew Socks. You can read the reviews for additional information and can choose accordingly.
3. Dry your boots between wears
What can be worse than sliding in a pair of damp work boots right before you leave for work? I know it’s quite irritating and contributes equally to freeze your feet. Solution? Just leave them inside overnight for drying.
As an added precaution you can stuff your boots with newspaper or towels to absorb all the moisture. Although, you should always avoid drying them using direct heat as it can ruin the material of your boots and can even break down the glues which are used in between the layers.
4. Try using Sock Liner
Sock liner is probably the most underrated asset to keep your feet warm in cold weather. Sock liner like Fox River Mills CoolMax Liner which pulls double duty, first by adding a bit of insulation and second, by transferring your foot sweat directly to your socks. Well, in this process, the liner itself remains dry and does wonders!
Moreover, a sock liner helps you from facing that “itchy, scratchy feeling” which you might sometimes get while wearing wool socks.
No matter how strenuous or wet your work is, this product with its construction increases the chances of keeping your feet crispy and cozy many folds.
5. Say No to cotton socks
You’ll thank me later for this advice but trust me, using cotton socks for keeping your feet warm is a big NO! Cotton socks have almost negligible insulation value and they even absorb and hold moisture.
In the worst case scenario, a wet cotton sock, coats your foot with perspiration and gives you chills while losing all the insulation. So if enjoying cold, wet, and slimy feet at work is’ on your agenda then I would definitely suggest you wear cotton socks.
6. Layer up your feet
Do you ever go out wearing a thin summer jacket in below-freezing weather? No, right? Don’t make your feet do the same thing. Like you use a layering system for your body, I would suggest you layer up on your feet too!
If you are going to seriously work in a harsh cold environment, try these a two to three layer system:
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- Lightweight wicking socks
- Lightweight wool socks
- Medium to heavy wool sock
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Once you adopt this layering system, trust me nothing can stop your feet from being warmer than ever.
7. Invest in Toe Warmers
These single use inserts can turn out to be a great hack in providing gentle heat for upto six hours. Just insert them in your boots above or below your toes, open the plastic packet and activate them. Isn’t it too simple?
- Safe, natural long-lasting heat - odorless, disposable, single-use item, do not apply directly to the skin.
- To activate - remove warmer from outer package, shake to activate. Warmer heats up in 15-30 minutes.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Although these are like thin insoles, but if you already have a tight fitting work boot, you may have to wear a thinner sock . These Toe Warmers go perfectly with mesh performance walking shoes as they block cold air while keeping your toes warm.
8. Insert thermal insoles
Thermal insoles give you that extra heat and comfort that is needed in the snow. They insulate your feet from the cold in the ground that tends to transfer to your feet. You can easily get a thermal insole from amazon.com and insert them in your boots and feel the warmth.
9. Wear gaiters to keep the feet insulated from cold
- WATER RESISTANT AND BREATHABLE
- ABRASION RESISTANCE AND DURABLE
- ADJUSTABLE FOR TIGHT FIT
- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
- AFTER-SALES SERVICE.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Gaiters are like jackets for your feet or you might say just like plastic bags that acts as a barrier for the old wind to hit your feet. You can wear gaiters above the boots to give it an insulating barrier.
10. Use plastic bags as a protective barrier from the cold
What you need to do is just place some plastic bags in between the uppers of the boots and the upper layer of your feet. This will prevent the cold air from reaching your feet thus saving your feet from the cold.
11. Use can also use disposable shower caps to restrict the cold wind
This is very simple. Just wear your disposable shower caps on your feet and then wear your boots. This will also act as a preventive layer for the cold wind to hit your feet thus, saving it from the cold.
12. Do NOT wear breathable boots or shoes
Breathable shoes and boots will allow the cold air to enter inside the boots and will make your feet cold. On the other hand, the boots which are not breathable will restrict the entry of cold air within the boots thus keeping your feet warm.
13. Duct tape acts as a saviour from the cold
This might sound weird and might as well spoil the look of your boots, but it is an ultimate saviour for your cold feet.
Take a duct tape and glue and wrap your boots with the duct tape. This will turn your boots as an insulating one and will not allow the outside cold to enter your boots.
14. Choose the boots that are waterproof
Waterproof boots will not allow the cold water to dampen your boots and make your feet cold.
15. Choose boots that are insulated
Buy boots that have more than 600g insulating layers and they will keep your feet warm and comfortable.
Still looking out for more? Here’s a bonus tip!
Walk faster! By walking at a faster pace then normal, you can maintain the circulation of blood through your feet and can easily keep them warm and comfortable without any efforts.
Why are my feet cold in boots?
Obviously the cold weather is making your feet cold in the chilling winters.
But, this obvious reason does not seem to be obvious when you are wearing your thick socks and boots to protect your feet from the cold.
Then why are your feet still cold with all these efforts?
Let’s find out:
1.) Your feet might get cold if your feet soak in a lot of moisture. In other words, if your socks are not moisture wicking and they become wet, and then your feet are bound to be cold inside the boots.
2.) Boots made of rubber does not allow air circulation and if worn with socks that are moisture wicking, they will make your feet sweat and then it will get cold in the winters.
3.) When you wear thick woollen socks with your winter boots that are insulated, your feet fit too tight inside the boots because of the space covered by the thick socks. In this case, the blood circulation around the feet decrease, causing cold feet.
4.) One important thing to keep in mind is that, your feet will turn cold if there is no movement of the toes inside the boots that is if the boots are too stuffed! Therefore, make sure that your toes create the metabolism to generate heat in the feet. That is you boots should be snug fit.
5.) You just might be wearing the wrong boots. In other words, the amount of insulation in the boots is not sufficient for the weather and therefore, you need more amount of insulation in your boots in order to keep your feet warm.
Importance of keeping your feet warm
We humans are warm blooded and that is why our body almost maintains a fairly constant temperature.
But while working when we expose ourselves to cold temperatures, the body’s internal temperature tends to fall below safe limits leading to constriction of our skin for disabling the escape of internal heat. Interestingly, our feet are the first sign to show this reaction.
If you don’t keep your feet warm and cozy then you are actually paving the way to injuries like frostbites and hypothermia and trust me, you don’t want to overlook these dangers.
Keeping your feet warm you are actually contributing to keep your body safe by avoiding additional heat loss can make you less efficient at work, disoriented and may lead to loss of manual dexterity.
I am sure you don’t want to face any of these. That is why keeping the feet warm is quite pertinent at the workplace.
Final Thoughts
After reading this article I am sure you will be able to say goodbye to cold feet. Just follow these tips religiously and get ready to get warm tootsies anywhere on Earth. Till then stay warm!
