5 Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Warm Feet This Winter

Winter is upon us, and it’s no surprise that your toes may feel like popsicles in your boots. You try your best to warm them up to get feeling back, but your feet may still feel like frozen bricks.  Unfortunately, we all know the feeling of having our feet freeze during the winter, but thankfully there are several methods that will help prevent cold feet and associated risks such as frostbite.

 

1. Don’t Wear Your Boots and Socks Inside- While it may sound counter-intuitive to take your toasty shoes off when you get home, wearing your warm boots and socks in a warm environment is likely to make your feet sweat. This trapped moisture can actually make feet feel colder as the sweat begins to cool and dry, especially if you intend to head back out into the cold weather. Instead, swap your boots for some comfy house shoes or warm, dry socks.
2. Keep Out Snow- Wet feet in the winter equal cold feet. Make sure you keep the snow or rain from getting inside your boots by wearing gaiters, or pants with internal gaiters. Alternately, select shoes with good ankle coverage for quick trips in and out of the weather.
3. Insulate the floor- If you know you’ll be standing in the same spot for a while, try standing on an insulated pad. If you’re cooking in the kitchen, for example, an insulated pad can keep the feet off of cold tile or laminate surfaces.
4. Always Dry Out Your Boots- Whether you realize it or not, every time you wear your boots moisture forms inside them. Moisture prevents your boots from providing good insulation, so pulling out the liners and insoles every night will help ensure your boots fully dry out before their next wear.
5. Size Matters- Wearing your boots too tightly can significantly reduce circulation in your feet. It is recommended that you buy your heavy winter boots a full size larger than your regular shoe size so they will accommodate room for thicker socks and insoles. It is also a good idea to wear one pair of warm socks with wicking material instead of multiple socks to make sure your feet are not being compressed and stay adequately dry.

 

With summer a fading memory, keeping your feet warm and dry should be a top priority in your everyday foot care. Falling temperatures, drier air, snow and ice can lead to poor circulation and even frostbite. For more information about foot health during the winter months, or to request an appointment with one of our podiatrists, click here.

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