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How do i keep my feet warm inside my boots?

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mrdrok
Posts: 14 - Karma: 10

So...me being stupid, and just wanting to ride all day - ignored the uncomforable cold feet and now my two big toes are nicely frost bitten, thankfully not too bad but enough to smarten me up.

I was wondering how to keep my toes warm because they are just freezing everyday i ride.

I am riding properly fitted boots, as far as i know...they are smaller than my shoe size, fit snuggly and don't allow my foot to slide/bounce around, but not too tight that they are squishing the hell outta my foot.

I've expirmented sock wise.  I just moved up to the mountain a few weeks ago so im still experimenting.  I have proper ski socks, and wool socks.  Today they froze by wearing both of those, which was an error on my part as i've read less is better.  However, my feet were still fuckin freezing with just ski socks.  Should my boot be tight? loose? somewhere in between?  It's just my toes that freeze.  My boots are kept inside over night and aired out to dry too.

Basically i wanna know if there are other things i should be doing before i go purchase some battery powered boot warmers or something else.

thanks

Dec 28 2007 1:00AM
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eheath
Posts: 61146 - Karma: 118,668
Unbuckle on the lift and move your toes around and they will warm up, just do it every lift ride until they feel warm.
Dec 28 2007 1:01AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
think bloodflow man, same with cold fingers - best thing to do is get the blood pumping..

as heath said, wiggle ur toes and they should warm up - also maybe consider footbeds, don't ask me what they have to do with cold feet, but they actually helped me with cold toes..
Dec 28 2007 1:09AM
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Literature
Posts: 13673 - Karma: 3,086
Good socks are key.

The footbeds mentioned above may help circulation.

If all else fails, hike a rail or a pow stash, and you will warm up everything.
Dec 28 2007 1:10AM
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potato_man
Posts: 2158 - Karma: 89
thin socks actually keep u warmer

ur gonna laugh, bt this is all tru

sprinkle cayenne pepper on ur feet, it helps ur blood circualte better

not even kidding
Dec 28 2007 1:11AM
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mrdrok
Posts: 14 - Karma: 10
already have custom footbeds that are comfortable and just overall awesome
Dec 28 2007 1:18AM
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tribefan226
Posts: 2122 - Karma: 209
u can get these little packet thingys that you put inside your boot but outside your sock that heat up and keep you toes warm. im not sure what they're called or how to describe them really
Dec 28 2007 1:27AM
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Roy
Posts: 1982 - Karma: 1,240

I know they say socks are a big thing but my standard sock is just a cotton ankle biter which I love and as a bonus I don't get as bad of a case of shin bang while wearing them. Me personally, I find with wearing heavy duty socks my feet just sweat and then shortly after they quickly get cold. When it gets real cold (it can get to below - 40 where I am) and you have to get tricky I find, that keeping your core as warm as possible is big. Think about it if you can keep the majority of your blood warm, then as it circulates through your feet it should keep your feet warmer. Also when your on the chair unbuckle your boots, I dont know why it works but it does. Try not to wiggle your toes, I find this only temporarily helps but then your feet start to sweat which fucks you over pretty fast. 

Hope that helps

Dec 28 2007 1:57AM
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eheath
Posts: 61146 - Karma: 118,668
Horrible advice, wiggling makes them warmer.
Dec 28 2007 2:10AM
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djty111
Posts: 1103 - Karma: 93
unbuckel  your boots on the lift ride....
Dec 28 2007 2:40AM
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
drink warm water before you go...not burning hot but just warm...also i say screw ski socks....go with some good wool socks...i suggest smart wools....try and keeep your boots loose. more blood flow
Dec 28 2007 2:42AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 204
do you have rampages by any chance? because if you do, you're just screwed. you basically cannot keep your feet warm in those boots. and like other people have said, play around with your buckles. try buckling your boots slightly looser over your instep, since thats where all the bloodflow to your toes comes from. if you are really clamping down over the top of your foot, your feet will get cold. also, wear a pair of socks to the mountain, and then change into a new pair before you go out and ride. if your socks get sweaty on the way up, your feet will get colder that much quicker. same goes for while you're riding. take a break for lunch and change into some fresh dry socks. i prefer smartwool ultralights, but anything from smartwool, or anything thats not cotton is ok basically. the thinner the better.
Dec 28 2007 9:23AM
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AntifreezeSteeze
Posts: 1643 - Karma: 53
warm up the boots prior to riding, make sure there dry and toasty, bundle up keeping your body warmth, put boots on and buckle up.
Helped me last year before they took out the boot warming machine, now I go for half the day with cold feet and it doesn't really bother me much since the coldest it gets is about 24 degrees F
Dec 28 2007 9:28AM
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BEARS.
Posts: 5380 - Karma: 696
buy a boot bag. http://hotgearbag.com/single.html
Dec 28 2007 10:11AM
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MrScruff
Posts: 575 - Karma: 10
Get your head warmer
Dec 28 2007 10:20AM
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Bigwoods
Posts: 3116 - Karma: 76
Buy foot warmers (like hand warmers) I have like 6 of them but never used them because I always wondered how uncomfortable they would be in my boots
Dec 28 2007 10:44AM
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Roussel
Posts: 686 - Karma: 41
you might be buckling you boots too tight, try going down one notch, might feel weird at first but it will improve circulation.

also, keep your boots warm and dry before you go ski, dont put them in your trunk where they will get cold. and when you are done skiing, but them in a dry place, take out the liner and the footbed to make sure they dry properly for the next time you go skiing.

put you ski socks on right before you put your boots on (dont haul all your gear and stuff with your ski socks on cuz then you'll sweat and they will get wet)

always remember, keeping dry is the key to staying warm.
Dec 28 2007 10:48AM
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Meh42
Posts: 2431 - Karma: 14
Try and keep your core warmer.  Somebody said it up above, but it really helps.  Your body works by keeping the warm blood around your vital organs and pumping away the cold blood to lesser needed extremities.  Supposedly men's bodies do a better job of keeping the hands and feet warm because of their necessity to hunting though.

Either that or just ask a lifty for a couple of those warming packs.  At least at my mountain they get them for free and are more than happy to hand them out.

Dec 28 2007 10:49AM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
i used to have problems all of the time with my feet freezing due to the fact that my feet sweat like no other. try some super thin socks or if you're brave enough, and this is what i do, go without socks. sounds weird and your boots may smell a bit afterwards but your feet do stay warm. also unbuckle your boots on the lift ride. that will help immensely
Dec 28 2007 10:58AM
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dilla_says_go
Posts: 5333 - Karma: 168

i found these footbeds with Outlast.  i think they're called superfeet or something gay like that.  either way, they work wonders, even when i ski with damp socks.

Dec 28 2007 11:03AM
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ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
they make toe warmers.  You can get them at wal mart.  They are just hand warmers that are flat and compacted with a sticky side to stick to your ski sock.  They work really well, but you can def. feel them under your feet and they can be uncomfortable.
Dec 28 2007 11:24AM
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mrdrok
Posts: 14 - Karma: 10
Thanks for the input guys.

I rode and did just about everything you guys said.

Wore only ski socks.
Unbuckled boots on chairs/gondolas
Wiggled toes like crazy
used feet warmers

Comments: Feet warmers, well - do they even work? I'm not sure, but there is one thing i can say - they definately don't stick to your socks like they claim they do, and after just a few hours they're uncomforatable as fuck.  Next time i'm going to try everythingt except the toe warmers and see how it goes.  Toes did manage to stay warm though so i am happy, think it was a combination of everything.
Jan 4 2008 1:38AM
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Ryanvdonk
Posts: 12808 - Karma: 1,945
pressure points can restrict circulation, it's pretty simple really.
Jan 4 2008 2:03AM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
Yeah there ya go. I used to have this same issue, but footbeds seemed to solve the cold feet issue plus HEAPS more. Now when i wear my boots, it's like wearing a cloud
Jan 4 2008 2:06AM
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glass
Posts: 321 - Karma: 54
powdered ginger.

put it inside your socks before skiing and feel the warmth. it increases blood flow tremendously

and it's ALL NATURAL
Jan 4 2008 3:40AM
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Hctiws_iks
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 25
you said they dont squish you feet,
but if you buckle your boots as  tight as possible can you feel any pressure points
around you ankle or calf?
if so consider going to a bootfitting place and getting that part of the boot contoured more towards your leg.
if you cant really do that, make sure you unbuckle your boots on the lift ride.
 most has been said,
but,
A medium to thin sock, that wont push on your foot,
Take your liners out of your boots after skiing and let them dry,
a damp boot will not keep your feet warm.
Wear a wicking layer on your legs and pay attention that your knees and rest of legs dont get cold,
if they do, your feet are sure to follow.
The bottom buckle should be just tight enough to keep snow out and no more.
try to keep the next one loose as you can, as long as it don'st cause heel lift, other looseness or change the flex feel.
If you continue to have problems, make sure you are keeping you core warm as well,
and stay hydrated with lukewarmish water, which will conserve energy more than anything(since your body doesnt have to raise the temperature of the water as much to be even with your body temp.
some people get the heated insoles, but i think they are only neccessary if you are fitting you boot size down as much as a serious racer,( which gives amazing control, but without tons of boot work, miserable feet)


Jan 4 2008 9:05AM
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colin13
Posts: 2201 - Karma: 216
on a cold day when you get to the top of the lift take your boot out of your binding. then balance on one foot and swing the other one back and forth really hard. this will increase circulation as blood is forced to your toes and will therefore warm them up. you can do the same with your hands by windmilling them.
Jan 4 2008 9:25AM
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jamesmccormick
Posts: 1481 - Karma: 17
i have bad circulation so i use toe warmers and they usually work
Jan 4 2008 10:21AM
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titsLOL
Posts: 7485 - Karma: 396
SILK SOCK LINERS!!! they're amazing, pretty cheap, and keep you so warm. just thin silk socks to wear under your normal ski socks.

and unbuckle your boots if you dont already

and if you really need to keep warm, get an emergency blanket (they're just a thing tin-foil like sheet if you dont know already) and cut it up and wrap the liner of your boots around your toes with it. they reflect heat so your toes should stay pretty warm then. I've never tried this with boots but I did it with gloves and it worked really well.
Jan 4 2008 10:25AM
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cobra_commander
Posts: 16909 - Karma: 4,682
Find the thinnest wicking sock you can. not cotton, when cotton gets wet it loses all of its ability to keep you warm. Wool is a little better, it will still insulate when it gets wet. But it does nothing to move the sweat and other water away from your foot. Find something polyester or other wicking material. And again find thin socks.

Don't buckle the buckle across the top of your foot. You don't actually need this buckle. All that it does is put unnecessary pressure on the top of your foot where the blood flows down to your toes. Just unbuckle for the entire day it is unnecessary.



Take a warm up run or two, with your boots hardly buckled. This gets the blood flowing. affter a run or two you can start to tighten the boot down.

When you are riding the lift, or in the lodge, or just standing around for whatever reason. Pop the buckles and loosen the power strap.


Jan 4 2008 10:29AM
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thatsG
Posts: 2561 - Karma: 1,755
I just stick the toe warmers at the top of my foot. Bloob circulation is at the top of foot.
Jan 4 2008 10:33AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Do these work? They seem a bit ridiculous.
Click for larger image

I use to use these in my golf shoes. They worked really good on bitter days. The hand warmers also worked good on my golf balls and made them go farther. I just don't know about ski boots.

But I just unbuckle the toe part and move my toes around on the lift.
Jan 4 2008 11:23AM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84

Correction: These in my golf shoes >>>> Click for larger image

http://warmers.com/ItemDetails.aspx?itemid=TWES40&pkey=Products%7cGrabber+Warmers%7cToe+Warmers+(40+pair)&pval=0%7c1%7cTWES40&pIds=Showcase%7cCategoryID%7citemid

Jan 4 2008 11:29AM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
buying hellbents will solve all your problems including cold toes
Jan 4 2008 11:38AM
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HeathR
Posts: 4357 - Karma: 1,379
boot gloves.   They work good and are cheap.
Jan 4 2008 12:01PM
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BMB
Posts: 3138 - Karma: 232
toe warmers and socks
Jan 4 2008 12:02PM
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HeathR
Posts: 4357 - Karma: 1,379
damn where do u golf? alaska?
Jan 4 2008 1:40PM
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Elg
Posts: 2998 - Karma: 3,880
i don't know if this works for your feet, but i usually wear some of those plastic gloves you use when you pick up garbage and other stuff you don't want to get on your hands. Off course i have some real gloves outside these plastic ones. the smart thing is that they don't let any heat out!

 you might fint some thin plastic bags to wear around your feet, for all i know it might work great!
Jan 4 2008 2:25PM
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kristie
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 214
Don't leave your boots in your car at night
Jan 4 2008 2:48PM
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yelsel
Posts: 12967 - Karma: 3,451
that and on your ride to the mountain, keep them in the backseat or something so they get a little warmer. do not keep them in the trunk
Jan 4 2008 2:57PM
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Valind
Posts: 4358 - Karma: 17
I had that problem.  I had too thick of socks on.  Now I just wear a liner.  its perfect.  Also, unbluckle your boots when not skiing, like on the lifts.  too many layers will make you sweat, then get cold.
Jan 4 2008 3:13PM
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Gall*
Posts: 63 - Karma: 19
If thats true than Viagra is pretty much pointless
Jan 4 2008 3:25PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Totally opposite actually. HAHA! It was definitely too cold to play golf though.
Jan 4 2008 5:21PM
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Skipig25
Posts: 10729 - Karma: 256
http://www.intuitionsports.com/page119.htm
Jan 4 2008 5:48PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
Depending on your boots you can put some tape where the little rubber near the toe is,this stops air form getting in.

wear your boots for awhile before you go out, dont get sweaty feet, but just enough to have them nice and warm.

dont buckle your bottom buckles up till the top of the chair and undo them every chair ride. If its super cold you can even ski with your top buckles looser than normal, it helps blood flow.

going up the chair put your feet behind you, like you are touching them to your ass, then tighten your quads as hard as you can for like 2 chair poles and then release it and sting your legs back, it like shoots blood into your toes.

Wiggle Toes

Hike

Change socks at lunch

suck it up












Jan 4 2008 5:58PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
that's awesome that the lifties give them out. at my mountain they're like $5 or something ridiculous for one.
Jan 4 2008 6:17PM
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ride-rider
Posts: 1761 - Karma: 20
toe warmers son!!!! you dont even feel them and they will keep your toes nice and toasty!!! and allso make shure you moving your toes every now and then to get some blood to them.
Jan 4 2008 7:01PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Same here, works everytime
Jan 4 2008 7:03PM
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MCIRONCOCK
Posts: 3094 - Karma: 30

Try wearing condoms on your feet.

Jan 4 2008 7:42PM
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sirskizalot
Posts: 4370 - Karma: 161
move them around
Jan 4 2008 7:50PM
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