• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Anne Miller
  • r ranson
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Leigh Tate
stewards:
  • Beau Davidson
  • Nicole Alderman
  • paul wheaton
master gardeners:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Nancy Reading
  • Jay Angler
gardeners:
  • Jules Silverlock
  • Mike Barkley
  • Jordan Holland

Best warm socks?

 
pollinator
Posts: 113
Location: Minnesota
116
homeschooling kids purity trees books cooking
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I tried searching the forums but didn't see a topic about this.  I'm looking for the warmest socks that folks recommend (especially from small and sustainable companies).  We live in Minnesota and I have a blood condition that leads to poor circulation and painfully cold toes in the winter time.  I frequently have to take scalding foot baths during the days just to warm them up, as they get so cold the pain distracts me from anything else and they turn white or purple.  It also keeps me from enjoying winter sports like ice skating and sledding with my kids because my toes start to ache so quickly even with layers and good boots. Now I'm recovering from covid several months ago and even though it's summer I can't get my feet to stay warm even with socks on (this thing can affect your circulation, blood vessels, blood pressure and more for months).  I am not looking forward to fall if my toes are this icy when it's 90!  I'm also doing all I can to improve my circulation but it's not making a big difference.  I'd love to hear recommendations for brands, materials, etc. of socks that work really well.  TIA!
 
gardener
Posts: 3023
Location: South of Capricorn
1466
dog rabbit urban cooking writing homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I think there are a few of us here with Reynaud's syndrome here, you're definitely not the only one with freezing feet.

I have some nice wool socks of all different types, but on the rawest winter days when my house is absurdly cold, I pull out the polar fleece socks. I know they're not the ideal raw material but they are the warmest, hands down, and I've had them now for nearly 15 years, and have at least that much more life in them, so I don't feel too bad. The other good thing is that they dry very quickly so I can have fewer of them. I got mine at a job-lot type place, but I know you can also get them on Etsy and support someone local.
 
gardener
Posts: 797
Location: Ontario - Currently in Zone 4b
503
dog foraging trees tiny house books bike bee
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
My #1 tip for warm feet are over large clompy boots with lots of toe wiggling space.

I own workboots rated to -100C. No, thats not a typo, they have more than an inch of thick foam. The first time I wore them, my feet froze at -20 because they were too tight, and kept my toes from wiggling. Now, with some wear and compression of the foam, they are too warm above -25C or so.

I typically wear uninsulated boots one size too big with a sheepskin insoles for all but the coldest days. Inside, I wear thick wool socks with lots of fluffy to them (J.B. fields Icelandic are my favourites). If it's extra cold, I wear a thin layer of wool or polyester socks underneath, as always, making sure my feet have lots of space to flex.


 
pollinator
Posts: 316
Location: Yukon Territory, Canada. Zone 1a
81
transportation hugelkultur cat books cooking food preservation bike building writing rocket stoves wood heat
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I find my circulation is poorer and poorer as I approach middle-age. I live in a place where it often goes below -40 (Celsius and fahrenheit meet there) and I like to get outside for recreation as well as work.

Some tools I've used:
Alpaca foot beds... felted alpaca wool is amazingly warm. A local farmer here has her wool felted into standard foot bed liners and they are great for slipping into boots, shoes, or even slippers for around the house. Alpaca foot bed on etsy

Hut Booties... these are used by mountaineers inside tents and alpine huts where they cant wear boots and crampons for obvious reasons. Basically a down jacket for your feet, with a grippy bottom. MEC down booties

Room in my footwear... I fit people into ski boots as part of my Winter job. Often people come in complaining about frozen feet, and their story often goes "My feet were cold, so I put on super thick socks and it didn't help!". Look at the top of your foot... you will see many blood vessels along the outside surface. If they are compressed, blood will not flow to your toes. Moral of the story is: sometimes a thicker sock is the problem, not the solution.

Footwear fit... do you pronate, are you an over supinator? Some shoes are built for certain gaits and will be horrible if you have a different way of walking. This can cause circulation issues as well as discomfort. Look at the bottom of your well used footwear. Are the scuff marks at your big toe and at the outside heel? You are a pronator. Down the middle is neutral. Wear at the pinky toe and inside heel is supination... that's pretty rare and hard to buy off the shelf shoes for. There are insoles that can help fit all of these gaits. A good brand is Superfeet.

Socks. A calf high sock made of wool (never, ever, cotton). Brands I've used and liked: Icebreaker, SmartWool, DarnTough, and Wigwam. Layering a thin sock under the wool to help move moisture away from your skin is a great way to help with perceived warmth as well. Like wearing a shirt under your down jacket so you don't feel wet and sticky.


feet-in-snow-1140x550-700x338.jpg
What it feels like
What it feels like
 
master gardener
Posts: 5023
Location: southern Illinois, USA
1619
goat cat dog chicken composting toilet food preservation pig bee solar wood heat homestead
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I use the standard backpacker approach.  Thin cotton socks on first.  Thick wool socks over that.  If I am going to be wet, I put a plastic bag in between.
 
gardener
Posts: 2183
Location: Western Kentucky
1309
dog gear foraging trees hunting food preservation cooking fiber arts woodworking wood heat rocket stoves
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I bought one pair of the Heat Holders socks and they are very good, but expensive and need larger shoes. The plush piling is unbelievably thick. The best thing to keep my feet warm I've ever found is the military intermediate cold weather "mickey" boots. If you shop around, they can be had for $20-$30. They require no heavy socks either; I just wear short cotton socks. I've seen some complain they make their feet sweat too much, but I've never had that problem.
 
pollinator
Posts: 164
Location: Ashland Ky
65
wofati rocket stoves homestead
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
this is not a small sustainable company and its not cheap being from Minnesota im sure you've heard of them but Duluth trading post makes the best cold weather socks.
 
Alicia Bayer
pollinator
Posts: 113
Location: Minnesota
116
homeschooling kids purity trees books cooking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thank you all for such good info and advice!  I'm off to look at links.  :)
 
John F Dean
master gardener
Posts: 5023
Location: southern Illinois, USA
1619
goat cat dog chicken composting toilet food preservation pig bee solar wood heat homestead
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I just noticed your location.  When I lived in MN I made good use of snowmobile boots with removable liners.
 
Clay Bunch
pollinator
Posts: 164
Location: Ashland Ky
65
wofati rocket stoves homestead
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Look for hosiery plants near you. I get smart wool socks for 50 cents a pair from their imperfect sales
 
author & steward
Posts: 3937
Location: Southeastern U.S. - Zone 7b
2160
4
goat cat forest garden foraging food preservation fiber arts medical herbs writing solar wood heat homestead
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Years ago I found socks in a home-shoppers catalog made with metallic thread. They were advertised as helping cold feet, so I bought a pair.



They work by reflecting body heat back, so I put them on first with a pair of heavy wool socks over the top. (Wool has wonderful insulation properties!) The metallic socks really help! When I wear them, I don't feel like my feet are two painful blocks of ice.

The only negative I have is that they have gotten runs in them over the years.

Those catalogs seem to be a thing of the past, so I'm not sure who sells these anymore.
 
We're all out of roofs. But we still have tiny ads:
The Low Tech Laboratory Movie Kickstarter is LIVE NOW!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/low-tech
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic