Tips on How to Warm Your Fingers and Toes on Cold Days

Are your fingers and toes always cold?

Here are a few things to try on cold days to keep your hands and feet warm:

• Feet:
  • Instead of wearing two pairs of socks or an extra thick sock, layer up with a liner (to keep you dry) and one pair of high-quality wicking socks. With this technique your feet won’t be crammed inside the boot, allowing blood flow and therefore, heat. The same principle applies to hands and gloves – if they are tight, you will be cold.
  • Choose an insulated boot over a regular pair of boots. Whether snowshoeing or skiing, your feet are constantly in contact with the snow - this means, your feet are losing more heat that the rest of you. If you cross country ski, boot covers are also available to wear over your boots to keep your feet warm.
  • Wear gaiters. Gaiters block the wind from the tops of your boots, aiding in reducing evaporative cooling from your socks and wicking away foot moisture.
• Hands:
  • Choose mittens over gloves. Keeping your fingers together creates more shared warmth, and you can always wear a pair of gloves under your mitts if you need to. If the mitts have a pocket for hand warmers it’s even better! Heated gloves (and socks) are available in some stores for those who can never keep their fingers and toes warm enough.

• Don’t forget to wiggle your fingers and toes to keep the blood flowing! Blood flow is more important than insulation.
• Hand and boot warmers. These are always handy to have in your pack to use in case of emergency.
• Eat more cinnamon. Cinnamon has many health benefits, including increasing blood circulation.
• If your hands and feet are cold when camping, be sure to remove wet gloves and socks, dry your hands and feet and put on something warm and dry as soon as possible.
• Wear a hat. By wearing a hat to keep your head warm, your body will have more heat to warm your entire body, including your fingers and toes.

If none of these tricks work, do 15 to 20 jumping jacks to get your blood pumping, put on some extra layers, and head for shelter.

If your hands and toes are always cold and you would like to learn more about the type of gear that is available that may work best for you and your needs, feel free to contact us at the store, or come in to see us.