You could always use the old-fashioned brick method. Heat up a brick in the oven or fireplace. Place it inside a paper bag (if it is sooty or dirty) and then inside a few socks and put it under your covers at your feet.
I use chemical toe warmers stuck to the upper inside of my boot, along with wool socks. This way, I don’t have some lumpy thing under my foot when it’s in the stirrup. I got a huge pack of them from Costco, but while they say they last 5 hrs, I’m lucky to get 2 hrs in sub-20 temps.
Sometimes, I prefer a silk sock liner under a merino wool sock, but I have a hard time finding the silk liners in knee high length. I hate the dress sock height.
Even if I warm my feet up quickly after being out if they’ve gotten numb, my toes will hurt for some time.
[QUOTE=mvp;7863821]
OP, you have two different problems here: Preventing those bad boys from getting too cold in the first place and warming them up, pronto, when you come in.[/QUOTE]
This!! Trying to ensure your feet don’t get damp or chilled is important. Wool socks that wick moisture in a good boot with lots of room for your feet to move to ensure circulation works for me.
If my feet do get cold, I tend to just sit on the bathroom counter and dunk my feet in the sink with warm water. Dry well, put on socks and jump in bed!! Otherwise it takes me forever even with a heating blanket to warm them up.
The BoT socks are great - super thin, so I like to layer them under a second pair. It could just be the layering that helps, but if the BoT material gives me a tiny bit of extra warmth, they’re totally worth it. The chemical toe warmers help too - just as IPEsq suggests, put them on the top of your toes, rather than under - easier walking and I think they need a bit of air to work well.
Want to see a picture?
http://whatanimpression.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=11214#image=168114
It was in the low 40s and windy that day, and my feet were fine. (I did put on a coat and long pants when I wasn’t actually running the dogs.)
Hats and gloves make a big difference in how warm the rest of me stays, too, and good layering on the rest of your body helps to keep your extremities comfortable.
Oh, and the BoT socks are on sale at Bit of Britain right now - buy one pair, get the second at half price!
One other idea - when you come in from working or riding outside in cold, change your clothes. There is invariably some dampness trapped in your clothes that will keep your core cool, which will cause colder hands and feet.
If your feet get really cold and there is little circulation, beware of heating them up too quickly…or the dreaded chilblains may appear. The sock liner to wick away moisture helps a lot…however, we do not live is a v.e.r.y. cold area, so my history is from long ago.
Oh, another thing. If your legs are very warm, then that will help your feet stay warm. My toes may start going numb while I’m riding, even with wool, chemical warmers, etc. Doesn’t really help that my saddle feels like a block of ice through my breeches. But then during the cool-out walk, when I put a cooler on the horse and tuck it over my legs, my feet will warm back up even though my heart rate has dropped. The more your body is cold, the less circulation gets to the hands and feet.
[QUOTE=IPEsq;7864587]
I use chemical toe warmers stuck to the upper inside of my boot, along with wool socks. This way, I don’t have some lumpy thing under my foot when it’s in the stirrup. I got a huge pack of them from Costco, but while they say they last 5 hrs, I’m lucky to get 2 hrs in sub-20 temps.
Sometimes, I prefer a silk sock liner under a merino wool sock, but I have a hard time finding the silk liners in knee high length. I hate the dress sock height.
Even if I warm my feet up quickly after being out if they’ve gotten numb, my toes will hurt for some time.[/QUOTE]
Ditto to the chemical warmers.
I curl twice a week and could not get through a game (2+hours) without them.
The toe ones are sticky…I put them on top of my toes, then wool socks on top.
I use the hand warmers, too.
And wool socks in bed.
And I am wearing my little BOT gloves as I type!
Bunny boots and smart wool socks do the trick for me. The boots are uglier than sin, but my toes are warm!
Thanks for all the tips guys! Ive got a lot of warm socks and stuff on my Christmas list! As well as an electric blanket! So far Ive only had one night where my feet got cold and it took hours to warm them up. I should have just taken a bath and been done with it! Even standing in the shower for a long long time doesnt help. Once they do warm up, they are find for the night. I actually get super hot. No in between for me! Either freezing or nearly sweating. Been that way since I was a teenager. Some of these ideas I’m def going to try, at least the ones I havent already! Thanks again!
Great ideas on this thread!
Since I sold my farm, I have been working at the farm where I board my horse. It has been a challenge going from barn work boots to riding boots and still keeping my feet warm.
My Muck boots definitely get damp during my barnwork, so when I get home I put them on this
These dryers are great! They dry out and warm up boots, gloves and anything that gets damp. Nothing like putting a warm pair of boots before going outside.
I also bought these and I microwave them and put them in a closed insulated bag inside my paddock boots. Luckily the tack room is heated so it helps a bit. I have a pair of fresh sock liners and Smartwool socks. When I’m done barn work, I take off the Muck boots and socks (they will be a little damp from sweat at times so that’s why I have fresh socks) and change into the new socks and paddock boots. So far it has helped but I will admit that since I only have an outdoor arena, I don’t ride when the ground is frozen.
I just bought a set of shoe warmers that I can plug into an outlet to warm up my paddocks, so that is the next thing I plan to try out
http://www.amazon.com/DryGuy-Circulator-Footwear-Dryer-Warmer/dp/B0030EIYQ0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416581866&sr=8-2&keywords=shoe+warmer
I second all the above ideas and wanted to add that I have also found a huge difference keeping my hands warm if I use disposable gloves under my regular gloves. I think the nitrile ones would last the longest if you are out for a long period of time. I make sure I moisturize my hands first and that helps prevent dry skin.
No matter how much I have learned to outsmart winter, I still hate it with a passion!
