Archived on 6/5/2022

How to keep my feet warm?

Gillipops
10 Dec '21

OK, so I know I have circulation, thyroid, raynauds issues - but can anyone recommend an electric sock that will warm my feet? My flat is EPC rating C (v good), I have the central heating on, I have my electric throw blanket over me, I have my eskimo fleece on, I have my socks and sheep skin slippers on, I shove my feet and hands under very hot water in the bathroom…but nothing stops my whole self freezing for most of the day because the TOP of my hands and feet (where the skin is the thinnest) feel so cold it’s painful and makes the rest of me freeze. I feel a prisoner to my chair, where all this paraphernalia is on me and wrapped around me. I don’t want to move from my chair, as then I’ll knock the hot water bottle off of the top of my feet. It’s ridiculous. It’s not an age thing - I’ve always been like this, so I’m not going down the route of buying those ‘circulation machines you place your feet on’ as advertised on daytime TV - plus, I’d be back to being stuck in one place. I’m looking at heated socks, as only DIRECT heat works, and at least this means I can be moving around. Amazon etc. sell them, seemingly they use USB chargers/rechargeable batteries, but most only heat the souls of your feet…which isn’t the area in pain from the cold - it’s the top, where my veins are more exposed, like the top of my hands. Some of the ads on Google make their socks look like they’re aimed at the SAS or Olympians ski’ing down the north face of Everest. That’s a bit out of my league. Can anyone recommend? I’m like this for about 10 months a year, unless there’s a heatwave outside that’s melting the tarmac.

applespider
10 Dec '21

No idea on the socks I’m afraid - and I’m guessing those little sachets would just make your shoes uncomfortable.

But since the blood flow to those areas have to pass through the ankles/wrist, is there any way of warming those areas that might help your hands/feet? The sachets might fit into a wrist/ankle cuff?

Hope someone has a good answer for you.

blushingsnail
10 Dec '21

If you have Raynaud’s I don’t think ‘normal’ suggestions for keeping feet warm will work.

I find that thick soles are key to warm feet - in this weather I find sheepskin slippers too cold for all-day wear so wear proper lace-up shoes with thick soles. What type of socks are you wearing? Hiking socks with looped lining will be warmer than normal socks, but you’ll need to wear them in roomier shoes to allow for the extra thickness.

I like Applespider’s suggestion about keeping your wrists and ankles warm too. Wrist warmers and leg warmers? Wool will be warmer and also dries more quickly than cotton after laundering. Wool leg warmers are hard to find though - I ended up repurposing knee-high wool socks instead.

GillB
10 Dec '21

I have rheumatoid arthritis, so get cold very easily to the point of shivering! I always have socks on indoors, & strangely my feet aren’t as cold since I was disagnosed 20 odd years ago!
What about fingerless gloves indoors? I assume you always wear gloves when out?
My dad had reynauds, & he was told to wear silk gloves & socks. He never tried them, but wonder if they would help at all.

GillB
10 Dec '21

I wonder if a company like Damart may be able to help?

marymck
11 Dec '21

I also agree that keeping ankles warm is a great help. I also find keeping the back of my neck warm helps my whole system. I have a padded down filled waistcoat with a high ish neck that is superb. Online you can find heated gilets - not that I’ve tried one - but by coincidence saw them mentioned just yesterday when ordering fish online! Life's outtakes
Made me wonder how fishermen cope?

I know you can find heated motorbike gloves online - as well as gilets - but they would be bulky.

For a winter boat trip up the Norwegian coast I invested in pure silk underwear (yes, long John’s and vests!) from Patra. Absolutely brilliant. Northern Light spotting at sea at night only my unprotected face got cold (scarily cold). It’s expensive but washes and dries really quickly. You just need smooth nails so as not to snag the fabric.

They do socks and neck and chest warmers too

https://m.patra.com/Category/Women-Silk-Thermals

Mac_SE23
11 Dec '21

Not a permanent solution, but these give 8 hours of heat and by all accounts, are great and always appear in the ‘best of’ lists for hand and feet warmers.

applespider
11 Dec '21

I had those when I went on a trip to Finland a few years back and they were brilliant.

Similarly to Mary, I invested in under layers for that trip. I already had lots of merino wool for cycling/skiing in cold weather in different weights and I think I topped out at 4 total on that trip. It was -40C at night… although so dry that I think I actually felt more chilled when I was stood waiting at Heathrow for the bus!

GillB
11 Dec '21

Another thing I have found that helps (when going out when really cold or standing about) is to put pop socks on & normal socks on the top. Or put normal tights on under jeans or leggings.
I agree about keeping ankles & necks warm. My neck stiffens up so quickly.

JohnH1
13 Dec '21

Patra also sell silk under socks that you could pair with Heat Holders Thermal socks on top.