All socks are not equal.
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Haix boots have a steel plate in the sole to prevent chainsaw undercut. Plus, the toe caps and that's half your problem right there. Thick insoles and army arctic socks will help, but high activity is the only way we'd keep our toes warm in winter.
I found steelies almost as bad as having wet feet. Makes sense when the physics is considered.
Good quality wool socks and two pair at a time, thicker outer and thinner inner. Proper wool merino mix at around a shocking near tenner a pair but they do last, like your brigdales.
Good quality wool socks and two pair at a time, thicker outer and thinner inner. Proper wool merino mix at around a shocking near tenner a pair but they do last, like your brigdales.
I have gortex socks if I need too, but I have snow boots or my karrimor's and it was only -3 my way so the boots were fine on there own.
During the little chilly spell we had last week, my feet (and all my work colleagues) were frozen (we're tree surgeons), this is despite 2 pairs of wool socks. But, one of the days i was on maintenance and wore my old walking boots and my feet were toasty. Any boots with steel in will suck the heat out so quickly. Even my Lundhags, with just 1 set of wool insoles are pretty warm when I'm otter watching in scotland.
I usually wear a pair of thin Aclima liners and some thick Urberg hunting socks, both wool heavy.
I usually wear a pair of thin Aclima liners and some thick Urberg hunting socks, both wool heavy.
I have found that the Varusteleka Särmä merino mix terry knee length socks have been pretty comfy over the past couple of months. Not cheap, but good. I dont do steel toecaps though.
I had wondered if they had come up with something other than steelies and it seems composite are set to replace them.
http://us.magnumboots.com/blog/composite-toe-vs-steel-toe-work-boots/
http://us.magnumboots.com/blog/composite-toe-vs-steel-toe-work-boots/
I have tried all sorts of socks and have recently come across Corrymoor mohair ones. They are truly fantastic and, in my opinion, knock any merino, wool or bamboo varieties out of the ring. They are soft, warm and very, very hard wearing - and British! Thoroughly recommended!
As ever, I have no association with the company but I am one extremely satisfied customer.
As ever, I have no association with the company but I am one extremely satisfied customer.
It's well worth investing in appropriate footware, especially if your going to be in a static situation.
My winter boots are sized to allow for thicker or layered socks. When buying new boots it's best to try them later in the day when your feet are at their largest, tight boots don't help to keep your feet warm.
Winter socks for me are Woolpower Merino, got some different weights so I can layer if required, but my favourites are Dachsteins
It's not been really cold up here this winter so my Sorels have a had a rest and I've been using a pair of the issue ECWW boots with a GoreTex lining, I've been quite impressed with them and they've done the job admiraly.
It been donkeys years since I've had cold feet, been there, done that, never to return.
My sons been using a pair of 10mm Bison neoprene wellies this winter, £50 on eBay IIRC, and he's been well impressed.
My winter boots are sized to allow for thicker or layered socks. When buying new boots it's best to try them later in the day when your feet are at their largest, tight boots don't help to keep your feet warm.
Winter socks for me are Woolpower Merino, got some different weights so I can layer if required, but my favourites are Dachsteins
It's not been really cold up here this winter so my Sorels have a had a rest and I've been using a pair of the issue ECWW boots with a GoreTex lining, I've been quite impressed with them and they've done the job admiraly.
It been donkeys years since I've had cold feet, been there, done that, never to return.
My sons been using a pair of 10mm Bison neoprene wellies this winter, £50 on eBay IIRC, and he's been well impressed.
Just one reminder: I know people in the past have shoved an extra pair of socks on in order to keep their feet warm forgetting that their boots will now be much tighter thereby reducing blood flow and actually making their feet colder. Extra insulation requires bigger boots I purposefully bought my chainsaw boots a size larger but can't use them is summer; they're too hot with the extra padding 
I purposefully bought my chainsaw boots a size larger but can't use them is summer; they're too hot with the extra padding 
No.... I NEVER wear two pairs of socks. You need space in your shoes to keep warm air circulating around. It doesn't really matter what type of socks you have, wool, cotton, synthetic etc. they don't even have to be very thick, but they must never ever be tight (I've even been okay outside with no socks in my boots before). In the winter I always wear slightly larger boots with an inner felt liner like Sorel Caribous (best boots for the job I've found so far). I've never had cold feet with this set up, even whilst standing around for hours on snow (at -15c).
Yeah, I think that a lot of it is having the space in your boot or shoe to allow good flow of blood and be able to create a warm atmosphere around the foot, I've not worn them for years but my couple of years living in Newfoundland and eastern Canada would have been a lot less comfortable without my Sorels, I was often out in -10 to -20 deg and fine.
I think Socks make a big difference as well, but they're compromised if they're tight or the footwear is too tight. I like a new pair of socks as well, seems to be more loft in them! Insulative insoles for the footwear can help as well. Keeping feet dry si good as well
I think Socks make a big difference as well, but they're compromised if they're tight or the footwear is too tight. I like a new pair of socks as well, seems to be more loft in them! Insulative insoles for the footwear can help as well. Keeping feet dry si good as well
I've done a 40 minute walk on snow in vibram five fingers before, does that count?
Get some home knitted thick woolen long socks!
Have been preventing cold feet (and worse) for millenia!
Have been preventing cold feet (and worse) for millenia!
Decent wool sock and proper winter neoprene wellies.....ie Grub snowline
Little late but anyways.
You have to have big enough boots for cold weather, thick wool socks and merino liners. And also you do have to have good, thick wool insole. And if your feet gets wet, change socks immediately. If there is enough cold, -10 degrees celsius, then don’t use goretex, leather is better. If weather is really cold, goretex socks are almost dangerous. Here in Finland nobody uses goretex socks on winter.
You have to have big enough boots for cold weather, thick wool socks and merino liners. And also you do have to have good, thick wool insole. And if your feet gets wet, change socks immediately. If there is enough cold, -10 degrees celsius, then don’t use goretex, leather is better. If weather is really cold, goretex socks are almost dangerous. Here in Finland nobody uses goretex socks on winter.
I have snowmobile boots. A shell and very thick, cloth-covered foam liner.
I'm not active enough to need spare liners but they are easy to find and buy.
I can jump in, barefoot, and do things outdoors at -20C in the snow.
Sled heads will ride until they have just enough gas to get off the hill.
So they dress accordingly with an Avalung and Pieps on top.
The liners pull out for proper drying. I think that this is almost a safety feature for your toes.
Never Goretex socks. Always pure wool. Be good to yourself!
Dakota oil-field boots are good to -40C for working outdoors on oil rigs.
As others point out = stay as dry as you can. Dakota sells spare liners
so you can start every shift in dry boots.
I can say that none of what I've described is worth a darn if you have to do much walking.
Just too heavy and too bulky.
I'm not active enough to need spare liners but they are easy to find and buy.
I can jump in, barefoot, and do things outdoors at -20C in the snow.
Sled heads will ride until they have just enough gas to get off the hill.
So they dress accordingly with an Avalung and Pieps on top.
The liners pull out for proper drying. I think that this is almost a safety feature for your toes.
Never Goretex socks. Always pure wool. Be good to yourself!
Dakota oil-field boots are good to -40C for working outdoors on oil rigs.
As others point out = stay as dry as you can. Dakota sells spare liners
so you can start every shift in dry boots.
I can say that none of what I've described is worth a darn if you have to do much walking.
Just too heavy and too bulky.
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