Poster: A snowHead
|
The heated in-soles I use are by Thermic, and like Hotronic have three heat settings. I don't use the hottest setting as the battery expires too quickly, but settings 1 and 2 are useful. They don't really give a sensation of warmth for your feet, but there is enough heat to stop your toes from going cold. If you want that 'warm as toast' feeling I suggest staying in the hotel bar by the log fire.
The in-soles can either be direct replacements , or small pads which are glued to the bottom of your exisiting in-soles (useful if you've had custom footbeds made). I fitted them myself, with the aid of a sharp Stanley knife. The batteries clip onto the back of your boots, and you are not aware of them at all.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
I'll give the standard remedies that I give to my students re cold feet;
1. Wear thin ski socks. I realize it's counter intuitive, however thick socks seems to cut off circulation.
2. Purchase footbeds from a reputable bootfitter.
3. Buy a boot dryer and use it nightly. I cannot describe the number of students I teach on holiday who have damp wet boots by day three. An inexpensive bootdryer can be purchased and packed in a suitcase for travel.
4. Wear one pair of socks to the mountain in street shoes and change into ski socks at the mountain. In addition spray your feet with an anti-perspirant. Dry feet are warm feet.
5. Loosen boot buckles on chair rides.
6. On cold days take frequent breaks. Ski for an hour and warm for five minutes. On really cold days avoid early runs. Never remove boots to warm feet. Feet will swell and it's tough to get boots back on your feet.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
easiski wrote: |
the links are great folks - I'm going to get heated insoles for next winter - just in case!!! |
A good choice I think. Given the length of your skiing days you might want consider an extra pair of batteries as that is the one weakness of heated in-soles (other than forgetting to put the battery on charge!).
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
On the subject of cold feet the critical thing is to avoid moisture - which means making sure socks and liners are absolutely dried out every day. If possible never leave your boots in the boot room (unless they have boot warmers) or in the back of the car etc. If you have to leave boots in the boot room then at least take the liners out and take them to your room overnight.
On the subject of socks, moisture (from sweat) is the main contributor. A few years ago when I was in Canada it was in the minus 30's and there was much debate in the day lodge on the cold feet issue. Many of the locals would bring a fresh pair of socks and not put them on till the last minute in the day lodge, plus have a spare pair to change into at lunch time. They also recommended wearing the thinnest socks possible - I think it is to get the snuggest and most consistent fit possible. I even heard of somebody who wore no socks at all and sprayed his feet with anti-perspirant, but that seems a bit extreme. However I think quite a few locals use talcum powder on their feet to combat the moisture issue.
Finally, I invested in a couple of Merino wool thermals and cannot fault them - I can wear them next to my skin for up to a week and they genuinely dont get too smelly, whereas if I use a manmade thermal like a Helly Hansen or Patagonia Capiliane I'm luck if I can wear it for more than a day without being embarrased about the smell over lunch!
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Sorry - I completely failed to read the second page of posts int he thread! Apologies for any repetition as Rusty Guy seems to have already made some of my points!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dry clean socks, remove your boot inners and dry/warm them carefully next to the radiator, a decent warm windproof hat. Nice dry warm gloves (mittens are even warmer) and a good breakfast. Also lots of walking, particularly uphill before you ski should thoughly warm up all your extremities !
Not sure whether hangovers and alchol remaining in the blood stream would lead to cold feet ? Probably wouldn't help.....not that I'm suggesting you're an alcholic or anything.....just need to cover all angles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
When i used to play a lot of football and it was cold and wet I used to put vaseline or petroleum jelly on my toes to keep them warm. Kicking a wet heavy ball with cold wet feet is extremely painful.
When i started skiing I had very cold feet on the first day. Used the petroleum jelly on the second day and have never had cold feet since. Interestingly since converting to a snowboard I have nto used the petroleum jelly and have never had cold feet.
Maybe soft boots keep your feet warmer than hard boots?
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
ashton parker, Aren't snowboard boots a little less snug than ski boots? Vicks vapor rub is meant to be good for chilblains.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
i bought heated insoles with battery pack last year, which of course guaranteed that instant change in the weather from -15 to +15 in about a week. However, the first couple of days were hopeful, and the pads worked well (should do, at the price) though it takes good organisation with the batteries as they don't last a whole day, even on the lowest setting.
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
easiski, I got frostbite skiing at Rusty's resort a few years back!
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Wear The Fox Hat, Thanks - race boots - brrrrrrr! Frostbite's nasty isn't it? Were you able to articulate when the circulation re-started? I can only remember dreadful pain and fingers the size of sausages (the big ones). Bright red (better than stone white though!)
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
easiski, there was a tiny gap between my goggles and my face mask on one side, and it caused mild frostbite on my face. It looked like a massive bruise for a couple of months.
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
easiski, I've had the white stone fingers. Substandard gloves, with inferior filling+rather cold temps. Was chucked out of ski school, and told to return with new gloves. My fingers did warm up again, but the feeling did not return properly for around 3 days.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
easiski, Well, Thinsulate's properties can be over hyped. Mine were Thinsulate!! I went and paid loads for a pair of Reusch gloves. They were great, ski school let me back in and the gloves lasted for years. I took the 1st pair of gloves back to the store and got a full refund. Now I usually carry a pair of glove liners in my backpack, and I always buy gloves on the large side
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
snowbunny, I suffer from cold hands even in England and wear gloves from autumn to spring, but I find a closely fitting glove much better at trapping the warm air. So much so that my mountain bike gloves are warmer than a pair ski gloves that I was given.
I buy ski gloves 1/2 size to small so I get a very close fit and my hands are as warm as toast even on the coldest days. Although, this works for me it might not for others.
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
davidb, Great stuff, works for you and the opposite works for me- so how did we all get from feet to hands
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowbunny, I'm with you. I buy Hestra gloves half mit half glove which are the warmest I've found (they also have a fleece glove liner) + I wear fleece inners + silk inners as well - on occasion I wear 3 pairs of fleeces gloves - works well so long as the outer ones are big enough!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louis, You've had so many replies that I gave up reading halfway down and skipped to this reply. I would endorse the quality sock comments, look for a pair with a high (40% or more) content of Merino wool (must be Merino). 2 pairs of socks is good for blisters but if your boots fit correctly 2 pairs will be too tight and stop circulation.
|
|
|
|
|
|