Alabama has warm weather for most of the year, so we’re often caught off guard and underprepared when it occasionally gets cold outside during the winter.
Keeping feet warm in winter can be challenging for anyone, especially for individuals with conditions causing neuropathy or poor blood circulation.
Today, our podiatrists offer expert recommendations on how to keep feet warm in winter. Keep reading to learn more!
Six Ways to Keep Feet Warm in Winter
#1: Choose Your Shoes Wisely
As foot specialists, we are passionate about wearing the proper footwear daily to suit your tasks, conditions, and activities. You wouldn’t wear heels to a marathon, for example.
Shoe material makes all the difference in keeping feet warm in winter. Breathability is usually a priority for healthy feet, but in colder conditions, ditch your mesh shoes and wear ones made of leather instead.
#2: In-sole-ation (Insulation) is Key
Homes stay warm by trapping heat in the insulation in the walls. This same idea can be applied to keep feet warm in winter by insulating your regular shoes with heat-trapping materials. Try adding one of the following inexpensive household items to the inside of your shoes when you find yourself getting cold feet (in a literal sense):
- Paper Products: Newsprints, paper towels, napkins, etc.
- Plastic Products: Cling wrap, disposable shower caps, sandwich bags, etc.
#3: DIY a Winter Shoe Shield
It’s not always practical or affordable to buy new leather shoes when winter weather hits, and sometimes, leather can clash with an outfit or type of activity.
In cases like these and countless other scenarios where you’re going out in regular, breathable shoes, you’ll need inner shoe insulation (as mentioned in the previous section) to keep heat in and an external shield to keep moisture out.
You can DIY a winter shoe shield with either duct tape or a shower cap. A shower cap is good in a pinch, but duct tape reigns supreme in longevity and efficacy. Layering them for ultimate waterproofing is also a good option.
Apply the duct tape shield along the stitching where the top of the shoe and the sole meet and anywhere else where the material is thin or porous. If you’re braving an icy, rainy day wearing tennis shoes mostly made of breathable mesh, you’ll need to duct tape most of the shoe with 2–3 layers.
#4: Sock it to Winter with Warm Wool and Sweat-Wicking Polypropylene
We podiatrists recommend wearing socks with your shoes year-round to prevent blisters and calluses, but if you insist on going sockless on occasion, don’t let it be during the winter.
When choosing the best socks to keep feet warm in winter, go for those made of cozy wool or sweat-wicking polypropylene (or better yet, layer them for maximum warmth).
#5: Pop in Warmers for Toasty Toes On-the-Go
You’ve probably seen the hand warmers you shake to activate, but did you know that the same companies often make a kind specifically for feet, too? Well, they sure do!
If you purchase warmers for toasty toes, you’ll want to ensure you add some of the sweat-wicking socks we referred to in the previous section to your cart, too.
#6: Keep Your Toes Tapping
Don’t worry; we’re not suggesting you take up tap dancing (unless you want to). The final piece of advice in this blog post concerns maintaining movement to keep feet warm in winter weather.
If, for any reason, you ever had to stay outside as a child in cold weather for longer than you wanted, an adult probably told you: “Go run around. Get your blood pumping. You won’t be cold after that.” Those were words of wisdom because movement leads to better blood flow (circulation), which your body needs to warm itself from head to toe.
So, get moving, whether on a camping trip, traveling from one indoor place to another, or otherwise feeling chilly! You don’t have to run a marathon; just do some stretches, take a brisk walk or jog, or move however works best for you and your body.
Caring for Your Feet in All Seasons
Thanks for reading today’s blog post on how to keep feet warm in winter. If you can’t find relief from the chill in your feet no matter what you try, you may be dealing with symptoms of an undiagnosed condition that our podiatrists would happily consult with you about.
Don’t hesitate to get the help you need; please contact our staff at Foot Specialists of Birmingham today! We’ll gladly help you set up an appointment with our incredible team of podiatry experts and nursing assistants who are certified by the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants.
