Footwear in the cold, damp weather?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Has anyone got any recommendations for footwear that will keep my little toes warm and dry in this horrible weather? I suffer from poor circulation in the toes and fingers mind.....I have my wellies which are, of course, waterproof - and wear two pairs of socks - has anyone any good tips on anything else to keep the old tootsies warm? Thanks! Dexterdog

[Lesley Jay]

Yes. Thermal socks. Go to the Army & Navy store they are much cheaper.

[rustylady]

I HATE WELLIES - they make your feet sweat, so even if you start off warm, you end up cold with wet socks.

I wear leather walking/hiking boots (from Milletts) with thick socks, and as soon as you get in strip the lot off and give your poor old tootsies a soak in hot water with tea tree footbath!

[Digger-07]

I have a couple of pairs of Bridgedale hiking socks (not at the same time) from Millets (in Preston). I find that they are great even if they get damp. Condensation inside the welly not sweaty feet. Don't wear cotton or similar as when they get wet they act like a heat conductor taking any warmth from you.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Many thanks for that - know where Millets is in Preston, so could ask Santa for a pair of socks you recommend! Dexterdog

[dexterdoglancashire]

Actually, you've just reminded me - with regard to the hot bath.....we went fishing in Moffatt many years ago in January - yes, January! It was, of course, frozen over, and after a days fly fishing went back to the b+b - I took my boots off - my toes were burgundy! I really thought they were going to drop off in the bath! They have been lots of different shades of pink, red, blue and purple, but that was the worst time! Dexterdog PS I did catch a couple of very nice trout though!

[madderbat]

Hiking boots work better for me, nice thick sole & thermal socks help
Mr MB say purple Doc Martens are best!!!!!!!!
The old farmers when I was a kid used to put straw in their wellies for warmth - could be worth a try - or shredded newspaper.

[Alice]

Hello DDL, any proper fitting (roomy) boots or shoes, which are water proof, with good socks, should do the job. Wellingtons - NO ! No insulation there !
Who told you you suffer from poor circulation to your fingers and toes???? That would be a medical / surgical emergency.
I think if you go for big clumpy boots and wooly socks you will be Ok.

[Snadger]

Bare feet and Jesus sandles?

Hasn't been cold enough up our neck of the woods to warrent even thick socks yet!
Most are still walking round in shorts!

[nick the grief]

I swear by (or is it at) my beloved rigger boots - they've got a nice furry lining & a pair of my thick walking sox make it better still. If you've enough room in the old welliegogs try an insole in them , something like sorbothane - bit expensive but it's another layer between you & the cold wet ground.

[Geordie]

Hasn't been cold enough up our neck of the woods to warrent even thick socks yet!
Most are still walking round in shorts!

Seen a bloke in Borat type thong at allotments yesterday! Makes you proud to be male!!

[Birdie Wife]

You can get boot sox from some outdoors shops, they are like liners for wellies and they are terrific for keeping your feet warm. I wear mine like slippers round the house! They aren't chunky either. For fingers, windstoppa gloves are the business - quite think but excellent in cold conditions. Not so handy when wet but you can wring them out or even use them as liners inside waterproof gloves. Sealskinz gloves are completely waterproof but not greatly insulated.

[Alison]

Fur lined rigger boots and walking socks for me when it gets really bad but it's been pretty mild recently, just wet so I've found them a bit warm and gone back to normal wellies.

[OverWyreGrower]

I have seen (and I'll have to look these up on t'web) some little insoles to bob in the microwave and put inside your wellies...

I wear wellies for at least half the day (pink ones at that) and have on one pair of normal socks and a pair of thermal walking socks (which my trousers get tucked into to stop them getting uncomfy in the wellies)

What I'd like for Christmas is a huge pair of welly sock (knee length at least)!

[SueA]

DDL, I have the same problem, Raynauds syndrome & my toes & fingers go white, blue & purple too & my toes go completely dead & painful at the same time(is that possible?). A few years back the tips of my toes went completely black & looked like gangrene! O.H. sent me off to the docs who sent me to see a specialist. He said it was Raynauds (or Reynauds) & I should wear 2 thin pairs of socks together not 1 thick, not put my hands in cold water(how are you supposed to pell spuds etc.), drink brandy or whisky to get the circulation going or move to Florida! I had blood tests & he said I could take tablets to help the circulation but as they had lots of side-effects I decided not to. Not had as bad a case in recent years but still get dead fingers & toes every so often.You can buy little hand warmers that you slip in your gloves now as well, not sure how they work but have seen them in hiking shops. So there you go DDL, break out the booze it's a good excuse, just a shame I don't like spirits myself!