How do you keep you feet warm?

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pixie

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I have appalling circulation. I wear two pairs of socks all day + slippers/shoes and they are still cold. I also wear gloves all day, but my hands are still cold.
When I ride I wear skiiing socks (so they are supposed to be really warm) and a pair of tights, and can just about manage to squeeze them into my joddy boots. Yet my toes still start going numb and painful with cold.
So, can anyone make any suggestions on which products (socks or joddy boots) to keep my tootsies toasty?
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I have to say I wear snow boots but they really aren't appropriate for riding. I don't like wearing lots of pairs of socks, the problem is they get your feet too hot before you get to the yard, your feet get moist which makes the cold 100 times worse. I tend to wear one pair of walking socks and nothing else, I keep active while riding (so mainly trot and canter only walking where I really have to) and seem to never got cold feet or hands. The end of my nose on the other hand goes like an icicle!
 
my OH explained this to me and the penny finally dropped...
you need to keep your CORE super-warm, then your body won't decrease circulation to your extremities. i bet you don't have cold fingers and toes on a summer's day...! (unless you have Reynaulds etc) your body reduces blood flow to your extremities to keep your core warm, so if it's already toasty, it won't have to do that...!
for most people anyway, this applies: if you put cosy warm layers on your torso, esp a bodywarmer of down, then your extremities won't get so cold. since trying this tactic i haven't had the dreaded "frozen solid toes that feel like 5 pebbles in my boot" feeling. cosy core + normal socks + grasmeres = toasty toes for me. also, ski snugglers (rectangle tube of fleece to put over head and keep neck draught-free) make a HUGE difference (and a great christmas present fwiw!) as does a woolly hat...
 
lol, I have cold fingers and toes all year round, granted they are even colder in the winter!
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My core is always very warm - practically overheating even when my extremities are like icicles.

I always wear layers on my core. A t-shirt, sweatshirt and fleece on top, tights and jodphurs on the bottom. A fleecey neck warmy thingum. I tend to wear a wooly hat when driving to the stables, and then plonk my riding hat on when I get there.

A lot of people are suggesting different types of long boots. I've never ridden in them, and am worried that they would be a bit inflexible around my ankles (which get stiff and sore a lot).
 
I have the Equitector short boots, and since buying them my toes have been super warm even with only one pair of socks. They have a layer of silver stuff between the leather and the lining which must be a very GOOD insulator.

Before then I would have had VERY cold feet when hacking out over the winter.

They also protect tour tootsies from tap dancing horsies which is always a bonus as well
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Fiona
 
If you are squeezing your feet into boots then buy a size bigger so you can layer your socks, tight boots will exaberate the problem as they limit the circulation.

Wear thin nylon socks against your skin and ski tubes over the top but not majorly thick or tight. Neoprene lined boots are good as are Equitector as said above, they have a thermal silver lining.

But by far the best that i have found are some toasty feet liners from my local tack shop, i can't for the life of me remember their name but they are red insoles and look like a cut out of rubber fencing i.e. holey, they slip inside the boot and are superb at warming the feet up.
 
I have mild Reynauds and find that Equitector Chillbuster boots with warm walking socks do the trick. I have Sealskinz stable gloves and wear Musto mittens over them on really cold days. And as others have said, keeping your body warm does really help - I wear silk longjohns and vest with lots of layers plus a ski-jacket and fleece scarf. And when no one is likely to see me I wear Robinsons Snowrider padded trousers but look like the Michelin man and am about as flexible!
 
The absolute best boots I have ever had are the Musto Innovation ones (with the zip, not with laces) that I have now. Fabulous. I also have rubbish circulation - am sitting in the house with socks and slippers on, with a blanket on my feet and the heating on! I wear these with a pair of normal socks and a pair of knee length boot socks (only thin ones), and they keep my feet lovely and warm.

Thoroughly recommend them, they are definitely my best equestrian buy. I haven't had cold feet at all yet this winter
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Simple..... Muck Boot Tyne!
I only need thin cotton socks underneath & my feet are toasty warm!
You can add thicker socks, which I will do if the weather gets colder (as forecast).
 
Well when they are absolutely freezing and you want a quick warm up, then go stand in the middle of your muck heap. Within minutes you will jump straight off because your feet will be so hot!
 
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Well when they are absolutely freezing and you want a quick warm up, then go stand in the middle of your muck heap. Within minutes you will jump straight off because your feet will be so hot!

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i can just picture you two now
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i have found the thin socks my OH brought for Diving are fantastic (and like a second skin) but apparently not cheap, he hit the roof when he discovered id "borrowed" them (think YOUR & MY hobbys dont cross over EVER)
 
Thermal socks, and either neoprene muck boots or Ariat coniston boots
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PLUS a couple of fleeces, fleece gloves and woolley bobble hat
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Probably not very helpful but if you can get to a 'good' sports shop they sell special heated pads for cricketers hands.
Don't know what they are made of but you bend them to activate the warmth then they stay warm for 12 hours.
They can stay inside your socks and gloves
 
my OH brought me the mark tood yard boots these have a thermal lining and are designed to ride in, they have been great, and have been very warm with just one pair of socks on. Not cheap to buy but well worth it! they are covered in mud now but i stick a hose on them and they come up like new!
they have the traditional look of leather riding boots too! highly recommend.
 
I'm a Raynaud's sufferer and the only thing which helps is overheating my core. I'm practically sweating under my pits before my hands/feet feel ok at this time of year. I've currently got the heating set to 21 degrees, a log fire going, woolly 'boot' slippers and my feet are blocks of ice. I'm dragging out the ski wear as of tomorrow. Have never yet found gloves that do the job (and fit) - sealskins are a bad fit for my short fingers.

Boots are snow boots - I ride in them and don't give a stuff about appropriateness. If I can't feel my feet, I won't ride well and don't feel safe, so forego 'close contact' in favour of sensation! Gloves that are best for me (so far) are ski gloves. I quickly do up buckles and replace them straight away. Putting them on the heaters in the car (between windscreen and dashboard) helps loads!

There are socks and gloves available on the Raynauds website, made with silver in, which apparently are very good. Have yet to buy them, though. This post has reminded me!!
 
I wear any type of socks, muck boots that you can ride in, Mark Todd gloves with holes in, t shirt, jumper, gilet, & a coat which usually comes off once I have turned out as I start to get warm by then. I wear 2 pairs of jods, or jods and jeans. If its really cold, ski trousers or some padded ones off ebay from germany for riding in. I find I end up sweating but if I stop I will freeze again. All this topped off with a fleece hat that looks like a noddy hat!! I don't care what I look like, I'm sure people think Im mad but who cares!!! I'M WARM!
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