Frostbite, anyone else with terrible feet have a good answer?

mtnjunkie · Feb 16, 2009

I've had frostbite several times, the worst last winter-and I was just working in the shop! Didn't even know they were cold. My toes were black and purple for months. It took about 7 months to heal. I frostbit 4 toes again a month ago and they still hurt and are purple, it's worse than I thought. I use toe warmers, sometimes 2 pairs at a time. They just don't get that warm without circulation in the boots. And if my feet sweat even a little it kills them. I normally don't know what my feet feel like or what temp they are till they hurt. I've lost a lot of feeling.

I've looked into heated socks, but the reviews all say they're pretty worthless and don't get very warm. I normally wear a wicking sock liner, with merino or merino blend socks over that. I don't know what else to try, I'm getting tired of black and purple toes, and them hurting all summer, then healing by winter and doing it all over again.

Himark · Feb 16, 2009

Honest question.

Do you have heart problems? See your doctor bout this. You very well may and your extremities will be the first thing to notice low circulation. You may be a candidate for baby aspirin daily.

CO 2.0 · Feb 16, 2009

What kind of boots are you wearing? I wear good Salomon snowboard boots with a pair of wool socks and I never have a problem. I used to have problems in older snowboard boots, ski boots, and hunting boots but never with these F24 Salomon's.

Vertical_Escape · Feb 16, 2009

I'd definitely look into the circulation matter. Poor circulation is a quick way to get feet/fingers frostbiten.......

XXL · Feb 16, 2009

I wear a pair of the stick on toe warmers, stick them on my socks under my toes. I buy them by the case a Costco, If it's around 10 degrees or below I don't ride without them.

theultrarider · Feb 16, 2009

Once you have frostbite an area of the body, it is more prone to getting again. Bunny boots are about butt ugly and not the easiest to walk around in. They are however, the warmest thing out there!!! Look at the Iron dog racers in Alaska. They just finished up a 2000 mile cross country race here in temps as cold as -50. Most are wearing bunny boots. Give them a try. You will catch flack from others as they are not the most "fashionable" or whatever...If your feet are that bad, they are worth trying rather than losing you toes or part of your foot for life. They are all rubber, inside and out. They will not get inside unless you go over the tops in water. Then you just take them off and dump out the water and they are still just as warm as they were when you put them on. You will get used to how bulky they are very quickly. I small price to pay for warm, safe feet. Not for everybody, but certianly what you should try. You can get them at at most any army surplus store.

XXL · Feb 16, 2009

I saw a program on PBS one time they had a guy sit in a walk in freezer type room, and fairly light clothing, he was constantly putting on and then taking nuts off of bolts without gloves on, when he could no longer acomplish his task, they recorded the elapsed time. Then they had him use gloves etc., to make a long story short they found out that when they put a heated vest on the guy to keep his core really warm, he did the best even with no gloves, Because as a survival mechanism the human body will shut down blood flow to your extremities as the core temp drops, hence your hands and feet won't get as cold if you keep your core temp up. Maybe just adding a good warm fleece shirt would help.

diggerdown · Feb 16, 2009

The warmest boot I've found (and still be able to ride with them) is a Columbia Titainium Ice boot. I think it is rated for -60F and is light and compact. Cabelas heated socks are $20 a pair and warm the toes pretty good. Combine the two and You should be ready for almost anything. If your feet are still cold. Wear gaiters to keep your ankles warm and dry. You can get heated insoles but the cheap ones don't do much and the good ones are $130 a pair! My feet were always cold until I got my Columbia boots 4 years ago.

mtnjunkie · Feb 16, 2009

Well, I have tried different boots. Right now I wear my snowboarding boots, but I have some that are rated to -135F (really, that's what they say). Not hardly. I do have bad circulation, but no heart problems. My feet are always cold, and after that many frostbites I have little feeling in them and they get cold even easier. I use toe warmers if it's below 30F. Have to. I've thought about the battery socks, but heard they suck. Maybe I'll try them.

My core stays warm just fine, it's just my feet. My hands get cold very quickly as well, but I have great hand warmers so that's not really a problem. I can walk around a warm house and feet will get so cold- but I don't notice till they start to hurt.

sledchick · Feb 16, 2009

I'd say the same thing with poor circulation, my dad has really bad feet as well..not sure if he has had frostbite. He has really bad gout though sometimes, and has had 2 heartattacks. Drinking a lot, and eating a lot of red meat can do it too. Feet are nothing to mess with, I hope you figure it out!!

trikerider · Feb 16, 2009

I would go see a doctor, my dad has one leg and that’s the way it started. If he would have gone earlier he may still have two legs.

mtnjunkie · Feb 16, 2009

trikerider said:
I would go see a doctor, my dad has one leg and that’s the way it started. If he would have gone earlier he may still have two legs.

Why does he have one leg? I'm not sure I get it.
I have seen doctors, they don't know. Never get any answers. They say my heart is fine too. Maybe I'll just try the battery heated socks.

theultrarider · Feb 16, 2009

Give the bunny boots a try. Seriously...You will not have cold feet again. They make the sorrel glaciers seems like going in your stocking feet.

Zachcreek · Feb 16, 2009

My feet suck at the cold temps. I went a size larger and thin socks. Asprin or two a day for circualtion. My feet sweat, so I went with a thin poly pro sock. Alot of people have problems with their feet. But once you have bit them, even worse. Good luck, no sleddin in the south.

m_beeson · Feb 16, 2009

merino wool socks. I wear a tight fitting pair under a looser fitting pair. Then I use toe warmers when my feet can't seem to get comfortable.

You may even want to cary extra socks with you so you can change them when they get sweaty. I understand that cold sweat thing. It's not cool. But I would alwayse carry toe warmers on you. It's good for your survival kit if nothing else.

I have seen some boot insoles that plug in to your machine, much like a heated visor. It would be a pain in the butt, however you could use them intermittently if needed.

Good advice above with body core temps, and circulation problems.

LRD · Feb 16, 2009

I have cold feet problems sometimes also. If they sweat at all makes matters a lot worse. Somebody on here in old post put out this idea. In the morning before leaving I put the strongest gel antiperspirant I have found (Arm & Hammer) on my feet and that does help. Also some super insulated hunting boots, I have a pair of 2000 gram thinsulate that are hot in normal weather.

Good Luck

spomey · Feb 16, 2009

get too big of boots

get boots that are 1 size too big, they let your foot breath and dont keep it too tight and reduce circulation, and GO SEE A DAMN DOCTOR, well I dont trust doctors so go see 2-3 and get their opinions. I've taken 2 asprin a day for years for my blood seems to work.

spomey

samuel2son · Feb 16, 2009

I feel your pain.
I have the same trouble with my feet. How about your fingers? I will get cold toes and feet just sitting in the house - sucks. look around online and check out Raynauds syndrome,, kinda sounds like it. There are some mild cases of it and some more severe. I will also be looking for an answer to the same problem. It's jeopardizing my time outdoors including snowmobiling, something not to take lightly. Let me know if you find something that works. I have been looking at the heated insoles, might try them.

samuel2son · Feb 16, 2009

ttt
this is a good post, someone on here probably has a good answer to help us

Coldfinger · Feb 16, 2009

Like mentioned, make sure you keep your core (midsection) very warm. Maybe wear a thermal vest in addition to your other gear.

Be wary of the temp ratings on various boots. I've come across boots with -100 degree ratings but upon examination the liners seemed very thin. Turns out the liners contained a heat packet pouch on the bottom side so the temp rating was with an activated heat packet.

On the health side - diabetes causes poor circulation. I assume this has been ruled out in your case but thought I'd mention it in case someone else hasn't.

Frostbite, anyone else with terrible feet have a good answer?

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