Choosing the Proper Winter Footwear

Posted: December 1, 2017 10:17 am

 

Did You Know? Your feet and hands are where you sweat more than anywhere else on your body. Your hands and feet also react strongly to cold temperatures. Exposure to cold results in our bodies redirecting blood flow to internal organs and away from the hands and feet. Certain medical disorders affecting circulation or the nerves can also lead to cold feet, examples would be: anemia, thyroid problems, Raynaud’s disease, hypertension, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and poor circulation.

As a general rule, wool socks and wool insulation are the best material you could be wearing during winter. Wool’s tendency to crimp creates air pockets in between individual wool fibers. These air pockets help trap your body’s heat and keep it there.

Did You Know? Wool is the only fiber that insulates even when wet.

While the sole of your shoes or boots may not be of great importance while you’re at home or your place of work, they can make a world of difference during that 5 minute walk from your car to the front door. You never know how the weather will change throughout the day or what puddles you’ll face, so look for a shoe with a thicker, rubberized sole that will help you grip slippery surfaces. Remember: Smooth is not better, you want enough grooves in the rubber to create good traction with the ground so that you stay in balance.

Make the investment in a pair that comes with good insulation to keep your feet warm, make sure the padding, which doesn’t always need to be thick to be warm, covers the whole part of the foot, so that all the more sensitive areas are well-insulated. While they may be waterproof and oh-so-comfortable and warm inside, many well-known rain and winter boots come without any arch support. While there are great options that are sold with proper built-in support (for example, Bogs and Timberlands), it’s not always a given. Flat-soled boots might seem comfortable at first but you may be at a greater risk for heel pain stemming from plantar fasciitis.

 

« Back to News Page