Fed up with freezing feet and want to know how to keep feet warm skiing? You have come to the right place!
If you suffer from cold feet easily, you know it can dampen your ski experience and mood. I remember the first time I skied, I was convinced my toes would fall off from the cold, it was extremely painful ! O_O
But did you know it can be extremely dangerous too?
Cold toes can make it difficult for you to feel the edge control through parallel turns.
Without the full sensation, even the slightest shift in balance can lead to unwanted accidents.
The good news is there are plenty of ways you can keep your tootsies warm, so you can stay longer on the slopes. I have compiled 17 toasty tips to help you enjoy zooming down the mountain in comfort.
How To Keep Feet Warm Skiing: My Toasty Tips:
1. Wear Proper Socks
2. Wear Only One Pair Of Socks
3. Always Dry Your Socks And Boots
4. Wear The Right Boot Size
5. Don’t Overtighten Your Boots
6. Don’t Clench Your Toes
7. Replace Boot Liners
8. Try Disposable Boot Warmers
9. Get Battery Heated Socks
10. Splurge On Boot Heaters
11. Get A Boot Dryer
12. Use An Eco Boot Dryer
13. Wear Boot Gloves
14. Apply Antiperspirant On Your Feet
15. Keep Your Body Warm
16. Apply Warming Cream
17. Take A Break
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How To Keep Feet Warm Skiing
1. Wear Proper Socks
Want to know how to keep feet warm while skiing? Wear a pair of socks! But not just any pair will do.
The best socks to keep feet warm skiing are well-fitted, breathable, moisture-wicking, and insulating. You may think you can use a pair of thick cotton sports socks from your closet, but sadly no.
It is important to invest in ski-specific socks to help your feet stay warm and dry while on the slopes.
- Thick or Thin socks?
Contrary to what you may think, thinner socks are actually the best for skiing. Thin socks are good for circulation.
With more space in your boot, blood can flow easily and a thin layer of warm air can get trapped between your foot and liner, keeping your feet nice and toasty.
Thin socks also allow better contact with your boot so you can feel more of what your feet are doing inside.
Thick socks do not make your feet warmer. They can create too much insulation and sweat, leaving you with damp and cold feet.
The extra padding squishes your feet inside cutting off circulation. You can also easily get blisters from wrinkled socks rubbing against your feet.
- Materials
The material of your socks plays a huge part in keeping your feet insulated. Although breathable, cotton socks absorb moisture easily and do not dry quickly.
Instead, opt for ski socks made from good quality wool, bamboo, and certain synthetic fibers with some elastic for stretch.
Wool has a natural layer of keratin, a protein all animal hair contains which helps maintain body temperature. This material provides great insulation and is super comfortable.
You can find ski socks made from fine, non-itchy merino wool like these Ski Socks 2-Pack Merino Wool, Over The Calf (OTC) Non-Slip Cuff for Men & Women.
For a super soft, cozy warm hug around your feet, you can splurge on a cashmere pair.
Synthetic fibers like polyamide, nylon, and polypropylene are quick moisture suckers, keeping your feet dry and comfortable. They are usually the more affordable choice and tend to be blended with other materials.
- Odor-free
If you are worried about smelly feet, get ski socks with bamboo or silver fibers. Bamboo and silver have antimicrobial properties that help prevent the growth of bacteria. These materials help neutralize odors.
Bamboo is also an ultrasoft, breathable natural fabric that keeps your feet dry and warm. Whilst silver is usually woven with other fabrics. Try the Bamboo Sports Odor Resistant Moisture Wicking Ski & Snowboard Socks.
Socks affect the fit of your boot. Always make sure you bring your own ski socks when trying rented or new boots at the store.
2. Wear Only One Pair Of Socks
While it is normal to layer up when you are cold, never wear two pairs of socks when skiing. The extra layers can make your feet colder. It reduces breathability and your feet will sweat more, leading to soggy socks.
Wearing double socks can also make your boots tighter. This can cut off circulation to your feet causing them to get cold easily. With restricted blood flow, you may lose some feeling in your toes and find it hard to handle your skis.
The extra padding also limits the full sensation of your feet within your ski boots, which is dangerous when sliding downhill.
Multiple socks are prone to sliding and bunching in your boot, which is annoying.
If your feet get too sweaty, bring an extra pair along to change throughout your day on the hill.
3. Always Dry Your Socks And Boots
There is nothing worse than putting your warm feet into cold damp socks. Yuck! You’ll start with chilly feet before you even hit the slopes.
Your own sweat and sometimes snow from outside can seep in and wet out your boots after a session on the slopes.
At the end of each day, always remember to dry your socks and boots well.
Bring them inside at room temperature and avoid keeping them in your car or outside if possible to chill.
Place them near a radiator or heater.
Never put your boots or socks right on the heat, as this can melt and wear out the materials faster.
Always pack extra ski socks so you can rotate wearing a dry pair every day.
Starting your day with dry socks and warm boots is a very simple way how to keep toes warm skiing.
4. Wear The Right Boot Size
No one likes cold feet in ski boots but did you know the fit of your boot is the most important thing to keeping your feet warm?
Well-fitted ski boots give you enough room for proper circulation and movement. Your ski boots should be snug without feeling tight allowing good blood flow to keep your feet warm.
Poorly fitted boots do not keep your feet warm. Boots that are too big leave more space for air to linger within your boot, making your feet cold quickly.
Boots that are too small can cut off circulation, leaving you with cold and numb feet.
Getting the right size and shape boot to suit your feet is key. To get your boots properly fitted, visit a boot fitter.
They will help get your feet measured in all dimensions and select the right boot for your feet shape and skiing ability.
When trying them out, ensure you stand in your boots correctly with your ankles relaxed and shins pressed against the tongue of your boot. Avoid feeling a lot of pressure on the front of your ankle, calves, and toes.
5. Don’t Overtighten Your Boots
You may think tightening your boots will wrap your feet in warmth, sadly this is not true. Overtighten boots are one of the most common reasons for cold feet while skiing.
Inexperienced skiers tend to over-tightened their buckles to secure their fit within their boots.
This can cut off circulation, restrict blood flow and cause you to have cold feet.
This comes down to the right boot fit. Always ensure you get the right boot size and check that the foams fit snug around your fit.
6. Don’t Clench Your Toes
If your feet are starting to feel chilly and numb, it may be tempting to clench your toes. Don’t do this!
Clenching your toes limits blood flow to your feet, leading them to get cold faster.
To get the blood moving, flex your feet and swing your legs back at forth after each run.
These movements warm the blood from your upper body and then circulates it down to your feet and legs. This is a better way to warm your feet up.
7. Replace Boot Liners
Boot liners provide warmth and comfort to your feet and can prolong your ski boot’s life. Over time, old boot liners get out of shape and lose their protection against cold conditions.
The padding wears out and does not hug your feet as securely as before, creating more space for cold air to seep in.
The material also deteriorates weakening its ability to wick moisture away. With this loss of insulation and absorbency, your feet will get chilly quickly.
If you ski regularly, look to replace them after 1 or 2 years. There are different types of ski boots liner designs available such as wrapped, tied with a tongue, or zipped liners.
For added comfort, you can splurge on custom foam-injecting liners that mold to your feet.
8. Try Disposable Boot Warmers
Looking for more affordable foot warmers for ski boots? Try using disposable boot warmers.
These one-time-use warmers are a great option if you are just starting and do not want to buy expensive ski boot warmers. They are cheap and work the same way as disposable hand warmer packets to keep your feet warm.
They contain iron powder, charcoal, vermiculite, salt, and water and need oxygen to activate. To heat them up, shake the pouches and expose them to air. It takes about 15 – 30 minutes to heat up and lasts up to 8 hours.
You can place them underneath your socks and insoles and some come with an adhesive to prevent sliding around in your boot.
Thermopad Sole Warmers are a great affordable option to keep your feet warm. If only your toes get cold, give HotHands Toe Warmers a go.
9. Get Battery Heated Socks
Thanks to modern technology, another method on how to keep feet warm in ski boots is using heated socks. Thin, flexible, electric-heating elements are sewn into the fabric of the socks.
These components are wired to a small battery pack that supplies energy to heat up the socks.
Basic models only have one temperature setting. While better models come with three adjustable heat settings, so you can choose your preferred level of warmth.
Most heated socks are rechargeable and come with standard or Bluetooth batteries. For added convenience, you can easily connect your Bluetooth heated ski socks to your mobile to control the heat levels.
On average, a pair of heated ski socks can keep your feet warm for about 6 – 8 hours on a low setting on a single charge.
The battery pack usually lives in a small pocket on the top side of your sock, so always keep your socks pulled knee-high to avoid the pack from rubbing inside your boot.
I recommend this SnowDeer 2022 Upgraded Rechargeable Electric Heated Socks,7.4V 2200mAh Battery Powered Cold Weather Heat Socks.
10. Splurge On Boot Heaters
If you ski regularly, you may want to invest in a ski boot heater. Boot heaters are the most effective way to keep your feet toasty while skiing.
Similar to heated socks, boot heaters are electric-heated insoles inserted into the base of your ski boot. They are placed in between the liner and the shell of your boot and provide insulation to the base of your feet, warming the whole boot.
It is powered by rechargeable batteries and can keep your feet warm for a full day of skiing. There are also 3 heater settings that you can adjust to suit your preferred level of warmth.
Ski boot heaters can be costly. Instead of generic heated insoles, you can replace your entire ski boot sole and get a specialist boot fitter to install them for you. This one-time upfront cost is worth the investment if you are prone to cold feet.
It is also super convenient to charge them the night before and have warm ski boots ready for you the next morning.
We highly recommend the Hotronic Upgraded FootWarmer S4+ Custom, Latest Version.
11. Get A Boot Dryer
Not drying out your boots properly is a big reason why people get cold feet. A great and fast way to solve this is to use a boot dryer.
Boot dryers use heat to help evaporate any trapped moisture inside of your boot liners. You can pop them in after a long day of skiing and have fresh warm boots ready to go the next morning.
The fastest and most expensive way to dry your boots is with an air-powered boot drying rack. Similar to a hair dryer, hot air is blown inside your ski boot to dry them out.
You can dry most items in 1–2 hours and some fancier ones like the DryGuy 2207 Force Dry Boot Dryer, Shoe Dryer, & Glove Dryer with Articulating Ports for Ski Boots come with a 3-hour auto-shut-off timer.
If you are traveling, you can opt for smaller portable boot dryers like the DryGuy Travel Dry DX Boot Dryer and Shoe Dryer. Plug these little heaters into the electrical socket and slip them into your ski boots to warm them up.
Hot dryer bags are another good option while on the road. They come with in-built blowers that circulate hot air within the bag, keeping your boots dry and warm.
You can plug them into a standard wall outlet or your car’s cigarette lighter socket like this KULKEA Thermal Trekker Heated Ski Boot Backpack.
Most dryers offer a 3-heat-settings so if you have custom molded liners, never dry your boots on high heat. Your liners can melt and remold overnight.
12. Use An Eco Boot Dryer
If you are an eco-conscious skier or struggle to find a convenient place to plug in your boots, you can try non-electric boot dryers. Is it effective? Yes, but not for soaked boots.
DrySure Extreme eco boot dryers do not use heat and don’t require any battery or electric power to dry them out. Instead, it contains Silica Oxide beads that help absorb the moisture from your boots.
They are 12 times more effective than traditional air drying and can be reused multiple times.
To maintain the absorbency, the company recommends you re-activate the beads. You can place them on a hot radiator, in direct sunlight, or pop them in an oven for an hour.
This is a great option if you have heat-sensitive custom-molded footbeds or store your boots in a ski locker.
13. Wear Boot Gloves
A great way on how to keep feet warm skiing is to wear boot gloves.
Boot gloves are waterproof and windproof neoprene covers that fit over the outer front part of your ski boots – kind of like a balaclava for your toes.
This added layer provides insulation from wet snow and wind chill, keeping your feet dry and warm. They come in various sizes (S, M, and L) and come with adjustable rear and under straps to secure a snug fit.
DryGuy BootGlove Ski Boot Covers are a great choice and value for money.
14. Apply Antiperspirant On Your Feet
Did you know that your feet have more sweat glands per inch than any other part of your body? Each foot has about 125,000 sweat glands, which can easily dampen your ski socks.
An easy remedy to prevent sweaty feet is to spray or rub antiperspirant on them before hitting the slopes. Antiperspirants block your sweat glands, preventing them from penetrating the outer layers of your skin.
Apply it to dry feet just before wearing your ski socks and boots. This will help keep your feet nice and dry while on the slopes.
A good antiperspirant you can try is Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion.
15. Keep Your Body Warm
When your core is cold, it will first take heat from the extremities of your body to focus on warming your internal organs at the core. By keeping your core warm, a regular flow of warm blood can circulate down to your legs and feet.
Wear waterproof insulating breathable layers like thermals, a fleece pullover, a ski jacket, and trousers to keep your body warm. Don’t forget your ski gloves, a scarf, and helmet too.
A great tip on how to stay warm when skiing is to eat enough warm food before you hit the slopes. Having the right fuel will give your body energy to keep the blood flowing. Hot chocolate anyone?
16. Apply Warming Cream
Another affordable way to avoid having cold feet is to slap on some warming cream.
A good warming cream you can try is the AKILEINE Cold Feet Warming Cream 75ml.
Warming cream releases a heat sensation after a few minutes after application and can last for several hours. Rub them on your feet before you ski to give your tippy toes a warming boost.
17. Take A Break
The final tip on how to keep feet warm skiing is to always take a break. Refuel, rest and reset.
Take a short 10-minute break inside and unbuckle your boots to relieve the pressure on your feet.
Open your boot tongue to release any trapped air and moisture and allow fresh warm air to seep in. Always warm your feet first before heading out again.
For short breaks outside, lean on your ski pole and swing your legs back and forth to recirculate your feet. Don’t take off your ski boots to avoid stepping in snow or a puddle.
On longer lunch breaks indoors, take off your ski boots and replace damp sweaty socks with a fresh pair.
FAQs on How To Keep Feet Warm Skiing
How Do I Keep My Feet From Getting Cold While Skiing?
You keep your feet from getting cold while skiing is by having well-fitted ski boots. Always try new or rental ski boots on with your own ski socks to make sure they fit comfortably. Your ski boots should fit well without being too tight. This will let blood flow to your feet and keep them warm.
Why Are My Feet So Cold When Skiing?
There are a few reasons why your feet are so cold when skiing. Firstly, too many layers of socks would lead to tighter boots which in its turn leads to cold toes. Poorly fitted ski boots can also cause cold feet. Cold air can seep in if your boots are too big. On the other hand, too-small boots restrict blood circulation.
Should You Wear Socks Under Ski Socks?
No, you should never wear socks under ski socks. Wearing a pair of ordinary socks underneath ski socks will only make it harder for your feet to breathe and will provide more discomfort than additional warmth.
Double socking can make your boot tighter, cutting off circulation. Moisture can also be trapped, causing your feet to get cold quickly.
Does Wearing 2 Pairs Of Socks Keep Your Feet Warmer?
No, wearing 2 pairs of socks does not keep your feet warmer. The second pair compresses your foot, cutting off circulation and making your feet colder than they’d be with a single pair.
The restricted blood flow can cause you to lose warmth and sensations in your feet, increasing your risk of getting frostbite.
The snowy conditions are typically not favorable to our feet but that does not mean you need to miss out on having a safe and fun time on the slopes.
How to keep feet warm skiing?
As shared above, there are plenty of ways to help your feet stay warm and comfortable, no matter your budget. Investing in the right items will transform your ski experience from dread to shred!
Follow these simple tips on how to keep feet warm skiing and your tippy toes will be thanking you the next time you are zooming down the mountain! No more numbness we say, it’s time to have some fun!