How do you keep fingers and toes warm ?

navrig2

turbo hamster wrote:

CarbonClem wrote:

All the above is good advice ^^

Something else to consider - ensuring arms and legs are insulated well - they are the conduit to the hands and feet so keeping them warm will all help.

Worn-out hiking socks - I cut off the feet and kept the ankle bits. Put them on over my cycling socks, and under tights. Just a little extra insulation, without stuffing the bike boots too much.

You can get ski socks where the foot bit is made from thinner but still warm material - stops ski boots being overly tight and recognises that ski boots are already insulated.. The come in various lengths but I have used long ones to keep my lower legs warm.

thegreatdivide

KingstonGraham wrote:

TimothyW wrote:

...
Anyway, after all that, the main point I wanted to make is that cold fingers and toes are an indication that the rest of you is not warm enough - trying to get them warm is tackling the symptom rather than the cause.

When you are cold, less blood is pumped to your extremities - it is kept close to the core so that your organs stay warm.

If your core is hot, then the blood is deliberately circulated to your extremities, to cool it down, and stop your organs overheating.

So an extra base layer, set of overtights, or a thicker jersey/winter jacket will do more to keep your fingers and toes warm than any number of gloves, socks and hand warmers.
...

Spot on.

You need to keep them insulated, but insulation isn't enough if your fingers and toes aren't getting the warmth to lose in the first place.

Aye, this 100%.

I'm just a wee skinny person and I don't ride about in sub zero temps with eight pairs of gloves on or those daft lobster things, and in all my years of riding the only thing that gets wrapped in tin foil is a bit of Soreen. I keep my core warm with a good thick base layer, merino jersey and these days an insulated gilet (or a softshell or rain jacket when it's raining or sleeting) and just wear a pair of winter gloves, merino socks and overshoes on my extremities. Keep your core warm and your hands/feet will be warm. It really is as simple as that.

meursault

Important to keep your core warm yes.

But road shoes are well vented, if you wear the same summer shoes for winter, you are letting cold air get in. You need to do something to combat this. Overshoes and deep heat for me.

Alejandrosdog

sealskins work for me, i dont bother with them above 5 degrees and im quite happy down to sub zero. I just use them instead of socks, the cuff is elasticated and has a gripper strip too so water tend not to get in there unless its absoloutley wazzing it down and then it warms up anyway like a wet suit.

homers_double

For me, woolie bullie socks, normal shoes and DHB overshoes for the feet. DHB deep winter gloves for the hands and I've never been cold with that set up.