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Cold Toes

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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
Does anyone know how to solve the issue of your toes going completely numb while skiing?

Happens to me all the time, especially this week while its -15 in whistler.
Nov 20 2010 9:21PM
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cooper.fry
Posts: 2229 - Karma: 34
Same thing happens to me, what I do is try and wear thinner socks, or just move my toes constantly on the lifts.
Nov 20 2010 9:22PM
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Lwaghorn
Posts: 143 - Karma: 14
cold toes could be because of lack of blood flow to your toes. loosen your boots on the chairlift and it may help.
Nov 20 2010 9:23PM
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Milksteak
Posts: 9948 - Karma: 833
I don't get cold toes. Ever.
Nov 20 2010 9:25PM
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cooper.fry
Posts: 2229 - Karma: 34
O Rly?
Nov 20 2010 9:29PM
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J.J.M
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 58
is your boots a bit big?
Nov 20 2010 9:29PM
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SDrvpr
Posts: 851 - Karma: 649
thank you for that insightful knowledge.

to op, i just wiggle my toes around a bunch when they get cold and in can-ski in whistler they sell certain ski socks called smart socks or something of the sort that ive noticed keep my feet incredibly warm.
Nov 20 2010 9:31PM
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T-Holt
Posts: 5020 - Karma: 639
Meh, I always get cold toes. I have bad circulation from when I used to race. I've come to accept it as a given on a moderately cold day.
Nov 20 2010 9:39PM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
you can get super thin warmers now a days that you just rub to warm up and pop them in your boots then they will stay warm for a few hours. you could probly get them at a local ski shop or something.
Nov 20 2010 9:48PM
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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
ive had my boots fitted, and wear good ski socks.

Maybe duck taping the tops would help?

gunna be -18 tomo fuck man, might have to get some boot warmers tongiht
Nov 20 2010 9:51PM
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cooper.fry
Posts: 2229 - Karma: 34
I was at this ski expo like 2 months ago and they had boot warmers and chest warmers, pretty legit stuff
Nov 20 2010 9:51PM
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Bamski
Posts: 814 - Karma: 79
Yeah my toes were pretty frigid today up Whis too.

Totally unrelated, but were you wearing that tall black rasta hoodie today? I saw someone with the exact same thing on when I was getting to the Roundhouse.. It seemed pretty cold to be in anything but a jacket..
Nov 20 2010 9:55PM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
mhm and it actually works to.
Nov 20 2010 9:58PM
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cooper.fry
Posts: 2229 - Karma: 34
From what I could see it worked but it was hella pricy when we were there. Like 60 or something for the ab warmer if I remember correctly, I might be wrong though.
Nov 20 2010 10:03PM
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GayWolf420
Posts: 37403 - Karma: 120,362
Wool socks. They never let a man down.
Nov 20 2010 10:03PM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
probly, stuff expensive but i would imagine that the toe warmers would be cheaper then the chest.
Nov 20 2010 10:17PM
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A.Eberhard
Posts: 4426 - Karma: 415
Yeah, duct taping only really helps if you are getting snow inside of your boot. When in doubt toe warmners! If you're getting numb riding looser boots and unbuckling them on the lift could also help.
Nov 20 2010 10:28PM
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Mr.Huck
Posts: 6096 - Karma: 14,896
I would make sure that your boots are drying out completely over night.  Yank the bladders out if you have to.  Most boots have hollow spaces in the soles.  Water gets in there and it will cause your foot to stay damp. Then it doesn't matter what type of ski sock you are wearing, you will still be cold.  Also, putting a little baby powder on your feet before you put your socks on helps too.
Nov 20 2010 10:30PM
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E.F.M.
Posts: 509 - Karma: 1,970
-31 with the wind chill tomorrow

http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Whistler-Blackcomb/6day/top

STOKED

op your feet will die tomorrow try hiking up to harmony or peak did that today and it kept me warm
Nov 20 2010 10:49PM
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drwclrk
Posts: 1114 - Karma: 719
What I've learned is that your blood flow will concentrate itself on your core to keep your vitals pumping if you're getting cold, therefore forgoing your limbs and extremities (what I've done is just worn an extra layer under my jacket, it usually does the trick).
Nov 20 2010 11:06PM
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304NordMan
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 525
indeed, cold toes suck like no other. movement of the toes deff helps, anf i loosten my boots whenever i ride a chair.
Nov 20 2010 11:14PM
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Joe_Brogan
Posts: 360 - Karma: 11
im gonna try some of these suggestions out.  my toes are always cold, even now in my house inside of moccasins
Nov 20 2010 11:19PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
yeah this is true. If you keep all your important stuff warm (head/core) then you'll be warmer. i use toe warmers and unbuckle my boots on lifts.
Nov 20 2010 11:19PM
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gnarles.
Posts: 2587 - Karma: 130
that was the coldest day i have every skied in
Nov 20 2010 11:20PM
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chardi
Posts: 5040 - Karma: 59
you can get toe warmers. its kind of a pain to put them in every single time. but i have used them a few times on cold days and they keep your toes warm the whole day
Nov 20 2010 11:25PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 663
very true.... and when u get in line for a lift. just unbuckle ur boots. wiggle ur toes a bunch. then at the top buckle up. go down and repeat the process til the lifts stop running.

and you get a warm toed fun day on the hill =)
Nov 20 2010 11:30PM
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pdxplanker
Posts: 137 - Karma: 53
i have terrible circulation to my feet and it only gets worse when i ski. i always get cold toes, i try to move my toes around as much as possible on the lifts. i also keep my boots in the car on the way up so they stay warm and put my socks on at the mountain, my feet tend to sweat in the car on the way up so my socks get cold when i put my boots on. i dont find loosening my boots before i get on the lifts help, just more of a pain in the ass to tighten them back up when i get off the lift. on the wicked cold ass days i put toe warmers on top of my feet. once my boots are on for the day i try not to remove them until i leave, that really helps prevent my feet getting colder.
Nov 20 2010 11:39PM
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5675 - Karma: 4,268
Unbuckling my boots helps. But after I had the surgery on my acl my left foot is sometimes colder than my right (left knee was operated on). I usually notice when I'm laying in my bed of have been barefoot in normal room temperatures for a while. If I touch my feet together the left one is cold and the right isn't. Haven't skied yet so I don't know how that's gonna work out.
Nov 20 2010 11:43PM
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jabills
Posts: 511 - Karma: 57
something that most ppl dont know is that your body when it gets cold will reduce circulation in the farthest extremities to keep the core warmer. this means that your toes and fingers are the first to get cold. if fingers are cold wear warmer things for your chest and arms and this will increase the circulation. same for toes wear warmer things on your legs and it will keep your toes warmer. another thing to consider if you want to spend a little is intuition liners. these things are incredibly warm
Nov 21 2010 12:34AM
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FUUUCK
Posts: 18426 - Karma: 4,888
whistler is fucking cold right now, I had to go inside 4 times opening day to get the feeling back into my toes.
Nov 21 2010 12:48AM
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Kangbang
Posts: 14211 - Karma: 423
get full tilts
Nov 21 2010 12:50AM
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Emma_Watson
Posts: 4491 - Karma: 6,797
Click for larger image

heated ski boots.
Nov 21 2010 12:53AM
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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
My mom made that for him i got the same one, but that was my bros roomate.

i had brown saga
Nov 21 2010 1:08AM
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T.DUDE
Posts: 1681 - Karma: 129
smart wool socks=no more cold toes
Nov 21 2010 1:15AM
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Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,549
I don't have toes.
Nov 21 2010 1:18AM
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Bamski
Posts: 814 - Karma: 79
Ah, gotcha.

He was smoking a cigarette outside in a hoodie.. I was wearing a few layers and a jacket inside and still freezing. Was quite amazed.
Nov 21 2010 1:18AM
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adamlukowski
Posts: 3676 - Karma: 311

Anybody ever try making toe caps out of old ski socks? i used em snowboarding a few times, i just cut old ski socks like 6"  that were too small for me so they fit tight, and then just folded the end in and sewed that. they stay on pretty well if you make them long enough, just put them on over your ski socks

I doubt it would work for skiing, usually having anything extra in my boots KILLS and gives me really bad bang, shin/toe/ wherever

Nov 21 2010 1:22AM
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lanny94
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 165
this exactly
Nov 21 2010 1:23AM
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jibbinc.
Posts: 3355 - Karma: 2,497
you ridin tomo too?
Nov 21 2010 1:30AM
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B.Aussie
Posts: 5852 - Karma: 4,531
This ^
Or go get your boots fitted properly, loosening can help circulation, but if it's a really abd fitting boot (like race boots) Then it pays to get the checked to make sure they're not cutting off the circulation at the top of your foot, or squishing the sides of your foot.
If it's a long term issue, you might want to look at getting boot heaters installed in your boots.
Nov 21 2010 1:33AM
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Bamski
Posts: 814 - Karma: 79
I wish, but I've got a presentation out at UBC Monday morning that I really need to finish up..

At least I won't be subjecting myself to borderline frostbite again.
Nov 21 2010 2:08AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,121
The number one reason is if your boots are cutting off circulation at your instep. Just like how your blood all goes through the back of your hand, it also goes through the top of your foot. Unfortunately you can not jam a heat pack in your boot like you can your glove.

Unbuckle your bottom buckles on every lift. swing your legs to let the blood rush there. scrunch your toes and release the whole way up the lift.

If you have a boot like a full tilt you can completely undo them on every lift ride which is super nice. 3 peice boots are naturally colder by design though just because of instep pressure.

if its like a salomon boot, stick a piece of duct tape over the little rubber piece at the front.

Also that thin foil tape you can put on your bootboard and even around the whole boot if you have a boot dryer and leave your liners in most of the time.

and finally heated footbeds, if you are coaching or something I hear they are good, but not performance wise.

I hope that makes sense i'm pretty drunk and should not br on NS haha
Nov 21 2010 5:40AM
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buddychaps
Posts: 1817 - Karma: 583
this.

you might even be able to throw a handwarmer in there and make it work
Nov 21 2010 5:44AM
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AJizzle
Posts: 1882 - Karma: 522
It only takes 8 lbs of pressure on anyone of ur bllod vessels in ur foot to cut off circulation, when u take ur boots off and start to get feeling back, note the part of ur foot that hurts, as that is normally where the most pressure is, and have a bootfitter try to give u a little extra room there. Thats the best I can do without seeing ur foot, and the boot ur in
Nov 21 2010 6:19AM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
bad circulation is simply bad circulation. hell, my toes are freezing at the moment while I'm sitting here and its almost 70º.

Good footbeds, proper fit, thin socks are all good steps. One little trick I tried climbing that worked somewhat well for skiing was to take some of that solar emergency sleeping bag material, and cut it out in the shape of the base of your footbeds, and then use a spray adhesive to attach it. Might not work at all with some customs though, but it does a decent job retaining some of your heat.
Nov 21 2010 6:37AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
1) make sure your boots fit well and aren't too tight (but not too loose either!)
2) wool socks make a difference !
3) as mentioned, keep that core temperature up, maybe wear an extra tall tee ;)
4) ski harder, go deep in turns, get your legs burning, this will stimulate bloodflow to the legs and consecutive to your feet/toes
5)take your boots inside when not skiing, starting out with warm boots makes a difference !
6) also make sure your boots are dry before using them again...
7) if all that doesn't work, get some bootwarmers, chemical or electrical ...
Nov 21 2010 8:25AM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
Hydration. Make sure to grab enough water to get your body hydrated before you head out in the morning. This is a surprisingly easy first step to combating coldness.
Nov 21 2010 9:12AM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
They may look completely stupid but they do the trick extremely well

Click for larger image
Nov 21 2010 9:15AM
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Juice.Doctor
Posts: 2791 - Karma: 293
those look completely stupid.

but seriously, if it gets real bad, you should get a pair. some of the kids i used to race with wore them all the time and claimed they worked great.
Nov 21 2010 9:45AM
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Afeld
Posts: 3516 - Karma: 85
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????
Nov 21 2010 9:59AM
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Jpurd
Posts: 3196 - Karma: 3,554
haha cold toes suck but i dont use anything just wiggle em
Nov 21 2010 10:22AM
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