The Best Socks for Cold Feet

THE COLD BRINGS danger for your legs, feet, toes, and overall health. In addition to hypothermia, the cold weather can make you more susceptible to sickness, cause muscle damage, and it’s just downright miserable for most people. Staying warm starts at your feet, as the body prioritizes your vital organs over your limbs, the hands and feet are always the first to get cold and can be hit by temperature drops. 

And the key to keeping your feet warm is the right pair of socks. Many people swear by layering regular socks, some say that sportswear socks are the best, while others value the thicker knit, but the bottom line is clear: all socks were not created equal. So how should you choose your preferred pair for cold feet treatment? Well, let’s take a look.

What keeps your feet warm?

The answer here is simple, it’s your blood. Your circulation keeps your limbs working and warming. So, how can something like socks for cold feet make sure that your legs and feet are getting enough blood? Compression. Athletic socks and medical compression socks are designed to increase the circulation on your lower legs, ankles, and feet. They do this by applying a mild and even amount of pressure around your legs to activate the muscles which in turn activate your veins. This helps keep your feet warm and helps your heart pump blood evenly throughout your body no matter the temperature around you. There are a million uses for great compression socks and fighting cold weather symptoms is definitely one of them. 

Which compression socks should you choose?

Now that we’ve decided on compression socks for cold feet, how do we know which type is going to work the best? Let’s start with the compression level. As compression socks are used for a lot of different reasons, there are a lot of different types. But since you're likely to be wearing your warm socks all day, you want to make sure that any pair you choose is safe to wear for extended periods of time, this means that you want a pair with at a compression rate of 15-25mmHg. 

Next, let's look at other factors that keep you warm. Making sure your skin stays dry is a great way to prevent heat loss. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that wet skin loses heat 25 times faster. This means that you’ll definitely want a pair of compression socks that will keep any moisture off your skin. Look for phrases like moisture-wicking technology when you go to order socks for cold feet.

Fast Fact: Wet skin loses heat 25x faster!

Finally, you’ll need something with a lot of support. As colder weather can cause muscles to tighten, it can make you more prone to tears and sprains. By choosing compression socks with built-in muscle support you can protect your legs and ankles while keeping your feet nice and warm. The added pressure of the compression is also a great layer of protection against muscle damage. It helps keep your muscles in alignment while giving you a full range of motion.

Conclusion

The best socks for cold feet have multiple advantages for your overall health and address many of the issues caused by cold weather. This one piece of your outfit can make all the difference for your comfort, health, and immune system. The cold makes us more susceptible to sickness and keeping your body at its top performance level is essential to staying safe and healthy this winter.