Cold hands and feet

[Cookiely]

My friend who is stationed in Minot ND (Florida born and raised here) is having a problem. He says he can layer enough to stay warm but his hands and feet are always cold. He's wearing wool socks under paratrooper boots. He's a wonderful young man serving his country and protecting us. Do any of you have any ideas on ways to protect his extremities?

[gunner1551]

short of getting a transfer he cant do alot, he will get used to the cool temps. if he cant stand it now he is goin to freeze in the winter. i suggest long johns to help keep him warm, he can also put on a extra pair of socks.

[luvwinter]

He can purchase socks that are made for cold weather. They are supposed to be good in extreme cold. He could look at the following sites. The second link is from a place called the Sierra Trading Post. They have a good selection and are more affordable that the ones at the first link. Good luck.




http://www.contractorsclothing.com/carhartt/arctic.htm

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/prod_l ... _id=L2~352

[Windswept]

Hot Chillys or Under Armour Brands

For the feet - don't over do the layering. Wear a thin liner that is designed to wick the moisture away ( like Hot Chillys socks) and good old wool socks over that.

If you layer up too much - feet sweat and get damp and that is worse!!

I also prefer mittens over gloves ( if he can use mittens). I wear a thick liner glove under the mittens. I find I can keep my fingers warmer if I can make a fist inside the mittens.

(note: my boyfriend insists I'm nuts and heavy gloves are better ...so.. I offer my suggestion as my opinion only

[Cookiely]

Thank you for the links and advice.

[Kim_in_MN]

I also prefer mittens over gloves ( if he can use mittens). I wear a thick liner glove under the mittens. I find I can keep my fingers warmer if I can make a fist inside the mittens.

This is a good suggestion - I have done this for years and it does help.

To me the wind in North Dakota is actually worse than the cold, and Minot is definitely windy! Tell him to take care!

Kim

[txtwister]

I have seen advertised these packets of gel or something that are warm and you can put them in your shoes or gloves to keep your feet and hands warm. They are pretty flat so they are comfortable looking. I actually saw them at Lowes last year. Here is a site that sells them:

http://www.preparedness.com/inreushanbod.html

You can find boot and glove inserts at this site too:

http://www.snowshack.com/snowshack/bootglove.html

I have horrible circulation so I know how it feels. I even wear gloves to bed some nights because my hands are like blocks of ice.

[HurriCat]

I've been at Minot while in the USAF. We always heard "Why-Not-Mi-not? Free-zins-the Ree-zun!" Very true. I did the bulk of my time at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City South Dakota. Out on third shift, we'd be retrieving drag chutes from the B52s in wind-chill of over 90 below. My feet did okay in these knee-high "mucklucks" that were issue items. I think I just wore the one or two pairs of issue socks with them. My hands, though, were bad. Myself and several other guys would hop back inside the bomber truck and huddle shoulder to shoulder. We each were shuddering in pain, as exposed skin felt almost blistered. If my eyes were closed, I'd have sworn that someone was holding a lighter under each of my fingers!

Fortunately, there are more high-tech items available, such as "Gortex" and other materials. Look at diver-gloves and such. Some of the options will be limited by the work he has to do. In aircraft maintenance, we had little choice but to pull off our gloves or mittens and just suffer. Still, there are the divers' gloves and maybe even the neoprene mechanics' gloves that might give enough dexterity to keep them on while working. Use caution with any kind of battery-powered devices. These could present hazards, depending upon the work environment.

Now, guess what. As cold as it was, and as painful - those were only parts of it all. In a second, I'd be back on that flight line with those guys. I miss the snow so much.

Tell your friend to look beyond the trees and to enjoy the "forest". It is a unique place in a unique time of year.

[Tri-State_1925]

Many years ago we went skiing and temps were running around 0 F on the slopes...extremely cold conditions. I was poorly tolerating the conditions to say the least until some people gave us these small hot packs that I used in my boots during the afternoon run. They worked real well...they were still toasty when I was done a few hours later. Actually they made things almost too hot...

[angelwing]

Here's a thought, my hubby used to march in the Mummer's Day parade and they would put newspaper in their shoes/boots or whatever the costume would call for to keep their feet warm. Marching up Broad Street for 3 and a half miles (before they changed it)it would help keep the feet warm...he would wear 2 pairs of socks too. The hands I can't help, a lot of the guys needed to play their instruments and fingerless gloves is what they had to wear.

[Cookiely]

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