In its purest of forms, “cold feet” have been a chronic annoyance for me, especially in the winter months, ever since I was a teenager. Even though it's cold outside, my darn feet would sweat and get even colder. It annoyed the heck out of me.

This winter I finally tried something different and it really seems to be making a difference. Can’t guarantee that this will work for all, but I definitely think it’s worth a try.

A very important disclaimer to note first: the body is a complex and miraculous thing and there are many potential causes for an ailment like cold feet; some of which may actually be signs of something serious. What I am writing about is narrowly focused on reducing moisture build-up in your feet so they don’t feel cold. I recommend you go through a site like this to familiarize yourself with the other potential causes of cold feet.

For me, what ended up making the difference for my feet in the winter were three very simple things: 1) using the right type of socks 2) making sure you don’t use the same shoes two days in a row, and 3) wearing slippers when you are inside.

All seems like common sense, eh? It is, but it wasn’t until I actually mapped out the science behind it that I got the conviction to make a few minor changes to rid myself of cold feet.

On socks, two important features seem to make the difference.

1. Wool wicks away moisture: even if you don’t notice it, your feet are always sweating to a certain extent. Socks made from other materials - like cotton (perhaps the most common material for socks) - absorb your sweat and keep it there close to your feet. That moisture easily conducts the outside temperature (which is almost always colder than your body temperature) and in the end can make your feet cold. Wool, on the other hand, wicks the moisture away from your feet so they stay dry and can better regulate their temperature.

2. Toe-socks give each of your toes its own mini sock: this means that each toe gets wrapped in the sweat-wicking wool that helps keeps them dry and warm. This makes a big difference compared to normal socks, which not only keep a sizable portion of your toes’ surface area away from the wicking fabric, but also keep them mushed up against each other so they sweat even more.

Wool toe-socks are unfortunately pricey compared to your standard cotton ones, and that is what kept me away from them until now. But when you think about how many times you will wear them and how much more comfortable you will be, it’s a small investment well worth it.

This one seems like a no-brainer too, but I think many of us have a limited rotation of shoes; and if we are doing similar things two days in a row, it’s easy enough to find ourselves wearing the same shoes both today and tomorrow.

The science behind this one is quite simple. All that moisture your socks wick away from your feet needs to go somewhere. That somewhere is your shoe. Some shoes are more breathable than others and are good at expunging the moisture into the atmosphere pretty quickly; but things usually don’t happen overnight, especially in the colder months of the year. Chances are that one night isn’t enough for your shoes to rid themselves of the moisture, so better to wait at least one more day before wearing them again. Otherwise you’ll find yourself stepping into something wet from the start; and that ain’t just gross, it is bound to work against keeping your feet dry and warm.

Pro tip: if weather permits, put your shoes outside the next day in the sun. This will help them dry quicker and the power of the sun will also help disinfect them.

This is self-explanatory. Minus carpet, most floors are pretty chilly and standing directly on them can make your feet cold in a matter of seconds. Slippers provide a great barrier to help keep you warm. Just make sure the slippers you choose ventilate well themselves, otherwise you may find a build-up of moisture that may make you cold, and that would be a shame.

This might not solve everyone’s cold feet issues; but I think most of us will benefit from dryer and hopefully warmer feet from using the right socks, rotating our shoes and wearing slippers inside.

A final reminder, cold feet can also be caused by something other than just sweet making you feel cold, so please make sure to take a look at a site like this to familiarize yourself with the other potential causes of cold feet.

We’d love to hear from others on any other things that have worked to help alleviate cold feet!