Warming cold feet - battery-powered socks? Other ideas?

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jonathan18

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#306266 9-Jul-2023 13:30

Someone in my family suffers from poor circulation and in winter gets painful chilblains. I’m keen on finding something to help them keep their feet warm during the day, as even a warm house and woollen socks etc don’t keep the chilblains at bay.

I’ve found one can buy electrically heated socks but I’ve not been able to find affordable ones that get decent reviews, and the ones designed for winter sports are really expensive. Similarly, I’ve found electrically heated inner soles, but feel they’re not as convenient as socks. Also, not keen on non-renewable options (eg, the use-once chemical reaction based ones) or the microwave options that require re-heating every 30 minutes.

Does anyone have any bright ideas, and particular can anyone recommend an electrically heated solution that works, is of decent quality, and doesn’t cost the earth?

Thanks in advance.

Wombat1

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#3101670 9-Jul-2023 13:45

My Mom suffers from the same thing, she uses long compression socks which she says helps a bit.

Behodar

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#3101672 9-Jul-2023 13:48

I feel so low-tech now because I just fill a basin with hot water and dunk my feet in it. Just doing that for ten or so minutes seems to stave off the cold for a decent chunk of the day.

gzt

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#3101673 9-Jul-2023 13:51

I'd guess there is some contact with cold floors? I'd recommend a very comfortable pair of cheap shoes for inside use. Maybe with the laces removed for ease of use. Slippers tend to be thin soled and actually pretty useless against a cold floor memory foam inner or not.

Chilblains are associated with cold + damp.

If the woolen socks are not bone dry and changed every day they're probably not helping a lot.

MikeB4

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#3101680 9-Jul-2023 14:38

jonathan18: Someone in my family suffers from poor circulation and in winter gets painful chilblains. I’m keen on finding something to help them keep their feet warm during the day, as even a warm house and woollen socks etc don’t keep the chilblains at bay.

I’ve found one can buy electrically heated socks but I’ve not been able to find affordable ones that get decent reviews, and the ones designed for winter sports are really expensive. Similarly, I’ve found electrically heated inner soles, but feel they’re not as convenient as socks. Also, not keen on non-renewable options (eg, the use-once chemical reaction based ones) or the microwave options that require re-heating every 30 minutes.

Does anyone have any bright ideas, and particular can anyone recommend an electrically heated solution that works, is of decent quality, and doesn’t cost the earth?

Thanks in advance.

Being in a wheel chair and of thin build I used to get very cold feet. I purchased Norsewear woollen socks and my feet are a lot warmer. Being wool they stay warm even if they get wet which is common in a chair.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

alasta

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#3101711 9-Jul-2023 16:36

I have the same problem and I find a hot water bottle to be the best solution. When I am at work on particularly cold days I place my feet on top of my shoes to isolate them from the cold floor, then put a hot water bottle on top of them. I do this roughly for about 20 minutes every 1.5 hours so it's just a very minor inconvenience a few times a day.

I only need to do this when I'm sitting down for long periods as my circulation is fine when I'm moving around. As an athlete my resting heart rate is usually below 50bpm and I'm quite tall, so I think the blood just isn't quite getting to the extremities when I'm not physically active.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3101713 9-Jul-2023 16:40

Does the heating need to follow them around, or is it 90% one location? An electric foot warmer/heater under a desk, or in front of the couch could be an option.

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angski

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#3101716 9-Jul-2023 17:06

Wear merino/possum socks at home, with ugg boots

Eva888

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#3101717 9-Jul-2023 17:09

Best socks for cold feet are thick polyester socks like you get at The Warehouse called Home Socks, thick like soft towelling. They are instant heat as soon as put on your feet. Too thick for going out in. Wear them to bed as well. Ive given some as presents and everyone agrees better than wool.

mdf

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#3101730 9-Jul-2023 18:21

Mrs MDF gets cold feet too and finds this style of foot warmer great: https://hothands.com/products/#product-395

Long lasting and can be walked on. But single use so probably not the best thing for the environment.

You can get them from pharmacies and hardware stores (in the trade section usually). They're usually around $2 for a single pair so cheap enough to test. If you use them a lot, they are quite a bit cheaper in packs online.