Frozen feet? These are the best socks to face the cold

For ordinary mortals, the sock drawer is a world where pieces of all kinds cohabit: different colors, materials and designs, and even some huachos, whose partners are lost forever but, like a love that is hard to forget, one keeps the sock alone in the hope that one day its other half will return.

But we don’t want to generalize, let alone leave out that spectacular category of people who have their sock drawer spectacularly organized, all visible and within easy reach. Obviously, they must get excited at the thought of an unruly drawer, and chances are that by this winter they will already be fully equipped and with deliciously warm feet.

It’s likely, yes, that a majority don’t own one and, full of wishful thinking, open that drawer every day thinking that a perfect pair will magically appear for those frosty days. Which of course does not happen. And here we are, wrapped in grief and cold with frozen feet, trying to get through the day.

Just as last week we gave a series of tips and recommendations for dressing in stylish and effective first layers, and thus facing the harsh winter that has just begun, this time we asked experts to know which socks -and why- are the best allies to keep paws warm.

Beatriz Vergara is the founder of The sock closet and he answers us from the beautiful but cold city of Puerto Varas. Therefore, it has a double authority to refer to the subject treated.

But your first concern is how best to store and organize your socks. The most common thing in homes is to put the pair together, roll them up and then turn them into a flirtatious little ball. Is it worth combining them like this?

“Last year we did a coil where we investigate and explain this topic. The first thing is that balling them up is bad for socks because the elastics wear out. In the video, we show some techniques to fold them well and incidentally make more room in your chest of drawers,” he says.

Before we get to the main topic that brings us together, this clears up a doubt that may seem obvious but isn’t: the biggest mistake people make when trying to keep their feet warm has as much to do with socks than with not wearing proper footwear. .

“If you wear thin bamboo or cotton socks, as well as thin-soled shoes, your feet will never stay warm,” says Vergara. The same thing happens in another sense: even if you wear very thick and warm socks, if you walk with canvas shoes, it is impossible that your fingers will not go numb.

“It’s very important to have socks for the winter and different socks for the summer,” he adds. Regarding the former, the entrepreneur assures that “the ideal is to look for socks in merino wool, since they regulate body temperature, or in thick cotton, which have padding on the sole of the foot, which acts as a reinforcement that insulates against humidity and cold.

Personally, she advises wearing light compression socks which, in addition to keeping your feet warm, promote blood circulation, preventing them from swelling when they are in the same position for a long time. “I had never used them and now that I live in the south they have helped me a lot,” he reveals.

But if he has to recommend a material for the cold, without a doubt, he sticks to merino wool, the star material for maintaining body heat. In their store, they sell Woven Pear brand socks which are made from 82% merino wool and also “reinforced on the toe and heel making it a superior comfort sock”.

A slightly cheaper alternative is coarse or combed cotton , which with their higher density more effectively maintain the temperature of the feet. “I haven’t taken them off here in the south, they are super warm and comfortable.”

“When winter arrives, the most common thing is to start looking for clothes that are both comfortable and practical. The challenge is not only to look good, but also to protect the skin from the cold,” he says. Leti Faviani stylist and image coach.

Faviani recommends, like Vergara, to look at the shoes before everything else. Not only in the sense of wearing a winter-appropriate shoe, slipper or boot, which is essential, but also emphasizing the importance of ventilation between uses.

“Failing to properly air shoes after each use will lead to moisture buildup which, on next use, will increase the feeling of coldness in the feet.” For this reason, he advises “placing the shoes near a stove – but not so close that they burn! – or in a place where there is a draft for at least 30 minutes. This will avoid this error This will also help prevent the appearance of fungus and bad smells.

“Also having rain boots is essential”, he adds, before getting to the heart of the matter and decreeing: “we must forget cotton, because its fabric is so thin that it does not protect properly our feet in this season, even when we use completely closed shoes”.

The expert adds that cotton offers little to no insulation, in addition to absorbing and retaining moisture, which works against you on humid days. For this reason, she says, “the best material for winter socks is wool or fleece, which, thanks to their fabric, repels water and manages to keep the foot dry,” she says.

Faviani explains that the polar fleece is suitable not only for pajamas and jackets as coats, but also for socks for more domestic use. “It’s a type of polyester that simulates the texture of wool, but at the same time it’s lighter.” And also cheaper.

“Nylon is ideal for cold temperatures, when people sweat less. Just as knitted coats have been in fashion for several winter seasons, becoming a must-have, nylon socks should also be a must-have for your feet this time of year. They are very comfortable,” he advises.

On the other hand, there is classic wool. “It’s one of the best fabrics when it comes to retaining heat. Of course, it is not recommended to use it directly on the foot, as this can cause irritation or itching”, warns the image coach. He recommends putting it on with another cotton sock inside, to avoid allergies or discomfort due to its texture.

Finally, he leaves a perhaps lesser-known tip: winter soles. “Winter liners in shoes aren’t something in everyone’s pocket, which is why winter insoles are becoming a super affordable and comfortable option to keep our feet warm in the winter, or less to add some comfort to the temperature,” he says. Chiporro or wool are the most common “and they are an excellent option”.

The last piece of advice comes from the bonus track and it has nothing to do with socks but rather a holistic tip: “Don’t just rely on good clothes to fight the cold in winter. Also consider physical activity, so that your body calibrates its temperature through circulation. When you feel your feet are cold, try walking or moving, as physical activity increases your blood flow, improves circulation and raises temperature,” he recommends.

*Prices for this item are current as of June 30, 2022. Values ​​and availability subject to change.