Lesson Learned - Down Booties - No Socks

[Trekcap'n]

Great info here! I found it very useful. Thanks!!!

[Deadphans]

I went to the Burrell's Ford Hang this weekend and friday night got down to 28*. My feet got cold and I did not sleep well that night. I had my down booties with a pair of clean, loose, wool socks. I did not want to take off the wool socks because it was so cold. Brrrrr.....

Saturday night I took off the wool socks and just had the down booties on and my feet stayed toasty warm. Sometimes we just have to go against what we think is right. I really thought my feet would get colder if I took off the socks. DUH!!!!! Lesson learned the hard way...

It really is so weird. I do think the complete opposite. I made a pair of down booties (if I can call them that ) out of a JCPPuffer jacket. I have yet to use them, but I will keep your (and others) experience in mind. Cause I was thinking nice toasty warm socks as well. We shall see! Maybe this weekend I will get out in the back yard for a hang and test them out.

[brooklynkayak]

I never wear much on my feet when I sleep.
My quilt/sleeping bag helps contain the heat from the rest of my body helping my feet to stay warm.

I do know that if I don't wear enough insulation on my head and/or if I have a cold spot on my body, my feet/hands can get cold.

This has happened in my hammock when winter camping with a maladjusted bottom quilt and the typical cold back issue.

I usually find that if my hands or feet start to get cold, I can put an extra layer on my head and/or torso to fix it.

This works much better than trying to add insulation to my feet/hands.

There is some science behind it. If you your brain senses cold in a certain part of your head, your brain will reduce the circulation to your appendages and so cold feet/hands are the result.

Like they say, if your feet are cold, put on a hat.

[Rob E]

Glad I'm not the only one who froze their but off (well, toes off) that night. Had the same problem - went to bed with a rather tight pair of wool socks on, and as it dropped below freezing, I kept waking up with painfully cold feet. I'm going to find a pair of down socks and wear them over my bare feet (or with a loose pair of thin socks as suggested).

Great thread!