Lesson Learned

**Cali** · 10-28-2013, 12:51

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...

**lostagain** · 10-28-2013, 13:10

Glad to see someone else has noticed the same thing. I have two pair of down booties/socks. One from Mountain Hardwear and the other from GooseFeet Gear. Love both pairs, but have found that with socks of any kind on, they seem to be less thermally efficient than without. My theory is that the socks suppress the heat coming off your feet in order to keep your feet warm (after all, this is one of the primary functions of socks), thus not allowing the down to do it's insulation thing, so that even though your feet are inside both the wool socks and down socks, the wool socks are what is keeping your feet warm, and the down socks are merely there.

I've found that without socks both the booties and down socks keep my feet warm to the point of sweating.

**Nighthauk** · 10-28-2013, 13:14

I would put a thinner pair a socks on so that your feet breathe a little better this allowing the booties to do their thing. The second advantage to doing this is that it keeps the down booties a little more cleaner from sweat and dirt coming off your feet.

**Bubba** · 10-28-2013, 13:20

Originally Posted by Nighthauk

I would put a thinner pair a socks on so that your feet breathe a little better this allowing the booties to do their thing. The second advantage to doing this is that it keeps the down booties a little more cleaner from sweat and dirt coming off your feet.

I agree. I find a thin polyester sock liner to work well. Same principle as wearing base layer long underwear.

**pgibson** · 10-28-2013, 13:21

The thing your noticing is that with out a sock blood flows more readily through your feet. If you do a liner sock like nighthauk suggests buy it well larger than your usual size socks so it's not restrictive of blood flow.

**dragon360** · 10-28-2013, 13:32

I also believe clothing or socks act as a small barrier. I have several down jackets that I have always worn fleece under and still was cold on those days. A friend of mine howver, would come into work in a t-shirt in his and never ever complain. In the times I have done as him, I have been incredibly warm - go figure.

**SnrMoment** · 10-28-2013, 14:39

I'm staying plenty warm in my Flame Throwers and Smartwool socks.

**Cali** · 10-29-2013, 08:40

Thank you all for your input. I will have to get some thin socks to wear so I don't mess or smell up my down booties.

**mbiraman** · 10-29-2013, 09:33

Its good to experiment ,try new ideas , and see what works for you.

**Seeker** · 10-31-2013, 20:23

As light as the compression might be, knit socks constrict the blood flow in your feet and keep them from getting warm... this is similar to why gloves can keep your hands cold (and it's not just the separation from other fingers thing, a problem that is solved with mittens. Even tight mittens will not work as well as loose ones.)