EDUCATE
HOW TO
Keep Your Feet Warm Adapted from the NOLS Blog
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aking care of your feet while camping is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Here’s advice from the pros—NOLS instructors and employees—on how to take care of your feet when they get cold. Steps to keeping your feet warm First, let’s talk about prevention. It’s much easier to keep feet warm than to warm up your digits once they get cold. 1. Act Before You’re Cold. Don’t wait until you start feeling cold before you do anything. Add layers when you see the sun going down, and keep moving around. There’s no need to “tough it out”—experienced folks take steps early so they don’t get too cold. 2. Stand on Something. You can insulate your feet from the ground by standing on a foam pad, a log, or even a piece of cardboard to keep your feet off the ground. 3. Keep Moving. Movement is one of the main ways we generate body heat, so staying in motion rather than sitting still is key. Walk, jog, or dance with a friend! 4. Eat Snacks. Even more important than moving is giving your body the food your metabolism uses to stay warm. Eat a big dinner, spike your hot beverages with butter—whatever you can to increase your caloric intake.
Campers with warm feet are happy campers! Wilson Cheung
Tips for warming up chilly feet
Now that you know about some important prevention points, let’s talk about what to do 5. Change Your Socks. It’s important to if your feet actually do get cold. keep your feet as dry as possible, but 1. Borrow Your Friend’s Tummy. With when you can’t, keep an extra pair handy permission, put your cold feet on a to change into (after a river crossing, friend’s belly and hold them there until once you arrive in camp, and when you they warm up. You can gently rub your go to bed). feet if that feels better, or just hang out 6. Work with the Environment. Start for a while. traveling early so you can get to camp 2. Use a Hot Water Bottle. A hot water before dark, leaving time to take care of bottle inside your sleeping bag is a wonyour feet. When you choose a campsite, derful way to help you warm up. While think about the sun exposure and where holding hot things doesn’t really affect you can build a fire.
your core body temperature, it feels really good—and morale goes a long way! 3. Pack Foot Warmers. These are handy to put in your boots for very cold conditions. Reusable foot warmers minimize your carbon footprint. 4. Support Your Friends. Check in! Ask your friends how they’re doing, and in a particularly wet or cold environment make sure you look at each other’s hands and feet. 5. Set a Good Example. Demonstrate how you take care of your feet and keep an eye on those who are less experienced.
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