While we’re on the topic of cold extremities, one thing I’ve come to realize in the past decade or so is that the warmth of them (hands and feet)…or more like preventing them from getting unbearably cold…is the importance of circulation. Previously, I was always battling cold feet by trying to come up with a better sock combination. Then, it dawned on me that stuffing more “sock-age” into my shoes was making it tighter and sort of acting as bondage, ever-so-slightly, but thereby very slightly restricting circulation — the free flow of warm blood getting to the extremity. So then, instead of more socks, I “thought outside the shoe.” Now, I just go with thin socks inside the shoe, and use better shoe covers. It’s much better. In the same light, with my hands, I recently realized that although I was using good ‘hand’ protection, that I was sometimes leaving my wrists improperly protected. My wrists never felt cold, (same with the ankles re: foot/toe comfort), but as blood moved through them it was loosing some of the warmth that it carries to my hands and fingers. So now, I make sure that my wrists are properly insulated from the cold and wind and it seems to help with my hands and fingers staying comfortable. — Dan