Keep Your Feet Warm with Pure Wool Socks

You just came in from shoveling snow. You've discovered your boots are no longer waterproof, and your feet are wet and freezing. You've decided to get a new pair of boots. All right, that's an option, but what about getting a few pairs of wool socks, too? If you usually stay away from wool clothes because you find them itchy and scratchy, here are a few reasons to reconsider your decision.

1. Wool doesn't have to be scratchy and itchy.
Yes, there are breeds of sheep that grow coarser wool, which is really better used for rugs than clothing. But there are also breeds that grow softer wool. The problem with most commercial wool garments is that they're made from wool that's a mixture of coarse (scratchy) and fine (softer) fibers. The coarser wool is sturdier, of course, but it's also more irritating to the skin, and unfortunately, its effect far outweighs that of the softer wool it's mixed with.

So when you're shopping for wool socks, see if you can find some that are softer. They'll be higher quality, of course, which will cost you more, but they'll be worth the price.

2. What's irritating to your arms may not be irritating to your feet.
The soles of your feet are tough, and relatively insensitive; they have to be, to put up with all those different surfaces they come in contact with every day. There's a very good chance that a wool that would drive you absolutely bonkers in a sweater would not even be noticeable on your feet. Even if it is noticeable, you'd be more likely to feel it on your ankles and legs, because the skin there is more sensitive than the skin of your feet.

There are ways to deal with this. The best, if you're using store-bought wool socks, is to layer them over a thinner pair. If you make your own socks, or have someone make them for you, just use a softer yarn for the top part of the sock. Softer yarn isn't as sturdy, but it won't need to be-the bottom of the foot is what gets the most wear.

3. Wool socks will keep your feet warm even when they're wet.
Most people know that wool is popular for winter clothes, especially sweaters, because it's a good insulator. But they don't realize the most important-and amazing-thing about wool: it will continue to keep you warm even when it's wet.

Acrylic, even though it was designed as a replacement for wool, does not do this. And cotton certainly doesn't. In fact, if there's any chance at all that your feet might get wet on a cold day, stay away from cotton. If you don't, you will seriously regret it.

So keep your old boots (for a while), and try some wool socks instead. And don't worry about trying to keep your feet dry on the next wet, snowy day. Your socks can handle whatever Mother Nature dishes out.