SOCKS Don't get cold feet trying to outwit winter

The key to staying warm is to stay dry.
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- There is no bad weather, only bad clothing -- or so the saying goes. Salespeople in outdoor-gear stores promise to steer shoppers to the right socks for outwitting the cold all winter.
"For shoveling the driveway, no cotton socks," says Barb Jacobson, a sales associate at Gander Mountain in Woodbury, Minn. "They won't work."
Popular brands like Smartwool and Wigwam create the buzz among socks designed for warmth. But outdoor-gear stores and many department stores also sell a range of knockoff products, some for a few dollars less than well-known brands. And some product lines include children's sizes.
Cotton socks fail to keep feet warm because when cotton gets wet -- either from water or perspiration -- it retains the moisture, which pulls heat away from the body. "The key to staying warm is to stay dry," explains Bob Aldrich, sales and training coordinator at Midwest Mountaineering on Minneapolis' West Bank. "You stay dry by having something that does moisture management."
Laboratory breakthroughs have created, tweaked and blended fibers to address the age-old dilemma of cold feet. Synthetics in new-wave socks take on the role of wicking moisture away from the skin. They're blended with wool, which manages the body's temperature by retaining heat.
"Trapping body heat is what good socks do," says Rich Littlefield, a sales specialist at REI, a consumer co-op in Roseville.
In some socks made by Wigwam, a product called Outlast accomplishes the same task in a slightly different way. Outlast is designed to store body heat, then release it as the wearer's skin temperature cools.
Liner socks also can provide a layer of warmth. Designed to wear under another pair of socks, the beauty of them is they're thin enough to work with lightweight socks under a woman's dress shoe or boot. For wearers of heavy-duty outdoor footwear, other choices are socks warmed by an attached battery or by toe-warmer packets slid under a piece of elastic.
Like other clothing, one size -- or brand -- of warm socks isn't a fit for everybody. "The problem is, everybody's feet are different," Aldrich says. Finding the perfect socks can take some experimentation.
Here's the range of what Twin Cities salespeople suggest to keep your feet toasty till balmy weather returns.
Wool-blend for outdoors
Crafted mostly for outdoor wear and winter sports, socks made of wool and synthetics come in a variety of weights, brands and a couple of colors beyond gray and oatmeal. Various weights made by most brands make them useful for winter activities from snowmobiling and skiing to indoor shopping. Many wool-blend socks come with money-back guarantees not to shrink or itch the skin. Wigwam brand's color surprise: navy blue.
Smartwool makes socks in these weights for varied uses:
UCasual sport, a lightweight crew sock, light enough for indoor wear under a casual sport shoe.
ULight hiker and regular, each a bit thicker than the other and good for walking and other casual wear.
UExpedition, also good for hiking; a shorter sock good with a heavy boot.
UHunting, a long sock for extended outdoor wear. Cost: About $9 to $19, depending on brand and style.
Liners
Liners are very thin socks made to be worn under another sock. Think of them as long underwear for the feet. They're made of 100 percent polypropelene with a wicking system. Thin enough to fit under women's colored nylon socks or tights, they're wearable under a dress shoe or boot, as well as with thicker outdoor socks and footwear. Cost: About $5.
Fleece
Made of 100 percent polyester, these unconstructed fleece socks are warm, cuddly, colorful and versatile. Billed to wear under footgear while skiing, snowmobiling, walking, hunting or camping, they're just as good for around-the house wear or for daytime schlepping. Cost: About $10.
Heated socks
UBattery-heated socks: These socks, made of wool, acrylic, polyester and nylon, look like any long, heavyweight sock except for the battery pouch attached to each sock near the top. Wires concealed by the fabric run along the outside of each sock and under the toes. Add a D-cell battery, and the wearer gets infused heat for about six hours. Cost: About $25, batteries not included.
UToe-warmer socks: Some manufacturers have attached a piece of elastic to their thick, wool-blend boot socks to hold in place a couple of toe-warmer packets. Cost: about $12, including the toe warmers.
Toe warmers
Made like finger warmers that tuck into your winter gloves, toe warmers can be placed directly in the bottom of a shoe or boot. Experts' tip: When not in use, put toe warmers in a zip-lock baggie and stick it in a pocket to preserve its six hours of life while exposed to oxygen. Cost: About $1 for one; $2 a pair.