Poor circulation in my hands and feet

[Sutter]

I have always had poor circulation in my hands and feet. If it goes sub 20F my hands are feet are guaranteed to go numb at some point in the day and get really painful once the blood comes back. Does anyone have suggestions as to how to counteract this? Any ideas why this happens? And most importantly, if there are others out there that deal with this issue too, what gloves/ mittens do you where once it gets really cold?

Right now I have a pair of Hestra Freeride gloves and Flylow mitts, but neither do the trick once it gets down into the teens or below.

[Tye 1on]

Ever get frostnipped? Not sure if that's a technical term, but just short of frostbite. Did that to fingers on both hands at some point, and like you say, once they go numb I know they're gonna hurt like a mutha when they warm back up.

No gear recs other than handwarmers?

[Sutter]

Ever get frostnipped? Not sure if that's a technical term, but just short of frostbite. Did that to fingers on both hands at some point, and like you say, once they go numb I know they're gonna hurt like a mutha when they warm back up.

No gear recs other than handwarmers?

I went to Whistler during a cold snap in 2004 and my big tow didn't regain full feeling for a couple months, but no real evidence of frost nip or bite.

[wendigo]

Check out Raynaud's Syndrome, there are a bunch of different meds (viagra!) that can help.

[adrenalated]

The BD Mercury mitt is about the warmest thing you can put on your hands short of a high-altitude expedition mitten. A few friends with cold appendages swear by 'em. Spendy, but worth it.

[Lexi-Bell]

Mercury mitt x2, I only wear mine when it gets -10* F or colder because they are so warm. Buddy with chronic cold feet ponied up for some Hottronics and is super happy he did.

[Orthoski]

One of the very insulated mittens (like the BD Mercury) or another that doesn't finger dividers (this is key) and a hand warmer each day probably the best bet.

[Flyoverland Captive]

Check out Raynaud's Syndrome, there are a bunch of different meds (viagra!) that can help.

This. I know two people who have it; one has kept it at bay with pills. No clue what she takes; your doc can sort you out.

[Sutter]

This. I know two people who have it; one has kept it at bay with pills. No clue what she takes; your doc can sort you out.

Thanks guys for the mitten and Raynaud's channels. I'll look into both of these.

[Sutter]

Some info from the Mayo Clinic in case anyone else is interested

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...n/con-20022916

[babybear]

I've dealt with the same for yrs- and even if I go biking or do something strenuous and the temps drop to below like 50 degrees I can completely lose circulation to the paws.
I've used a bunch of different mittens and have been using the swany legend mitten the past couple of yrs. It's warm and I really like that it has a zipper so you can bust the fingers out when you need dexterity without taking the whole mitten off. Not sure where you are located but with all the hiking/ BC around JH it's also nice to be able to vent so you don't get too sweaty (just as bad as getting too cold)

I asked my doc about it and he suggested trying cayenne pepper pills. I haven't tried but I've heard they can help (apparently you need like 2 teaspoons so capsules seem like a better route)
But really the best thing I've found is to just be uber prepared and manage it. I always have hand warmers in my pack, an extra down jkt etc, bought boot warmers for my ski boots etc.
It sucks but much less than when I was just trying to wing it/ ignore it and was in misery when that blood finally comes back....
Oh I also really want to pick up a pair of the new heated mitts- seems like the battery life is getting better and more options available

[swissiphic]

Live in northwest B.C. Canada, ski tour lots and have a job with lots of outside cold temp exposure. Intermittent issues with cold hands/feet...just a few tips that help.

General:
- Seems that fueling up with big greasy breakfasts helps a bit for staying warm throughout/later in the day. Add butter to your bacon. Eat lots of food on cold days, keep the internal fire stoked.
- Drinking coffee messes with my thermoregulation. impossible to live life without it but experience noticeable improvements with consistency of warmth of skip coffee days when it's cold.
- obviously cigarettes are bad for keeping extremities warm.
Hands: Start the day with warm hands...once warm, keep 'em warm. Yup, fingerless mittens.
Feet: Without question, the thick foam version of Intuition Luxury ski boot liners. Not the end all, but a good front line defense. Heard lots of good reports of folks using hotronics insoles as an endgame.

[old goat]

I assume you know the importance of keeping head and core warm, not just hands and feet.
The Mayo Clinic article pretty much nails it. The success of meds is not impressive in my experience but I never had the opportunity to prescribe Viagra.

[XXX-er]

what has Viagra got to do with keeping the hands warm ??

On that note I was listening to a blue grass tune the other day on the radio the only part of the song I heard was the chorus "if you see Alice tell her i'm ready to go!"

[zion zig zag]

I assume you know the importance of keeping head and core warm, not just hands and feet.

This x 10. I've wondered for years if I have Raynaud's. After years of feet and hands going numb I learned that I had to keep my core warm almost to the point of sweating.

[johnnyg82]

Anyone try the Free The Powder gloves? http://www.freethepowder.com/blogs/r...i-glove-design

According to the website, they were made for helping Reynaud's syndrome.

[babybear]

I assume you know the importance of keeping head and core warm, not just hands and feet.
The Mayo Clinic article pretty much nails it. The success of meds is not impressive in my experience but I never had the opportunity to prescribe Viagra.

Yes a good reminder about keeping the core toasty- so so important but keeping the core warm still results in white hands for me often. I think that is the sign of true reynaud's
We often joke that 'my thermostat is broken' so I've found that just keeping steady and trying not to sweat too profusely nor get too chilled gets the best results.
I worked on Mt Rainier, as a ski patroller, plus I chase around a pro athlete so I've had plenty of time to test it out haha
Ultimately everyone is different though so figure out what works for you.

I've also heard about viagra, which I sorta want to try just for the story to tell if it worked!

[mcski]

I never had the opportunity to prescribe Viagra.

I need a new Rx if u want to resolve that!

[old goat]

what has Viagra got to do with keeping the hands warm ??

On that note I was listening to a blue grass tune the other day on the radio the only part of the song I heard was the chorus "if you see Alice tell her i'm ready to go!"

Viagra, like most of the other meds in the Mayo article, is a vasodilator--it expands blood vessels. That's how it works on ED and why it works (theoretically) for Reynayd's--which is caused by the blood vessels going into spasm. The problem with these meds that if you give them to someone with normal blood pressure, a dose high enough to overcome the spasm is likely to drop the blood pressure too low.

I need a new Rx if u want to resolve that!

just check your spam folder.

[Atrain505]

Electronic battery boot heaters. Best ski related gear purchase I have ever made. Other people swear by the heated socks with a battery. Same deal essentially.

[neufox47]

Anyone try the Free The Powder gloves? http://www.freethepowder.com/blogs/r...i-glove-design

According to the website, they were made for helping Reynaud's syndrome.

I have the long cuff ones and they work down to about 20 for me.

I have reynauds, as does my dad and brother. My hands and feet go numb long before they get frost bitten. The older I get the worse it is. Tried one of the generic vasodilators but didn't notice a difference. It's very frustrating because my core temp runs hotter than anyone I know. I will often have a medium baselayers under gore text shells when it's cold, then big ass mittens. Or if touring I'll be in a t-shirt and compression shorts with shell zips wide open exposing bare skin and heavy gloves on my hands.

I ski with hottronics if it's below freezing resort and touring boots (plan on replacing the heating element cables at least once a year in touring boots). Big mittens below 20 and maybe hand warmers below zero. When touring below zero I usually keep some expedition style mitts in my pack with hand warmers primed. That way if i have to fiddle with something or need to remove my gloxes i know i can get my hands warm. Also i use nitrile gloves as a liner, without them my hands will almost go instantly numb when damp and i remove them from gloves / mittens.

[XXX-er]

. Also i use nitrile gloves as a liner, without them my hands will almost go instantly numb when damp and i remove them from gloves / mittens.

I use the disposable vynal gloves (7$ for 100) mostly for lift riding touring is harder to get right but also i carry 3 pair of Mitts &b gloves in the pack

[Sutter]

I have the long cuff ones and they work down to about 20 for me.

I have reynauds, as does my dad and brother. My hands and feet go numb long before they get frost bitten. The older I get the worse it is. Tried one of the generic vasodilators but didn't notice a difference. It's very frustrating because my core temp runs hotter than anyone I know. I will often have a medium baselayers under gore text shells when it's cold, then big ass mittens. Or if touring I'll be in a t-shirt and compression shorts with shell zips wide open exposing bare skin and heavy gloves on my hands.

I ski with hottronics if it's below freezing resort and touring boots (plan on replacing the heating element cables at least once a year in touring boots). Big mittens below 20 and maybe hand warmers below zero. When touring below zero I usually keep some expedition style mitts in my pack with hand warmers primed. That way if i have to fiddle with something or need to remove my gloxes i know i can get my hands warm. Also i use nitrile gloves as a liner, without them my hands will almost go instantly numb when damp and i remove them from gloves / mittens.

All of this.

It's only my hands and feet that ever get cold/ go numb/ turn white. I wear way fewer base layers than most people I'm out there with, I'm unzipping my jacket on the lift and while I'm active ie skiing, skinning, climbing, it's never an issue. But as soon as there is transition time, or I'm waiting for a lift to open standing in line, I'm always spinning my arms around in circles and kicking my legs so I don't lose any blood flow momentum I have built up prior to that.

And once it goes, it really goes. I'm stopping mid lap to ball my hands up inside my gloves or mitts trying to get some blood flow going.

And Baby Bear, I'm with you on the not only when skiing. Sometimes I can feel my hands numb up in chilly, clammy conditions on early morning hikes and runs. It's out of control and drives me crazy. As someone who loves winter it's such a kick in the junk to have to deal with "sissy hands."

Thanks for all the advice and it looks like I'll definitely be investing in some hottronics for the boots this year and FTP mitts. Aaaaaaaaaand maybe some viagra, you know, just for R and D.

[XXX-er]

foot wise I use boot gloves & chemical foot warmers for lift riding

usually nothing for touring the movement seems to keep my feet warm enough