Having a job that keeps a worker on their feet all day long is a tough way to make a living. Add cold, difficult conditions to the equation and you've got a recipe for a potentially miserable day for construction workers in wintry climates. As anyone who has been out in bad weather can attest, once you have cold feet, it's tough to keep the rest of your body warm. And the best way for workers to keep their feet warm, dry and happy is by wearing the proper cold-weather footwear.

When looking at cold-weather boots, there are a number of basic styles to choose from: all-leather construction, all-rubber construction, and Pac boots, which utilize a rubber bottom and leather upper. Each style has benefits and drawbacks.

• All-leather footwear offers flexibility and breathability but, if not properly designed or constructed, may be more prone to allowing water into the boot.
• All-rubber footwear is completely waterproof, but is not breathable, and once moisture is inside the boot there is no way for it to get out.
• A Pac boot's combination of a leather upper and rubber lower offers not only the flexibility and breathability of leather but also the waterproof protection of a rubber bottom. However, it can become bulky and unwieldy.

The wearer must decide which type of footwear is most applicable to the work environment.

Once a worker has selected the style of boot that will work best at the job site, he or she still has to consider a number of other factors. One of the most important components in cold-weather footwear is insulation.

In most cold environments, insulation consisting of 400 to 1,000 grams of either Thinsulate or Thermolite will suffice. This is a general recommendation that can be affected by a number of variables, such as temperature, length of exposure, and level of activity. After evaluating these considerations, a worker should be able to select which insulation is optimal.

Another critical element is the ability to keep the feet dry, because once feet get wet, it's hard to keep them warm, regardless of the amount of insulation. This element includes keeping water and moisture from coming in, and allowing perspiration and moisture that is inside the boot to get out, because, if moisture is allowed to remain inside the boot, it will chill the foot.

One solution is to select a boot that utilizes a breathable waterproof barrier, such as GORE-TEX or Hyper-Dri, which allows moisture on the inside of the boot to escape. Unfortunately, rubber footwear does not have the ability to allow moisture out of the boot, but it does offer a great deal of protection when working in standing water or muck.

One factor that can play an important part of overall warmth and performance is selecting socks and layering systems that enhance the performance of cold-weather footwear. As with all parts of the body, layering is critical to staying warm. Instead of using one ultra heavyweight sock, it is better to use a combination of a lightweight liner sock coupled with a mid to heavyweight outer sock, because this creates an insulating layer of air.

When it comes to socks, not all material is created equal. It is important to select socks made out of a material such as merino wool, which will pull moisture away from the foot.

Maintaining proper foot hygiene is another factor in keeping feet warm. In cold weather, it is best to have two pairs of boots and at least two pairs of layering socks in order to rotate the footwear on a daily basis. When not using the second pair, they should be drying at room temperature in preparation for the next day.

Do not dry the footwear next to a fire or another high-intensity heat source, as this method of drying will dramatically shorten the life of the boots. Commercially available boot dryers are the best method to rapidly dry boots if speed is necessary.

Working in cold conditions does not relieve workers from the other safety requirements that are in place on many work sites. For instance, some specialty applications such as heavy construction, outdoor mining and heavy industry may require footwear that provides safety toe—or metatarsal—protection, while other situations may only require protection from potential punctures through the outsole by incorporating a steel midsole. Fortunately, cold-weather footwear is offered in styles to meet all these safety risks.

The bottom line is that workers facing wintry conditions do not need to resign themselves to having cold feet. By keeping a couple of critical items in mind when putting together a cold-weather footwear package—such as boot construction, insulation level, waterproof performance, layering quality socks and taking proper care of their boots—a worker can stay dry and comfortable in the most difficult conditions.

For more information about LaCrosse Footwear and its product line, contact (800) 323-2668 or visit www.lacrossefootwear.com.