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Dear Arby:

I was born with cold feet. Whether I go backpacking in the summer or ski touring to a hut in the winter, I always face the same challenge. I hop into my sleeping bag at night and try to get my feet warm before I can go to sleep. Wearing a heavy pair of socks doesn’t help, and life has not yet provided me with my own personal human foot warmer. What else can you suggest?

Feet Relying On Some Toasty Yuppie

Dear F-R-O-S-T-Y:

Sock it to me! Fill a Nalgene quart bottle with boiling water, secure the lid, and stuff it into an old hiking sock. Place this at the foot of your bag and cover this end of the bag with your jacket to help keep in the heat. The bottle will stay warm all night. The sock insulates the bottle and keeps it from getting too hot for your feet. You can use this warm water the next morning to refresh your hands and face or to get a head start on making coffee. Of course, eating a substantial evening meal will also help you to generate enough heat during the night to stay warm. If you can’t do the hot water bottle trick, wear a ski cap and stuff your feet into your down vest or jacket in the foot of the bag. Sweet dreams!

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