With the cold winter weather making a return to Scotland over the coming days, many of us will be looking for new ways to stay warm. While the easiest way would be to curl up at home wearing an extra jumper, draped in a blanket with the heating on – the festive season is the busiest time of the year.
Our social calendars are already filling up with work parties, meeting friends, visiting the Christmas markets, and much much more. So it can be a bit trickier to keep yourself well heated while out and about.
With Met Office weather warnings for ice and wind in place this week – following on from numerous alerts for wind, rain, snow, and ice during Storm Bert last month – it’s crucial to ensure you don’t catch a chill if you’ve got to head outside over Christmas time.
While basics like wearing extra layers and grabbing a hot drink are known to most people, Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert team have some excellent extra hints and tips for heading out into the bitter winter weather.
We previously told how the MSE experts suggested buying some thermal socks to keep your feet toasty – and they highlighted a pair from Marks and Spencer. The M&S Three-pack Thermal Sumptuously Soft Ankle High Socks have been recommended among Martin Lewis fans, and cost just £10 for three pairs.
So, reporter Abbie Meehan decided to put the recommendation to the test and see if the much-vaunted socks were worth the price point. Read on below to find out what she thought of the thermal socks.
Initial opinions
To begin, the Marks and Spencer near to me in Livingston is so big I was wandering around aimlessly shopping for Christmas presents before I eventually found the thermal socks. They had a huge range of thermals, from vests to leggings, to trousers, socks and more. I was pleasantly surprised at how much was available, and I spotted what I needed quickly.
As I picked the socks up, I was shocked at how thin these thermal socks were, as the majority of thermals I wear to sporting events and training sessions are thicker, in order to insulate me better. They were soft to the touch, and came in a range of colours as well – but I opted for the dark grey three-pack. After dropping more money than I intended on other items, I headed home with the coveted socks and began my thorough research.
Insulation
I put the thermal socks on straight away, as I was planning to go on a chilly walk ahead of my work. While I was dubious at first as to how thin they were, I stuck on my trainers and got to walking the beat. I was really pleased with the comfort level of the socks, and the fact the ankle high length didn’t slip down during my walk was also a pleasant surprise.
I was out for a total of 45 minutes on my walk, and once I got in, my feet were verging on the line of being sweaty. The socks kept my feet extremely warm and cosy, and not once did I feel like I was getting any chill in my toes.
I wore another pair when I headed out to the gym, which was probably a bad idea, but I was kept warm in the air-conditioned squat rack areas and so on. I also gifted my mum a pair, as she headed into a cold office to work for the day, and she came home excitedly to tell me that I needed to buy another set of these socks, as she had never been warmer during her work day.
My whole family tends to get cold hands and feet at all times, even if it isn’t winter time, and both my mum and I were super pleased with our results.
Price point
While £10 for three pairs of socks may seem like an expensive and un-needed purchase for many, I would definitely recommend these socks if you aren’t planning on keeping your heating on for long during the winter.
These thermal socks would even be a great idea for during the night if you are turning off the heating while you sleep, as the heat of your body can escape through your feet rather easily.
So, overall, these socks have been a game-changer for me, and I will definitely be getting another pack to wear during my training sessions at football – there’s nothing worse than freezing cold toes in football boots.
You can buy these thermal socks on the M&S website here.
Marks and Spencer isn’t the only retailer selling special toe warming socks. There are a wide selection available on Amazon at varying prices and can also be purchased from Sports Direct.
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