Waterproof Shoes

markybhoy67

Looking for some advice fellow bikers.

I currently ride with Shimano M122 shoes but as it is now getting very cold and wet I have decided to get some winter footwear.

I initially considered altura overshoes but I ordered the wrong size and they did not fit :oops:

I have now been put off overshoes and I am now stuck between Shimano MW02 and MW80, does anyone have any experience of these shoes? Are they as good as reviews make them out for being warm and waterproof(as much as something can be waterproof)

Do you have any recommendation for waterproof shoes?

Also my shoes are a size 45 and they fit fine, are the boots roughly the same sort of fit (I am buying off the internet so can't get the chance to try them on first)

I will be wearing altura waterproof trousers so these should cover most of the shoes.

Cheers

pst88

I dunno, I have the same shoes and I'm just gonna wear 2 pairs of socks until it gets so cold I have to seek an alternative solution. Although last year I commuted in normal trainers with 2 pairs of socks all winter without a problem.

ris

i wear waterproof socks and they seem to do the trick. can get a bit warm but never let me down.

markybhoy67

Hadn't thought about socks, it's just that the shoes get very wet and take a while to dry out.

Thats why I thought of waterproof shoes/boots

Cheers gives me something else to think about.

always_tyred

Persist with overshoes - the problem with waterproof shoes is that all waterproofing wears out. If you have overshoes, you replace the overshoes for £20. If you have waterproof shoes, its a different matter.

Plus, if is raining on the way in but not on the way home (for example most days in the summer) you aren't lumbered with the hot waterproof shoes.

Get thee to a cycle shop to try some alternatives. Some of them even look good.

passout

Lake do some leather MTB boots. They look abit gimpy but are reasonably waterproof.

markybhoy67

I have just bought a pair of seal skin waterproof socks from wiggle to start with.

If I did go down the overshoes route, is it better to have a zip at the back of the feet or is Velcro better. I would have thought a zip would have been better but I am more than happy for other people opinions.

My choice for overshoes would probably be between :

Endura MT500 Overshoes (zip) £25

Altura Night Vision Overshoes (velcro) £30

or

I was going to just buy Shimano MW80 SPD Shoes for £75 and just use them through the winter and then go back to the M122 when (or if) the weather improves next year LOL

I take the point about rain in the morning and dry at night, as my commute is only 10 miles each way it would probably be a gamble worth taking.

Oh decisions decisions, also would probably not be able to hide new boots from the wife where as I could hide the overshoes....LOL

always_tyred

Personal pref. is for zip.

If you prefer closer fitting, go Endura. Indeed, on that basis, their regular neoprene ones would probably suffice providing you aren't going to be clambering through any rooty singletrack.

snooks

I just went for Seal Skinz (warm waterproof socks) Like cycling in slippers

Nick6891

i have some Altura Night Vision Overshoes and they worked great, the velcro is good and they are very waterproof, also sealskin waterproof socks keep your feet warm and dry

Wrath Rob

markybhoy67 wrote:

I initially considered altura overshoes but I ordered the wrong size and they did not fit :oops:

I have now been put off overshoes

You were put off overshoes because you ordered the wrong size?

I've got the Altura's too and they got me through last winter and I've just started wearing them for this winter. My only criticism is that the velcro under the overshoe wears out if you walk around in them. I now take them off as soon as I get off of the bike. Duh! Also, the neoprene ones are not normally waterproof, they work like a wet-suit and trap the water in and allow your feet to heat it up, whereas the Altura ones stop water getting into your shoes, as well as being wind-proof.

you pays your money...

always_tyred

Its as much about the length up the leg and protection from water splashing upwards as anything.

I have some addidas ones just now, which are fine, but are short in the ankle. It is really noticeable that compared to my previous pair the inevitable leakage/wicking down my leg occurs much faster.

I really do think neoprene is waterproof - the outer skin is continuous these days.

I don't get hot feet so its hard to argue if they trap heat. My commute is about an hour so I do not bother trying to stay dry really (although overshoes can stave off water for long enough that your shoes are merely wet rather than soaked by the end of an hour in the wet) - its more about maintaining the right temperature than anything.

markybhoy67

Wrath Rob wrote:

markybhoy67 wrote:

I initially considered altura overshoes but I ordered the wrong size and they did not fit :oops:

I have now been put off overshoes

You were put off overshoes because you ordered the wrong size?



you pays your money...

Sorry maybe I didn't explain myself properly, I was put off with ordering overshoes over the internet as I had ordered the wrong size then the hassle of sending them back and getting refund then ordering a bigger size as well as the cost of postage, time etc...

I have phoned evans cycles who have both overshoes in my size in stock, so I will head down there tomorrow and try them on, just make sure I take my shoes with me

markybhoy67

Nick6891 wrote:

i have some Altura Night Vision Overshoes and they worked great, the velcro is good and they are very waterproof, also sealskin waterproof socks keep your feet warm and dry

Nick6891, that basiclly my set up then if I get the night vision overshoes.

I will have seal skin waterproof socks, a night vision jacket and night vision waterproof trousers so may as well go the whole hog and get the overshoes, unless the endura ones feel tighter LOL

sc999cs

markybhoy67 wrote:

Endura MT500 Overshoes (zip) £25

Altura Night Vision Overshoes (velcro) £30

I had the Endura MT500 overshoes. The velcro tab at the top broke off one shoe after about 2 months usage (30 rides?). The zip also broke on the other shoe. I had one shoe which kept coming undone and another I couldn't zip up! Don't get me wrong these are good overshoes for keeping your feet warm and dry but don't expect them to last more than one winter.

markybhoy67

sc999cs wrote:

markybhoy67 wrote:

Endura MT500 Overshoes (zip) £25

Altura Night Vision Overshoes (velcro) £30

I had the Endura MT500 overshoes. The velcro tab at the top broke off one shoe after about 2 months usage (30 rides?). The zip also broke on the other shoe. I had one shoe which kept coming undone and another I couldn't zip up! Don't get me wrong these are good overshoes for keeping your feet warm and dry but don't expect them to last more than one winter.

Ahhhhh, all this confusion LOL

I like the idea of a zip as I have a feeling that the velcro will some how come apart and I will lose an overshoe or something

That was why I had decided to go for waterproof boots and have waterproof trousers to cover most of the ankle thus keeping me pretty dry on my commute.

I have now added waterproof socks into the equation :?

If up to £75 was not a problem and I could get a new pair of boots next winter if needed, is waterproof boots the way to go purely for keeping feet dry and warm and not having to wonder if I am going to lose an overshoe on the way home?

My head hurts now :? and no doubt everyone else's who is reading my posts.

Right no more questions from me on this thread................................maybe

sc999cs

I like the idea of a zip as I have a feeling that the velcro will some how come apart and I will lose an overshoe or something

Trouble with the Endura is that they have a zip up back with a velcro locking tab you pull across the top. If the tab breaks the zip just comes undone again.

biondino

I bought some DHB overshoes which did a great job of keeping the rain out but after only 1 day's riding I'd worn holes in the material on the front bottom (shut it, smutsters) of the overshoe.

coffeecup

I have the road version of the gortex shimano shoes.

They do keep your feet dry and warm if you can stop the water getting in the top, at the ankle. Overtrousers will do this and keep the water out. Depending how long your commute is, you may still find your socks a little damp, but this is just normal sweating.

I wear tights most days which don't keep the water out of the top but I've improvised with a set of diver's dry suit seals (£3 a pair) which work really well!!!

It's a good point raised above about the weather changing during the day. (If it's dry in the morning do you wear them or not?? If it's cool/cold - Yes, because they're a great shoe for warmth even it's not raining and you don't have to mess about with overshoes.) But to contra the weather argument, I have tried many pairs of overshoes and have yet to find a pair that do a decent job. If it rains in the morning your shoes may be warm but they'll be wet and they'll still be wet for the ride home

markybhoy67

I have just went and ordered a pair of altura night vision overshoes so should hopefully have them next week.

I still think that I should have got boots but I will give this a try first as it is a cheaper route.

I will just have to do some more overtime to pay for all my recent purchases

Thanks guys/girls

symo

Any recommendations for overshoes that fit over trainers rather than spd shoes, looking to buy some today?

commuterconvert

i am also looking for overshoes that will work with standard pedals with straps. What I'd need is enough clearance to be able to fit my foot into them so I guess I'd be looking for something that's quite thin.
I'll be moving to clipless at some point when I've got spare time away from the commute to practice a bit so if these Altura Night Vision are thin enough that would be ideal by the sounds of it.

Any recommendations?

Wrath Rob

commuterconvert wrote:

Any recommendations?

Get rid of the nasty, slow dangerous straps and get some SPDs or some Time pedals.

Kieran_Burns

markybhoy67 wrote:

I have just went and ordered a pair of altura night vision overshoes so should hopefully have them next week.

I still think that I should have got boots but I will give this a try first as it is a cheaper route.

I will just have to do some more overtime to pay for all my recent purchases

Thanks guys/girls

I have a pair - they are VERY warm, but I haven't had the opportunity to try them in a full downpour yet

Clever Pun

I've got the northwave ones at present and are very waterproof except at the top point where they keep the water in a treat.... also very warm in winter

I am thinking of upgrading to the Sidi ones though as they feel a bit clunky if that's the right word

alfablue

I have the Shimano MT90 boots - they double as walking boots so are good for touring too (only shoes I take). They are Gore-Tex lined, if that fails Gore will replace/refund for the life of the boots. They do need overtrousers to stop water going in the top (if its not raining hard no problem). They don't look at all "bikey" which is an advantage or disadvantage depending on your view. They are very warm and comfy. Sizing is small, I usually take 45 but needed a 47. I have used them for two years now, commuting and touring, still going strong!



Review

I tried overshoes but they still let water in and I tore them without much effort.

commuterconvert

Wrath Rob wrote:

commuterconvert wrote:

Any recommendations?

Get rid of the nasty, slow dangerous straps and get some SPDs or some Time pedals.

definitely something I want to do (I have bought some, just haven't put them on yet)... Don't want to divert the thread but how long do you reckon they would take to get used to before braving a central london traffic heavy commute?

biondino

Several rides. I love my pedals but could very easily have been dead on only my 3rd commute in them thanks to them if I hadn't at the last nanosecond managed to extract my foot when toppling over into 40mph traffic.

markybhoy67

Kieran_Burns wrote:

markybhoy67 wrote:

I have just went and ordered a pair of altura night vision overshoes so should hopefully have them next week.

I still think that I should have got boots but I will give this a try first as it is a cheaper route.

I will just have to do some more overtime to pay for all my recent purchases

Thanks guys/girls

I have a pair - they are VERY warm, but I haven't had the opportunity to try them in a full downpour yet

After trying the overshoes on I decided against them and bought the shimano mw80's instead :shock:

Haven't tried them out yet but they look up for the job

coffeecup

that's the spirirt!!!! Expensive kit rocks

Let us know how you get on with the mw80s. I love my rw80s

commuterconvert

biondino wrote:

Several rides. I love my pedals but could very easily have been dead on only my 3rd commute in them thanks to them if I hadn't at the last nanosecond managed to extract my foot when toppling over into 40mph traffic.

That is exactly what I'm worried about! A few rides at weekends are in order until I'm happy then. swap over the pedals for the weekdays, bit of a hassle but better than the risky alternative.