Best winter shoe? How to keep toes warm?!

jaykayem

Has anyone out there who suffers from really cold feet in the winter found a solution? I use a summer shoe (Specialized BG Pro) all year round (which is not ideal since they are designed to keep feet cool), Sealskinz GTX socks and neoprene overshoes. Orthotics and scepticism mean I'm not going down the heated insole route.

So - which is the best value and most effective winter shoe? Ideally it will have a carbon sole and not cost the earth.

Cheers folks

cougie

You can get some booty style ones - not that I've tried them. I have a cheapo MTB shoe that I use - its more sturdy than my road shoe and hence warmer. I bung a pair of merino socks underneath and overshoes if its foul weather.

Dont get too small a size or your feet will be cramped with a thicker sock and that will cause them to go numb too. And I find a higher cadence is better in general to keep you warm.

No real need for carbon soles if money is a problem IMHO - my cheapo MTB shoes are fine for 80 mile rides.

careful

Shimano Ro80
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Shimano-Shimano-RW80-Winter-Boot-18315.htm
Or in dry conditions just extra socks help a bit.

giant_man

Best buy winter shoes or boots one size larger than you normally would.

Coupled with decent socks such as woolie boolies, this creates 'warm air space' that you need for warm feet. If shoes/feet too tight, they will remain cold.

nmcgann

I've got Specialized Defroster boots and find those in combination with neoprene overshoes do a pretty good job of keeping my feet warm. I tend to wear the overshoes most of the time in the winter here whatever the temperature as the lanes get so muddy that it keeps my boots clean.

The soles on the Defrosters are pretty stiff, I don't think carbon would be an improvement for winter wear.

Neil

dodgy

I've fannied around with all the usual solutions over the years, here is a list that equates to my experiences. By the way, I don't think you specified MTB or road shoes?

I've marked them out of 10 for effectiveness 8)

Shoes at least a half size too big = 8
Overshoes = 7
Proper Goretex winter boots (I have these, but untested yet as I've only recently bought them)
Mudguards = 8 (they keep most of the standing water off your shoes)
Plastic bags = 4
Neoprene socks (Sealskinz) = 7 (assuming you have shoes of at least a full size too big - as someone else said, snug shoes usually equals cold feet in winter)

I bought a pair of Shimano RW02 Goretex road shoes in July for £50 as I knew there would be the usual rush on the new winter stock when they come in. I couldn't have bought Goretex boots in my size last winter even if I had wanted to - they go out of stock quickly, I quickly thought better of the RW02s and bouht some Sidi Diablos in the probikekit sale (prefer MTB shoes for winter use) back in August - again, they won't be available cheap between now and June next year.

I am confident that the goretex shoes are the best answer for me. We shall see.

softlad

jaykayem wrote:

Has anyone out there who suffers from really cold feet in the winter found a solution? I use a summer shoe (Specialized BG Pro) all year round (which is not ideal since they are designed to keep feet cool), Sealskinz GTX socks and neoprene overshoes. Orthotics and scepticism mean I'm not going down the heated insole route.

So - which is the best value and most effective winter shoe? Ideally it will have a carbon sole and not cost the earth.

Cheers folks

didn't you already answer your own question..??

For winter use - just stick a pair of neoprene overshoes on top of your regular cycling footwear....

jaykayem

Road shoes along the lines of the Shimano RW80 were what I was after but thanks for all the other tips. These look like they'll cope with lots of sleety winter training rides. Any other similar winter-specific shoes that people know of?

Despite overshoes, all kinds of thicker socks, plastic bags etc, I've always suffered with cold feet (and fingers for that matter). The folks I race and train with all seem to get on fine with their summer shoes plus thicker socks and overshoes in winter so thanks for these suggestions!

Never thought of bigger shoes, will give that a bash. Which do people think are the warmest overshoes for dry, wet and mixed conditions? Is it worth having different overshoes for dry and wet conditions? I've had the same Prendas neoprene ones for the last 3 or 4 winters, which have been good, but something warmer is called for...

giant_man

jaykayem wrote:

Road shoes along the lines of the Shimano RW80 were what I was after but thanks for all the other tips. These look like they'll cope with lots of sleety winter training rides. Any other similar winter-specific shoes that people know of?

Despite overshoes, all kinds of thicker socks, plastic bags etc, I've always suffered with cold feet (and fingers for that matter). The folks I race and train with all seem to get on fine with their summer shoes plus thicker socks and overshoes in winter so thanks for these suggestions!

Never thought of bigger shoes, will give that a bash. Which do people think is the warmest overshoe for dry, wet and mixed conditions? I've had the same Prendas neoprene ones for the last 3 or 4 winters, which have been good, but something warmer is called for...

you can either go cycling shoes and neoprene overshoes or just buy some winter boots, great insulation but just go one size larger than your normal size ... Sealskinz socks are OK but I've foud Woolie boolies to be better.

dmb101

tried many conbinations but
larger shoes, seal skins and the thick over shoes from endura work the best

bompington

I've managed for years with cheap shimano mtb shoes, but tbh I was getting a bit fed up with feet that sometimes only warmed up after 15 mins in the shower, not to mention the pain of blood starting to flow again, or the really interesting white/purple patterns that would sometimes persist on my feet for over an hour. Narrow shimano fitting didn't help here, nor does my conscientious objection to mudguards.
I've bought new shoes (dhb R1) to go with my new bike, and this morning I wore my overshoes (dhb Amberly) with them for the first time - in heavy rain like it was today, I used to be resigned to feeling the water in my socks in less than a minute, I managed to go 45 mins before the upwind shoe had water in it, 50mins downwind!
The obvious weak links are the tops of the overshoes, where water can run freely in (they're not neoprene so don't fit that tightly), and the vent holes in the shoes, which are partially but not completely covered.
Next stop maybe sealskinz or similar, I'll see how this winter (already started here) goes first though.

inseine

Having tried everything over 30+ years of cycling I finally went for Northwave FAHRENHEIT booties and, well, it's a revelation. I've been out with sealskins+plastic bags+overshoes, wool walking socks, insolated inner-souls even those heated hand warming pads and nothing works like these. At first used overshoes aswell but realised I didn't need them. Was -13° here last year fro a couple of days and i still rode.
OK, they're £100 but I've spent many timers that over the years on stuff that doesn't work.

ride_whenever

Just about any gore-tex shoe to keep the wind out coupled with decent socks.

I find that the wet isn't an issue with decent socks but the wind is what really chills your feet.

hopper1

bompington wrote:

I've managed for years with cheap shimano mtb shoes, but tbh I was getting a bit fed up with feet that sometimes only warmed up after 15 mins in the shower, not to mention the pain of blood starting to flow again, or the really interesting white/purple patterns that would sometimes persist on my feet for over an hour. Narrow shimano fitting didn't help here, nor does my conscientious objection to mudguards.
I've bought new shoes (dhb R1) to go with my new bike, and this morning I wore my overshoes (dhb Amberly) with them for the first time - in heavy rain like it was today, I used to be resigned to feeling the water in my socks in less than a minute, I managed to go 45 mins before the upwind shoe had water in it, 50mins downwind!
The obvious weak links are the tops of the overshoes, where water can run freely in (they're not neoprene so don't fit that tightly), and the vent holes in the shoes, which are partially but not completely covered.
Next stop maybe sealskinz or similar, I'll see how this winter (already started here) goes first though.

Do your feet face opposite directions!!? :shock:

amaferanga

hopper1 wrote:

bompington wrote:

I've managed for years with cheap shimano mtb shoes, but tbh I was getting a bit fed up with feet that sometimes only warmed up after 15 mins in the shower, not to mention the pain of blood starting to flow again, or the really interesting white/purple patterns that would sometimes persist on my feet for over an hour. Narrow shimano fitting didn't help here, nor does my conscientious objection to mudguards.
I've bought new shoes (dhb R1) to go with my new bike, and this morning I wore my overshoes (dhb Amberly) with them for the first time - in heavy rain like it was today, I used to be resigned to feeling the water in my socks in less than a minute, I managed to go 45 mins before the upwind shoe had water in it, 50mins downwind!
The obvious weak links are the tops of the overshoes, where water can run freely in (they're not neoprene so don't fit that tightly), and the vent holes in the shoes, which are partially but not completely covered.
Next stop maybe sealskinz or similar, I'll see how this winter (already started here) goes first though.

Do your feet face opposite directions!!? :shock:

Sounds more like he has two opposing feet on one leg

holybinch

hopper1 wrote:

Do your feet face opposite directions!!? :shock:

wind coming from the side I guess?

cougie

My bike must be faulty then - it just lets the wind whistle through it.

holybinch

I guess that your body, "upwind" leg, and al might shelter you a bit more on the "downwind" side.
Or at least that's probably what the OP meant.
I haven't worn overshoes, or plastic bags, or anything yet, and I don't have mudguards, so when it rains, both my feet get wet pretty quickly.

bompington

hopper1 wrote:

bompington wrote:

I've managed for years with cheap shimano mtb shoes, but tbh I was getting a bit fed up with feet that sometimes only warmed up after 15 mins in the shower, not to mention the pain of blood starting to flow again, or the really interesting white/purple patterns that would sometimes persist on my feet for over an hour. Narrow shimano fitting didn't help here, nor does my conscientious objection to mudguards.
I've bought new shoes (dhb R1) to go with my new bike, and this morning I wore my overshoes (dhb Amberly) with them for the first time - in heavy rain like it was today, I used to be resigned to feeling the water in my socks in less than a minute, I managed to go 45 mins before the upwind shoe had water in it, 50mins downwind!
The obvious weak links are the tops of the overshoes, where water can run freely in (they're not neoprene so don't fit that tightly), and the vent holes in the shoes, which are partially but not completely covered.
Next stop maybe sealskinz or similar, I'll see how this winter (already started here) goes first though.

Do your feet face opposite directions!!? :shock:

Nice I've got someone on my case to keep me right today.
Holybinch is of course right, my commute takes me (on average) roughly WSW & the wind was WNW. The fact that the windward side was wetter suggests that it was rain & not road spray that was soaking me.
And btw I'm a bit disappointed I wasn't cycling to work today - even wetter here this morning, driving through 100s of yards of standing water wasn't nearly as much fun as riding.