Freezing feet prevention

wombler
wombler Posts: 85
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
At the end of a ride this morning my feet were numb from the cold. Looking to invest in a pair of overshoes, with priority being warmth over waterproofness (although water resistance is welcome).

Will be used for road cycling, mainly fair weather (dry). Understated preferred to 'look at me' flashiness (let's face it, overshoes are not the most flattering bit of kit).

Any recommendations?
«1

Comments

  • teagar
    teagar Posts: 2,100
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Endur ... 360020535/


    Neoprone so they're waterproof as well as keep your feet warm.

    One for the very cold to be hoenst.

    Not a bad price given what it can do.

    Makes it look like you dipped your feet into tar.
    Note: the above post is an opinion and not fact. It might be a lie.
  • akkers
    akkers Posts: 140
    Must say I have these aswell - very very good for the harsh colder rides.
  • wombler
    wombler Posts: 85
    thanks for the feedback. it wasn't even that cold this morning (fingerless gloves OK) but some reason my feet were flippin freezing, so these sound just the job
  • idreamoftailwinds
    idreamoftailwinds Posts: 134
    Upgrade your socks also m8.
  • wombler
    wombler Posts: 85
    good point - a cheaper option (I'll do both)
  • brownbosh
    brownbosh Posts: 602
    sealskinz thermal waterproof socks combined with a pro tarmac h20 overshoe will keep the coldest feet warm and dry!
  • Madprof
    Madprof Posts: 7
    Sealskinz FTW. Used them a lot in non-cycling situations and they do the job really well.
  • akkers
    akkers Posts: 140
    If your hands were ok but feet cold....thats odd. Have you checked your cleat positioning? Sometimes if too far out in terms of alignment the feet can go numb. usually if feet get cold so do hands and vice versa. I would try moving the cleats back slightly which might help.
  • keyser_soze
    keyser_soze Posts: 90
    I have some northwave H2O ones which have a fleece lining and they keep me toasty warm, but like mentioned above, socks are port of call number one for cold feet!
  • wombler
    wombler Posts: 85
    thanks for posts. re - cleat position: this is the only time I've had numb feet, and there was a pretty cold wind, so I'm not convinced it's a problem with cleat position. However if it persists I'll try moving them.
  • idreamoftailwinds
    idreamoftailwinds Posts: 134
    1 last point, if you, like I have an air hole in the bottom of your shoe to cool the feet during long summer ride, you may want to plug up the hole, Silly I know but it's the small things that get forgotten.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    edited October 2009
    The only way to get warm feet is to buy cycling shoes or boots a size larger than you normally do. Wear Woolie boolies, Sealskinz or similar quality winter socks, thus creating a warm air space. This is what generates the heat. Shoes of normal size with thicker socks will be too tight to do this.

    Overshoes will help of course but won't be as beneficial as the method above.
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    +1
    Tight shoes are cold shoes (gloves too)
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    There's no reason why you shouldn't put 2 pairs of overshoes on. A fairly close fitting pair with cleat cut outs for normal winter days and then I use a larger pair with an open sole for really cold days. Winter boots will be a better solution but if you want to keep riding in road shoes then layering up is the way to go - and it's hard to put layers of socks on inside the shoe as pointed out above - tight shoes are counter productive.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • BigG67
    BigG67 Posts: 582
    A buddy of mine struggled with cold feet and found that protecting his legs and in particular his shins with windproofing realy helped.

    He reckoned it was to do with the chilling of the blood as it flowed to his feet.

    I don't tend to have a problem so can't say for sure but worth trying.
  • wombler
    wombler Posts: 85
    Fortunately I have the thinnest feet of anyone I know, so plenty of room for more/thicker sock! Interesting about protecting shins from wind chill (I noticed my stomach was cold too, so shins probably were as well). Is there a good way of doing this? Cling film doesn't seem too appealing
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    Someone recommended to me that I get an old pair of thick rugby socks, cut a hole for the cleat and use them over the shoe under a proper pair of neoperene overshoes.

    I've not tried it, but it sounds like it could/should work.

    BTW - I find Woolie Boolies excellent in colder weather.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    Using socks has an old school style about it but I'm not sure a rugby sock would look that good - plus the time I tried it the sock frayed so much it was a right mess - but I've seen it done.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • Runoutofgears
    Runoutofgears Posts: 348
    Just bought some seal skinz, can't get my feet in my shoes now, bug*er!

    Back to 2 pairs of standard socks and over shoes until I can justify bigger "winter shoes"
    I ache, therefore I am.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Runoutofgears wrote:
    Just bought some seal skinz, can't get my feet in my shoes now, bug*er!

    Back to 2 pairs of standard socks and over shoes until I can justify bigger "winter shoes"

    :D That's the trick! Try and get some a size bigger than you already wear, and with your socks you should be ok, or with some overshoes or oversocks
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    Be wary of those enura's if you heel rubs the crank. Mine were in holes after 1 ride - no exagerration.

    Woollie bollie socks are great. However it isn't actually that cold yet - so be sure you numbness isn't to do with to tight shoes.
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    All last Winter I used Uni qlo 'Heattech' black socks and normal cycling shoes without overshoes. I've just bought some more. Two pairs for £6.99, bargain. (Make sure you get the thicker of the two black versions).
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    Aggieboy wrote:
    All last Winter I used Uni qlo 'Heattech' black socks and normal cycling shoes without overshoes. I've just bought some more. Two pairs for £6.99, bargain. (Make sure you get the thicker of the two black versions).

    Where from?
  • Aggieboy
    Aggieboy Posts: 3,996
    rdt wrote:
    Aggieboy wrote:
    All last Winter I used Uni qlo 'Heattech' black socks and normal cycling shoes without overshoes. I've just bought some more. Two pairs for £6.99, bargain. (Make sure you get the thicker of the two black versions).

    Where from?

    The stores called Uniqlo.

    http://www.uniqlo.co.uk/[/url]
    "There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world, t'would be a pity to damage yours."
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    It`s plenty cold enough to get cold feet, my feet always get cold before my hands but all you need is good windproof overshoes and don`t worry about the socks too much. I have altura overshoes and my feet are always warm with them.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Just ordered some of these, look like the ideal autumn sock:

    http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... 18&ID=2502

    kingrollo is right, it's too early imo for woolie boolies.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    I just had me delivered that very same pair by the nice postman.
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • FOAD
    FOAD Posts: 318
    I tend to get cold feet from about 12 degress downwards and have been using some Pearl Izumi toe covers down to 6 degrees.

    I have Pro Tarmac H20 overshoes which are rated to -5 and I rode in them the other morning at 5am when the temp got down to 1 and my feet were toast even though I had my thin socks on.

    I will probably get some of the Pro NPU+ overshoes later into the winter if the H20's can't cope at sub-zero temps, as the MUP's are rated to -10, though I may try the toe covers/overshoe combo first as I think this will work just as well.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    Gore-tex is your friend for keeping your feet warm. It's more about keeping the wind out than heat in. Also don't do shoes up too tight, make sure you loosen them after about 20-30 mins of riding as your feet will swell up a little. Too tight and you restrict circulation and hence get very cold rather suddenly.

    I'd suggest a decent pair of merino socks and some gore-tex shoes for the winter.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Nuggs
    Nuggs Posts: 1,804
    I guess you could always stay at home on the trainer... :wink:

Categories