How can I keep my feet warm!

prawny

Seriously, is there any way of keeping your feet warm when it's cold? This morning I was in a pair of endura baabaa socks a pair of hiking sock my spesh sport mtb shoes and endura mt500 overshoes and my feet were white when I got into the office it really hurt when they warmed up.

Anyone have any more ideas? My hands were fine most of the way so my circulation is ok but I don't think I can carry on like this.

Jay dubbleU

I wear my spesh overshoes inside my shoes - toasty and you still have enough grip not to fall over when you get off the bike :roll:

leedsmjh

I swear by the chemical heat pads Toasti-toes

jonginge

With all those socks on are your shoes too tight? That could be the problem.
What are you wearing on your legs? Making sure your calves are warm goes a long way to keeping your feet warm too.

prawny

JonGinge wrote:

With all those socks on are your shoes too tight? That could be the problem.
What are you wearing on your legs? Making sure your calves are warm goes a long way to keeping your feet warm too.

Nah I had my shoes looser than normal so there was room to wiggle my toes and that. I had some giordana roubaix bibtights on (i'm not that hard)

lost_in_thought

All the socks have got to be making your shoes too tight, which is bad mmkay.

There are various people that make battery-powered heated socks and insoles - my mother uses these for skiing http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#insole and says they're brilliant, but they're not cheap. Googling 'heated socks' brings back lots of results.

Other things to try:

Make sure your feet, socks and shoes are bone dry when you put them on.

Put them and your socks on the radiator overnight so they're warm when you put them on, warm feet to start with are (in my experience of poor circulation) likelier to stay warm.

Get some overshoes that are made of horrid boil in the bag waterproof material

Make sure the rest of you is warm! If I'm cold my feet feel it first.

prawny

lost_in_thought wrote:

All the socks have got to be making your shoes too tight, which is bad mmkay.

There are various people that make battery-powered heated socks and insoles - my mother uses these for skiing http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#insole and says they're brilliant, but they're not cheap. Googling 'heated socks' brings back lots of results.

Other things to try:

Make sure your feet, socks and shoes are bone dry when you put them on.

Put them and your socks on the radiator overnight so they're warm when you put them on, warm feet to start with are (in my experience of poor circulation) likelier to stay warm.

Get some overshoes that are made of horrid boil in the bag waterproof material

Make sure the rest of you is warm! If I'm cold my feet feel it first.

I did look at heated sock's/insoles I've emboldened (nice) the important bit, because I, as many women know, am cheap.

I think the boil in the bag waterproof material overshoes might be an idea. I might put carrier bags on my feet tonight and see how that goes.

Christophe3967

lost_in_thought wrote:

All the socks have got to be making your shoes too tight, which is bad mmkay.

There are various people that make battery-powered heated socks and insoles - my mother uses these for skiing http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#insole and says they're brilliant, but they're not cheap. Googling 'heated socks' brings back lots of results.

Other things to try:

Make sure your feet, socks and shoes are bone dry when you put them on.

Put them and your socks on the radiator overnight so they're warm when you put them on, warm feet to start with are (in my experience of poor circulation) likelier to stay warm.

Get some overshoes that are made of horrid boil in the bag waterproof material

Make sure the rest of you is warm! If I'm cold my feet feel it first.

Just don't let ITB near those socks. I now have a mental image of him rolling along, blissfully unaware of the flames coming out of his shoes...

lost_in_thought

prawny wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

All the socks have got to be making your shoes too tight, which is bad mmkay.

There are various people that make battery-powered heated socks and insoles - my mother uses these for skiing http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#insole and says they're brilliant, but they're not cheap. Googling 'heated socks' brings back lots of results.

Other things to try:

Make sure your feet, socks and shoes are bone dry when you put them on.

Put them and your socks on the radiator overnight so they're warm when you put them on, warm feet to start with are (in my experience of poor circulation) likelier to stay warm.

Get some overshoes that are made of horrid boil in the bag waterproof material

Make sure the rest of you is warm! If I'm cold my feet feel it first.

I did look at heated sock's/insoles I've emboldened (nice) the important bit, because I, as many women know, am cheap.

I think the boil in the bag waterproof material overshoes might be an idea. I might put carrier bags on my feet tonight and see how that goes.

Google brings back heated socks for £15... just how cheap are you?

And put the carrier bags on the outside. Putting them inside your shoes will give you blisters - from personal, painful experience...

Really do make sure your feet are warm before you get out on the bike - your feet aren't going to warm up cycling, but staying warm is less of an ask.

bratboy

I use Sealskinz Ultralight ankle sox (they're like 3 sox in 1), with Planet X neoprene overshoes in -6 temps earlier this week and was fine for over an hours commute in the early hrs.

One thing you can try is using embrocation/heat rub on feet :shock:

prawny

lost_in_thought wrote:

just how cheap are you?

TBF that is cheaper than I though I'd seen them, I just had a look in blacks and walking socks are that much.

I think, I'm going to get the train home tonight, I've just been for a walk and it's mentally cold, also the heavily pregnant wife suggested I should :oops:

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

All the socks have got to be making your shoes too tight, which is bad mmkay.

There are various people that make battery-powered heated socks and insoles - my mother uses these for skiing http://www.exo2.co.uk/exo2.html#insole and says they're brilliant, but they're not cheap. Googling 'heated socks' brings back lots of results.

Other things to try:

Make sure your feet, socks and shoes are bone dry when you put them on.

Put them and your socks on the radiator overnight so they're warm when you put them on, warm feet to start with are (in my experience of poor circulation) likelier to stay warm.

Get some overshoes that are made of horrid boil in the bag waterproof material

Make sure the rest of you is warm! If I'm cold my feet feel it first.

You forgot the key option, which is MTFU.

Clever Pun

I might also suggest make sure your shoes aren't still wet from the night before... that makes for cold feet in this weather

fenboy369

Turn on the cars footwell heater? I'll get my coat.......

whyamihere

How are the conditions into Birmingham at the moment? Particularly between Kingstanding and Perry Barr? I've come off there a couple of times with black ice...

prawny

whyamihere wrote:

How are the conditions into Birmingham at the moment? Particularly between Kingstanding and Perry Barr? I've come off there a couple of times with black ice...

Kingstanding is the worst bit by far, it was ok this morning because the trafiic was stuck at the big island after the common but out of the wheel tracks it's still covered with frozen snow. I've taken the decision (been told) to get the train tonight and then drive in until the snow clears/baby is born so it look like i'm off the bike now for at least 3 weeks, then I've got a month off work.

It's really not worth it at the moment, stay safe out there kids.

whyamihere

MTB it is then! Cheers.

Runoutofgears

I've been using Sealskinz Medium thermal socks, MTB shoes and PRO water proof over shoes, which seems to work down to -5 deg, but my shoes are really tight with the thermal socks and uncomfortable, (can't wiggle toes).

I may consider getting a larger pair of cheap MTB shoes for winter use and use more layers!

biondino

lost_in_thought wrote:

Really do make sure your feet are warm before you get out on the bike - your feet aren't going to warm up cycling, but staying warm is less of an ask.

This is the key. The only source of heat is your feet themselves, so if they're cold, all the socks in the world aren't going to help. I have a hot bath every morning and it works wonders for all parts, including feet which are then encased in Woolie Boolies.

prawny

biondino wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

Really do make sure your feet are warm before you get out on the bike - your feet aren't going to warm up cycling, but staying warm is less of an ask.

This is the key. The only source of heat is your feet themselves, so if they're cold, all the socks in the world aren't going to help. I have a hot bath every morning and it works wonders for all parts, including feet which are then encased in Woolie Boolies.

my parts were also cold, but they warmed up with less pain.

Stevo_666

Runoutofgears wrote:

I've been using Sealskinz Medium thermal socks!

+1 for the Sealskinz. Went out running last night for about 40 mins in the snow with only an ordinary set of trainers and my feet were warm all the way through the run. Was definitely below zero all the time I was out.

iain_j

I've realised the trouble I have with cold feet is the SPD's - very simply there's holes in the bottom of my shoes and metal plates and bolts which will conduct the cold through to the inside. It clicked when I realised it's always under the ball of my foot that gets cold first, then it spreads. Until this happens my feet are toasty warm in thick woolly socks (same ones I use up in the mountains) and neoprene overshoes - which, of course, don't cover the underneath of my feet.

What to do about it, I'm not sure.

Specialized Needs

iain_j wrote:

I've realised the trouble I have with cold feet is the SPD's - very simply there's holes in the bottom of my shoes and metal plates and bolts which will conduct the cold through to the inside. It clicked when I realised it's always under the ball of my foot that gets cold first, then it spreads. Until this happens my feet are toasty warm in thick woolly socks (same ones I use up in the mountains) and neoprene overshoes - which, of course, don't cover the underneath of my feet.

What to do about it, I'm not sure.

Thin foil lined/thermal insoles?

Specialized Needs

iain_j wrote:

I've realised the trouble I have with cold feet is the SPD's - very simply there's holes in the bottom of my shoes and metal plates and bolts which will conduct the cold through to the inside. It clicked when I realised it's always under the ball of my foot that gets cold first, then it spreads. Until this happens my feet are toasty warm in thick woolly socks (same ones I use up in the mountains) and neoprene overshoes - which, of course, don't cover the underneath of my feet.

What to do about it, I'm not sure.

I hadn't actually thought of the SPD issue, but will bear it in mind.

My wife wore SealSkinz waterproof socks and BBB overshoes, and I wore normal sports socks and nightvision overshoes, on whole day rides in Portsmouth over New Year. Even with bad circulation her feet stayed warmer. However, I was using SPDs, she wasn't.

Lots of variables, but on past experience I believe the socks were the biggest factor.

Fireblade96

Forget the bike-specific shoes. Most of them are designed to keep feet cool.
I was out biking last weekend in my SPD shoes, with thick Sealskins socks. Feet were completely numb. I went out again the other night for a ride in the snow and wore hiking boots with thick socks and voila, warm feet !
The ability to "simply step off"* when it all goes a bit sideways in the snow is an added bonus.

*From the instructional/warning sticker on a skateboard I had as a yoof - "If you get out of control, simply step off"

shouldbeinbed

prawny wrote:

Anyone have any more ideas? My hands were fine most of the way so my circulation is ok but I don't think I can carry on like this.

I'm the other way round, single pair of footy socks, bog standard spesh MTB shoes and no overs and my feet were toasty.

I was completely warm, ears cheeks the lot even though it was way way below zero

My fingers though really suffered after 5-6 miles - wooly liners, latex surgeons gloves then sealskinz wind and waterproof all weather gloves and I was in absolute agony for the last mile and 20 minutes of some of the worst pain I can remember as they warmed up once at work. I couldnt take my helmet off or press the buttons to turn off my lights and they felt like sausages.

Aidy

Jay dubbleU wrote:

I wear my spesh overshoes inside my shoes - toasty and you still have enough grip not to fall over when you get off the bike :roll:

I call those "socks".

dilemna

How about putting your pairs of socks (clean) in the oven (50C) so they are nice and warm before you put them, your shoes and overshoes on, just before you go out? Also can do this for neck fleece, hat and gloves.

I wear the Endura thinner summer socks inside their Thermo socks which seems to work well and their MT500 overshoes over my Shimano MT20 shoes with SPDs (Use silicon sealant to make sure they are sealed around the plate from water and draughts). Simples.

prawny

Even keeping them on the radiator is ok but in this weather my commute is taking about an hour and a half so they cool down quickly.

I didn't have much trouble today, I wore gore tex boots and the cars heater was working perfectly :oops: