Winter Shoes

Velonutter

My feet were frozen last year, so thinking of getting some of these, heard good reports about these: -

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=31743

Chris James

I have a pair of the first Shimano winter boots (RW1 or something like that?).

They are pretty good, but definitely go up a size on your summer shoes.

Mine are a bit snug (same as summer ones) and so I can only wear thin socks in them and my feet still get cold at very low temps.

I do find them warmer than neoprene overshoes though.

calvjones

They're brill but go 2 sizes up.

inseine

I've got the similar Northwave Fahrenheits and they are pracitically the best they I've ever bought. Definitely make sure they are not a snug fit. Tight shoes are a big cause of cold feet and you can always wear thicker socks.

Monty Dog

I still wear overshoes over my winter boots when it's very wet - stops the muck and spray from getting my Sidi Diablos dirty and running into the cuff

spasypaddy

i think this winter i shall be purchasing some waterproof socks to go with my fahrenheits due to the rain running down my legs and in.

TommyEss

spasypaddy wrote:

i think this winter i shall be purchasing some waterproof socks to go with my fahrenheits due to the rain running down my legs and in.

But then your socks will fill up with water - Just use some good wool socks - woolie boolies or merino - then even though they get wet, your feet will stay warm.

EDIT - Plus one for Fahrenheits - and I've got the Celsius too for commuting - both very good. And in the depths of last winter I was using three pairs of socks, thin merino, woolie boolies and scki socks (for the length to meet my 3/4 length sat under my tights!) plus the Fahrenheits, plus over shoes.

Velonutter

Thanks Lads, Waterproof Socks & Overshoes just didn't work for me, so it has to be Winter shoes.

amaferanga

But winter shoes alone won't keep your feet dry unless you tape closed the hole at the top.

I have some NW Celsius boots, but last winter found myself mostly wearing them if it was cold and dry. If it was wet I stuck with normal shoes and neoprene overshoes. Occasionally I wore the boots in the wet, but always used overshoes after my first experience with just the boots in proper rain (and yes I did have full mudguards as well).

spasypaddy

tbf with winter boots your feet getting wet isnt ideal but it isnt the end of the world as the wind doesnt get in the water in your boot cant get out so it acts like a wet suit so your feet still stay warm

rjsmith

I wear the thin oversocks (Prendas 2 for £15 ones) over my winter boots which keeps them clean and since they go over the top of the boot help the water move down over the boot and not inside it. Don't have a problem with water going inside my Northwaves.

Velonutter

If it is raining then I don't go out, preferring to ride on the turbo or rollers, however if I get caught in the rain it would be nice to know that I ain't going to freeze by the time I get home.

amaferanga

spasypaddy wrote:

tbf with winter boots your feet getting wet isnt ideal but it isnt the end of the world as the wind doesnt get in the water in your boot cant get out so it acts like a wet suit so your feet still stay warm

Neoprene overshoes do the same though.

I'm not necessarily saying winter boots are bad and as someone who really does suffer from cold feet in the winter I found my feet just about stayed warm with Woolie Boolies + Northwave Celsius boots + Endura neoprene overshoes even on the coldest days last winter.

But based on my experience with the Northwave boots, without overshoes they're crap at keeping your feet dry and feel horrible when the water does get in. They're also much less pleasant to ride in compared to normal shoes.

inseine

The whole wet/cold thing is an issue. It tends not to rain when it's really cold (it snows instead!) and i really suffered in the cold (for 30 years!!) before I got the Northwaves. I have used them with over shoes aswell if it's raining when I go out. Whatever you do you'll end up wet eventually, just with the Northwaves I'm not cold too. No amount of socks, plastic bags, overshoes keep me as warm.

spasypaddy

i dont get on with overshoes, they last me one winter at most and the shoes still get wet. id rather my northwaves get wet than my s-works.

giant_man

rjsmith wrote:

I wear the thin oversocks (Prendas 2 for £15 ones) over my winter boots which keeps them clean and since they go over the top of the boot help the water move down over the boot and not inside it. Don't have a problem with water going inside my Northwaves.

+1 - these are very good imo

calvjones

Wear long longs or trews and make sure they go outside of the boots rather than inside. Seems to work for me with my MW-80s (much better for commuting than RW80s if you have the appropriate pedals!)