Dry feet on the way to work?

jc-bike-person

Hello – I’m thinking about buying a pair of winter bike shoes
The main purpose is too keep my feet dry over the coming wet months
(I’m prepared to wear thicker so ‘thermal shoe action’ is not so important)
(I cannot be bothered to faff about with shoe covers either)
Any recommendation?
(Or any horror stories of shies to avoid?)

asprilla

Northwave temperature scale ones are supposed to be very good (Celcius or Fahrenheit depending in if you want two or three bolt cleats).

I've got Lake eVent ones. They work pretty well, but my skinny ankles mean that there is a big hole in the top to allow water in when it's really raining.

saladfunky

Hi, I have after a few attempts worked out how to keep my feet dry in very wet weather. I use sealskins waterproof socks, and they really are waterproof but the trouble is the water runs down your leg and fills them up!!! My solution works well and that is gaffer tape wrapped round the top starting on the leg and wrapping it twice round untill it covers goes over the waterproof part of the sock. Tried it in the shower first off and it worked. A few very wet days on the road and hey presto, DRY FEET!! The gaffer tape comes off painlessley due the fact you have perspired I think. Don't wrap too tight and you won't notice it at all. Next job is to get overshoes to keep feet warm in winter.

:idea:

Canny Jock

saladfunky wrote:

Hi, I have after a few attempts worked out how to keep my feet dry in very wet weather. I use sealskins waterproof socks, and they really are waterproof but the trouble is the water runs down your leg and fills them up!!! My solution works well and that is gaffer tape wrapped round the top starting on the leg and wrapping it twice round untill it covers goes over the waterproof part of the sock. Tried it in the shower first off and it worked. A few very wet days on the road and hey presto, DRY FEET!! The gaffer tape comes off painlessley due the fact you have perspired I think. Don't wrap too tight and you won't notice it at all. Next job is to get overshoes to keep feet warm in winter.

:idea:

:shock: Gaffer tape on your legs? Do you have to be a shaven legged roadie for this to work?

andrewc3142

I have the Northwave winter boots and very good they are too for when it's cold. But the water gets in the top anyway.

Never tried the sealskin socks, but I have tried the gloves and after about an hour or so they are soaked like wool gloves, regardless of what they may claim to the contrary (sent them back and they replaced them, which was good customer service, just that they still get soaked ...). Hopeless for cycling anyway - no padding.

Good quality neoprene overshoes should more or less work.

But basically if it's chucking it down you're going to get wet. Then windproof is the key to keeping warm. Getting wet doesn't actually bother me (happens when I'm swimming as well), provided I'm reasonably warm.

saladfunky

:shock: Gaffer tape on your legs? Do you have to be a shaven legged roadie for this to work?

Well I'm not shaven legged but not especially hairy legged? I was worried about the ouch factor but do it fast and no problem. and for dry feet I am happy. You can get black gaffer too if you don't like the silver stuff!!

saladfunky

Never tried the sealskin socks, but I have tried the gloves and after about an hour or so they are soaked like wool gloves, regardless of what they may claim to the contrary (sent them back and they replaced them, which was good customer service, just that they still get soaked ...). Hopeless for cycling anyway - no padding.

OOH, glad you mentioned the sealskins gloves as I was considering them for wet weather. I am supprised though as the socks are brilliant so long as the water doesn't run in the top. Maybe it is the same with the gloves? Did the rain run in the top? Dare I say it? Try gaffer tap?? Not so confortable on the wrist maybe though

CyclingBantam

As opposed to gaffer tape, what about a black rubber glove with the hand cut off?

prawny

I've got some shimano winter boots I'm thinking of selling, what size shoe are you?

I've hardly used them but it seems shimano shoes don't suit me, I've got specialized shaped feet.

saladfunky

BenBlyth wrote:

As opposed to gaffer tape, what about a black rubber glove with the hand cut off?

I tried the glove idea having read about it in a forum but I tried it with disposables that kept breaking as I pulled them up. Have you had success with this?

:?:

il_principe

I've just bought a pair of Northwave Celsius. Not had a chance to rain test but will report back when I do. As ever I sense the main issue will be water ingress round the ankle.

andrewc3142

sfunky: I may be unfair on the sealskins since their customer service was very good and I haven't given them a chance since. Maybe it was coming in the top (although they were tucked under a waterproof jacket), although I suspect it unlikely that I would tape the wrists with gaffer tape as a solution. Try them and see.

But basically I've come to the conclusion that nothing that will keep me dry in an hour or so of downpour is practical for cycling in anyway. Even with my Gore waterproof jacket the rain finds a way in eventually. So I take windproof, warm and wet and it's fine.

andrewc3142

Il Principe wrote:

I've just bought a pair of Northwave Celsius. Not had a chance to rain test but will report back when I do. As ever I sense the main issue will be water ingress round the ankle.

Yup.

But excellent winter boots.

unixnerd

Planet X overshoes on top of your usual shoes, 15 quid and wonderful :-) Will keep your ankles perfectly dry and warm too.

andrewc3142

saladfunky wrote:

BenBlyth wrote:

As opposed to gaffer tape, what about a black rubber glove with the hand cut off?

I tried the glove idea having read about it in a forum but I tried it with disposables that kept breaking as I pulled them up. Have you had success with this?

:?:

If you're cycling where there are other people, I think one should be very cautious about these kinds of ideas :roll:

beverick

Work on the basis that you're going to get wet feet at some point.

As others have mentioned, as soon as the water hits the top of your socks it's just going to wick into your shoes anyway.

If it's wet I tend to wear very short socks and bikesters. I then put neoprene over my shoes and goretex waterproofs over them. I put the bikesters over the goretex.

The tops of my feet were dry on the 10 mile run into the office a couple of weeks ago but, guess what, water had come in through the cleat holes.

Bob

unixnerd

The tops of my feet were dry on the 10 mile run into the office a couple of weeks ago but, guess what, water had come in through the cleat holes.

I saw a post by a guy who filled the cleat holes with silicone sealant. You can always pull it out again.

beverick

unixnerd wrote:

The tops of my feet were dry on the 10 mile run into the office a couple of weeks ago but, guess what, water had come in through the cleat holes.

I saw a post by a guy who filled the cleat holes with silicone sealant. You can always pull it out again.

I don't know if they still do it but Shimano used to provide waterproof patches with new shoes that you placed over the cleat area on the inside the sole, under the insole.

Bob

Specialized Needs

andrewc3142 wrote:

sfunky: I may be unfair on the sealskins since their customer service was very good and I haven't given them a chance since. Maybe it was coming in the top (although they were tucked under a waterproof jacket), although I suspect it unlikely that I would tape the wrists with gaffer tape as a solution. Try them and see.

But basically I've come to the conclusion that nothing that will keep me dry in an hour or so of downpour is practical for cycling in anyway. Even with my Gore waterproof jacket the rain finds a way in eventually. So I take windproof, warm and wet and it's fine.

Same happened with my wife's sealskinz gloves - the supposed waterproof ones. Gave them to her at Christmas last year; by a week after New Year she gave up on them. They let water in, despite her cuffs going over them.

On the other hand, she loves the socks. She uses them more for keeping warm than dry (overshoes for that), but no problems with those.

jc-bike-person

prawny _ massive size 12 feet.
(48 Shimano)

saladfunky

unixnerd wrote:

The tops of my feet were dry on the 10 mile run into the office a couple of weeks ago but, guess what, water had come in through the cleat holes.

Sealskinz socks would stop this being a problem.

TommyEss

Il Principe wrote:

I've just bought a pair of Northwave Celsius. Not had a chance to rain test but will report back when I do. As ever I sense the main issue will be water ingress round the ankle.

That's it pretty much - I have both Fahrenheit and Celsius, depending on what I'm riding, and I try and have my longs over the top of the boot, to reduce the water ingress.

Couple them with De Feet Woolie Boolies, and if it's really cold, good thick overshoes too, and your laughing.

The main thing I find is that should you feet get wet through ingress, so long as the boot and socks etc keep your feet warm (or at least not cold), then you'll be ok.

Warm and wet is bearable - cold and wet is miserable.

I don't believe you can ever cycle and be 100% dry - sweating alone sees to that.

hatbeard

TommyEss wrote:

I don't believe you can ever cycle and be 100% dry - sweating alone sees to that.

what if you got one of these made out of merino?

PBo

hatbeard wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

I don't believe you can ever cycle and be 100% dry - sweating alone sees to that.

what if you got one of these made out of merino?

If you've ever seen the picture of the Polish cycling team, don't get it in red. Unless you are an exhibitionist......

TommyEss

hatbeard wrote:

TommyEss wrote:

I don't believe you can ever cycle and be 100% dry - sweating alone sees to that.

what if you got one of these made out of merino?

Um...