fed up of cold feet. which are the warmest socks?

redvision

despite using endura overshoes im still getting cold feet. i have a pair of sealskinz which do keep feet warmish, but they are pretty uncomfy. can anyone recommend a pair of socks which are nice and warm but also comfy to wear?

thanks

ride_whenever

thick merino hiking socks

/thread

morrisje

These ones from Prendas are great.

http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... =18&ID=773

pb21

The key to warm feet is to not have tight fitting shoes. Get the thickest sock that still give your toes room, then add a decent overshoe. For when it’s really cold add a pair of socks over your shoes under the overshoe!

I have a cheapo winter shoe I bought specifically one size bigger so I can use a decent sock with, works wonders.

derosa

morrisje wrote:

These ones from Prendas are great.

http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... =18&ID=773

+100
Best winter socks out there.

giant_man

just woolie boolies, that's all you need + boots/shoes one size larger, creating 'warm air space'.

danowat

I find "layers" are better.

I am diabetic, and as such have poor circulation, which leads to cold hands and feet, but I find that a pair of "hilly" thin twin-skin socks (that I used to use for running) are actually much, much better at keeping the cold at bay that a pair of thicker ones.

rolf_f

Interesting the air space thing. I've suffered from worryingly cold toes until I bought a pair of Northwave Celcius boots which, so far, I can unreservedly recommend. They have made far more difference than any fiddling around with socks and overshoes.

They are slightly larger than I'd normally wear. I have been wearing them with the merino lined sealskin socks and, whilst not toasty, the coldness in my toes has since been entirely bearable!

To try for extra warmth, I bought some seal skins liner socks - to be worn under the waterproof socks. Obviously, the extra insulation comes at the expense of the air space in the boots. As far as I can tell, my feet are round about the same temp as they were without the liners.

Not very scientific - I'd have to faff around comparing air temperature etc - it has got colder so maybe my feet would have been even colder without the extra layer but it does seem questionable......

For my next trick I will be buying some overshoes......

Gazzaputt

Rolf F wrote:

Interesting the air space thing. I've suffered from worryingly cold toes until I bought a pair of Northwave Celcius boots which, so far, I can unreservedly recommend. They have made far more difference than any fiddling around with socks and overshoes.

They are slightly larger than I'd normally wear. I have been wearing them with the merino lined sealskin socks and, whilst not toasty, the coldness in my toes has since been entirely bearable!

To try for extra warmth, I bought some seal skins liner socks - to be worn under the waterproof socks. Obviously, the extra insulation comes at the expense of the air space in the boots. As far as I can tell, my feet are round about the same temp as they were without the liners.

Not very scientific - I'd have to faff around comparing air temperature etc - it has got colder so maybe my feet would have been even colder without the extra layer but it does seem questionable......

For my next trick I will be buying some overshoes......

I had the same boots for a few years and have found with neoprene overshoes and a good quality winter sock there is no difference. I'd go as far as saying my toes get colder quicker in them.

I've been very disappointed with them for the money.

giant_man

Rolf F wrote:

Interesting the air space thing. I've suffered from worryingly cold toes until I bought a pair of Northwave Celcius boots which, so far, I can unreservedly recommend. They have made far more difference than any fiddling around with socks and overshoes.

They are slightly larger than I'd normally wear. I have been wearing them with the merino lined sealskin socks and, whilst not toasty, the coldness in my toes has since been entirely bearable!

To try for extra warmth, I bought some seal skins liner socks - to be worn under the waterproof socks. Obviously, the extra insulation comes at the expense of the air space in the boots. As far as I can tell, my feet are round about the same temp as they were without the liners.

Not very scientific - I'd have to faff around comparing air temperature etc - it has got colder so maybe my feet would have been even colder without the extra layer but it does seem questionable......

For my next trick I will be buying some overshoes......

Well it does work, it's the tight fitting that won't warm your feet. You have to have that extra space, which doesn' t hinder your riding at all. Your feet don't go anywhere lets face it, they just sit there on the pedals. I have tried most of the socks on the market including the Sealskinz mid merino jobbies but I have yet to find a pair as effective as woolie boolies. They're cheap and warm.

Wooliferkins

giant mancp wrote:

just woolie boolies, that's all you need + boots/shoes one size larger, creating 'warm air space'.

+1

amaferanga

Woolie Boolies definitely.

I have some Northwave Celsius boots that are a fairly snug fit when I wear thick socks. My feet stay quite warm still though.

At the end of the summer I bought some Time MXE shoes from Planet X as they were so cheap I wasn't bothered if they were a crap fit. Turns out they come up quite large. The result is that even with the Woolie Boolies there's a fair bit of room and I find that my feet stay almost as warm as they do with the Northwave boots. Northwave boots + overshoes are warmer still and I suspect that Northwave boots half a size bigger would be ideal.

That's a long winded way of saying that it is the air space that makes the most difference IME.

schlepcycling

derosa wrote:

morrisje wrote:

These ones from Prendas are great.

http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... =18&ID=773

+100
Best winter socks out there.

What they said

Velonutter

I have tried woolie boolies, Assos Winter, 1000 Mile, Seal Skinz, you name it I have probably tried it, finally managed to resolve the problem by buying a pair of Sidi Goretex Winter Road Shoes in combination with a pair of Assos Winter Socks and Over shoes, I bought Size 44 when I am normally a Size 43 so I could wear an extra pair of socks.

They take a little to get used to, but I now feel comfortable and have tried them down to freezing with very little discomfort.

HTH

bigpikle

I'll add another vote for the Northwave Goretex winter boots. They are doing a much better job of keeping my feet bearable than any combo of winter socks etc ever did. I was also pondering the same thing about overshoes for when it gets colder and wetter, as thats got to help even more by adding another layer of windproofing and insulation. Its just that they are bulky so would need a big old overshoe!

boneyjoe

+1 for the woolie boolies. unless its wet, don't even need the overshoes

JohnnyAllez

Winter shoes one size larger, thick pair of long hiking-type socks from decathlon (keep the calves warm as well) and neoprene overshoes

on-yer-bike

Hate to say it but the Rapha Merino winter socks are brilliant. £40 for 3 pairs. The Assos winter socks were good but wore out quickly and not as comfy.

Stewie Griffin

Woolie boolies & http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-tarmac-npu-road-overshoes/

Toasty warm feet.

Brian B

I use a light pair of summer socks with Assos winter socks over them and a pair of heavy wool or neoprene outers over my shoes depending if its wet or dry. Never suffer from cold feet whatever the weather and last year up here in Scotland I was going out in -10°C.

IHPA

No-one seems to have mentioned possum merino socks. Warmer than merino. Available from http://www.shopenzed.com. I have arthritis so cycling is great for fitness but I have to keep all my bits really, really warm, especially my toes. Possum merino fits the bill. Hubby likes them too, cos they are hardwearing and really comfy. He's used to rough work socks, so these feel blissfully comfortable in comparison.