Cold feet - sock recommendations?

jonnyboy77

I've done a few searches to try and narrow the list, but I'm not seeing any strong indicators so far ... I've suffered this last few weeks with cold feet while riding to work, made worse when I started extending my distance (and therefore time) this week.

I don't normally suffer with cold extremities, but my feet were numb this morning when I arrived at work I am riding in normal sports socks at the moment, which most of the year has been fine.

I had also wondered if overshoes help? I ride in MTB SPD shoes (Nike Kato) so was looking at the Endura MT500 overshoes.

My sock shortlist, based on searches so far:

Endura Baa Baa Merino Winter Socks
Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks
Polaris Merino Sox

Any help appreciated.

Cheers

Jon

davis

Crikey. You've got lots of options. I get really, really cold feet (they're cold now, and I'm sat at my desk) and have come back from rides with ice in between my toes. That hurt.

Yes, overshoes help. I hated them, however, and they wore out.

I'd seriously look at winter boots (I use Specialized Defroster SPD boots, and love them).
Other options are Merino sock liners -- I've got a pair of Icebreaker liners which I wear under normal workboot socks (thick-ish) and they last all week. The outer socks get changed daily, and were very cheap from a workwear shop I think.

If it's really cold, then from inner to outer, I go Icebreaker Merino liners, fluffy winter hiking socks, then Defroster boots.

I've got Sealskinz, but never found them much cop.

[Edit]: I don't know what your shoes are like, but if they're heavily vented (can't tell from Google pics) then that's likely to be your problem. Winter boots FTW!

sketchley

Defeet Woolie Boolie 2s are excellent, fantastic in fact. They are so good they even work in the summer and you don't overheat.

Overshoes make a massive difference.

As do correctly fitted shoes as no circulation = cold feet. Try slackening your shoes a little.

Sealskins are rubbish for warmth, they are however really good if you get wet shoes on the way in to work and your shoes don't dry out. For that reason there is always a pair in my bag as I hate wet shoes......

asprilla

Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks - Good
Endura Baa Baa Merino Winter Socks - Better

il_principe

Prendas winter socks.

jonnyboy77

Asprilla wrote:

Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks - Good
Endura Baa Baa Merino Winter Socks - Better

How do the Endura socks perform when the weather warms up? I like the idea of not having to be too selective with my sock selection at 6.30am

Thanks for the info folks ...

Jon

Twostage

I wear overshoes if its sub-zero or raining. Huge difference. Yes they wear out but only if you walk on them. I put them on just before I get on the bike and take them off as soon as I arrive.

TheStone

At the weekend (when really cold), I went for base layer socks, winter socks and overshoes. Toasty.
For commuting, I can usually get away with just winter socks.

asprilla

jonnyboy77 wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks - Good
Endura Baa Baa Merino Winter Socks - Better

How do the Endura socks perform when the weather warms up? I like the idea of not having to be too selective with my sock selection at 6.30am

Thanks for the info folks ...

Jon

Main reason I prefer the Baa Baas is that they are thinner material; better in the summer and fewer circulation worries when using different footwear.

Wallace1492

Woolie Boolies for me. Superb all round sock, all year. Must have about half a dozen pairs.

jonnyboy77

Just popped into Evans at lunch and they only had Woolie Boolies so I'm going to test them first as a result! First impressions, before I even put them on, is that they are quite thick, but I am reserving judgement until I've ridden in them a bit.

Thanks

Jon

Wrath Rob

Woolie Boolies and overshoes. Job done.

BTW, if you ride road shoes, tape up the under-shoe vents in cold weather. That makes a big difference too. Even more if it rains!

gbsahne001

I also get really cold feet and the solution I came up with has been an oversize winter boot (NW farenheit / celcius), thermal undersocks, thermal sealskinz on top and my feet have been nice and toasty this year.

nich

I've been using some seal-skins waterproof socks lately. They feel a bit weird to walk around in, but are fine on the bike. Just as warm as my defeet woolie boolies, plus waterproof (ish).

I can recommend them

cjcp

I've been using summer socks all winter, but have used BBB overshoes.

Make sure your shoes aren't strapped up too tight; that can affect the circulation.

clarkey cat

i get cold feet and when v cold I wear:

icebreaker merino socks + sports socks + neoprene overshoes.

very toasty.

nickel

Get some Planet X Neoprene overshoes, they're only a tenner at the moment (I think) and because they're made of thick neoprene they really do keep your feet warm, if it rains they stay warm and dry too. Other than that any thermal socks made from wool should do the trick!

Applespider

Icebreaker merino hiking socks in my Lake MX140 eVent boots. The boots are water/wind proof so feet have been toasty with those on and are still OK on less chilly days with regular socks.

jonnyboy77

Ride home in the woolie boolies last night was a cosy afffair, very happy with them so far. No ride today though as the car needed to be dropped off for it's MOT

Back on the bike tomorrow morning to see how they fair, although the temperatures have (of course!) started to rise.

I also paid attention to the suggestion of ensuring the shoes are not too tight, I do wonder if this was playing a part too.

Thanks all.

Jon

jonnyboy77

SO the socks have helped, and I've been checking my laces/straps to make sure I have decent enough circulation but I'm still finding on these cold mornings, that after about 5 miles I'm starting to get very cold toes, extending to the front half of my feet soon after.

I think the shoes are to blame, so for next winter I'm going to start looking at better footwear, but for now I've started to consider overshoes.

The Endura MTB MT-500 overshoes get some horrific reviews on CRC, so I looked further afield and found these at PX/OnOne:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CLO ... _overshoes

Does anyone have any experience of these or recommendations for others? I really want something that will be durable enough for light MTB use, and that will allow me to walk ~100 yards from where I park my bike to my desk without falling apart after a month or so.

Thanks for all the valuable input so far!

Jon

greg66_tri_v2.0

jonnyboy77 wrote:

SO the socks have helped, and I've been checking my laces/straps to make sure I have decent enough circulation but I'm still finding on these cold mornings, that after about 5 miles I'm starting to get very cold toes, extending to the front half of my feet soon after.

I think the shoes are to blame, so for next winter I'm going to start looking at better footwear, but for now I've started to consider overshoes.

The Endura MTB MT-500 overshoes get some horrific reviews on CRC, so I looked further afield and found these at PX/OnOne:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CLO ... _overshoes

Does anyone have any experience of these or recommendations for others? I really want something that will be durable enough for light MTB use, and that will allow me to walk ~100 yards from where I park my bike to my desk without falling apart after a month or so.

Thanks for all the valuable input so far!

Jon

Rather than change your shoes, try Assos toe covers for chilly days and neoprene overshoes for cold days. Someone has already mentioned the Planet-X overshoes; if they still do them, they are well worth the money. V toasty (and the toes in my left foot suffer particularly badly, so that's a thumbs up from a genuine sufferer).

rjsterry

Pro Venturas - been very happy with them

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/pro-ventura-multi-fit-overshoes/

bompington

For me it has to be overshoes every time, although I am wearing proper road shoes with serious ventilation, which makes socks more or less irrelevant. I find that ordinary socks and overshoes are all I need down to well below freezing but YMMV.
Definitely worth getting shoes that fit - I used to wear a pair of Shimano SPD shoes that were unbelievably narrow, especially for my H width feet: the bits of my feet that didn't see a drop of blood for the duration of the ride used to go really interesting colours, and the pain when circulation returned was astonishing.

jonnyboy77

I hadn't seen the £9.99 overshoes at PX, so I have ordered those and some SOS merino socks to get free delivery (I wanted some more socks anyway!).

I am starting to wonder if the shoes are too narrow, they are old Nike Kato's bought in about 2004 but they've worn extremely well, and although I'm doubting them now, they've never presented this issue before .. so I'm a bit confused, but all the same foot pain cannot be ignored! Hoping for some warmer weather, to see if I notice anything on the same route in a morning ...

Thanks again ...

Jon

meanredspider

What do you wear on your legs? I found keeping my legs warm makes a HUGE difference to keeping my toes warm (must be circulation & blood temperature related). Overshoes do help though. And long socks

jonnyboy77

meanredspider wrote:

What do you wear on your legs? I found keeping my legs warm makes a HUGE difference to keeping my toes warm (must be circulation & blood temperature related). Overshoes do help though. And long socks

I'm just wearing my shorts (baggies with lycra underneath) so it is possible that is having an impact, I don't mind my legs being cold (between the knee and ankle that is), I don't really notice it. More information to process!

Thanks

bunter

Planet X are much better than Endura. No overshoe is going to last forever but they should be fine for the sort of use you are talking about.

meanredspider

jonnyboy77 wrote:

I'm just wearing my shorts (baggies with lycra underneath) so it is possible that is having an impact, I don't mind my legs being cold (between the knee and ankle that is), I don't really notice it. More information to process!

There's your problem right there! Splash a small amount on some leg warmers to prove the principle but I wager it'll make a big difference.

jonnyboy77

Latest update...

Suspected extensor tendontitis.

So, no commuting on the bike for a few days, to get this sorted, then a closer look at footwear etc!

Jon

Cycloslalomeur

Woolly socks knitted by nan. I remember reading on a Finnish forum once that some people swear by silk stockings as a baselayer. Explain that in the office dressing room when you undo your suspenders...