Best Winter Shoes??

AC20030_1

After a weekend of frozen feet despite foot warmers, oversocks, overshoes and toe covers ive decided my sidis just dont cut it. Do any of you use winter shoes and if so which ones and how good are they? Thanks.

nevman

Northwave Fahrenheit-end of.

pastey_boy

nevman wrote:

Northwave Fahrenheit-end of.

As above , simply awesome and they last forever. I have had the mtb version for over 6 years and they still look great and work. Worth the extra outlay as they last so long. My other half is getting me the road version for Xmas.

Herbsman

nevman wrote:

Northwave Fahrenheit-end of.

One of my club mates uses these and swears by them. Would probably buy some myself if I had some spare cash

bobones

I've got the Fahrenheits, and while they're great, they're not the be all and end all and I'll still get cold toes if I use them on their own. Here's what worked for me this weekend on 127 miles of riding in the mid 30s.
Socks - De Feet Wooly Boolies - 1 pair
Chemical Toe warmers - Decathlon 5 pairs for £2.99 - one pair stuck below toes and 1 pair above toes. 1 pair below toes usually suffices.
Boots - NW Fahrenheit - great boots, but for me not warm enough on their own when it's really cold
Overshoes - Gore Power Race Thermo - these are thick quilted goretex material and by far the best overshoes I have owned.

If it's not bitterly cold, I ride with just the Fahrenheits and 1 pair of socks. I have tried Sealskin socks in addition to the wooly boolies, but I don't think having the extra pair helps. What really makes the difference for me are the chemical toe warmers from Decathlon. They don't actually make my toes feel warm, but they stop the stinging, numb sensations from occurring.

amaferanga

Good socks (e.g. Woolie Boolies or Prendas winter ones), shoes that are big enough to fit your feet with thick socks on without being too tight and thick neoprene overshoes work better for me than the winter boots I've owned (Northwave Celsius and Diadora Chilli Extreme). Once I realised that you still need to wear overshoes with the winter boots they seemed completely pointless.

You might like them, but it's an expensive experiment if you don't and just don't expect too much from them.

cougie

I just swap my road shoes for my MTB shoes. They're a sturdier shoe - no mesh or vents and I wear overshoes with them.
Works for me.

pb21

I used to get cold feet until I bought a new pair of bog standard shoes 1 size too big to keep the shoes a bit loose. I just use normal socks and neoprene overshoes and don’t get cold feet anymore at all, unlike my hands.

spasypaddy

i have both the road and mtb version of the northwave winter boots. brilliant pieces of footwear.

however its just as important to get good thick winter socks. Woolie boolies are my recommendation.

ive never used overshoes with them.

xscreamsuk

had the sidi gtx boots for few weeks now, dry and toasty, no need for overshoes, been out in very very wet and very cold. Just normal merino socks for me. One of my better purchases.

nferrar

I'd say don't bother with Mavic Frosts, although a big part of the reason I bought them was they weren't overly insulated so I could use them on mild but wet rides they're just not particularly well designed. For my feet the fit is just pants and the cuff is quite restrictive. I use Northwave Ceslsius Arctics on the MTB and they're great, so considering either using them on the road when it gets really cold or getting the Farenheit road equivalent (depending on cash flow and how often I'll get them wet as they do take a while to dry as all winter boots do).

AC20030_1

Thanks, good info there. I do wear woolie boolies but as they are thick it means that my shoes are a tight fit which as per replies above will not be helping either. So i need a new pair of shoes to wear winter socks with and i think i might as well go for winter specific boots (larger size) to do it once and do it right.

Coach H

AC20030_1 wrote:

Thanks, good info there. I do wear woolie boolies but as they are thick it means that my shoes are a tight fit which as per replies above will not be helping either. So i need a new pair of shoes to wear winter socks with and i think i might as well go for winter specific boots (larger size) to do it once and do it right.

If Woolie Boolies are to thick, try Prendas Thermolite - http://www.prendas.co.uk/details.asp?ty ... =18&ID=773
They are thin like mid weight summer socks and I find them warmer than Wollie Boolies
The are not as 'cosy' feeling and they do not wick as well IME but overall I find them better.

In winter I wear Prendas Thermolite/Wollie Boolies with Sidi Dominators (full Lorica/no venting) and Endura Road Neoprene overshoes (I know plenty on here find the quality rubbish but with a bit of strategically placed Duck Tape mine are into their 6th winter quite happily). I had some Diadora winter boots a few years ago but found they took ages to dry out and still required overshoes on the coldest days.

Ouija

Hmm, winter shoes

Get a pair of these....



or



..... mmm. And thicker socks.

Seriously though. Another trick you can use to keep feet warmer is to make some wrap over insoles out of folded baking foil. Cover the foil in sticky tape (or it'll disintegrate) and simply wrap around the bottom of your foot and toes. Reflects the heat back in and the cold back out. Some people use silvery coloured duck tape as well, though it does look silly if your wrap it around the OUTSIDE of your shoes as i've seen some people doing.