Warm feet needed.

ben@31

Today I woke up to find there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the only day this week when it hasn't rained* "suns out" I thought to myself. What could possibly go wrong.

Half way into the ride I could no longer feel my feet. Stopping at the top of a hill to admire the view and coasting down the other side was all over chilly.

Putting my two frozen feet into the warm shower afterwards was emotional.

Does anyone have any suggestions for warm cozy socks and overshoes ?

Looks like my Shimano road shoes have so much ventilation, mesh and holes; they're made for summer cycling in the med. Last year I read on here that someone but electrical insulation tape over their road shoe vents, might give it a try.

* Interestingly, despite my best efforts to keep my best bike dry. The roads were still wet through after hours of sun (maybe the sun was too low to bake the crud off).

cattytown

DeFeet Wooleator.

Paul.

northpole

DeFeet Woolie Boolie socks changed my cycling life last winter - they are incredible. If it's going to be extremely cold or wet I'll add a pair of Rapha neoprene overshoes (I'm sure any neoprene o'shoes will do the job). Not yet tested but for this winter I have added a pair of Northwave Extreme Winter GTX road boots in an attempt to dodge the acrobatics of pulling on overshoes! But Woolie Boolies are a great starting point.

Peter

Jahmoo

I had same issue through the first 2 Cold rides this week, I'm diabetic, so circulation is an issue anyhow, so need to be careful.

I was advised by my LBS to buy these and yesterday's ride was only 1.5hr but my feet were toasty on the ride, so happy.

Socks
http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/endur ... -sock.html
Overshoes
http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/endur ... rshoe.html

Hope this helps.

sloppyschleckonds

Woolie boolies + Prendas air tunnel overshoes

djhermer

Long time sufferer with solutions.

<10 degrees: wooly boolies
<7 degrees: wooly boolies + NW winter boots
<4 degrees: above with assos under socks
Lower than this: above with 2 Little Hotties taped above and below each set of toes.

Good to about -5 I reckon. Winter boots made the biggest difference.

TriTom90

Only other option not mentioned is to get some neoprene overs as well as some water/wind proof type (one size bigger). For the coldest days wear both and for the days in between you have a choice. Recommended by GCN and worked well for me. DeFeet woollies look good though, what's the durability like with them?

pippi_langsamer-2

TriTom90 wrote:

Only other option not mentioned is to get some neoprene overs as well as some water/wind proof type (one size bigger). For the coldest days wear both and for the days in between you have a choice. Recommended by GCN and worked well for me. DeFeet woollies look good though, what's the durability like with them?

This is the cheapest, and my preferred option.

Merino socks, a thin pair of wind tec type overshoes, then the thicker neoprene overshoes on top or vica versa as above (makes no odds). MarvelArse.

Never tried Woolies from DeFeet, which is surprising as I'm a bit of a DeFeet fanboy lol. I bought three pairs of Merino socks from Planet X though for about the same price as one pair of WB's, and they are nothing short of fantastic. My wife nicks them half the time though :roll:

ben@31

djhermer wrote:

Long time sufferer with solutions.

<10 degrees: wooly boolies
<7 degrees: wooly boolies + NW winter boots
<4 degrees: above with assos under socks
Lower than this: above with 2 Little Hotties taped above and below each set of toes.

Good to about -5 I reckon. Winter boots made the biggest difference.

I Googled "2 Little Hotties taped up" and I was shocked. Surely they'll put you off your Strava seg.

pippi_langsamer-2

Essentially this:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLOOTKMS3P ... ks-(3-pack)

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXTOE/planet-x-toe-cover

Or.... http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXZIPOS/ ... p-overshoe

And then these:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/pl ... -overshoes

If your feet are still cold, you shouldn't be on the bike....on the road at least.

I use Spesh Defrosters off-road.

northpole

Woolie Boolies are very robust and wear resistant. Comfortable too. They are considerably thicker than normal cycling socks so shoes will need a slight adjustment of their straps/ fishing line adjusters!

Peter

mrushton

Get rid of the summer shoes and go for winter boots. Or, start with a wool sock, Woolie Boolie the preferred choice. Then the shoe then an oversock eg Prendas then a windproof or neoprene bootie. You aren't bulking your foot and you have two layers on the outside to keep the cold/wet away

macleod113

Cheap option is 2 pairs of planet x merino socks, normal road shoes with gaffer tape on any 'vents' in the sole and neoprene overshoes. its what i do and i was toasty enough tuesday at 6am when it was only 1-2 degrees

pippi_langsamer-2

MacLeod113 wrote:

Cheap option is 2 pairs of planet x merino socks, normal road shoes with gaffer tape on any 'vents' in the sole and neoprene overshoes. its what i do and i was toasty enough tuesday at 6am when it was only 1-2 degrees

The PX merino are as thick as the DeFeet- how the hell you manage to get two pairs in your shoes :shock:

Unless you're using the thin merino version?

norvernrob

ben@31 wrote:

Today I woke up to find there wasn't a cloud in the sky, the only day this week when it hasn't rained* "suns out" I thought to myself. What could possibly go wrong.

Half way into the ride I could no longer feel my feet. Stopping at the top of a hill to admire the view and coasting down the other side was all over chilly.

Putting my two frozen feet into the warm shower afterwards was emotional.

Does anyone have any suggestions for warm cozy socks and overshoes ?

Looks like my Shimano road shoes have so much ventilation, mesh and holes; they're made for summer cycling in the med. Last year I read on here that someone but electrical insulation tape over their road shoe vents, might give it a try.

* Interestingly, despite my best efforts to keep my best bike dry. The roads were still wet through after hours of sun (maybe the sun was too low to bake the crud off).

At least it was dry! I'm a postie and it p*ssed it down solidly for all 4 hours of my delivery today!

paul1000

I've northwave gtx boots, ok if it's dry, if it rains you two full boots, any one else have this problem?

bendertherobot

Paul1000 wrote:

I've northwave gtx boots, ok if it's dry, if it rains you two full boots, any one else have this problem?

Have to say, I've been looking at boots for weeks now and this is my worry. I know you can do the marigold over the top thing but, seems to me, that it's all a bit of a compromise.

paul1000

Ha ha can you get black marigolds lol, because there are no vents in the sole they proper fill up and hold the water, tried having tights tucked in and over, still the same, take ages to dry out as well, bit disappointed with them.

macleod113

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

MacLeod113 wrote:

Cheap option is 2 pairs of planet x merino socks, normal road shoes with gaffer tape on any 'vents' in the sole and neoprene overshoes. its what i do and i was toasty enough tuesday at 6am when it was only 1-2 degrees

The PX merino are as thick as the DeFeet- how the hell you manage to get two pairs in your shoes :shock:

Unless you're using the thin merino version?

they aren't too thick but they aren't summer weight either. i wear shimano ro87's as well which are nice and wide for my canoe shaped flat feet :-)

giant_man

De Feet Woolie Boolies + shoes or boots one size larger than normal, to CREATE WARM AIR SPACE!!! Your feet won't get warm otherwise.

cougie

In the winter I wear cheap and thick MTB shoes - with merino socks. If it gets cold then PX neoprene overshoes too.

schlepcycling

These http://www.prendas.co.uk/prendas-ciclismo-thermolite-winter-socks.html

mcvw

How do the Defeet slipstreams fare? I was looking at getting a pair of them to keep my feet warm and also to protect/keep my shoes smart ?

http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/defeet-du ... eview.html

mrushton

They are just a polyester sock. they keep your feet warmer and absorb some water but you would be better with windproof overshoes which do keep the wind off and are water resistant. BBB do ones with an 'open' sole which uses a Velcro tab to allow easy closure

pdstsp

I suffered from cold feet and always have - cycling, rugby, walking etc, but cycling worst. I have tried all sorts of shoe/sock combinations but have, for the last couple of winters, resorted to these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mycoal-foot-war ... ootwarmers
Work a treat and I now ride in all conditions with feeling in my feet.

johnmiosh

Paul1000 wrote:

I've northwave gtx boots, ok if it's dry, if it rains you two full boots, any one else have this problem?

The problem is when the socks get wet at the top and the water gets transferred into the boot. Normally this doesn't happen to me if I use reasonable longs outside the boot (shimano RW 80, brilliant but now only available in MTB cleat fitting); I buy longs without foot loops for this reason.

A couple of weeks ago went out in terrible weather in a group, two of which did not have mudguards. The spray from them drenched my legs and soaked through to my socks.