Toe/Shoe Covers for Road Shoes?

[zoom-zoom]

I have a pair of PI toe covers that work fine with my mtn. shoes, but the larger cleats on my LOOK pedals don't work well with these. My shoes came with toe covers that amount to windbreakers--fine until it gets much below 55. I just finished a 30 mile ride in 48º damp weather and my poor toes were totally numb for most of it (which makes clipping-in tough, since I couldn't feel my feet).

Any suggestions for specific toe or shoe covers that are warm and have an ample opening for road shoes?

[ny biker]

I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're not already wearing wool socks, they will help with the cold feet. They won't eliminate the need for toe/shoe covers, but they do help.

[7rider]

Why don't you just get another set of the PI toe covers and cut the opening at the bottom to allow the Look cleat to fit? The bottoms of those things can - and usually must - be cut to allow different cleat sizes.

[OakLeaf]

I have a pair of PI toe covers that fit fine over my Look cleats, but they make my feet even colder because they cut the circulation to my toes. For me it's full shoe covers or nothing. (Sugoi, and they fit fine over my cleats too. But you should be able to enlarge the cleat hole if you need to.)

#1 rule of warm feet is nothing can be even the slightest bit tight. You may find that your feet are warmer in thin summer socks, if thick socks take up too much room in your shoes.

In a pinch you can put plastic bags over your socks, inside your shoes. It's amazing how much warmer your feet stay just from blocking the wind.

[zoom-zoom]

I don't have an answer to your question, but if you're not already wearing wool socks, they will help with the cold feet. They won't eliminate the need for toe/shoe covers, but they do help.

Oh, I am a total Smartwool ho (I wear them 99% of the time--for casual wear, too). I was wearing a pair of Adrenalines, which are a reasonably heavy sock.

[zoom-zoom]

Why don't you just get another set of the PI toe covers and cut the opening at the bottom to allow the Look cleat to fit? The bottoms of those things can - and usually must - be cut to allow different cleat sizes.

I wondered if I might want to do that. I think my current toe warmers are the Calien Toes model.

[ny biker]

#1 rule of warm feet is nothing can be even the slightest bit tight. You may find that your feet are warmer in thin summer socks, if thick socks take up too much room in your shoes.

Very true. Woolie Boolies are great in my roomy sneakers, but too tight in my less-roomy cycling shoes because they are so thick. Also I don't like lots of elastic around the mid-foot/arch. DeFeet Wooleators are good for me.

[zoom-zoom]

#1 rule of warm feet is nothing can be even the slightest bit tight. You may find that your feet are warmer in thin summer socks, if thick socks take up too much room in your shoes.

In a pinch you can put plastic bags over your socks, inside your shoes. It's amazing how much warmer your feet stay just from blocking the wind.

My shoes are actually a hair large. LG doesn't make half-sizes in their smaller end of the sizing range, so I really need a 39.5, but am in a 40--which works well with heavier socks. Definitely not an issue of shoes being too snug.

The toe covers I had on today probably serve the same purpose. They were great a few weeks back when we did a ride on a day that was 55 or so. I definitely noticed that loss of 7º.

I may look into full shoe covers...that makes sense that they would fit better, overall.

[Crankin]

Funny, my toe covers (PI) fit perfectly with my road shoes, but when I wore them with my mtb/Frog shoes, they are now ripped. I'd like advice for toe covers for mtb shoes! It's too warm for my winter shoes (well, maybe not in the upcoming days) and I have several thicknesses of wool socks. Since I will be mostly riding my new bike with the Frogs until the snow flies, I hope to solve this problem. I also ripped my booties using them on my mtb shoes, when I was actually mountain biking a few years ago.

[Kiwi Stoker]

I wear the thin (white lined) Seal Skin Socks. They really do cut the wind and are water resistant.

[zoom-zoom]

I wear the thin (white lined) Seal Skin Socks. They really do cut the wind and are water resistant.

What temps are they useful for? I'd like to be able to ride my road bike maybe as cold as freezing. Much colder than that and the roads are likely to be slushy and require my CX or mtn. bikes (and the warmer shoes that go with those SPD pedals).

[Catrin]

I bought toe covers for my Mavic mtb shoes which I wear on the road with Frog cleats and had to cut a larger hole in the bottom to accommodate the larger cleat. I haven't tried them riding yet, but also have a handful of chemical toe warmers.

[Crankin]

I use the chemical toe warmers, when it gets below 42 or so, definitely below 40, as well as booties, and wool socks. Nothing worse than cold feet. If I am wearing my PI winter boots. then just the wool socks and sometimes the chemical warmers.

[Catrin]

I use the chemical toe warmers, when it gets below 42 or so, definitely below 40, as well as booties, and wool socks. Nothing worse than cold feet. If I am wearing my PI winter boots. then just the wool socks and sometimes the chemical warmers.

Crankin, how cold can you go with the booties/wool/chemical warmer combination? I know our bodies are all different, just curious. I am hoping the toe covers will help me with the high 40's, last spring my feet would be freezing at 48 degrees...

[Kiwi Stoker]

My Seal Skins are pretty warm, have worn them at 0 degrees C (and that's the coldest temperature I will ride!) and my feet are nice and happy. Wish however there is something that could keep my nose warm that doesn't make you look like a bank robber!

[Catrin]

My Seal Skins are pretty warm, have worn them at 0 degrees C (and that's the coldest temperature I will ride!) and my feet are nice and happy. Wish however there is something that could keep my nose warm that doesn't make you look like a bank robber!

I found them on Amazon...$50 socks :eek: :( The description also said they have three layers, so they would likely be too thick for my Mavic shoes - I get foot numbness if my socks are too thick... It will need to be wool socks and chemical warmers ;)

[Crankin]

Catrin, I think the lowest temperature I have ridden in with the combo of road shoes, wool socks, booties, and chemical warmers was close to 32 or so. In fact, there was one morning about a month ago that Hirakukibou and i had a planned ride for 6 AM; it was about 33, even though it was still September. We were determined not to bail, and that is the combo I had on my feet. I may have ridden in the 20's, but it would have been nothing more than a 10-15 mile ride on my old hybrid on a sunny day in February.
I also have the Seal Skin socks, which I bought for a tour. They are *extremely* warm, but somewhat a pain to get on/off. I bought them mostly for the waterproof aspect and I have worn them hiking, too.

[nscrbug]

I use the PI Calientoes toe covers on my road shoes (Northwaves) with an SPD-SL cleat...I had to get the XL size (my shoes are a size 42...yes I have clown feet) and they fit the shoes just fine. For rides where the temps start out in the 30's, I switch to PI full shoe covers (the Amfib material ones), also in a size XL which is the biggest size they make. They just fit (like barely) my shoes, but work great. I have to really pull the velcro closure together in the back, in order to get a good seal...but I haven't had any problems with them ripping and I love the rubber-like bottoms that they have. Way more durable and grippy on damp pavement.

I would say for those that are having problems with toe/shoe covers fitting over MTB shoes, perhaps try going up a size or two (if you can) and see if that helps. I find it odd, that although my PI shoe covers *just* fit over my shoes...when my DH has borrowed them on occasion, they actually seem to slide over his shoes much easier...and he wears a size 46 Specialized S-Works shoe with Speedplay cleats. Not sure why that is. :confused:

Linda