Hi all you gals who ride in wet and cold conditions. What booties do you prefer? Thanks!!!:)
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Hi all you gals who ride in wet and cold conditions. What booties do you prefer? Thanks!!!:)
Best ones I've used have been Sugoi resistor booties.
Now I've switched to winter shoes though... If you can find a pair on sale they may actually end up being a better value (booties get worn and torn up pretty quickly and good ones cost about $50). Winter shoes are also many times better at keeping your feet warm and dry than any booties ever could be, so if you find you are spending any significant time in the wet and cold they are well worth it. Otherwise layering - sock liner, wool sock, shoe (seal the cleat holes with silicone from the inside of the shoe) and bootie is a good combo.
Thanks Eden for the reply. I don't regularly ride in cold, wet conditions but am getting ready for a cross US trip this spring and would need a bootie like the Sugoi Resistor for the occasionally wet weather (I hope!). Thanks for your help!!! I really appreciate it!
Depending on how cold your feet get. I have a pair of insulated booties from Performance, they remind me of the felt lined boots that I had as a child. They have a rubber bottom that you cut out for your cleat so it's specific to your own cleat pattern. These things are the bomb for cold weather riding. Other than that, I use PI's shoe covers, and they are more like a wind resisitant material and they make a difference in the cooler weather. I've never tried toe covers so I can't give you an opinion on those. HOpe that helps..
What are your favorite winter shoes?Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden
ETA: I have a pair of booties (I forget the brand! Dang!) that velcro to themselves. They're OK warmth-wise, but they pretty much fell apart between when I got them in January and when I stopped wearing them around April. I recommend something that doesn't rely on velcro, and that has a strong reinforced toe. That tends to get battered when you put your foot on the ground.
Whatever brand you buy, be sure that they are designed to unzip ALL the way, not just down to your heel. Otherwise, you'll struggle and get frustrated trying to pull them over your shoes. I like my Pearl Izumis.
Um... sure you're not making the same mistake that a colleague of mine made? He'd noticed that I rode last winter with neoprene Shimano booties (that zip down to the heel only), and turned up after Christmas with his own pair. But he was sure he had the wrong size, because they "were so darn hard to pull on over his shoes".
The look on his face when I put on first the booties, then the shoes, then snugged the booties down over the shoes before pulling up the zip (they're mostly open underneath, just cover the toe) - was priceless. I had to promise not to tell anyone, so shh... :D
+1 for the PI's. Although I do struggle somewhat to get the things on and off, they keep me warm and dry.
Winter Shoes---
I have the Sidi Diablos, but I need to put toe covers plus shoe cover/booties over top of them. Last year, used the PI Amfib covers and this year, replaced them because the zipper on one of them broke. I got the Sugoi Firewall booties that TE sells but haven't tried them yet (seem to fit over the shoe easier than the PI bootie though). Santa brought me the heated Sidi insoles last year, which help, and I also use chemical toe warmers & good quality wool socks. The combination of all that does a decent job but on their own, the Diablos aren't enough. I have to admit, it's a lot of stuff, it's a pain to get it all on, and for the price, those shoes should perform better without having to "accessorize." I tend to resort to these ones on the coldest days due to the PITA factor---charging the insoles, getting the covers over the boots, etc. Keeping my feet warm is a challenge.
I also have Lake MXZ302s (women's winter shoes). After SheFly recommended them a few years ago, I found a pair on sale at Performance (men's style). I really beat up these shoes---wore them in cold rain, mountain biking, etc. I also use them w/good wool socks and chemical heat warmers. They are good down to about 32 or so, then I have to result to the Diablos w/all the extras. Loved them so much that this year, I got a pair of the ladies version, upgraded for 2008. These shoes are stompers--Herman Munster style. Nothing dainty about them, but they are warm.
The PI am/fib ones are decent, but not good for really wet or really cold conditions. Then, you'd be better off using neoprene booties and insulating the zippers with duct tape or something. Even then, a certain amount of wet could get down inside the booties from the top.
I have these:
http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...uct_id=1172061
They are very warm. I don't really wear them much above 30 or maybe 35 degrees.