What do you wear on your feet for cold weather riding?
Printable View
What do you wear on your feet for cold weather riding?
I have platform pedals, so it's just sneakers and a warm pair of socks. Nothing fancy.
sock liners, wool socks, winter Sidis, Sugoi booties, + chemical toe warmers if it is really, really cold
So far for me it's been a thicker pair of wool socks (I'm currently lovin' the DeFeet Blaze wool sock) and a pair of Pearl Izumi Cyclone Toe Covers. This has sufficed for me in temps down to the upper 20's/low 30's. Have not attempted to ride in temps lower than that, thus far...so that's all I've ever used up to this point.
Heavy wool socks, Voler shoe covers, and if it's below 40°F, plastic bags between my socks and shoes.
Toe covers just cut off the circulation to my toes and make them colder.
Smart Wool cycling socks of various thickness, and when it is really cold, Woolie Bullies. Neoprene booties for less than 45degrees or so and toe covers when it's between 45 and 55 or so. Chemical heaters if it's not going above the 30's.
I hate cold feet
Lake winter cycling boots (mountain, not road, version), smartwool snowboarding socks, chemical toe warmers.
Wool socks and toe covers. I whoos out when it hits the 30's and ride indoors (Ugh)
My feet hardly ever get cold when riding, even with just one pair of socks in below freezing temps. I think it's because my winter cycling shoes (inexpensive Specialized MTB) are a little roomy, allowing for good circulation. I wear cheap polar-fleece socks which don't quite make it up to the bottom edge of my knickers, and if it's so cold I don't want any skin exposed, bamboo knee highs underneath.
I use adjustable diagonal PowerGrip straps with platform pedals.
Thus I get to enjoy wearing my super warm insulated winter hiking boots, with nice heavy wool socks. :p
No little plastic & velcro slippers or 'booties' for me! LOL :cool:
Booties help a lot for road riding with clipless pedals.
You could also try sealskin socks with toe warmers.
For platforms, I like my mid-weight gortex hiking boots with smartwool insulated socks.
(Anything wrong with booties :confused:) I wear Shimano winter boots with a wool insole, sturdy and roomy, and fairly warm, and add neoprene booties (a bit tight so a bit of a hassle) or roomy Goretex booties over if it's very wet or slushy or very cold. Medium-weight wool socks. I like the feel of clipless.
I get cold in a flash, so I invested in *serious* winter footgear a couple of years ago, including:
** Sidi winter boots (on sale) [but not the super-duper Diablo model]
** Sealskinz socks with the fleece lining.
** Sidi Toasters (battery-operated heated insoles), nabbed at half price two winters ago. Worth every penny. I wear them for hiking and walking zeee dog, too. Good for about 3 hours in really, really cold and windy temps.
**Wool, wool, wool, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
** If it's not frigid, I'll skip the boots and wear my regular Sidi shoes with Louis Garneau toe covers---the ones with the heel straps.
Can you tell I have a horror of being frozen? :D;)
I use the Heat Grabber chem packs in my gloves, but not in my shoes/boots. The packs make an amazing difference in whether I'm focused on enjoying my ride or on how soon I can get back to my truck to thaw out achingly cold fingers.:)
I've learned ( at least for myself) that anything around 10F and under, I simply put platform pedals on my bike and wear hiking boots. Above that, I'll wear Diadora winter shoes, with Smartwool socks, with varying thickness depending on temps. And if it's really cold, I'll add some heavy weight shoe covers. At times, I've also added gaitors to keep the snow out, but it also keeps air flow from going down my shoes.:rolleyes:
I couldn't agree with you more Becky! :D Although I have large calves, the circumference of my ankles are fairly small as well. Perhaps one day, we'll actually have more shoes that will fit women much better. For now, mine fairly well with no complaints.