Need Shoe Cover Recommendations!!

So, I'm sure you northern ladies will not feel sorry for me, here in Florida, but here's my story of the day. I HATE starting out a ride, cold. Yeah, I know they say that you should dress to be cold for the first mile, then you'll warm up and be comfortable. That doesn't work out so well for me. I lived in Minnesota till I was 39, and I don't like to be cold any more. So it was getting difficult to find places to stash my layers as I peeled them off, and I bought a rack to hold my jacket, windproof tights, arm warmers, hat, windproof gloves, etc.

Today, it was 33F when I arrived at the trailhead. I'd been wearing moosehide mukluks, the world's warmest foot coverings, (made by Steiger Mukluks in Ely, MN, for arctic expeditions!!) and was loathe to take them off. I even set out with my bike shoes strapped to the rack, wearing the mukluks!! But it was a ridiculous idea, especially considering the fringe, so I turned back and reluctantly put on my shoes instead.

And now I can no longer procrastinate- I need to buy some shoe covers, but don't know where to start and what brand is nicest. I don't think waterproof is important- I don't mind riding in rain, but it has to be 70F or warmer. Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Nanci

I like Pearl Izumi AmFib shoe covers. They are warm - I just got in from a ride with temps in the mid-30s and wind chill in the mid-20s, and my feet were toasty. According to the description on the PI web site, the fabric is waterproof, although I've never tried them out. My rainy day riding has been in warm weater sans shoe covers...

--- Denise

For mountain biking, I don't like shoe covers because of the wet and mud. I use these: Seirus Stormsocks

For road riding and depending on the weather, I use either PI Calien Toes or Descente Element shoe coversI have small feet (38 Sidi) and the folks at TE steered me in the right direction size-wize. I couldn't find shoe covers small enough but these fit well.

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Originally Posted by Nanci

Today, it was 33F when I arrived at the trailhead. I'd been wearing moosehide mukluks, the world's warmest foot coverings, (made by Steiger Mukluks in Ely, MN, for arctic expeditions!!) and was loathe to take them off. I even set out with my bike shoes strapped to the rack, wearing the mukluks!! But it was a ridiculous idea, especially considering the fringe, so I turned back and reluctantly put on my shoes instead.

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Nanci---I had a visual of it and it gave me a good laugh. OK, I've seen some unusual biking outfits but never Mukluk biking boots. Hmmm, wonder if you can streamline them, make them "clipless compatible," and market them? :D

I hate cold feet and the weather here has been below freezing. I use shoe covers (Trek ones my husband got me at our LBS), Calien Toes (PI), wool socks, and I stick a foot warmer on my sock. After reading the other Nancy's post, I'm going to treat myself to the PI Amfib covers. I have their Lobster gloves and love them.

Do you guys know they make actual winter cycling shoes? Sidi has them in road and mtb, and Lake and Answer have mtb winter shoes. I wonder if they are worth the $140-$240, especially considering the price of nice covers. Probably a stupid question here in FL...Still- the Sidis are awfully nice looking, and when you read reviews, people swear by the Lakes.

Nanci

well I guess there's no hiding from Surly now - this will be the third post that I've said this:

It was 21 this morning with a wind chill of 11 and my last 2 miles of commute was in headwind. I wore Smart Wool socks, SealSkinz storm socks, shoes and the PI toe covers and my feet weren't too shabby by the time I got to work. I have a pair of the Neoprene shoe covers someone loaned me by they don't fit around my calves And my Smart Wools And my leg wamers And my tights And my shoes. So I left them home. I might buy a better fitting pair of them after Christmas tho - I did like how they kept my feet warm (before they cut my circulation off! :rolleyes: )

I've thought about looking into winter cycling shoes - I HATE having cold feet and cold fingers during my ride, but just haven't really pursued it yet. Maybe I'll do That after Christmas too! lol

Hi Nanci. You could try Bicyclinghub: Stretch Windtex Winter Booties with Wool Inserts. Price $49.99.

CorsairMac, you can run (ride) but you can't hide. :D

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Originally Posted by Surlygirl

CorsairMac, you can run (ride) but you can't hide. :D

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High by Thurs??.......58! neener neener neener :p

Nanci - I have the PI Toester bootie and they really do keep my feet toasty and dry. :) Got them here at TE.

My goal in life is to keep my hands and feet warm. With that said...I put baggies over my socks inside my shoes. Smartwool socks. Neoprene shoe covers. That's for my road shoes. Can't fit any heavy socks inside of them. For my MTB shoes I wear Gortex socks over Smartwool socks inside the shoes. This has worked really well. Then when the day warms up, you can just peel the layers off and stash in your pocket.

Now the hands I haven't completely figured out. So far the best is to wear full finger cycling gloves under Goretex shells (Outdoor Research). Then when I warm up I take off the shells.

Another vote for the PI AmFIB covers. They are amazing and I am notoriously known by those who sit next to me on the coach of my cold feet. They are cha-ching but honestly, they fit really well and cover the right areas. On really cold days, I wear two pairs of socks and plug the little holey thing on the bottom of my shoe (okay, not technical I know).

Went on on Sunday in 24 degrees and sunshine and had a great ride with cannondale toe covers and toe warmers in my shoes. Last time I rode, 2 weeks ago it was about 30 and my feet were killing me when I got back, I didn't realize how numb they were. Never thought I'd venture out again, but my husband, who just found religion, put his biking clothes on and I couldn't let the newbie go out without me!
We did 25 miles. I highly recommend the cannondale toe covers. They were only $13, and the toe warmers were only 99c. Hands were pretty warm in lobster claws, though they do get cold sometimes. But riding uphill warms them up, and there's plenty of opportunity for that around PIttsburgh.

Well, I'm still hoping Santa will bring me a pair of winter Sidis for Christmas, so I haven't done anything about the shoe covers- although I did ride in 50 degree rain for 3 hours last Saturday, and had the blocks of ice attached to the end of my legs to prove it...

I got a pair of Hincapie covers on eBay for 99 cents which I am hoping will do _something_ for me until the final decision.

Thank you everyone for your recommendations!

70 degrees forecast for the high Saturday! Too bad it has to be 40 at the start.

Nanci

I see that some of y'all have cold hands, too. Get the handwarmers (like the toe warmers) and put them on the backs of your hands inside the gloves. This works pretty well for me!!

I just got back from REI with a new pair of Serius Storm socks. They're great! I have them on under my Defeet blaze socks. Very warm, and all of this doesn't, at least as I walk through the house, feel too cramped in my shoes. Would definitely recommend them!