Need Ideas For Cold Feet

[goride]

I rode with a friend Thanksgiving weekend. She has an ongoing problem with cold toes. She wore wool socks, a thin plastic bag on each foot - almost like a sandwich bag (not the kind that zips), her cycling shoes, and shoe covers. She was very happy with the results.

[jyyanks]

It's funny -- plastic works for me too! I've used plastic bags (like the kind that you put your vegetables in at the supermarket) and wool socks and it helps keep my feet nice and toasty.

[missjean]

It can get very cold here in NH, but I still want to ride. I've tried every combo of shoe, sock, shoe cover, plastic bag, you name it, and still with the toe-sicles.
Chemical toes warmers are the only thing that works for me when the temp goes below 40*.

[Dog]

Thank you everyone. Lots of good ideas. So far the weather looks like I can ride on Saturday with the same temperatures (mid to high 30's). I do think part of it is circulation. I try to move my toes around while riding. I'll start trying out some of the ideas and let you know the results. Thanks again!

[ny biker]

I'm curious, do plastic bags make your feet sweaty?

[OakLeaf]

Not mine (I wear them over wool socks, though I doubt that makes much difference). I can literally pour sweat out if I wear anything non-breathable on top. My feet just don't get warm enough to sweat when it's cold enough to put the plastic bags on.

[TsPoet]

am I the only one that loves Sandals for cold weather? I have my summer sandals (Keene commuters) and winter sandals (which I've had and used so long I can't remember what they are - a roomier type with 2 straps)- in a men's size. I layer up with all of the socks, chemicals, plastic needed and slip the sandals on over it. The only thing the sandals aren't terrific for is wet.

[ny biker]

am I the only one that loves Sandals for cold weather? I have my summer sandals (Keene commuters) and winter sandals (which I've had and used so long I can't remember what they are - a roomier type with 2 straps)- in a men's size. I layer up with all of the socks, chemicals, plastic needed and slip the sandals on over it. The only thing the sandals aren't terrific for is wet.

No, you are not the only one. Yesterday I read a blog post from a local cycling advocacy guy about how to dress for cold weather riding, and he said he prefers sandals with neoprene covers. They help him avoid the problem of cold toes due to tight shoes.

[soprano]

Sandals are all good here. This morning I went with my Keens and 2 layers wool socks. I let the laces out pretty far to accommodate the socks comfortably (normally they are cinched down tight). It was 24 degrees F this morning and I was fine.

It helps to do ankle circles during stops. Same goes for the hands - wrist circles get the blood flowing much better than just moving my fingers.

[Susan Otcenas]

I suffer terribly from Reynaud's. I really shouldn't ride outside on cold weather at all, given the damage I have to my feet from too many hours with bricks for feet.

That said, my best combination for keeping my feet warm the longest is:

1. Sidi Goretex Boots, one size larger than my regular Sidi shoes
2. A full length Little Hottie foot warmer placed in the bottom of the shoe, instead of the standard foot bed.
3. A knee high pair of thick wool socks
4. Little Hottie Toe Warmer on the TOP of my feet (rmy theory being that it keeps the veins in the top of my feet warm and dilated)
5. A pair of Pearl Izumi Amfib Booties.
6. My secret weapon.... hot water heater silver insulating bubble wrap. This has been shaped and formed to fit over my boots, and is covered and kept in place by the Pearl Izumi booties.

Yes, this sounds ridiculous. But I can sometimes go 4-6 hours like this before my feet get too cold to feel them anymore.

Photo attached!

BTW - the other thing that really helps is to make sure the rest of me is VERY well insulated. When you get a chill, your body naturally shunts blood to your core (it's an evolutionary mechanism to preserve the body) at the expense of the extremities. So, if you often get cold hands and feet, try covering your head, wearing warmer tights, and insulating your core better.

[Becky]

That reflective water heater wrap also works well as a secondary insole (under the stock footbed) to insulate the bottoms of your feet from the cleats and ground if there's room for it...

(Works well in steel toe boots too....talk about cold feet!)

[cyclesq]

lake winter cycling boots! toastie warm even in freezing temps! http://www.lakecycling.com/footwear.html

[redrhodie]

That reflective water heater wrap also works well as a secondary insole (under the stock footbed) to insulate the bottoms of your feet from the cleats and ground if there's room for it...

(Works well in steel toe boots too....talk about cold feet!)

The insoles of my Lake winter boots looks like that stuff.

I suffer from toe swelling in winter that could be Chilblains, but I haven't had a formal diagnosis. I suspect wearing too many socks, especially knee highs, were making things worse by cutting off my circulation. It hasn't been cold enough this year for this issue to flair, so I haven't been able to test my new theory. I got the Lakes in a larger size, and I'm going to be wearing them with only one sock. I've also gotten a few pairs of tights, thinking maybe the issue was cold legs and butt. Anyway, it's weird because my legs and feet don't feel as cold as other people's seem to on the bike, but there's definitely a reaction later.

[WindingRoad]

Today I finally bit the bullet and purchased a pair of winter cycling boots. They are Specialized Defrosters size 43 (yep I got big feet). They fit looser so I can put on thick socks. I hope to try them out tomorrow and it's supposed to be low 30's. I'll keep u posted how it turns out.

[spokewench]

IF these don't do the trick; which they may not; definitely put a bootie with thermal protection and wind block on the outside on on top of the boot.