Winter shoe recommendations

[Pionir]

I have a problem with cold feet in winter! I use regular (vented) summer road shoes with Neoprene overshoes but even in 10 degrees they get painfully cold after an hour or so.

Has anyone got recommendations for extra-super warm shoes?

As winter shoes start around £150 I'm also toying with the idea of just getting another pair of summer shoes but a size or two larger and putting some money in some extra-super warm socks instead.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Re:

Having suffered with low blood pressure and very poor circulation, a couple of winters ago I tried just about every winter boot going to find some that were warm enough but would also fit my flipper feet.
Lakes were the only ones wide enough, so I bought some MX146s. They're waterproof, and warm enough down to 5C or so, but below that the 303s are the ones to get. Properly waterproof and super warm. Also available in wide fittings!

 

[kaiser]

Re:

I did try the bigger sized normal shoe thing, taped up the mesh, went a size bigger and had overshoes on all the time. They eventually broke but apart from that they were ok, looked goofy as they felt huge especially with the overshoes and not very waterproof,they were shoes rather than boots and it was quite easy for water to get in. I'm currently looking out for some proper ones, Lakes(303's) are leading the way, but Shimano do have a few good looking options. Also if you search about Specialized Defrosters are available at good price 40 odd quid off. Make sure they are last years model though and not the 13 ones as the low cuff let in water quite a bit according to internet hearsay. Mavic also have a good looking and reasonable priced pair out too, too new to see any reviews though. ABother brand is Northwave and they get quite a few recommendations, I can't make head nor tail of the range though.

 

[Vino]

Toe Thingys will be pretty much essential for me from some time next month until maybe March, on their own and then under something else: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-toe-thingy-toe-covers/ Highly recommended.

I bought some of these last winter after swallowing some waffle about Garmin-Sharp riders loving them on training rides: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/castelli-belgian-bootie-4/ They look snazzy as an outer layer, and are really toasty under fairly thinnish neoprene overshoes.

All of the above on top of my regular shoes, and I'm (just about) ok down to about 2 degrees.

 

[Citoyen du monde]

I ride all winter, including down to -40°C, and have found that the most important aspect of keeping your feet warm is the sole of the shoes. Stay away where possible from anything synthetic (plastics, carbon fibre...) They don't retain any heat and let the cold pass through. Try and find a shoe with a rubber or solid leather sole. I have also used cork insoles that work well. Then there is the common sense of avoiding shoes with ventilation in the soles and toes and elsewhere. I have also discovered that there are some socks that do truly keep your feet warmer. On really cold days, below about -15°C, I usually put chemical feet warmers between the booties and the shoes.

 

[Vino]

I ride all winter, including down to -40°C...

When and where exactly have you been out for a little ride, and what else do you wear, when it's -40°C?

 

[Jonny69]

Lambswool socks help quite a lot.

 

[mattr]

I ride all winter, including down to -40°C...

When and where exactly have you been out for a little ride, and what else do you wear, when it's -40°C?

That's down into the realms of specialist oils and greases, not to mention some fits/seals and such like will fail. Lowest I've been down to is about -18 ish. Gears stopped working, chain sounded horrendous, free wheel was a bit hit and miss and I've given up on suspension on my cold weather bike. The lip seals on the stanchions stop working at not much below zero, anything you get stuck to the stanchion is going straight into the bushes! Not to mention the damping........

Use the northwave winter boots paired with either winter wool hiking socks, or seal skins if its a bit warmer (and consequently some risk of water about) the vents in the sole generally aren't a problem as they don't go anywhere.......