This is my first winter (skipped from summer to winter) commuting. I have a 15 mile one way ride every morning and evening.I have not had any problems staying warm except for my feet. I have tried several different sock and shoe combinations but nothing seems to help. Usually after about 4 miles my feet begin to go numb. Any solutions you have found to help with this?
What are you currently doing to keep your feet warm? Anything beyond just your shoes and socks? Helps to know what isn’t working for you so we don’t tell you stuff you’ve already tried.
Try a search for probably a lot more experience, but here is my $.02.
-Wicking sock, then saran wrap loosely around toes, then warm sock on top.
-Neoprene or wind blocking overshoe (assuming you use clipless pedals)
-Too many/too thick socks are, for me, worse than too little, because it reduces circulation and leads to cold or numb toes. I have found thinner wool socks are better than thicker, unless you have oversized shoes that will fit a thick sock without cramming your foot.
-Pedals with toe cages and straps were also worse for me because the toe cage squeezed and, again, reduced circulation. Once I switched to clipless, things improved.
This is my first winter (skipped from summer to winter) commuting. I have a 15 mile one way ride every morning and evening.I have not had any problems staying warm except for my feet. I have tried several different sock and shoe combinations but nothing seems to help. Usually after about 4 miles my feet begin to go numb. Any solutions you have found to help with this?
My LBS hosts a group ride every Sunday. Usually in the 2-3 hour range. Much of the group has gone to the Specialized Defroster Road Shoes for the fall/winter. Everyone says their feet are toasty warm.
I personally stop riding outside once they throw the first salt on the roads here so I have never dropped the cash on them. If I was to continue riding outside through the winter though, those are the shoes I would go with based off of the groups reviews of them.
I do ride clipless. So far I have tried several pairs of different thickness wool socks. Then I went to two pairs of socks which didn’t seem to make a difference. I do wear neoprene overshoes. I am going to look into the Specialized Defroster shoes. I am going this weekend to get some neoprene wader socks to try those as well. I have also looked into heated insoles but not sure if that is the way to go or not.
Lots.
- merino wool socks.
- line the inside front of your shoes with alu foil
- Assos toe covers (windproof - although if your commute requires you to put your foot down a fair bit, regard these as consumables, as they are fabric and will rip)
- thick neoprene overshoes
I used to ride sockless through the winter, and now have bad circulation in the toes of my left foot. So I’ve tried a few solutions. The above ones all work well, depending on just how cold it is (the neoprene overshoes work for me well into the minus celsius temps).
I find that I don’t really need to wear anything beyond a relatively thin pair of smartwool socks and neoprene overshoes. As others have mentioned too much sock stuffed into normally fitting shoes is often worse than too little.
As others said, don’t over stuff your shoes. I’ve always found light woolies and neoprene overshoes to do the trick but if I needed one step extra id try a baggy overshoe over my current ovrrshoes OR over a BIG wool sock over my shoe.
Make sure your shoes are already warm when you put them on…don’t leave them in the garage or your car overnight.
Don’t know what shoes you have or what clipless system but if there is exposed metal of the bottom it will act as a heat sink. Covering that with a couple of strips of electrical tape will help.
Wear light wool socks, then shoes, then a heavy pair of wool socks over your shoes (with a hole cut out for cleats) and finally either neoprene or goretex booties.
If that doesn’t work then it is REALLY cold and you need to go with Sorrels on your feet and platform pedals.
Pair of socks, plastic bags on feet, then feet in shoes and then neoprene shoe covers. Worked for me and I’ll ride as long as there is no ice on the ground. In the depth of winter I might stick a second pair of neoprene shoe covers on for good measure. By that point though it’s normally so cold I won’t ride as some of the hillier roads are bound to have icey or slippery conditions.
Pair of socks, plastic bags on feet, then feet in shoes and then neoprene shoe covers. Worked for me and I’ll ride as long as there is no ice on the ground. In the depth of winter I might stick a second pair of neoprene shoe covers on for good measure. By that point though it’s normally so cold I won’t ride as some of the hillier roads are bound to have icey or slippery conditions.
This trick works for me too. More often than not I’m good with merino wool sock, shoes, and neoprene boot. Go to the plastic grocery bag if that’s not cutting it.
I use foot warmers found in hunting sections of stores as a last resort, after wool socks, booties, etc. Cost about a $1 per pair.
To keep your toes warm in the winter, make sure your calves and ankles are warm. Imagine it like a pipe of water, if you cool off the pipe before it reaches the destination, the water will be cooler when it gets there. If you get good tights/leg warmers that protect your legs all the way to the shoecovers or boots, it will keep your feet warmer.