Recommend me some warm overshoes, very warm ones

pprendeville

Right, I've gone through most of the winter in BBB neoprene overshoes with toe covers underneath, shoes laced not too tight to allow good blood flow, merino socks and all the vents on the shoes sealed with either tinfoil or plumbers tape but I'm still getting cold feet. Today was probably one of the most unpleasant days for a while and Saturday wasn't too nice either. Can anyone recommend toasty overshoes that won't break the bank?

Wishbone Ash

I use the Endura MT500 - not the prettiest but the best I've had yet. They're designed for MTB's but work perfectly well with SPD SL shoes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/endura-mt500-mtb-overshoe/rp-prod17096

ford2600

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I use the Endura MT500 - not the prettiest but the best I've had yet. They're designed for MTB's but work perfectly well with SPD SL shoes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/endura-mt500-mtb-overshoe/rp-prod17096

Watch the sizing on those; I couldn't get the xl to fit either a 46 road or mtb shoe. Read the crc reviews, plenty warning there.

I bought a different endura os in lbs; work really well and warmer than BBB os I use on road bike.

I'm not the best to ask though as I have never a problem with cold despite not dressing very warm.

I assume OP you have mudguards? Cooling core will result in cold feet/fingers

pprendeville

Ya aware of that. Have a long sleeve mernino base leader, jersey, Castelli Transparante and a wind/waterproof Vaude rain jacket so it's not the layering up that's the problem. Saw the reviews re sizing alright. I've read the Sportful Roubaixs are very good. Anyone bought off this site before? Looks like they make UCD cycling kit. They have the Sportful overshoes which get a good review online.

Wishbone Ash

ford2600 wrote: »

Watch the sizing on those; I couldn't get the xl to fit either a 46 road or mtb shoe. Read the crc reviews, plenty warning there...

I use the XL over a 45. Snug fit but I prefer that.

OP - do you suffer from cold feet off the bike? (i.e. poor circulation?)

pprendeville

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I use the XL over a 45. Snug fit but I prefer that.

OP - do you suffer from cold feet off the bike? (i.e. poor circulation?)

I wouldn't say I do off the bike. My hands were really bad before but I think ot was due to wearing tight fitting gloves so I got a pair of large Specialized Radiant ones (as opposed to M) so my hands feel fine now on cold days like today. It's just the feet that are suffering now.

dragratchet

last set of overshoes i had fell to bits and were a pain to put on etc so im now going for the light sock, tin-foil, sealskin socks combo with my shoes.. even yesterday my feet remained nice and warm..

Lumen

Get some winter boots.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=93718626

outfox

At the risk of being kicked off the boards for breaching The Rules, you could try using thick wool socks, rather than the merino ones. I've started wearing them lately, and they make a big difference, I think because wool stays warm even when it gets damp from road spray.

bcmf

Phil, like you cold feet no matter what with the exception of neoprene surfer socks but it meant wet feet.
Last year I invested in a pair of North Wave Gore Tex winter boots. Not cheap but made bearable with a CRC voucher.
My only regret: I didn't buy them earlier. Cold feet no more. The only thing that has ever kept my feet warm.If you cycle between November and March/April try and stretch to a pair.

pprendeville

bcmf wrote: »

Phil, like you cold feet no matter what with the exception of neoprene surfer socks but it meant wet feet.
Last year I invested in a pair of North Wave Gore Tex winter boots. Not cheap but made bearable with a CRC voucher.
My only regret: I didn't buy them earlier. Cold feet no more. The only thing that has ever kept my feet warm.If you cycle between November and March/April try and stretch to a pair.

Can't afford them. Got a pair of racing shoes recently. Next years 1st item on the "to buy" list. Will try the wooly socks me thinks.

Wishbone Ash

bcmf wrote: »

...Last year I invested in a pair of North Wave Gore Tex winter boots..... .... The only thing that has ever kept my feet warm.If you cycle between November and March/April try and stretch to a pair.

Without overshoes or boots+overshoes?

superlav

I got myself a pair of these Sportful Neoprene overshoes recently and they've been great.

Have been out in in sub zero temperatures a few times with them and my feet were toasty.

bcmf

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Without overshoes or boots+overshoes?

No need for overshoes. I wear some Planet X merino socks and if its gonna be a bit muddy a pair of cheap oversocks to keep the boots clean.
But a pair of winter overshoes won't go over those winter boots and there is no need either.

Wishbone Ash

bcmf wrote: »

... a pair of winter overshoes won't go over those winter boots...

That's what I was thinking. Thanks.

dohouch

Got a pair of Shimano from Chainreaction and, you actually get 4 over-shoes 2 for each foot. Think it was end of line though. Order history with CR doesn't go back very far and can't find a link to them.

pprendeville

bcmf wrote: »

No need for overshoes. I wear some Planet X merino socks and if its gonna be a bit muddy a pair of cheap oversocks to keep the boots clean.
But a pair of winter overshoes won't go over those winter boots and there is no need either.

The Planet X merino socks are great. Hardly retain any sweat at all. The 150g base layers are great also.

nak

I have merino liners that I wear if really cold (haven't needed them yet this winter). Got them in camping shop on Liffey St. Rapha winter socks work well for me and also a fan of oversocks (can use any socks, just cut holes in them to fit your shoes). They keep the shoes clean and add an extra bit of warmth.

killalanerr

Phil when it's really cold like now i go for layers . As you say good socks shoes not to tight . Then over your shoes start with a pair of socks and 2 pair of overshoes . On a cold wet day nothing works

Wishbone Ash

killalanerr wrote: »

...Then over your shoes start with a pair of socks and 2 pair of overshoes ...

Jaysus - you'd want a long wheel base bike or your feet will catch the front wheel on tight cornering!

(Just wearing a single pair, the toe of my overshoes tips the wheel on occasions and that's without a front mudguard).

bcmf

pprendeville wrote: »

The Planet X merino socks are great. Hardly retain any sweat at all. The 150g base layers are great also.

yeah they are. They made a balls of my shipping though the last time to Parcel Motel so a bit weary to order again.

lennymc

another winter boot recommendation here. Once you cycle in them you really wonder how you managed with overshoes.

pprendeville

bcmf wrote: »

yeah they are. They made a balls of my shipping though the last time to Parcel Motel so a bit weary to order again.

Funny you should say that. They're customer service isn't great in one sense (on-one.co.uk site). I had ordered base layers a few months ago and my size wasn't in stock. Every email I sent it felt like they were replying to the previous one if you get me. Took ages to get it sorted. I eventually said I'd cancel the order and then they sent me on more expensive stuff for the same price.

2nd time round I ordered more socks and a pair I shorts. Was waiting about 14 days for delivery and was out one day when it was supposed to have been delivered (no note for An Post). Then to an email from them saying they had receive the package back at their HQ and wondered if I wanted them to resend it or not at my expense. Just got a refund. The prices are great but they don't seem to know how to resolve issues efficiently.

Why were you using Parcel Motel? They're shipping works out at about a little over a fiver. Rekon PM is similar?

Went with the Sportful Roubaixs btw.

Ryath

pprendeville wrote: »

Why were you using Parcel Motel?

Because you can pick it up with out the wife seeing!

Bought a few things over the years from planetx uk never any bother things came in a few days.

Might pick up some of those merino socks.

Wishbone Ash

Ryath wrote: »

Because you can pick it up with out the wife seeing!...

That what the work address is for.

(I think the receptionists in my place are getting a bit weary of signing for my deliveries. It's bad enough when they are discreetly wrapped but recently a pair of tyres arrived with nothing put a docket sellotaped to them. )

alcyst

I find anything that limits circulation a real problem. Looser shoes and warmer socks. The hard core resort to plastic bags in the shoes

bcmf

pprendeville wrote: »

Funny you should say that. They're customer service isn't great in one sense (on-one.co.uk site). .....


Why were you using Parcel Motel? They're shipping works out at about a little over a fiver. Rekon PM is similar?

I had to ring Planet X after the guy who was dealing with 'Where the f**k is my stuff?' email simply ran out of ideas and just started replying with 'When its gets back to us we will repost it'
All I wanted to know was who signed for it and if it wasnt signed I was filing a paypal dispute. Once I got a signature I could give it to parcel motel and they found it within an hour.

Why Parcel Motel?
For a few reasons.
Its quicker and all they have to do is get the pm number and postcode right.
And once PM have it its fully traceable.

Hmmzis

I have a pair of Craft Neoprene Booties and they are great at keeping my feet warm. They were cheap enough as well 15 eur from wiggle or crc back in September. On the very cold mornings I would use wool socks instead of regular ones.

pprendeville

bcmf wrote: »

I had to ring Planet X after the guy who was dealing with 'Where the f**k is my stuff?' email simply ran out of ideas and just started replying with 'When its gets back to us we will repost it'
All I wanted to know was who signed for it and if it wasnt signed I was filing a paypal dispute. Once I got a signature I could give it to parcel motel and they found it within an hour.

Why Parcel Motel?
For a few reasons.
Its quicker and all they have to do is get the pm number and postcode right.
And once PM have it its fully traceable.

That makes sense. Especially the tracking side of things. PX seem to be very slow in sending stuff alright. Probably once a week or so maybe internationally or to Ireland.

Brian?

My new tactic is Castelli toe thingys with Castelli neoprene shoe covers.

TonyStark

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I use the Endura MT500 - not the prettiest but the best I've had yet. They're designed for MTB's but work perfectly well with SPD SL shoes.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/endura-mt500-mtb-overshoe/rp-prod17096

Have them as well. So far so good!

triggermortis

My Northwave boots have finally arrived so I'm looking forward to my commute tomorrow morning, even though it is below zero here

FrankGrimes

I bought a pair of the Northwave boots as comments on here and the Wiggle reviews were very positive. They've been good on cold dry days, but on a wet day like today, they were absolutely terrible.

I that with any shoe or boot you're going to get wet eventually due to water coming down the leg, but I found two major problems:

1. the ankle closure is terrible, though maybe I had my socks up a little too high and if they were lower it would have a better seal against the skin.

2. Any water that gets in, stays in. I was literally cycling with my feet basically submerged in buckets of water today, and literally poured out a chunk of water from each boot when I got home. The water didn't warm up much either, though thankfully it wasn't too cold so my feet didn't freeze. Did come home with that waterlogged skin effect you get when you've been in water too long though.

Again, I expect some water will get in eventually, but even with Castelli Nanoflex (one of the best for water repellant) pulled down to overlap as much as possible (idea being the water would run off onto the waterproof part of the boot, not the ankle section), they got wet within 5 minutes today and then just filled up more and more over time. It added considerable weight to each foot so hey it probably helped with some resistance training.

Am about to email Wiggle to ask if they'll take them back on the grounds that they fall woefully short of meeting their claim of "Providing maximum protection from rain, wind and snow your feet remain warm and dry." but thought I'd post before I do just in case I'm missing something that gives others such positive views on them (or is that people have commented/reviewed before really using them in proper rain?).

Lumen

Mine were crap today too, although I got an hour of dry feet in the rain before they started filling up. I had upside down nanoflex knee warmers as gaitors.

Still prefer them to neoprene overshoes though.

Lumen

Also, I feel bad because I helped make you buy something you hate.

bcmf

I wore mine today up in Fundalk. Yes my feet got wet but they stayed warm.
I also had a pair of PX oversocks on as well to keep the Northern Louth mud of my beautiful boots.

FrankGrimes

caveat emptor all the way Lumen - and the ratio of hits:misses I've had from buying based on advice on here is still damn high, wouldn't want anyone to not share their genuine personal experiences for fear of someone buying it and not liking it.

bcmf, big part of the selling point is that the boots aren't supposed to need overshoes, so to have to go to the hassle of putting on oversocks/shoes when that was part of the attraction, wouldn't be ideal. It's not that my feet got wet (and cold) that was my main problem, it was they got waterlogged and heavy.

Wiggle came back to me and are looking into it, with a bit of luck they take them back as I'm left with a trade-off whereby if I could return them and buy another pair of fancy cycling shoes and then just use overshoes and possibly an oversock for overkill on terrible days, I don't think I'd be much worse off on bad days, but on good days I'd have a new spanking pair of shoes to be wearing.

bcmf

FrankGrimes wrote: »

bcmf, big part of the selling point is that the boots aren't supposed to need overshoes, so to have to go to the hassle of putting on oversocks/shoes when that was part of the attraction, wouldn't be ideal. It's not that my feet got wet (and cold) that was my main problem, it was they got waterlogged and heavy.

yeah but I am just am odd baxstard.
I had to squeeze the water outta my socks they were that wet but they were warm.
That was my main problem before I got them.Cold feet

MediaMan

I suffer from cold feet once the temperature is below about 10 degrees, and no footwear combination has worked for me. That includes the Northwave boots, all kinds of socks and overshoes, tinfoil, duct tape and more. The one solution that does work for me is the heat pads that you put under your socks in the shoe. I get disposable ones that last 3-4 hours and they have made a huge difference. Those, combined with oversocks and light waterproof overshoes make winter cycling bearable for me.

BremoreDave

MediaMan wrote: »

The one solution that does work for me is the heat pads that you put under your socks in the shoe. I get disposable ones that last 3-4 hours and they have made a huge difference..

I'll have to try that. I'm the same with the combinations you listed above , tried them all and still my feet are like blocks of ice.

ROK ON

I'm coming around to the conclusion that in weather similar to ydays that overshoes are an irrelevance without changing other issues.
I use Rapha neoprene overshoes and have lauded them here ever chance that I get. Yesterday despite the overshoes and good merino wool socks my feet were frozen 20minutes into a 3&1/2 hour ride.
Issue is that none of my bikes have clearance for front mudguards (even Cruds don't work). I need a bike with front mudguard clearance more than new overshoes - I wouldn't be surprised if many people posting here fall into that cohort.

Question - for the folks with full length front mudguards - would you consider these to be highly advantageous in terms of solving wet cold feet on a day such as yesterday?

pprendeville

ROK ON wrote: »

I'm coming around to the conclusion that in weather similar to ydays that overshoes are an irrelevance without changing other issues.
I use Rapha neoprene overshoes and have lauded them here ever chance that I get. Yesterday despite the overshoes and good merino wool socks my feet were frozen 20minutes into a 3&1/2 hour ride.
Issue is that none of my bikes have clearance for front mudguards (even Cruds don't work). I need a bike with front mudguard clearance more than new overshoes - I wouldn't be surprised if many people posting here fall into that cohort.

Question - for the folks with full length front mudguards - would you consider these to be highly advantageous in terms of solving wet cold feet on a day such as yesterday?

Excellent Q. Was going to ask was he using mudguards. I commute to college most days and have Crud MK2s which are full length front and back. Didn't bother removing them on Sunday as they don't add much weight and don't really affect the wheel rotation (unless something gets wedged under them). I can confirm they make a huge difference in keeping feet dryer for longer. Now my feet did end up getting wet but I didn't have neoprene overshoes on and the spray from bikes around me in the peloton didn't help but without them I'd have been wetter/colder sooner. On my commutes in really wet weather my feet will usually stay dry once I have neoprene overshoes on.

Lumen

I'm not sure the marginal benefit of slightly less wet feet is worth the marginal hassle of fitting mudguards, given that it doesn't actually rain that often.

This is why we need rain bikes.

coppinger

ROK ON wrote: »

I'm coming around to the conclusion that in weather similar to ydays that overshoes are an irrelevance without changing other issues.
I use Rapha neoprene overshoes and have lauded them here ever chance that I get. Yesterday despite the overshoes and good merino wool socks my feet were frozen 20minutes into a 3&1/2 hour ride.
Issue is that none of my bikes have clearance for front mudguards (even Cruds don't work). I need a bike with front mudguard clearance more than new overshoes - I wouldn't be surprised if many people posting here fall into that cohort.

Question - for the folks with full length front mudguards - would you consider these to be highly advantageous in terms of solving wet cold feet on a day such as yesterday?

Yes and yes - night and day with full length front mudguards - your feet will stay dry with neoprene overshoes and mudguards (mine do anyway) plus another shout out for the thick planet x merino socks, love mine.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I have Cruds also and they make a huge difference insofar as cycling in the rain is now actually enjoyable. Beforehand the spray from the front wheel was thrown back at the front of my legs, ran down my shins and into my shoes making my feet wet and cold. With full nudguards this is no longer a problem. They also keep your ass/back dry which contributes to keeping your body warm. If your core is cold so will the extremities regardless of how warm your gloves, socks or shoes are. I fitted the Cruds last September and after the 1st spin was annoyed I didn't fit them years ago.

pprendeville

Lumen wrote: »

I'm not sure the marginal benefit of slightly less wet feet is worth the marginal hassle of fitting mudguards, given that it doesn't actually rain that often.

This is why we need rain bikes.

Might not rain as often as people think but most mornings the roads are wet, at least out my way.

Lumen

pprendeville wrote: »

Might not rain as often as people think but most mornings the roads are wet, at least out my way.

Ah, but wet roads in winter are no problem for good overshoes or winter boots or mudguards, but the cold requires overshoes or winter boots anyway, so the mudguards really only bring the benefit over the others when it's raining.