Air Vents in Road shoes

bluesteel

hello all,

I currently have a pair of basic Sidis - which are getting old - they fit OK though sometimes I wonder if they could be better

I was considering trying Shimano R088 SPD-SL Road Shoes - which have great reviews - but the air vents at the bottom concern me. Do people find them suitable for the Irish climate?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-r088-spd-sl-road-shoes-wide-fit/

thanks

Statler

Used various Shimano shoes over the last few years, all of them had vents and to be honest I never noticed them one way or the other. When the weather gets colder you'll probably be wearing overshoes anyway so they'll block the vent, if you do find they're an issue they're easy to block up.

Fian

One very unpleasant day, the winter before last I think, I took my new (vented) bike shoes up into the mountains. It rained, it hailed, no snow, but by the time I got down I had learned the value of overshoes, arm warmers and legwarmers.

None of which I had bought before, all of which I had acquired before I next went up to the mountains.

Crocked

I have those shoes and in cooler temps (8-10deg) I've noticed the cold air coming in, mainly on descents. That being said it wasn't anything major and if the weather was any colder I'd have had overshoes on anyway. Haven't been out in the wet with them yet though.

If they bother you a bit of duct tape will close them off and stop any water coming in through them.

Fender76

Don't forget, the holes are useful for letting the water drain out of your shoes on particularly wet days ....

devonp

in winter even with overshoes i block the vents with duct tape for a better seal
peels off easy in spring/summer

but 100% waterproof... does it exist?

Brian?

Air vents are the least of your worries in this climate. I wear some form of overshoes all year round, unless it's a roasting hot day. Yesterday I just had Castelli toe thingys on, but in winter I'll have neoprene overshoes over them again.

I've seen people gaffer tape up te vents in shoes as well.

bluesteel

Brian? wrote: »

Air vents are the least of your worries in this climate. I wear some form of overshoes all year round, unless it's a roasting hot day. Yesterday I just had Castelli toe thingys on, but in winter I'll have neoprene overshoes over them again.

I've seen people gaffer tape up te vents in shoes as well.

yeah, I use overshoes in cold weather, might consider those for milder weather.

Had to LOL at the name - they're described as "thingys" on wiggle even

Cee-Jay-Cee

I had a pair of Shimano R078 shoes (still have them as spares) and I have holes/vents taped up with duct tape.

Brian?

bluesteel wrote: »

yeah, I use overshoes in cold weather, might consider those for milder weather.

Had to LOL at the name - they're described as "thingys" on wiggle even

Aye, it's a strange name alright. Considering Castelli like to name their stuff after mountain passes in te Dolomites etc.. Great bit of kit though, I despise cold feet.

YeahOK

Those shoes are grand. Have the same ones and the vents aren't a problem. If it rains almost any shoe will leak water. Cold weather I have overshoes I wear so vents aren't a problem.

I got them as they are a wide fit and I find some of the other shoes on the market a bit tight width wise....