Chandne

Cotton socks, as others have mentioned, are not just worthless when active in the winter (or anytime) but will absorb moisture and make your feet cold. I use Darn Tough wool socks and recently discovered Rapha's Deep Winter Socks which are my favorite. Any dense wool socks will do well but they have to be dense. Some are just thick yet light. That plus neoprene booties will help a lot. Insulated insoles (which I need to find) will help reduce heat loss through cleats or cleat opening.

Gweedo1

Right on. Mountaineers call cotton the death fabric, because it doesn't wick perspiration away and can cause people to freeze to death.

jamesdak 

I actually find it's more effective to wear the chemical toe warmers on top of the feet over the toe area. I think we all think the bottom because "heat rises" but wearing them up top where the blood circulation is near the surface ( I think) works better overall. If it's really extremely cold I may wear a second set of warmers on the bottom but my go to position is the top of the foot.

Silvercivic27

Top helps to block wind too

soma5

I use booties over my shoes. However, the most effective way to keep your extremities warm, in my experience, is to keep your core warm. It seems paradoxical and it might not work for more extreme environments but it seems to work best for me. Disclosure: I hate to say it but it is what my doctor recommended. More disclosure: my doctor is an avid endurance athlete.

surgeonstone

Never wear cotton, Always wear wool in layers, thin wool layer and add layers of socks onto that or increase the second socks thickness, Make sure socks are not too tight and make sure the shoe is large enough to accommodate your layered foot without being tight. Get a pair of winter boots, the Sidi Hydro winter boots are great, expensive but great and get them large enough to have room for more socks when needed.
When above is not enough, add the thermal pads.

berner

Therm-ic ThermicSole TrimFit Heated Insole 2016 There are many electric heating products, some of which are expensive, more than bike shoes sometimes. Some I've seen at ski lodges wear then in their boots and high altitude mountaineers use them. It is not, generally, cold enough here for me to adopt extreme measures. Usually, neopreme booties or toe covers with chemical warmers work well. Alternately, we can always go back to flat pedals and insulated winter boots.

kleng

Two wheel cool toe covers

TOE CAP TOE WARMER (MIST) |