GreenspeedGTS

I have been riding in 20-30 temps about 1.5-2hrs every day at 5am. My feet tend to get very cold easily. For example when ice fishing I wear -80 degree Baffin boots and I can only be out for a few hrs in temps of 10 above. Anyway my set up is this. Pair of serius Hyperlite storm sock, liner socks. Then a pair of Darn Tough mountaineering socks. This is for 30 temps. I add plastic bread bags over the socks in the 20s. I then put this in a pair of Keen Bike shoes that kinda look like a sandle because I have so many socks on. Then over this I put on a pair of Outdoor research Huron neoprene snow shoe covers and finally a pair of Gore bike shoe covers. Depending on the temps today it was low 30s and almost snowing but raining I just wore the hyperlite socks, darn tough socks in a shimano regular bike with the Huron snow shoe covers and my feet were just fine, not really cold and dry. Every chemical warmer I have put on my toes is freezing cold when I get home, they were worthless. I think the hyperlite socks seem to help, I thought they were going to be worthless but they appear to work for me.

bruised

You must be the guy who keeps triggering those Sasquatch sightings, lol! That's quite a prep to have to go through. But there's nothing much worse than being out in the elements with cold feet.

I'm going through a process of trial and error right now. It's not going well. If I can't get comfortable in 30 degree weather then it doesn't bode well for when it gets really cold. I haven't tried plastic bags yet so I'll go there next.

erig007

The plastic bag trick doesn't do miracles. If your shoes are already dry, breath well, that your ride is just a few minutes long and you don't sweat much from the feet then you probably won't see any differences. A plastic bag isn't an insulation layer it just prevents the insulation from losing up to half the CLO (R-value for clothing). People can start a ride with already wet shoes and not noticing it (especially those that ride every day with the same shoes). Then comes the cold toes after 30 minutes riding. Those that wear thinsulate, rubber, neoprene and goretex shoes and/or covers are probably more likely to have the insulation wet depending on how the shoes are made. In this case the plastic bag/vapor barrier layer is probably a good solution.

Jim from Boston

I have found tight fitting Neoprene shoes covers difficult to stretch on over my cycling shoes when wearing clipless, but that bike goes into storage in December until March and and I use toeclips while wearing regular running shoes. I have a set-up that I use for wet weather that has proven good in cold weather too:

erig007

From your pics your goretex shoe cover seems to be made of 2 separate layers between which air is trapped, there is also air between your rubber cover and the goretex cover. Air is a very good insulator. Behind most insulations there is trapped air somewhere. Also i have noticed that with just the rubber cover your ankle isn't protected well. Blood goes through your ankles and bring warmth to your toes. When your ankle isn't protected well the blood going through your ankle is cooled by air which makes your feet colder. The goretex cover seal the gap at your ankle level and bring some insulation at the same time. You could gain even more warmth by adding a plastic bag under your socks directly onto your skin to keep your socks dry. Though to be effective the plastic bag will have to run higher than the goretex cover if not moisture may still wet your socks. But since the goretex cover is opened at the bottom there would still be another way for moisture to wet your socks even with the plastic bag on.
Also 6-7mm diving boots would probably be as good as your combo running shoes + rubber cover without the hassle of having to put the rubber cover on.

takenreasy

I’m into multipurpose stuff. My shell consists of Showers Pass rain gear which obviously keeps my dry, as well. For my feet (which I don’t have nearly as much problems as with my hands) I wear wool socks, hiking boots and Showers Pass Touring Rain Covers. I only need the covers if it's cold and raining or when it’s real cold. Like below zero. I got the covers four years ago on a half off sale. So, they might not make the exact one anymore. https://bikearoundtheworld.typepad.co...1cbb970c-800wi

Jim from Boston

Thanks for the reply. I employ a similar concept to keep my hands warm.

erig007

The arteria dorsalis pedis and friends



Posterior tibial artery
1 - popliteal artery;
2 - calf;
3 - anterior tibial artery;
4 - fibula artery;
5 - posterior tibial artery;
6 - medial branch lodyzhkovaya;
7 - medial ankle vascular network;
8 - calcaneal branch;
9 - lateral plantar artery;
10 - medial plantar artery;
11 - Heel network

nhluhr

covers are a pain, but the fit on winter shoes can be so sloppy. I strongly prefer the on-bike experience of covers while the convenience of winter shoes is better.

I got the same brand winter shoes as my summers and the fit on the winters is atrocious in comparison, plus the lacing system sucks compared to a decent summer shoe.

will be was

I have a LG shoe cover until back zipper broke I was just using rubber tape to wear it on my rides and bottom strap gave away it was pain to put on regular Lake MTB shoes, and you had to improvise a lot plastic bags toe warmers, thick socks. A year ago I bought PI neoprene shoe covers, that not to cheap, but I never used it. This year I bought Louis Garneau 0° LS-100 MTB Shoe, coast $160.00 total, coldest ride was 17F without the win sheer, with two socks, can't be happier

V73

I find that when I'm out for 1.5 hours or less a good thick pair of shoes and socks work fine for me. I hike a lot so I have some old hiking shoes I use for my winter commute, I just wear a pair of wool socks and waterproof the shoes with several coats of Nikwax (This or This will work for most shoes and boots). That's just what I already had but I can verify it works really well to weatherproof shoes and still keeps breathable materials like the nylon venting on my Columbias mostly breathable. I used this on my boots for a 75 mile trek in the New Mexican rockies, and it worked pretty darn well (my hiking boots didn't but that's another story). For longer times and distances I put on a good pair of boots and another pair of socks on. I don't use clips so my pedals work pretty much fine with any kind of shoe or boot. YMMV, just figure out what works best for you and don't spend money you don't need to.

EDIT: I usually ride a short commute in temps of 0 to 30 degrees Farenheit, and often with colder temperatures, but I also enjoy taking my MTB out for pleasure rides, usually of 10 miles or less in winter.

rumrunn6

2 hrs at 30 degrees or lower I go w chem packs