Sandals & socks in the cold weather
#1
Recreational Road Cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 547
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 256 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
Sandals & socks in the cold weather
I ride in Shimano SPD sandals until we get into the 40s. I am considering trying to wear some sort of outer-shell windproof sock and woolies underneath in the lower 40s and upper 30s. Is anyone doing this with success?
Am looking for a shell-type of sock that's better than a Target bag. I have seen vapor-barrier socks, which are designed as inners, not outers, but might work.
Am looking for a shell-type of sock that's better than a Target bag. I have seen vapor-barrier socks, which are designed as inners, not outers, but might work.
#2
2-Wheeled Fool
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,346
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1385 Post(s)
Liked 677 Times
in
457 Posts
I ride in Shimano SPD sandals until we get into the 40s. I am considering trying to wear some sort of outer-shell windproof sock and woolies underneath in the lower 40s and upper 30s. Is anyone doing this with success?
Am looking for a shell-type of sock that's better than a Target bag. I have seen vapor-barrier socks, which are designed as inners, not outers, but might work.
Am looking for a shell-type of sock that's better than a Target bag. I have seen vapor-barrier socks, which are designed as inners, not outers, but might work.
https://www.leisurepro.com/l/Wetsuit...el=Gender_Mens
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
Or overshoes? You can get pretty warm ones, if you search. Chainreactioncycles has some, ebay has more.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I use some Performance booties over my Shimano sandals when it gets near freezing or below. Get them at least a size larger than usual to account for the sandal toe area extending out farther than most shoes.
#5
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: cycling
Posts: 12
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
if you don't like the weather, wait a minute ... the 40s will be here soon. maybe just save yourself some hassle & switch over to your winter stuff now
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: yes
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1281 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
329 Posts
Other popular topics on Dad Forums:
Best WWII documentaries to fall asleep to
Yelling at the news: A primer
Top ten New Balance shoes to mow your lawn in
Best WWII documentaries to fall asleep to
Yelling at the news: A primer
Top ten New Balance shoes to mow your lawn in
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
Goretex socks (though I don't use these personally as I switched back to flats and flat shoes):
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
FITS medium hiker wool blend (these are the socks I use for winter riding and they work great):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NB8K13N/
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
FITS medium hiker wool blend (these are the socks I use for winter riding and they work great):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NB8K13N/
#10
Full Member
I've done that for years. Use Showers Pass overboots, them come quite large in order to fit around the sandals and not be tight. Two pair of socks on a cold day, add a chemical warmer between over the toes when below 25F and you are good quite a bit lower, although I convert to boots with gaiter down below 15F
__________________
Longbikes Slipstream
Longbikes Slipstream
#13
Recreational Road Cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 547
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 256 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
[QUOTE=PaulRivers;20633175]Goretex socks (though I don't use these personally as I switched back to flats and flat shoes):
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
The Goretex socks look promising, but are pricy. Would like to find locally to try on. Have looked at Rocky Socks and the Gore Socks you mentioned. What do you mean by flats and flat shoes?
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
The Goretex socks look promising, but are pricy. Would like to find locally to try on. Have looked at Rocky Socks and the Gore Socks you mentioned. What do you mean by flats and flat shoes?
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
Goretex socks (though I don't use these personally as I switched back to flats and flat shoes):
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
The Goretex socks look promising, but are pricy. Would like to find locally to try on. Have looked at Rocky Socks and the Gore Socks you mentioned.
https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/go...ks-100243.html
The Goretex socks look promising, but are pricy. Would like to find locally to try on. Have looked at Rocky Socks and the Gore Socks you mentioned.
https://www.showerspass.com/products...oof-crew-socks
Someone was saying on this forum that they had done studies and found that clipless didn't actually make any difference in speed for pro racers (when they studied them pedalling in the lab). I already knew I was rather uncomfortable biking with my clipless shoes despite 2 fittings, trying most clipless systems, several pairs of shoes, etc etc etc. Hotspots, foot numbness.
So I tried going back to flat pedals and flat shoes (not clipless) and for me it was huge improvement in comfort and enjoying riding, this is what I settled on as the most functional and comfortable:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoe/FT07.html
https://www.dmrbikes.com/Catalogue/P...lt-2/Vault-NEW
I started with different shoes but they didn't totally grip the pedal which I didn't like, but five tens do, they're made with a special extra grippy rubber that grabs metal pins on pedals really well. I just wear the same pair of shoes for both summer and winter (along with the socks I mentioned earlier) but they also make other versions.
Water resistant:
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-t...shoe/FT16.html
Winter (some insulation):
https://www.adidasoutdoor.com/five-ten-freerider-eps-mountain-bike-shoe/FT42.html?dwvar_FT42_color=Black&cgid=fiveten-men-bike-shoes
Last edited by PaulRivers; 10-26-18 at 12:00 AM.
#15
Full Member
Yeah, none of the booties ever lasted long for me because the sandals are so much bigger/wider than road shoes and so the booties tear quite quickly due to the tug-of-war to get them on, over and above being very tight and cutting off circulation just at the temps where you need high flow in order to stay warm. So that's how I wound up with a very loose booties over the outsides of the sandals, you still get some condensation on longer rides and that can begin to get cold, but at least you can loosen the straps on the sandals to accommodate a double sock and keep lots of airspace to stay warm. I have tried neoprene and other waterproof socks, but didn't like them for being too tight plus the close-to-skin condensation speeds up the chill for me.
__________________
Longbikes Slipstream
Longbikes Slipstream
#16
Recreational Road Cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 547
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 256 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
Next, off to the scuba shop.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,201
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2010 Post(s)
Liked 408 Times
in
234 Posts
Why not just pick up a pair of SPD shoes? Or even a used pair for mere dollars. Seems like a lot of hassle, what you're doing.
#18
Recreational Road Cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 547
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 256 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
Of course, there are Lake shoes, but they are costly for about a month's wear. I only wear shoes in the very early spring and late autumn, prefer the sandals as long as possible. I don't cycle through the snowy weather.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
I ride with these, normal shoes plus thick wool socks in -20C weather quite comfortably:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/us/en/dhb-extreme-weather-neoprene-overshoe/rp-prod163615
These are some of the warmest I have seen so far...
Edit: buy 1-3 EU sizes up, if not wearing tight fitting cycling shoes. I use EU 44 keens and the largest overshoes just barely fit.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/us/en/dhb-extreme-weather-neoprene-overshoe/rp-prod163615
These are some of the warmest I have seen so far...
Edit: buy 1-3 EU sizes up, if not wearing tight fitting cycling shoes. I use EU 44 keens and the largest overshoes just barely fit.
#20
Recreational Road Cyclist
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MetroWest, Mass.
Posts: 547
Bikes: 1990 Peter Mooney road bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 256 Post(s)
Liked 252 Times
in
134 Posts
I ride with these, normal shoes plus thick wool socks in -20C weather quite comfortably:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/.../rp-prod163615
These are some of the warmest I have seen so far...
Edit: buy 1-3 EU sizes up, if not wearing tight fitting cycling shoes. I use EU 44 keens and the largest overshoes just barely fit.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/.../rp-prod163615
These are some of the warmest I have seen so far...
Edit: buy 1-3 EU sizes up, if not wearing tight fitting cycling shoes. I use EU 44 keens and the largest overshoes just barely fit.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
Thanks for asking for clarification! I was referring to the overshoes. They are 47-ish, while my shoes are 44. The socks are just normal size.
My shoes sre keens, so closer to boots than spd cycling shoes.
My shoes sre keens, so closer to boots than spd cycling shoes.
Last edited by alias5000; 10-26-18 at 10:35 PM.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Boston Roads
Posts: 975
Bikes: 2012 Canondale Synapse 105, 2017 REI Co-Op ADV 3.1
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 507 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times
in
133 Posts
I rode 10 miles today, 43°, wearing a liner sock and a thicker wool sock, with a bootie over one sandal and a plastic oven bag on the other foot, inside the sandal. Stylin'! Neither kept my tootsies warm, but they were less cold on the bagged foot. I noticed condensation inside the bagged foot and not in the bootie, but didn't seem to matter neither case.
Next, off to the scuba shop.
Next, off to the scuba shop.
If you're just going for leisurely 10-mile rides, either switch to non-SPD flat pedals or get an SPD adapter, e.g.:
https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-SPD-p.../dp/B005FOP7S6
https://www.amazon.com/Corki-15-Clip.../dp/B01JM5SYGK
Then you can use regular warm winter walking shoes, assuming you have them. I've done 2+ hour rides with such adapters on my SPD-SL pedals and had no problems.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
If you're just going for leisurely 10-mile rides, either switch to non-SPD flat pedals or get an SPD adapter, e.g.:
https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-SPD-p.../dp/B005FOP7S6
https://www.amazon.com/Corki-15-Clip.../dp/B01JM5SYGK
Then you can use regular warm winter walking shoes, assuming you have them. I've done 2+ hour rides with such adapters on my SPD-SL pedals and had no problems.
https://www.amazon.com/SHIMANO-SPD-p.../dp/B005FOP7S6
https://www.amazon.com/Corki-15-Clip.../dp/B01JM5SYGK
Then you can use regular warm winter walking shoes, assuming you have them. I've done 2+ hour rides with such adapters on my SPD-SL pedals and had no problems.
I bought adapters that were similar to that and I thought they were terrible - squirm around under your feet (the "float" from the pedal means they won't stay solid), they flip down the moment you take your foot off the pedal so you have to flip them back up with your foot every time you start going again (which is usually by an intersection), and they didn't grip by feet well either.
If I was going to switch back and forth a lot I've seen "EZ Superior" pedals where you can take the pedal on and off by hand in a few seconds:
I personally switch my pedals several times a year, it's not hard to do as long as you put anti-sieze lube on the pedal threads.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario
Posts: 558
Bikes: HP Velotechnik Streetmachine GTE, 2015 Devinci Silverstone SL4, 2012 Cannondale Road Tandem 2, Circe Morpheus, 2021 Rose Backroad, 2017 Devinci Hatchet
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 181 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times
in
12 Posts
Have you used those adapters yourself?
I bought adapters that were similar to that and I thought they were terrible - squirm around under your feet (the "float" from the pedal means they won't stay solid), they flip down the moment you take your foot off the pedal so you have to flip them back up with your foot every time you start going again (which is usually by an intersection), and they didn't grip by feet well either.
I bought adapters that were similar to that and I thought they were terrible - squirm around under your feet (the "float" from the pedal means they won't stay solid), they flip down the moment you take your foot off the pedal so you have to flip them back up with your foot every time you start going again (which is usually by an intersection), and they didn't grip by feet well either.