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08-14-05, 01:41 AM
I don't mind much getting wet while riding to or from work, my cycling clothes dry quick enough and I change at work and shower at home. However, shoes take ages to dry, and I hate putting on wet shoes or riding with water squishing around my toes. I shopped around for suitable booties, but what I found in shops were either neoprene (too hot especially summer) or water resistant winter warmers. Besides that they were blooming expensive and I'm a tightwad. I did not find the equivalent of a lightweight showerproof jacket that you can fold up very small. So, SWMBO made me some.
Here are the details of my homemade rain booties:
Material: ripstop nylon. Not totally waterproof, but keeps my shoes and feet dry. Also reasonably good for stopping wind. Durable, very light and rolls up to almost nothing. Did I mention inexpensive?
Measurements, exluding seams and hems:
heel to toe: 37cm
heel to calf height: 28cm
calf: 21cm
toe height: 8cm
These measurements are with the booty sides flat against each other, so represents half the material length excluding allowance for seams etc.
12mm wide elastic band in hem at calf to seal it off.
6mm wide elastic band in hem at sole to hold it in position.
The toe part slips under the shoe's sole and stops short of the cleat. The toe height determines how far it slips back under the toe sole, so is an important measurement. I wear it around the back of the heel, not under, so I don't step on it with the heel if I walk. If I have to walk some distance, I unhook the toe part from the shoe's toe and let it flap on top.
These measurements just allow me to slip it on while wearing shoes, I have a Euro size 44, US size 10.
Made from a single piece of material folded at the heel so there is only one seam at the front. The back is therefore straight up and down, the sole is straight, and the shin part starts off straight down, then slopes gradually forward to the foot part, then turns down straight to the tip of the toe again - the simplest possible shape.
The material around my ankles is slightly baggy, so I wear a reflective band for visibility and for keeping it away from the chain.
Please feel free to post your own solution or comments.
Here are the details of my homemade rain booties:
Material: ripstop nylon. Not totally waterproof, but keeps my shoes and feet dry. Also reasonably good for stopping wind. Durable, very light and rolls up to almost nothing. Did I mention inexpensive?
Measurements, exluding seams and hems:
heel to toe: 37cm
heel to calf height: 28cm
calf: 21cm
toe height: 8cm
These measurements are with the booty sides flat against each other, so represents half the material length excluding allowance for seams etc.
12mm wide elastic band in hem at calf to seal it off.
6mm wide elastic band in hem at sole to hold it in position.
The toe part slips under the shoe's sole and stops short of the cleat. The toe height determines how far it slips back under the toe sole, so is an important measurement. I wear it around the back of the heel, not under, so I don't step on it with the heel if I walk. If I have to walk some distance, I unhook the toe part from the shoe's toe and let it flap on top.
These measurements just allow me to slip it on while wearing shoes, I have a Euro size 44, US size 10.
Made from a single piece of material folded at the heel so there is only one seam at the front. The back is therefore straight up and down, the sole is straight, and the shin part starts off straight down, then slopes gradually forward to the foot part, then turns down straight to the tip of the toe again - the simplest possible shape.
The material around my ankles is slightly baggy, so I wear a reflective band for visibility and for keeping it away from the chain.
Please feel free to post your own solution or comments.