Winter Cycling - Booties for big feet

In my neverending (really wish it would) quest to find booties big enough to fit my feet, I have turned to the experts here at bikeforums.

Here is the deal. I am tall and therefore have the mini ski feet to offset it. I wear a size 13 US or 48-49 UK shoe. I primarily mountain bike and have had major troubles finding booties big enough to cover over the large shoes and the rugged bottoms that mountain bike shoes have. The booties I have found barely cover my road shoes and that is with much yanking, pulling etc.

Is there anything out there? Or do I need to just sack up and pay for some of the winter shoes?

BLM,

I can see your problem. I have only size 10 feet and I still have to use the XL size booties and they are hard to get on. But I am planning on making a pair of my own insulated shoe covers some time soon and maybe this will be an option for you as well.

I wear 13 summer and 14 winter shoes and most brands I try do not fit.

The only ones I found were Sidetrak booties which I found in local stores and got a second pair on E-bay for much less money.

http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.asp?PART_NUM_SUB='3006-21'

Another place I researched a long time ago, but have no experience with their products is this place, they make an XXXL.

http://www.spokeswear.com/boots.html

I am able to get Gator XL booties over my 48 Sette Elements.

I wear a US 14 and a 49-50 cycling shoe. i found that the Trek XXL bootie works, although it is a bit tight over mountain bike shoes.

From their page:
"Sizing given is for narrow cycling shoes. You may need to select a larger size for running shoes or boots. XS fits men's shoe size 6-7, Small fits 7-8.½, Medium fits 9-10, Large fits 10-11½, X-Large fits 12-13, and XX-Large fits 14-15." From MEC (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618318&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692723&bmUID=1163047920768)

pyze-guy,

Its description touts the waterproofness, but are you recommending the MEC shoe cover for cold weather?


I have US 13 feet and would like to keep them until the spring, i.e. avoid amputation.
This thread is very interesting to me.

pyze-guy,

Its description touts the waterproofness, but are you recommending the MEC shoe cover for cold weather?


I have US 13 feet and would like to keep them until the spring, i.e. avoid amputation.
This thread is very interesting to me.


That is exactly what I've been using last winter, at first mostly to keep the grime off my lake boots.

But then I noticed how much warmer things were when this thing is on. I think it's mostly because there's an extra layer that blocks wind. They are inexpensive, so if anything you'll have a nice waterproof cover for your shoes.

I have a pair of the above pack cloth booties and a pair of tight neopene booties, and the pack cloth ones are warmer. They don't compress your shoe so you have much more air volume around the shoe to insulate, and they are double layer constructed so you have an extra insulating pocket to keep in heat, and they don't squeeze your feet allowing good circulation. They are a little clunky though...

I might just have to give those a try. Pair them with a good pair of wool socks and use my ever so handy duct tape to tape over the vents on my shoes and we will see what happens. Has anyone else tried them? Any other ideas?

I just got in a pair of 14 performance brand booties the other day. I haven't tried them on yet. I'll give it a go tonight and see if they'll fit over my 48/49 shoes.

You could cut a hole in the bottom of these badboys. http://www.overshoe.com/recreational/products/

I can get the XL Discovery Team booties (Nike?) over my 48's ... just barely, but they work. Will check on the brand.

jw

Just checked and the Performance sz14 neoprene fits over my 48 Diadora and Sidi mtn shoes. The sole is about maxed out, but I'm pretty sure you could stretch them over a 49 fairly easily, the body of the bootie still has some extra room.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17558&subcategory_ID=1344

Looks like they're out of stock until January now though.

I have a related question for the big-feet guys.

I just recently started using the Performance booties, and they've been keeping my feet warm - although I have a serious problem with them advertising a fleece bootie as neoprene.

Anyway, after the first couple of days they started squeaking as they rub against my crank arm. It's driving me insane. Is this just something I have to deal with because of my shoe size/width, or does this sound like an issue with this particular product?

[edit] to further clarify, the problem stems from the Performance bootie having a rubber sole on it. This is what's making the noise. After some brief seraching, it looks like there are other options, where the sole is the same material as the boot, or the sole is almost entirely cutout. I guess I'll have to call this a learning experience and prepare to spend the $50 for a better solution.

I wear a 15/16 US (51/52 European) and, so far, haven't found much that fits. The Sidetraks have come closest, though I ended up having to pull and stretch them up my leg so much that they hardly covered the back and heel areas of the shoe very well. And, the band that goes underneath the shoe was out of place and ended up getting shredded within just a few rides.
I know that some manufacturers' measurements differ. I'll give the MEC shoe covers, XX-Large, a try.

I am able to get Gator XL booties over my 48 Sette Elements.


I was going to suggest these. I have the L size Gators and the first time I tried to put them on over my size 44 Specialized MTB shoes, I thought "there's no way these are going to fit!"

Then I realized: they're neoprene, idiot, they stretch. So I pulled them on with just a bit more aggressiveness than I might have initially been inclined to, and sure enough they not only fit fine, but I could probably have gotten a size 46 shoe into them.

Plus, the friend who initially recommended the Gators to me is 6'4" and >210lbs, so his feet must be boats.

So I'd bet the Gator XL will work fine for the OP.

I wear a size 13 US and use the XL Gators over my mountain and road shoes with no problems.

got my first pair of booties. this is my first winter...excited that my feet wont freeze.

pearl izumi amFIB (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=137&subcategory=1219&brand=&sku=18652&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Accessories%20%2D%20Cool%20Weather)

I tried the XL AmFibs at REI a few years ago, and they were tiny. Couldn't get them on. Maybe they've changed the design since then.

Pearl makes an XXL. I've been trying to find a place that stocks them though. I know Amfib doesn't stretch that well, so it could be an issue.

I tried on some XL Lois Garneau booties the other day in a local shop and I couldn't even get them halfway on 48 mountain shoes (which seemed to run small also). In the meantime, I'm still wearing the Performance ones. Some days they squeak, some days they don't.

I tried the XL AmFibs at REI a few years ago, and they were tiny. Couldn't get them on. Maybe they've changed the design since then.

I have the Pearl AmFibs in a Large. They fit my size 45 Shoes nicely, not too tight or loose... Not sure how that relates to the size 49m however.

I wear a 14 shoe, and a 48, 49, or 50 cycling shoe depending on the shoe. I found a winter bootie that fits, after months of searching--the Trek XXL. They work great, and are sized for 49-50 shoes. I've used them for both size 49 road and mountain shoes. In fact, you might be able to squeeze in a slightly larger shoe if you stretched.

I went with sandels and waterproof socks. since you can adjust the sandels you can change how many socks you wear. my feet are warmer and it is easier then using booties. but they sandels are stiffer then my mt shoes.

the L's of the pearls i got are a little tight but im sure they will loosen up a bit after a few 'on, offs'

I got a pair of Answer Kashmirs yesterday. 48 is true to size, so no extra room in there for thick socks. Hopefully I won't need them. I took a short ride to the gym this afternoon, and they were quite comfortable. Stiffer sole than my Elements and easy for walking.

I use the sandals, wool socks, waterproof socks, and booties approach. Warm, dry, adjustable for multiple socks when its colder, dries in minutes at work, but it takes like 10 min just to get all that footwear on and off :)