Keeping feet dry in the rain

[Sparky005s]

The winters here in Northern California are wet and cool, but not too cold, and no snow to speak of at my elevation. Keeping myself dry and warm enough is pretty easy except for my feet. I've worn hiking boots before and under heavy rain they just get soaked. Admittedly, they were not high quality. I think some kind of shoe cover sounds like a good idea, but which ones work? I'll be using toe clips. Any suggestions?

TIA

[rankin116]

These (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17712&item=10-3889&slitrk=search&slisearch=true)have worked for me.

[pj7]

Waterproof hiking boots? - You can get some prett non-bulky ones.
If money is a concern you can always try to use the plastic bags that newspapers come in.
Waterproof socks are also an option.
In the rain I just go ahead and let my feet get wet. I'll use neoprene socks in temps below 50DEGF and once the temps drop below 40DEGF I'll put wool socks over those.
But you can't go wrong with waterproof shoes so long as you have rain pants that drape down enough to keep water from running into the top of the shoe itself.
In the summer it's cycling sandals all the way!!
You can find a horde of waterproof shoes online, but make sure that the shoes you look at are actually "waterproof" and not just "aqua/water" shoes. The later are made more for drainage and not waterproof.
Totes also makes a rubber shoe covering that can be used.

[hairytoes]

Cycling sandals in winter for me.

They are width-adjustable, so I can fit very thick wool socks on, or thin socks if it warms up.

On really cold or wet days, I wear neoprene booties over the top.

[Choccy]

Mudguards

[MichaelW]

Overbooties dont like to play with toe clips.
I have real difficulties locating w/p footwear with a high enough ankle to allow overlap with w/p pants. Anything high is generally thick, padded and overbuilt for support whereas all we need is a wp gaiter style ankle.
This year Im testing out Sealskinz wp socks. They are merino lined, totally wp and breathable and fit well.

[sumguy]

Cycling sandals in winter for me.

They are width-adjustable, so I can fit very thick wool socks on, or thin socks if it warms up.

On really cold or wet days, I wear neoprene booties over the top.

Any sandal links? 12EE
Only downfall to waterproof socks is soggy shoes.

[Sparky005s]

Any sandal links? 12EE
Only downfall to waterproof socks is soggy shoes.

Right. At that point, why bother with the socks.

[Bekologist]

a big honking mudflap is much more important than choice of footwear.

if you AREN'T wearing cycling specific shoes, it's doubtful you will find a bicycling shoe cover that will fit over 'hiking boots' or even regular, modern tennis shoes.

better, if you are using toeclips, would be to make a neoprene shoe cover that fits over the pedal and toeclip. these used to be available for bicycling but with the preponderance of clipless pedals, have fallen out of production as far as i can tell.

a big honking front mudflap and a neoprene pedal/toeclip cozy is what I think will work best for your setup.

[Jarery]

Cycling sandals in winter for me.
They are width-adjustable, so I can fit very thick wool socks on, or thin socks if it warms up.
On really cold or wet days, I wear neoprene booties over the top.

I do the same.

summer - barefoot and sandals
spring/fall -wool socks and sandals
winter - wool socks and shoe covers and sandals
winter rain - goretex socks over wool socks and sandals

They also are always dry by the time i leave work.
The worst part is putting on and taking off all the layers on my feet in the winter.

[bronaugh]

I've got SKS fenders on my mountain bike (best compromise between keeping water off me and not throwing me over the bars when the fender catches the tire tread).

When it's pissing rain here, I use waterproof shoe covers from MEC over my biking shoes, and wool socks. In all but the wettest conditions my feet are dry after my 20 minute ride to work.