Winter Cycling - Simplest way to keep toes warm

OK, so I've gone through all the various threads on the subject (booties and toe warmers get chewed up pretty quickly as you walk around; how plastic bags and space blankets have been used to trap heat; smart wool socks and poly liners; mountain biking boots; those warming pads; etc.) and still don't have a sense of how to keep the toes warm on a cold day. For me, the temps here in Washington DC have lately dipped to the upper 20s and low 30s in the mornings and evenings, and my commute is about 15 miles each way. I start to feel my toes tingle about half-way through that ride. Thus far, I've been using one pair of Smartwool socks and normal road shoes. So, yes, I know those shoes are really vented and the one pair of socks not the best single layer against my feet. But, I don't think I can squeeze anything else into my shoes - maybe a liner, but definitely not another winter wool sock. Booties or toe warmers? Do they really keep the toes warm or are they just meant to block out a little wind and keep your toes somewhat dry on a wet day? Any bottom line advice shy of getting bigger shoes, stuffing it with insulation, and getting neoprene all around my shoes?

ok

cover up your feet. this means ditch any shoes with
vents. or tape up the vents.

the key with warm feet in winter are shoes a euro size or 2 bigger than
you normally wear, so you can do the following

wear a wool sock, or two

use a strip of scotch tape and tape a handwarmer
on top of your toes. don't need much tape, just enough
so you can slide your foot in the shoe and the warmer
stays put. that will be good for 5 hours.


if your shoes are too small you will have a real hard time keeping warm.
the next best thing is a handwarmer on the outside of your shoe, over
the toe box, and a full bootie on top.

You aren't going to have warm toes in any standard cycling shoes when it gets much below freezing.

ok

cover up your feet. this means ditch any shoes with
vents. or tape up the vents.

the key with warm feet in winter are shoes a euro size or 2 bigger than
you normally wear, so you can do the following

wear a wool sock, or two

use a strip of scotch tape and tape a handwarmer
on top of your toes. don't need much tape, just enough
so you can slide your foot in the shoe and the warmer
stays put. that will be good for 5 hours.


if your shoes are too small you will have a real hard time keeping warm.
the next best thing is a handwarmer on the outside of your shoe, over
the toe box, and a full bootie on top.

Thanks, Edzo, for the practical advice. I'll try it tomorrow. The morning temps will be in the upper 20s. Yes! Thing is, I don't have a spare pair of shoes, so that option won't work. And I don't have any warmers (yet). So I'll go with the two pairs of wool socks and tape up the vents. Hey Edzo, what about those neoprene toe covers? No good?

Thanks, Edzo, for the practical advice. I'll try it tomorrow. The morning temps will be in the upper 20s. Yes! Thing is, I don't have a spare pair of shoes, so that option won't work. And I don't have any warmers (yet). So I'll go with the two pairs of wool socks and tape up the vents. Hey Edzo, what about those neoprene toe covers? No good?

This may not work, if you don't have the spare room in the shoe, adding another sock will compress any air space and reduce your insulation. maybe just tape up the vents as the best you can do?

Thanks, Edzo, for the practical advice. I'll try it tomorrow. The morning temps will be in the upper 20s. Yes! Thing is, I don't have a spare pair of shoes, so that option won't work. And I don't have any warmers (yet). So I'll go with the two pairs of wool socks and tape up the vents. Hey Edzo, what about those neoprene toe covers? No good?

The toe covers might help more than you think. Especially if you can use them to hold a chemical toe warmer there. Better to wear one pair of wool socks that still allow your foot to have a little room and then the toe covers. The toe covers also add a small amount of insulation in addition to blocking cold air from entering your shoe through the front ventilation.

Some people can get by with only one pair of wool socks and toe covers so it's a good inexpensive place to start.

also you can really make a difference by
taking a thin sheet of plastic, cut out a footbed
shape, 2 per foot (a paper protector or overhead transparency)

slap some aluminum foil between them, tape up the sides in a few spots
make an aluminum foil sandwich and stick this on top of your
footbed. it will reflect your heat back to the foot and also help
act as a barrier to the cold coming up from the bottom

again, if it ends up making the shoe too tight all bets are off

Your shoes are probably too tight with thick socks on. If you can't buy a pair of shoes that's too big for you, then wear thin socks and cover the shoes!! Seriously! Your feet will be soooo much warmer if air can circulate around them.
That's just my experience. I wear boots 2 sizes too big and a normal pair of socks and my feet are toasty no matter how cold (-30 with windchill tomorrow...)

"Booties or toe warmers? Do they really keep the toes warm or are they just meant to block out a little wind and keep your toes somewhat dry on a wet day?"

I have a pair of neoprene booties with rubber soles (cut out for SPD pedals). They block the airflow through my shoe's mesh vents and the neoprene insulates and adds a considerable amount of warmth.

Since you say your feet don't get cold until halfway through your ride with vented shoes, neoprene booties should give you more than ample additional warmth.

also you can really make a difference by
taking a thin sheet of plastic, cut out a footbed
shape, 2 per foot (a paper protector or overhead transparency)

slap some aluminum foil between them, tape up the sides in a few spots
make an aluminum foil sandwich and stick this on top of your
footbed. it will reflect your heat back to the foot and also help
act as a barrier to the cold coming up from the bottom

again, if it ends up making the shoe too tight all bets are off

Edzo, OK, so I tried the plastic/aluminum sandwich this morning and it was...OK. I did feel a little bit better - I think it blocked out some of the wind. But then again, it was a few degrees warmer this morning than I thought. I can't say that I could feel the heat reflection, but I'll give it a few more tries.


"Booties or toe warmers? Do they really keep the toes warm or are they just meant to block out a little wind and keep your toes somewhat dry on a wet day?"
I have a pair of neoprene booties with rubber soles (cut out for SPD pedals). They block the airflow through my shoe's mesh vents and the neoprene insulates and adds a considerable amount of warmth.
Since you say your feet don't get cold until halfway through your ride with vented shoes, neoprene booties should give you more than ample additional warmth.

Thanks, GMC...I've been avoiding shelling out the $50 for those booties, but I guess with a couple of more months of winter left, it's probably the simple solution here.

I've tried numerous methods and have finally come to the conclusion that nothing works better for really cold feet than switching to platform pedals with toe clips and buying a cheap (but well insulated) winter hiking boot. The difference between this and every other method I've tried is huge. This week has been -25F with a -35F windchill and my feet have been fine (although my ride is only about half the distance as yours).

Jalopy

Edzo, OK, so I tried the plastic/aluminum sandwich this morning and it was...OK. I did feel a little bit better - I think it blocked out some of the wind. But then again, it was a few degrees warmer this morning than I thought. I can't say that I could feel the heat reflection, but I'll give it a few more tries.



Thanks, GMC...I've been avoiding shelling out the $50 for those booties, but I guess with a couple of more months of winter left, it's probably the simple solution here.

you will not feel the heat reflection, rather, your foot will
take longer to freeze up

I like the foil idea. I bought a pair of larger shoes thinking tow pair of socks would help, along with tappped up shoes and booties. This works at 10 degrees for me for about an hour. I think the key is not to overstuff your shoes. Now I am truing to set up a winter bike, single speed with platforms and better breaks than my current commuter.

also you can really make a difference by
taking a thin sheet of plastic, cut out a footbed
shape, 2 per foot (a paper protector or overhead transparency)

slap some aluminum foil between them, tape up the sides in a few spots
make an aluminum foil sandwich and stick this on top of your
footbed. it will reflect your heat back to the foot and also help
act as a barrier to the cold coming up from the bottom

again, if it ends up making the shoe too tight all bets are off

Good advice. I'd add that a good insole will help too. I use these (http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=29800&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=54&iSubCat=257&iProductID=29800) (along with foil tape on the bottom of the shoe and neoprene covers over the shoe)


http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/images/us/local/products/detail/f08458_dt.jpg

Wool socks that are at least calf length help too. If I have to add a second sock, I use a thin bicycle sock under the wool socks.

And, yea, if the shoe is too tight you're screwed;)

Pick up one of those emergency blankets - you know, the super-thin mylar ones that packs into a tiny space. It's much more resilient than aluminum foil.

I use LLBean Snow sneakers with Performance Toesties. That is my winter cycling combo. On really cold days below 20's. I wear wool hiking socks.

I got out my Airwalks. Un-laced them, laced them really, really loosely and Tied them so that my shoes (with up to three layers of sockage) will slide on and off without a problem. Haven't had a problem since. 1 degree this morning with about 20 minutes of cycling and 15 minutes of standing around waiting for a bus. All I had on my feet was a layer of cotton, a layer of wool and these loose shoes. Worked like a champ.

I have used neoprene booties and they work okay if money is not an issue for you. But if money is an issue, try the plastic grocery bags over your feet (not very elegant, but it is hard to beat free in my book!). I have done that on several of the coldest days this year and I have been pleasantly surprised at the difference that they have made when teamed up with a pair of wool socks. I initially tried them one day when I froze my toes on the way to work and needed to find something at my office just to get home. Now I'll always keep a couple of bags in a drawer in my desk, just in case!

Thanks, GMC...I've been avoiding shelling out the $50 for those booties, but I guess with a couple of more months of winter left, it's probably the simple solution here.

They are really not that expensive -- Performance currently has some on sale for $19.99. I use neoprene booties with thicker hiking socks and my road shoes down to the mid 20s. Mine are old style Performance brand that I found at a gear swap for $2. Considering how much bike shoes cost and how convenient a bootie is compared to plastic bags that'll rip and have to be replaced (albeit practically for free), I feel they are a reasonable investment. Feet are just as important as hands, and most people wouldn't think too hard about investing $20-30 for a good pair of gloves. Treat your feet right!

Pick up one of those emergency blankets - you know, the super-thin mylar ones that packs into a tiny space. It's much more resilient than aluminum foil.


yes this is preferable

They are really not that expensive -- Performance currently has some on sale for $19.99. I use neoprene booties with thicker hiking socks and my road shoes down to the mid 20s. Mine are old style Performance brand that I found at a gear swap for $2. Considering how much bike shoes cost and how convenient a bootie is compared to plastic bags that'll rip and have to be replaced (albeit practically for free), I feel they are a reasonable investment. Feet are just as important as hands, and most people wouldn't think too hard about investing $20-30 for a good pair of gloves. Treat your feet right!

And they last forever. I'm going on 5 years on my set of Performance booties. Just buy them large and use shoes with few lugs.

Try some Toasty Feet insoles if you have enough room in your shoes. The other insoles previously mentioned look pretty good also. Insulated insoles should add about 10 degrees comfort, again providing you have room in your shoes so that the bloodflow to your feet are not restricted. That was my problem last year. Now that my shoes have stretched there is plenty of room and my feet are warmer due to the lack of constriction. I think I will also try as previously recommended and not tighten my shoes as much. We go at a more lesiurely pace in the winter so they do not need to be as tight anyway.

Get a pair of Mizuno Breath Thermal socks, they produce heat when your feet sweat.

I don't know what kind of winters you guys ride in.What kind of temps you have to endure.But I wear big snowmobile boots and my toes can still get cold.I find when that happens,I get off and walk the bike for a few minutes.Then I can hop on and ride again.
Shoes in the winter?Makes my toes hurt just thinking about it.

My new and improved article on Cold Feet! :D

http://www.machka.net/whatworks/coldfeet.htm

You aren't going to have warm toes in any standard cycling shoes when it gets much below freezing.

I don't know about that Portis. I wear a cleated cycling shoe year round and don't do too bad. If it gets near zero or below, I might need to add some chemical warmers. My commute is only 35-40 minutes. If it were longer maybe it would be different.

The most important thing about these shoes I think, is that they are a little too big.

I bought some boots

http://www.lakecycling.com/images/products/small/cxz302.jpg

Now it is just my hands I need to take care of...

When you use the chemical warmers, they last much longer than you actually need. If you put them in a plastic ziploc of some kind and get all the air out when you get home, they will be good for a few extra uses. They also don't stay as warm when there are booties over the shoes, as they need air with which to react to create heat.

When you use the chemical warmers, they last much longer than you actually need. If you put them in a plastic ziploc of some kind and get all the air out when you get home, they will be good for a few extra uses. They also don't stay as warm when there are booties over the shoes, as they need air with which to react to create heat.

When I use chemical warmers, I need them for 12 hours. :) They don't last 12 hours ... 8 or 10 maybe.

I've only ever used them when I've done bitterly cold winter centuries.

I usually have much shorter winter rides than Machka, clearly... I also have the hardest time with cold feet, to each their own, and if you do find that you are out for less than ten hours in the wintertime, it's just an FYI if you find they have heat left when you get home that you can save them for re-use.

When you use the chemical warmers, they last much longer than you actually need. If you put them in a plastic ziploc of some kind and get all the air out when you get home, they will be good for a few extra uses.

I did not know that. The bike forums come through again! :beer:

I typically don't need them very often but if I did, the cost certainly would concern me.

Keep body core warm and dry. If it cools body starts to shut off blood flow to extremities. I use wool work socks, Shimano MTB shoes and Sugoi booties for water protection.

Booties are the easiest way to keep them warm

Machka and I are neighbours and I use pretty much the same strategy in keeping my feet warm... a few weeks ago it was -46 with the wind chill and tonight it is -42 (although I am not riding).

Polypro socks as a base, then wool socks and a boot appropriate for the temps has been sufficient for this extreme weather... having your shoe/ boot too tight is a sure way to freeze your feet.

I use two pairs of boots...the lighter pair is good for temps down to -25 while the feltpacks (like Sorels) will keep my feet warm at temperatures below -40 C.

My theory is that, the most important fact about cold toes while cycling is the pressure on the pedals which lowers bloodflow to the toes. I know for sure that, after a bikeride when I can't feel my toes anymore, if I stop and walk around, my toes will warm up - provided that I have otherwise adequate shoes+socks.

So this tells me someone should invent something that a larger area of the foot impinges the pressure on the pedals, so as to have sufficient bloodflow in the feet during pedaling.

I sure as heck ain't use any coussinet auto chauffant. I managed -25C in the previous winters, so I will, this winter as well. Somehow.

I'll use theory.

Yesterday I wore two pairs of booties over my Sidi winters. The first pair was a cheap nashbar set that didn't have much water resistance and the outer pair were PI AmFIBs. Seemed to do the trick for the over 7 hours I was cycling. My feet seem to get cold when stopped but after a few minutes of cycling they are fine.

I got a set of these
http://www.machka.net/whatworks/nylon_booties.jpg

then cut 5"x5" pieces of fleece [equivalent to Polartech 200 windstopper] and used an elastic band to lightly hold it in place over my toes. I put the shoe covers on over top and I was absolutely fine in the entertaining conditions that Sixty Fiver and Machka mentioned.

For my feet to stay warm, I need to maintain blood circulation. I can easily over-tighten my shoes, so in the winter I just barely do them up. I've given up on neoprene booties, as they provide too much compression on my feet, reducing blood flow. As always, YMMV...

I bought some boots

http://www.lakecycling.com/images/products/small/cxz302.jpg

Now it is just my hands I need to take care of...

Similar for me, but I got these
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41V3P7EV3BL._AA280_.jpg

As far as hands I splurged on the Assos winter glove pack. AMAZING!!!

I was out yesterday morning, with flurries as I left the house and I was warm for my entire 2 hours. I would have ridden longer but I was getting annoyed with the sleet pelting my face (My unresloved issue is prescription glasses that don't fog up)

Late reply, but for upper 20's and 30's temps on a 15 mile ride, all I would need is normal socks and shoes and a pair of Performance Neoprene Booties (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=24344&item=10-0082&slitrk=search&slisearch=true). Right now they are on sale for $20 (50%off) These are quite a bit thicker than other booties I have seen or tried. Mid 20s and lower I add a layer of Performance Neoprene Socks on over top of regular socks. That gets me down to being comfortable in single digits on my 10 mile commute.

Also.. I wear a same model pair of shoes that is 2 sizes larger (44 vs 42) to allow for the extra bulk. Shoes that are too snug with extra thick socks will cut circulation and the socks will do more harm than good.

It also depends on how hard you are riding (ie.. avg. heart rate and blood flow). If I get cold I go faster. If I can't go faster due to weather/dark/etc. I make sure I overdress a bit.