Winter Cycling - Holy crap...Toasty Feet means roasty feet

In another thread someone threw out a bone

get toasty feet inserts fo real


so, I got some at wally world and tossed them in as replacement of
my Lake winter boot insole. the lake insole is not too shabby itself,
specially designed and whatnot...

pfffffffffffffftttttttttt

tonight my foot actually felt hot. those toasty feet are no BS at all,
they are un-freaking-real. like 6 times warmer than lake insole. I can drop
a thin sock and just run one sock. and get rid of the toewarmers except
for the really bone-chilling 10 deg and lower

man o man o man...I usually hate promoting products unless they are ground-breaking
in function. toasty feet alpine footbeds are the acme of winter foot care

ps-just broke my all-time 1year mileage record tonight. woot!

As always YMMV. I am glad that I could help.

I dismissed the idea promoted by another forum member regarding the simple recommendation of wearing ordinary safety glasses over my regular riding glasses to prevent fogging. When I saw his recommendation again recently I decided to try it since nothing else worked. Presto, no more fogging glasses. Then I remembered a similar suggestion on icebike.com and wondered why I had never made the connection. It pays to keep riding and trying until you find something that works for you.

Enjoy your newfound warmth. I know how miserable cold feet can be. It has been my most difficult challenge in keeping warm. I cannot wait to try my new Gaerne Polar Road winter specific boots that I purchased last week and have not been unable to use due to snow and ice covered roads. All my other riding buddies that get out in the winter now have winter specific shoes so I thought it was time that I stopped being miserable and inconvenienced by booties, oversocks, and chemical warmers. What a pain!

what is miserable is being 'held back' on a ride by having to think about the feet. I don't
care what freezes if the feets are cold I am bumming. I already spend 4-5 hours out on 20 deg days
and have a system for the feets. this is just gonna make things easier. a lot easier. the toasty feets are pretty thin (thinner than the lake insole with it's fancy reflective mylar) and don't look super special but oh my god my entire foot is warm warm warm.

So - what part of Wally world is it located and how much?

So - what part of Wally world is it located and how much?

shoe section and like 12 bucks or so. or was it 10 bucks I forgot

I found a really thick set (old version) and a newer ones [which the cut-out for size section was a bit
thinner than the main part]. I got the thinner ones,
since peeps have said the new thinner ones fit shoes better and are just as warm as the thick
ones

It varies. The Wal-mart that I went to last year had a big display and the customer service rep at the front of the store knew exactly where they were. At my local Wal-mart they were on the top shelf of a boot display and looked like someone had just thrown them up there because there was no place else to put them. Polarwrap says they done't even make it to the shelf at some Walmart's so you have to ask them to look in the back. If you live in a large metropolitan area I would call some stores to determine where you can get them.

"At my local Wal-mart they were on the top shelf of a boot display and looked like someone had just thrown them up there because there was no place else to put them. "



this is EXACTLY how I found mine. I had to hunt. weird. tewksbury, Mass. wallyworld

I am happy with just the toasty toes, haven't tried the toasty feet yet. I don't even know they are in my shoes they are so thin and stick on. They have them in the hunting department of Walmart here, haven't even checked by the shoes department.

Is Toasty Feet something completely different than the chemical foot warmers? I'm confused.

I am happy with just the toasty toes, haven't tried the toasty feet yet. I don't even know they are in my shoes they are so thin and stick on. They have them in the hunting department of Walmart here, haven't even checked by the shoes department.

Is Toasty Feet something completely different than the chemical foot warmers? I'm confused.

Toasty Feet by Polarwrap are insoles.

http://www.polarwrap.com/default.aspx?pid=1&sid=37&show=

Thanks for the info. I am going to slap a pair in my Lakes and try them out.

+1. Thanks for the info.

Scored a pair for me ($10.50, WallyWorld), and a pair for my wife ($12, WallyWorld, women's-specific, with gel padding).

Shouldn't have to wait too long for some serious cold, near the Front Range, to try them out :)

Cool thanks! I just picked up a pair from WallyWorld too. They had some that said for boots and others that didn't say that and seemed thinner so I got the thinner ones. Fit right in my shoes with no trimming:)

Just back.

1.75hrs.

Just below freezing, + some wind. Overcast (totally).

Canvas mtb shoes w/toe covers. Toasty Feet + fairly thin wool socks.

To the extent you can make such statements, with so many variables in play, I'd say they were a good chunk warmer than without them.

At the end of the ride ... cold feet ... but ordinarily, it would have been painful toes.

I'm giving them a :thumb:

+1 Thanks for the tip. I've been thinking that the toasty feet inserts might be just that little extra I need in my sidi storms cold weather set up. Based on your rec, I'm going to get me a pair.

I know I can go online, but anyone know of any other retail outlet to get them than Walmart?

I refuse to shop there.

+1 Thanks for the tip. I've been thinking that the toasty feet inserts might be just that little extra I need in my sidi storms cold weather set up. Based on your rec, I'm going to get me a pair.

I know I can go online, but anyone know of any other retail outlet to get them than Walmart?

I refuse to shop there.

I don't particularly care to shop at Walmart either but it will not kill you go to Walmart to buy them. If you must not, call Polarwrap and ask about other retailers in your area. Polarwrap no longer has a store locater option on their website.

My solution was a pair of Aussie Dogs Trekk hiking boots and some Cloud Nine sheepskin insoles. Wear them barefeet and your feet stay toasty warm and comfortable even when its cold outside. I wouldn't wear them in rain or snowfall but anything else - they're just the ticket for keeping feet happy during the winter!

I don't particularly care to shop at Walmart either

Me either.


but it will not kill you go to Walmart to buy them.

I can vouch for that one, too.

I went in, incognito, and WAS more than a bit nauseous, when I left ;)

I ordered a pair online from PolarWrap. Had them in hand a couple days later without ever setting foot in a Walmart. Can't wait to try them out!

^^^

Stud.

I ordered a pair online from PolarWrap. Had them in hand a couple days later without ever setting foot in a Walmart. Can't wait to try them out!

Same here. Ordered them online from PolarWrap on Saturday and they arrived today (Tuesday). That was via their standard USPS shipping. I wish Nashbar were that fast. I could sure use a heavyweight jersey I ordered over a week ago.

I'm looking forward to trying out the insoles too. This current bitter cold is going to give them a good test.

I inquired at Polarwrap about other brick and mortar retailers than Walmart, and regrettably they don't have any in the Minneapolis area, BUT they gave me a code for free shipping.

ordered, I will report on performance in a few weeks.

I have a fear of being trampled

I ordered up a set too. We were out on a night ride at 3°F / -16C tonight. My feet were pretty cold at the end, I could use some better insulation from the sole of the shoes.

Next year I need to save up for some SIDI Toasters (lithium-ion powered heated insoles), Lake winter cycling boots, or both.

I inquired at Polarwrap about other brick and mortar retailers than Walmart, and regrettably they don't have any in the Minneapolis area, BUT they gave me a code for free shipping.

ordered, I will report on performance in a few weeks.

I have a fear of being trampled

When I inquired about local retailers Polarwrap commented that Walmart is bad about not putting stock out and you sometimes have to ask. I and others noted that in some cases they are thrown on a random shelf and it is a miracle if anyone knows where they are and sometimes can't even be found.

Polarwrap offered to meet the Walmart price, which is a couple of dollars cheaper than direct, if my local Walmart did not have them. Assuming sales tax, free shipping probably makes the Walmart and direct prices very close.

Next year I need to save up for some SIDI Toasters (lithium-ion powered heated insoles), Lake winter cycling boots, or both.

Wow.

At first, I started going "Mmmmmmm. Both."

But then I started thinking about that Thanksgiving turkey, with its internal temperature of about 170F.... ;)

I tested my pair of toasty feet out in my boots while I was working outside the other day. My toes still got cold, but I bought the thin ones and I put them in my boots over top the insole that the boots came with and it made the top of my feet tighter against the boot. Maybe that caused the problem? I am gonna take out the liners that are in the boot and try or maybe get the thicker toasty feet.

Today was my first commute with the insoles. They were great! It was 2F/-16C with no wind other than what I created. I was pondering just wearing the Sorel boots, since I had previously been getting cold with my SPDs around 12-15F. But I decided to try them out. I had them in my Adidas Minerette SPDs with a sock liner, a merino wool outer sock and a neoprene bootie. My feet started to get cold near the end of my 5 mile commute, but the cold was from the top of the shoe, not the bottom like before. They worked great and I could see using this set up to -10F if I had a larger pair of SPDs that didn't pinch my toes with all that wool.

I tested my pair of toasty feet out in my boots while I was working outside the other day. My toes still got cold, but I bought the thin ones and I put them in my boots over top the insole that the boots came with and it made the top of my feet tighter against the boot. Maybe that caused the problem? I am gonna take out the liners that are in the boot and try or maybe get the thicker toasty feet.

The key to any good insole or sock is to be able to use it in existing shoes without cramping your feet. The first year that I used the Toasty Feet insoles I did not get as much benefit as I hoped because they make my shoes too tight, almost to the point I did not want to use the insoles. I had not purchased my summer riding shoes with winter riding or thicker insoles in mind. The shoes were new and seemed to stretch some over the next summer. Last winter they did not feel nearly as tight as before and my feet started staying much warmer.

I then tried a thicker sock with the insoles and the shoes were too tight again and I was back to colder feet. Using a thinner sock was much warmer. IMHO the Toasty Feet insoles are more effective with a thinner sock than a thicker sock paired with my summer insoles.

I have found even though a lot of information is available you have to take it with a grain of salt and be willing to experiment and fail until you find out what works for you. When I recently purchased my winter specific boots I had the benefit of experience and was able to purchase them with thicker insoles and socks in mind.

Thanks dekindly. I am going to remove the insole in the boots and try with just the toasty feet insole and see how it goes. Should give my toes more room.

How long do these things last. I mean are they good for one season? Are they like hand warmers where they suggest you store them in ziplock back to make them last longer.

How long do these things last. I mean are they good for one season? Are they like hand warmers where they suggest you store them in ziplock back to make them last longer.

They are not chemical warmers. They are simply insulated insoles.

They are not chemical warmers. They are simply insulated insoles.

insulated insoles using technology that has not been used in an insole before,
microscopic aerogel bits incorporated into a foam matrix that can withstand pressure and
retain it's heat trapping qualities even when compressed

it traps air incredibly well, making for an insanely effective footbed against cold coming
through the bottom of the shoe. they work so well people complain they are too warm sometimes.
which is a good complaint when you are out in the cold.

the best footbed prior to this was Lake's mylar/air bubble/mylar....toasty feet is in a whole
different ballpark of warm.

So I don't have a Wal-Mart anywhere close to me... thank god. So I'm going to order up a pair online - should I just be getting the regular toasty feet?

So I don't have a Wal-Mart anywhere close to me... thank god. So I'm going to order up a pair online - should I just be getting the regular toasty feet?

Yes.