The Ultimate running/biking/wet weather shoe
 

I recently switched from clipless to platform pedals when my cycling shoe broke, and I'm taking this opportunity to see if I can find the perfect commuter solution.

I really liked my clipless shoes (eggbeaters), they were safe, fast, and easy to walk in (they were mtb shoes), but the big problem with them is that while they are great as cycling shoes, you can't do anything else in them. So I'm giving platforms a shot.

There's only two criteria:

1) I usually bike to the gym before I get to work, so the shoes need to be able to cross-train and run in them.

2) The shoes have to be able to get wet and dry quick.

The image in my mind is coming up with a trail running shoe, but I wanted to see if anyone else had considered this problem and how they attempted to fix it. Should I go with a light mesh shoe that can air dry, or a gore-tex shoe that doesn't get wet? Am I overambitious in trying to go with the one-shoe-fits-all strategy? Specific shoe recommendations would be awesome if you have them.

There are several models of waterproof trail running shoes. I should get a pair, as the little running I do any more tends to be on trails. There wouldn't be anything stopping water from running down your legs and filling the shoes up that way though. For riding in the winter I use an older pair of gore-tex hiking boots, and my rain pants fit over them.

I'm jealous. I can't make myself bike commute and lift weights the same day. How far are you riding? My commute is 18 miles round trip minimum.

I went from egg-beaters to platforms on my commuter bike so that I could ride to dinner, store, etc. without having to take extra shoes. I like Addidas Sambas. They are not water-proof though.

One thing about waterproof shoes is that they are waterproof from the inside out, as well - in other words, they can take longer to dry. My best rainy cycling experience was when I put garbage bags around my shoes and used elastic bands to tie them to the legs. Looked crappy, but my feet and shoes arrived dry. When it rains hard, even waterproof shoes get soaked inside.

Is there a winter boot that would work with platform pedals. I've been just using my Keen hiking boots since I started commuting in April, but they are not going to be warm enough for winter.

Waterproof shoes are the same as waterproof jackets. They hold too much moisture inside and never dry once wet. I have sampled lots of trail running shoes and my favorite for wet trails is the New Balance MT101. They are all synthetic materials and shed moisture after water crossings quickly. They do not, however, keep your feet very warm, if that is a concern to you.

Teva or Keen have a running sandal? then like the main weather deck of a ship,
the water just runs out the sides.

Sealskins socks or Goretex boot liner socks

are used by some bike tourists , with Shimano's sandals
then, like fit for thick , warm socks are a strap adjustment.

Biking shoes need stiff soles , and running soles, spongy are anything but.

bring gym shoes with you is my suggestion , or just ride further and omit the gym.

go barefoot

Exactly. A shoe like that, and a pair of wool socks to keep your feet warm. A pair of booties/shoe covers would help, and would be smaller then a second pair of shoes. It all comes down to how you look at riding in the rain. I tend to think of it as "I'm going to get wet, how do I stay comfortable despite that." As always, location matters. It doesn't get that cold around here (Seattle area), so being damp isn't the killer that it could be in colder climates.

I use Nike Gore Tex Trail runners for riding to work & they work great. They are also great for running, unless it is very warm out (I'd say above 70), in which case they get too hot.

Nike also has a new line of water resistant running shoes that are more of a compromise, less waterproof, but more breathable. They are called the Shield line. Can't vouch for them, but I can for the gore tex ones.

Bring a pair of flip-flops with ya? They're easily portable and comfortable! Except you can't use them for the gym... But for casual commuting then I would recommend 'em!

In warm weather, I use really cheap Exustar MTB shoes. I wouldn't run in them, but other everyday tasks are okay. When it's wet, they get wet. I wear woolen socks all the time.

For winter, I use platform pedals with half-clips and wear old hiking boots or trail runners. Our winters are usually cold enough that liquid is hard to find, so waterproofing isn't really a problem.

Finding the ultimate running/cycling shoe will be difficult, because a cycling shoe needs a really stiff sole and a running shoe really shouldn't have one.

Salomon?
 

I haven't done any running in these (although they are marketed as trail running shoes), but they've been great for wet rides and hikes. Great combo with the Ergon pedals.

Use some Sno-seal on them and they can become quite water-resistant. I wear my Sambas everyday and went through quite a few moderate showers and shallow puddles and my feet stay dry most of the time.

You can get waterproof, lightweight trail shoes and boots but they could be much better designed for cycling. Waterproofing is very good these days, esp treatments such as Ion Mask, a nano-technology applied during manufacture and used in military boots. I think Hi Tec use it.
Trail boots are often very low cut so water drips down from your waterproof pants. They also have excessive padding at the ankle which soaks up water and takes longer to dry. A high, lightweight boot with a waterproof, unpadded gaiter style upper would be ideal for cold, wet winter days.

The problem with sandal/sock type solutions or layers of booties is that they are not very good off the bike. Everyday urban commuters need something that you can just put on and ride or walk and that looks fairly normal around town.

I used to run booties a couple of sizes too big over my running shoes. Surely there's a locker at the gym where you can stash these while you're there isn't there?

http://www.rei.com/media/yy/723f0ee3...27f4a7e3de.jpg

I use Eggbeater pedals, and will not switch to platforms. I commute part-time, year around in all weather.

1- you can find shoes that wear like normal shoes but clip in. I have a pair of Pearl Izumi X-alps that function like normal shoes. I don't think I'd want to run in any biking shoes I've seen though.
2- You can use a pair of waterproof socks with either sandals or comfortable clip-in shoes. They should keep your feet dry. If it's really cold where you are, you can get a size larger shoes/sandals and socks, so you can wear wool socks underneath the waterproof socks.

Perhaps power grips would be a good compromise for you?

MB, how do you like the Ergon pedals? I've been looking to get a pair myself.

My commute's about 26 now, but usually it's 16. There's no gym at my current location, although my persistently tight hamstrings are telling me that maybe it's okay to just do some push-ups and sit-ups.

I agree completely with the sentiment that getting wet is almost completely unavoidable when biking in the rain, no matter how you dress, and I'm largely okay with that.

I also agree with the sentiment towards waterproof shoes, although I haven't used them personally, but seems to be substantiated by some other posters (Michael Blue and MK313) on this thread about them being too hot and restrictive. I imagine newer lines of more breathable shoes will be kind of be like waterproof-breathable jackets, where you might sweat less, but you're still going to sweat. This reinforces my sentiment that maybe I should stay away from these. I might be wrong, though: I've hiked in gore-tex hiking boots, and they did seem to keep my feet drier and less blister-y than regular boots, so maybe water-proof trail shoes and some gaiters http://www.rei.com/product/645763/bl...tpoint-gaiters to keep the water out the top would do the trick.

I hadn't considered using shoe covers, but I have a pair of neoprene booties that I could pretty easily slap on. I'll give that a run, but I worry that is trying to avoid the prior argument that biking in the rain gets you wet, and that my shoes are going to get wet regardless, maybe just less so and thus setting me up for soggy shoes during my work-out and later.

Still, if onyourback is recommending that shoes like the MT101 do seem to dry quickly, maybe that is the best option to go with. And while they might get damp, maybe a pair of waterproof booties like the Gore Bike Wear City Overshoes http://gorebikewear.com/remote/Satel...1208436871979A as a couple of other posters have suggested (LesterofPuppets) might just be a winning combo.

Anybody else have luck with the trail shoe/waterproof bootie combo?

Maybe the ultimate solution is walking around with garbage bags tied around my feet as suggested by Michael blue. You're making me feel bad for wanting nice things (although I have been told mulitple times why I can't have nice things, mostly cause I beat the crap out of them...).

A bit off topic but I have Crank Bros pedals on my bikes, and I wear Shimano MT 21s. Most people don't even notice they're bike shoes. They have normal shoe laces and tread.

http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/pr...t_21_shoes.jpg

I will probably convert to platforms once it gets icy though.

I keep telling people the Ergon pedals are huge and ugly, but comfortable and very supportive. I like the large platform and the inside lip for foot alignment, as well as the grip surface.

Footwear, foot where?
 

For wet and cold weather commuting I've been wearing a mix of shoes. For wet stuff I'll go with a pair of Blundstones. Waterproof, light weight and comfy as all get out but no insulation for warmth. Sometimes I'll wear imitation-Blundstones, 511 Company Boot. Waterproof, comfy, little warmer in inclement weather than the Blundstones but a little heavier, too.

5.11 Have a couple other boots that interest me, Company Boot 2.0 which has a neoprene ankle sleeve, could be lighter, potentially more comfortable, warmer, possibly provide a little more range of motion for the ankle/foot. I haven't read any reviews on this one yet.

There's also a waterproof tactical trainer/trail boot that I'm considering: Tactical trainer-mid waterproof. The reviews are look promising.

When the weather is particularly bad I'll usually cover up with a pair of these MEC shoe covers. :thumb:

I've got some seal skins (socks) that I'll use every so often. But being gortex you get just about as wet from sweat as you do from the rain. The solution I've found to work the best so far was a cheep pair of shoe covers I got from Nashbar for about $15. They just fit over the toe and have an elastic band around the bottom, velcro around the back. Keeps the splash down and there seems to be enough circulation that my feet don't get much sweater than they normally would. My experience is that there really is no way to keep dry in the rain on a bike if your putting in any sort of effort. Anything that keeps water out keeps the sweat in. If you want something dry for when you get where your going keep in in a panier.

Found 'em! Vaude makes the solution I was looking for! I just got in a pair of Vaude bike gaiters http://www.vaude.com/epages/Vaude-de...s/012790100470 $15 at nashbar. They are cheap, , simple, fully waterproof, easy to stuff in a bag, and most importantly, just barely fit around my size 15 shoe!