Buffalo Buff

One of the last things I have left to purchase before my next tour is rain gear.

I already have a waterproof jacket and pants, but they are not cycling specific so I'd like to replace them with lighter versions that pack down better. Any suggestions?

Also been looking at waterproof shoe covers, but I don't think something like this should cost 65-100$. Any suggestions for a good pair at a more reasonable price? I don't see any reason a pair of shoe covers should cost more than a pair of waterproof shoes, or a jacket.

raybo

I, too, ride with rain pants (and jacket) when it rains enough to warrant it. The main issue for me is the water running off my pants and onto/into my shoes. I've tried a couple different rain shoe covers but either they didn't work or wore out quickly from getting walked in.

In one particularly unpleasant crawl up a hill in a storm, I had an idea of how to create a show cover from a plastic water bottle and a bit of nylon. Luckily, I've only had to use them once since and it worked so-so.

Here is a photo of the finished product:

indyfabz

I have a pair of Sugoi Resistor booties. Like them a lot. They list for $50 on Sugoi's site. Maybe you can find them for less if you hunt around. Sometimes life costs more money than you think it should. Or you could use plastic grocery bags.

fietsbob

Sewn coated Nylon .. I have a pair with 2 layers of nylon fabric and 1 of polar fleece as a liner ..

a small home based business made them 15 years ago, they stopped doing that so their name does not Matter ...

Can you Sew?

My commuting shoe is LL Bean Rubber Moccasin.

Buffalo Buff

I'd rather just buy a pair than make some.

Leebo

Flat pedals and lightweight, waterproof hiking boots are what I commute in sometimes. I usually just tour in Keen newport sandals, warm weather only.

fietsbob

Showers Pass Makes shoe covers of fabric..

SimonSan

May the cycling gods be with you all..... There is cycle specific rain ware from companies like Sportful. They have booties, shorts, tops, everything!

mcallaghan

I'd recommend shoe covers - go to your LBS though and try some on. I find they tend to be smaller than advertised and the last thing you want is a shoe cover that doesn't fit.

I had an old pair that were simply waterproof (no insulation or anything) that I wore nearly daily when I was in Ireland (along with lightweight rain pants and vented rain jacket) and remained dry throughout. They did get a little worn around the area of the understrap but not the point they'd let water in.

Buffalo Buff

I'm browsing amazon right now to get an idea of what's out there. Gonna be a pain since I wear size 13 US men's shoe and I bike on flat pedals in running shoes.

Here are some different models I've bookmarked

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A3LK7AK9VPLXLN

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A11VZRB55EQJIL

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A2SGVGCTF5M4UV

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0062N89Q6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1DYHG7ZNG7ZDH

What blows my mind is looking at the reviews and seeing people talking about wearing these when its dry and "cold," e.g. 30-50 degrees F. I wear "barefoot" style running shoes (thin, minimal, not warm at all) and I'm comfortable in regular cotton socks down to 0 before I feel like my feet need another layer.

BigAura

I tour in sandals and add wool socks if its cold. They get wet and they dry out. With covers your feet get wet (if not from rain then from sweat) and don't dry out. The added weight, bulk, and hassle of covers is not worth it, IMO.

nun

Rain booties fall into two general categories: loose ones made out of stuff like gortex that strap on with Velcro examples aremade by Showers Pass; and the tight elastic ares sort. Sugio make a good selection, but sizing can be problematic so you really need to try them on. The bottoms can get really trashed if you walk on them in recessed cleat shoes.

shibbyman23

Probably the best bang for your buck wiggle.com | BBB WaterFlex Shoe Covers | Shoe Covers

djb

The ones I have used for ages were sold at Mec here in Canada but they discontinued them last fall after someone fell over cuz the bottom loop gott caught in a pedal. A real shame as they were about 35 bucks and I used them in spring and fall a lot. Also used pieces of fleece as insulation below about 5c, so I regret not getting a new pair before they disappeared.

I agree, it's crazy for some booties to be as expensive as a jacket practically.

That said, rain booties loose enough to put some fleece under in cold, and of course work well in rain, are essential. Avoiding soaked shoes is really nice and practical.

I highly recommend a pair, mine have been used about 15 years.

staehpj1

I have found that thin, light, and inexpensive coated nylon rain gear works best for me. I figure that I am going to be wet and the rain gear is to keep me warm, but not dry.

I always leave the shoe covers home when I tour and have never missed them desipte having some very cold days and some fairly cold wet days. I just wear socks that are comfortable when wet and shoes that don't soak up much water. In a pinch plastic bags over socks would help, but I have never needed to do so.

andrewclaus

Ditto, both paragraphs. I sometimes carry a couple of bread bags for over the socks (I call it "Bagtex") if I get into really harsh conditions like wet snow on a pass descent. I used them to good effect a couple of times in the North Cascades in late spring. I wouldn't bother in summer.

I met cyclists on that ride in the North Cascades complaining of miserably cold wet feet and they had very nice booties. They never let their feet dry out and got all their socks wet and could never get warm, even at night. How you use your gear is usually more important than what you carry.

djb

Peter and Andrew, the ones I have are most likely some kind of nylon covered with something. They are fairly waterproof even after all these years (despite looking pretty ratty) so I agree that uber expensive ones are not necessary.

As for cold feet, this is where wool socks make such a difference, you can have damp feet but still stay warm. I've mentioned this before, but last fall I spent about 7 or 8 hours in steady rain, often pretty hard rain, at about 7c and my old rain booties and wool socks did the job. Some water seeped in at times when my pant leg rode up a bit and went above the top of the booty, but wool socks that are reasonably thick , for these sort of temps , really do save my feet, and of course the booties do their bit by keeping the wind off the shoes.

for me, even with my booties that are bulkier than some, they are always worth bringing along for comfort and just not having to deal with completely soaked shoes overnight and in the morning.

Andrew, I would add that Ive been like those cyclists you met, when I had only synthetic socks and no rain booties. Got my booties after that trip, and I think this was in 1993.

Big Lew

I've done a lot of riding in the rain, sometimes very heavy all day long, and although I have tried
a couple of different 'booties', I don't bother with them as they all were cumbersome or didn't really
keep my feet dry enough to warrant the trouble. I carry wool socks and as was said by "staephj1"
I will cover them with plastic bags if it's extreme, taping the bags tight above my ankles to reduce
the water run off from my pants. Cheap by very effective.

djb

Lew, its interesting because my experience has not been like yours at all. For me a reasonably tough, effective pair of rain booties are so much of a help--specifically because I use them so much as a wind barrier in the spring and fall for the cold, but again--they have worked very well for not having wet shoes.

these ones by Showers Pass are similar to the MEC ones I have, not sleek and tight like some of them on the market.

Showers Pass Club Shoe Covers - REI.com

mine are a bit loose, which allows me to slip the fleece bits on top of my shoes for temps below 5c or so, plus I think being a bit loose means they breathe a bit more, or at least it seems that way cuz my feet rarely feel overly sweaty (of course they are hot if its very warm, but then I sometimes dont use them or just take them off as soon as heavy rain stops in the warmer months)

I still find it nice not to have my shoes covered in muddy spray even in light rain.

I guess the fellow asking the question should try a bunch out in stores to see how they fit/look and to balance the cost. For me $40 or thereabouts is fine, considering how much I use them and especially over many years. I look at the price also from the angle that if I dont use my car X times because my rain gear works well, I'm saving X amount of gas over the years too, so this helps in considering purchasing biking stuff.....

spike57

I have these MECs, too. They work great. I've ridden all day in rain, but my shoes don't even get damp. They work great against cold and wind, as well. I received a recall notice on them not long ago, but I ignored it. I wear a size XL because they were sized a bit small. I first ordered them in L, which I couldn't make fit. I still have those, though, just in case my next pair of touring shoes feature a slightly smaller profile. I would agree with djb that the somewhat-similar-looking Showers Pass covers would be a good alternative.

djb

Mine are so old they have the Serratus brand name on them (I just cleaned them today to get salty muck off them and noticed this) and re: the recall--I very much regret not buying a new pair earlier, never thought they would stop being sold. I actually did buy my wife a pair a few years ago and she doesnt really use them, so I can probably use them when mine are completely shot.

to the OP, my very first bike trip in France was in 92 I think, and I got soaked feet one cool day. Shoes were still wet the next day and having cold feet for a few days brought on a good cold, so that is where I learned my lesson (plus a German guy I met and rode with for a while had some booties, so I realized how handy they are)

here are the old things.

gregjones

Well.........that eliminates the ones that I finally found that work for me.

It would have been less expensive to buy good stuff first without adding the price of junk to it.

bikemig 

I've always avoided wearing booties for the rain; wool socks work fine for me. Not very fashionable but a bicycle rain poncho plus fenders does a reasonable job of keeping you dry.

79pmooney

Random thoughts: I haven't seen the Showers Pass covers but I own a number of Showers Pass items. They ride year round. Most of the staff commute year round. They get wet weather and they get riding. I would be very surprised if their covers/booties were not very well thought out.

Anyone who wears cycling shoes without covers in the rain should see to it that the shoe has at least one hole in the sole between the ball of the foot and the toes. My first race in the rain was 105 miles. It started raining steadily the night before and never let up. I didn't think about my feet any more than the rest of this soaking body. After the race, boy did I hear from those who had shoes without holes! We had wet feet. They had feet that had been in a swimming pool for 4 hours. Every pair I have owned since has had holes, but if they didn't, that shoe would go under the drill press.

Ben