cncwhiz

I am getting ready to start riding in winter weather. I am getting fenders, bar mitts and possibly studed tires. I have been looking at shoe/ toe covers. I talked to the guy at bike wagon and he told me that I have to ride clipless to use toe covers? Does anyone make toe or shoe covers for non clipless? I live in the Carson Valley and have Tahoe in my backyard. We have not seen any temps over 32 in weeks so that is what I am gearing up for. I have looked over the stickies in this forum for everything else to wear.

a1penguin

You can get neoprene toe covers that go over the toes *inside* the shoe. Depending on your cold sensitivity, YMMV. I'm still trying to get warm feet at 50F! Poor circulation :-/

auldgeunquers

I use platforms without toe clips in winter, and most often use standard "old man" rubber overshoes over good fitting leather sneakers, much like these ones:

https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Safe...ords=overshoes

or these:

https://www.amazon.com/Acton-Newton-R...ords=overshoes

Need a snug fit to the shoes underneath, IMO.

I am a bit in awe of the prices on a Amazon though - I only ever buy these at Value Village/Savers.

I am good to about -30 celcius (-22ish F) with some variation of this set-up and 1 layer of good wool socks.

bikemig 

Platform pedals and boots (insulated if need be) work well. BMX style pedals work well.

dh024

x2 on this suggestion. If you are using platform pedals, winter boots with a stiff sole are SOOOOOOO much better than (non-winter) cycling shoes and covers.

PaulRivers

If the shoes you are wearing have some sort of heel (like work boots), you can probably use regular bike shoe covers.

If they don't, shoe covers don't work because they have to wrap across the bottom of the shoe somewhere, and on a shoe with a flat bottom that means stepping on the strap constantly - which will quickly wear through it.

It's usually easiest just to buy warmer shoes. Wool socks and thicker wool socks help as well.

Miele Man

Back in the days when toe clips and toe straps were common you could by toe clip covers that velcroed onto the toeclip and strap. they were pretty effective keeping the toes warm and dry. They would not be hard to make.

Cheers

GravelMN

I've used my LG neoprene shoe covers with regular hiking shoes (Keen or Merrell) with no issues. There is a slight arch in front of the heel which holds the cross strap nicely. I wouldn't do a lot of walking in them but to and from the garage and into the occasional convenience store is no problem. Last year I bought some Merrell Capras (low top trail running, light hiking) shoes that are very water and wind resistant. I got them a bit loose so that I can easily wear heavy wool ski socks with them. Add a layer of neoprene that covers the toe, instep and ankle and they are good to around 10F for an hour or two. Below that I switch to insulated hiking boots with a wool felt insole and one or two layers of wool socks. When it gets too cold for insulated hiking boots with two layers of wool socks, I switch to the trainer (estimated -25F depending on the wind). I tried my heavy tall winter snow boots (rated to -75F) and it can be done, but they are so clunky that it takes the fun out of it. If I had to use them for short commutes < 5 miles or so they'd be OK.

arfer1

I use Louis Garneau Thermal Toe Covers over hiking boots, running platform pedals with traction pins. The covers really help keep out the cold.

cncwhiz

I don't think I will be riding in anything under the mid 30's. I am looking at some low to hiking shoes at big five. I think someone commented about inside the shoe toe covers. My wife wants me to get a trainer but I enjoy riding and staring at the walls sounds boring. I don't get to cold except my toes so a few pair of socks and some type of covers sound like they will work for me.

habilis

In those temps, you may not need much. Back when I wore cleated leather shoes with perforations, I put plastic sandwich bags over my toes inside the shoes. Surprisingly effective. You won't get moisture build-up because only part of the foot is covered.

rumrunn6

I used these when I was winter commuting, they were great but fit so tightly that I just left the shoes inside. it was a little tricky putting the whole thing on with the shoes already in the boot but I got good at it

Tingley Mens 1400 Pull-on Work Overboot
https://www.amazon.com/Tingley-10-Inc...p_89%3ATINGLEY

PaulRivers

The reason they don't make shoe covers for flat bottomed shoes is because to keep the cover secured you need to run a strap around the bottom of the shoe. And with flat bottomed shoes, that means you'd constantly be walking on the strap, the strap would quickly get worn out and break.

Cycling shoes have a heel so there's a gap that doesn't touch the ground that the strap goes around. If you wear shoes or boots with a heel, cycling shoe covers would likely work as well.

However, the usual approach is to buy regular shoes that are not ventilated, and wear thicker wool socks inside of them. I was biking recently at around 18f, wearing the same Chrome Kurks I wear during the summer but with duct tape inside the shoe over the 3 holes they use on the side for ventilation. With FITS Medium Hiker Crew socks (3/5 for thickness):
Amazon - FITS Medium Hiker Crew socks

And my feet were very warm (honestly I was surprised how warm they were).

scoatw

They're is nothing wrong with using shoe covers over non-spd shoes. If they fit OK. I use shoe covers over my Keen sandals all of the time. And I'll add toe covers, at times, for extra warmth. Keep in mind that some shoe covers will wear out over time. Depending on how much you use them. And that would happen with or without SPD shoes. Recently the openings on the bottom of my shoe covers was starting to show some wear. I used duct tape to seal the edges. So far it is working out good. I should get more time out of them.

But saying that you need clipless shoes to wear shoe covers or toe covers tells me that that guy at the Bike shop doesn't know what he's talking about.

Miele Man

Toe clip covers are still available! YIPPEE!

https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=...Cd8QMwgdKAEwAQ

has them for $18.95 which isn't too bad.

They look and work like these:



Cheers

rumrunn6

those looks useful, wonder if they make a model for mini clips, you know, that don't use the straps