Aluminum foil on your toes?
 

Saw something this weekend ... I think it was from GCN, someone labeled it a hack so it was written up real quick.

Basically this person wrapped aluminum foil around their toes (like the whole front third of their foot), over the sock, before putting their cycling shoes on, claiming it will keep toes warm on colder rides.

As someone in colder climates part of the year, I'm intrigued, but skeptical.

Anyone do this?

Cycling shoes are pretty ventilated. I guess the foil would block some cold air. Foil may reflect some heat, like those mylar survival blankets. I would think foil would be uncomfortable.

Back when toe clips were in wide use, before clip less, they used to sell cover that would attach to the straps and cover the toes same principal.

I have some old shoe covers that had a broken zipper. I cut the backs off and just use the toes. I cut them off past the cleats so they stay on.

Bill

You are right to be skeptical. At least about the aluminum foil. Any material that is impermeable to wind would work and many other materials would be easier to use. Plastic bags, for example would conform to the the foot better and offer as much resistance to wind. The added advantage is that the plastic is thinner.

I have used aluminum foil tape on shoes to seal the holes in the bottom against wind in winter. It works quite well but I doubt that it provides much in the way of warmth.

If you want real insulation, get a pair of these. Aerogels have very high insolation factors for a thin bit of material. I've got them in both my winter shoes and winter boots. It lowers the temperature I can ride in by about 10 degrees by providing better insulation.

No, no, no. The aluminum foil is supposed to be made into a HAT!


OK, I guess it'd work. I get a wind liner with lower thermal conductance from a plastic grocery bag. Cut it in two lengthwise, cut off the handles, and wrap what's left over your sock before putting you foot into a shoe. It adds 5-10 degrees to the temperature range I can stand before I go for full shoe covers.

With the aluminum foil, you risk peeling the foil back at the end of your ride and finding a steaming baked potato in there instead of your toes. :lol:

As others have mentioned, there's an advantage in blocking any wind. I've used plastic bread or produce bags in the past to help keep my feet warm and they were quite effective. I'd think Al foil would be less comfortable and more likely to cause problems of chafing if wrapped around the toes.

My solution is much simpler. I just ride so slow that wind is never a problem.

If it were, though, I'd just get a nice pair of hiking socks.

Foil? NO.

But I consider a small cut down baggie as SOP, for cold days, and have done so for decades.

I do this with my helmet. It keeps cold breezes and the NSA out.

LOL at some of the replies ...

I typically wear full shoe covers ... and for the most part I'm happy with them. Today's ride was low 50s, possibly less ... Feet were fine til I got a few blocks from home and then I noticed they were pretty chilly ... but nothing extreme.

Aluminized Mylar will also be a wind block and reflective of radiant heat, (Potato chip bags)

for really cold temperatures the Vapor barrier blocks sweat, which cools as it evaporates,
so wear it next to your skin rather than soaking into your socks.



...

Folks these days are simply high tech.

BITD, those of us who were among the crazies that went out in the bitter cold didn't have fancy high tech clothes.

We wore what we had, layering up as needed baggies went over the toes, or on very cold days the entire foot. For snow or cold rain we wore rubbers over our shoes with a cut out for the cleat. (get your mind outo of the gutter, rubbers were what dress shoes covers were called).

If the wind was fierce, we'd start out with a folded newspaper covering our chest, and when (or if) we warmed up we'd discard it. I still use the throwaway newspaper method if I'm not sure how warm I need to dress.

nah I just use DeFeet shoe covers, like $15 on amazon prime and work well for all but poring rain. Also far from cold climate, our winters are mostly 40s with low 30's at sunrise for my early morning rides. Shoe covers + wool socks works great in my summer vented shoes. If wet is possible I use the neoprene booties which retain heat like no other as well

https://www.amazon.com/Defeet-Slipst...ers&th=1&psc=1

The park newsletter available at the summit of Mt. Diablo has come in handy a couple times for sticking under the front of my jersey before starting the descent (no problem staying warm on the way up).

aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's disease. we now use wax paper where we used to use foil. also no aluminum in our deodorants

https://i.imgur.com/TnBObznt.jpg

For me, keeping my feet as dry as possible (moving the sweat away) goes a long way to keeping them warm...I'd pass on the foil wrapped around my socks. I like wool socks for that purpose. Keep smiling.

Shoe covers are not super costly and work well. I saw the foil video on GCN and laughed thinking they don’t really do this. Those guys get the best equipment in the world and there go to is foil? I doubt it. I love the GCN guys but no way they are not using covers over foil.

Shoe covers for the win folks!

Yes it would block wind. The other thing to consider is it's reflective and emisseve qualities. Directly against the foot it should absorb but not want to radiate heat. In the shoe with space arou d the foot it should breathe and reflect heat back to the foot.

What's a newspaper GrandPa? I have a digital subscription to the NYT, so would strapping my iPad to my chest work as well?

I would prefer this

Yeah! Newspaper is often the easiest option. I often leave with a sheet under my last jersey. Easy to pull out when I or the weather warms up.

If you watch Tour de France footage of the rest of the peloton cresting a high mountain (not the big money, big advertising top riders, they get stylish jackets) you will see riders stuffing newspaper just like their great grandfathers did to get ready for the cold descent. It works just as well now as it did 100 years ago.

Ben

Man...those are some unattractive women!

In electronics, aluminum is used to dissipate heat.

Depends how you use it , in this case there is no heat leak so the foil will prevent the dissipation.