Hot Shoes
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 878
Likes: 139
Hot Shoes
i have a nice pair of Pearl Izumi's X-Aph Seek VI Mt. Bike shoes I use for commuting. The shoes are nice but one problem.. they are hot! Even with good socks they still are warm on a hot Summer day. What does everyone use on these last (??) warm days of Summer?
#2
Sandals ?
I have an older version of the same shoes you do but they don't feel hot to me when I do wear them. The ones I own have a mesh upper like a running shoe. They breathe pretty well.
Sometimes when the shoes I'm wearing are new and haven't been broken in or if they are too tight, they will feel hot, but it might be more general discomfort.
Otherwise, other parts of my body will get uncomfortably warm before my feet do. In the winter they are the ones that will be cold before anything else. This somewhat unique to cycling. My feet will stay pretty warm while I'm running.
I have an older version of the same shoes you do but they don't feel hot to me when I do wear them. The ones I own have a mesh upper like a running shoe. They breathe pretty well.
Sometimes when the shoes I'm wearing are new and haven't been broken in or if they are too tight, they will feel hot, but it might be more general discomfort.
Otherwise, other parts of my body will get uncomfortably warm before my feet do. In the winter they are the ones that will be cold before anything else. This somewhat unique to cycling. My feet will stay pretty warm while I'm running.
#3
Sidi shoe with a pair of low cut dri-fit socks. No issues.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 1
From: Washington DC Metro Area
Bikes: Breezer Uptown 8, Jamis Renegade Expert
Skate shoes with Pearl Izumi moisture-wicking/quick-drying socks - bought a bunch of pairs during REI's latest sale.
Would have loved to ride with my Crocs clog sandals but they're too wide for my pedals/cranks. As such, no problems with hot feet, even on that day I went on a group ride in which we reached a 101+ heat index, then rode home afterwards. As a bonus, my feet dry quickly after I get rained on.
Would have loved to ride with my Crocs clog sandals but they're too wide for my pedals/cranks. As such, no problems with hot feet, even on that day I went on a group ride in which we reached a 101+ heat index, then rode home afterwards. As a bonus, my feet dry quickly after I get rained on.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,977
Likes: 5
From: Columbia, SC
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 Rival; 2014 Cannondale Trail 7 29; 1972 Schwinn Suburban, 1996 Proflex 756, 1987(?) Peugeot, Dahon Speed P8; 1979 Raleigh Competition GS; 1995 Stumpjumper M2 FS, 1978 Raleigh Sports, Schwinn Prologue
Last warm days of summer? So far this month has been cooler than the rest of summer for us here. I have Bontrager something or other road shoes and cleats. I have never noticed my feet to be "hot" - maybe roadbike shoes are more vented than mtb shoes. I also wear thin cycling socks
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,642
Likes: 6
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
Bikes: 1997 Rivendell Road Standard 650b conversion (tourer), 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10 (gravel/tour), 2013 Foundry Auger disc (CX/gravel), 2016 Cannondale Fat CAAD 2 (MTB/winter), 2011 Cannondale Flash 29er Lefty (trail MTB)
I have the X-Alp Seek V, a previous version, and they feel fine all summer long. I wear mostly Smartwool PhD microlight merino wool socks; they're about 50/50 wool/spandex.
I wore the Pearl shoes all winter with two pair of thicker wool hiking socks, and strap-on shoe covers. I was warm enough, but the shoe covers suck. My shoes are 48 and no shoe cover comes large enough to fit them very well. I picked up a used pair of SiDi winter MTB shoes for next winter.
Besides that, I love the Pearl X-Alp shoes. They're way more flexible than any other shoe I've tried, which makes them great for wearing at work on days I commute.
I don't see the desire for the super stiff soles on most cycling shoes. Save the stiff soles for the high-end race shoes, and make the consumer level stuff more flexible!
I wore the Pearl shoes all winter with two pair of thicker wool hiking socks, and strap-on shoe covers. I was warm enough, but the shoe covers suck. My shoes are 48 and no shoe cover comes large enough to fit them very well. I picked up a used pair of SiDi winter MTB shoes for next winter.
Besides that, I love the Pearl X-Alp shoes. They're way more flexible than any other shoe I've tried, which makes them great for wearing at work on days I commute.
I don't see the desire for the super stiff soles on most cycling shoes. Save the stiff soles for the high-end race shoes, and make the consumer level stuff more flexible!
#8
I have the X-Alp Seek V, a previous version, and they feel fine all summer long. I wear mostly Smartwool PhD microlight merino wool socks; they're about 50/50 wool/spandex.
I wore the Pearl shoes all winter with two pair of thicker wool hiking socks, and strap-on shoe covers. I was warm enough, but the shoe covers suck. My shoes are 48 and no shoe cover comes large enough to fit them very well. I picked up a used pair of SiDi winter MTB shoes for next winter.
Besides that, I love the Pearl X-Alp shoes. They're way more flexible than any other shoe I've tried, which makes them great for wearing at work on days I commute.
I don't see the desire for the super stiff soles on most cycling shoes. Save the stiff soles for the high-end race shoes, and make the consumer level stuff more flexible!
I wore the Pearl shoes all winter with two pair of thicker wool hiking socks, and strap-on shoe covers. I was warm enough, but the shoe covers suck. My shoes are 48 and no shoe cover comes large enough to fit them very well. I picked up a used pair of SiDi winter MTB shoes for next winter.
Besides that, I love the Pearl X-Alp shoes. They're way more flexible than any other shoe I've tried, which makes them great for wearing at work on days I commute.
I don't see the desire for the super stiff soles on most cycling shoes. Save the stiff soles for the high-end race shoes, and make the consumer level stuff more flexible!
I do also have a more traditional pair of road shoes that I use for more intense/longer rides. My left foot has a tendency to get numb in softer shoes on harder rides.
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,391
Likes: 13
From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
I use Bontrager SSR SPD shoes for commuting and road riding. They are extremely vented with several mesh panels (my socks are visible if you look hard enough). They're vented so much that I don't use them in winter.
I hate wearing shoes generally but these work okay since I prefer to be clipped in most of the time.
I hate wearing shoes generally but these work okay since I prefer to be clipped in most of the time.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,828
Likes: 1
From: West Georgia
Bikes: K2 Mod 5.0 Roadie, Fuji Commuter
I have a can't remember which brand pair of SPD sandals that I wear to the big town an back----that's 21+ mi to the closest place that I go to. Around our little town, 10.5 mi to grocery and back, flip the pedals over and it's Teva Time.
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Fuji ACR 2.0, Roubaix & a Peugeot of mid 1980's vintage, orig 12 vitesse, now a single speed. Converted to fixie/single speed before I got it.
Nashbar Ragster II Sandals. Cheaper than Keen's (almost 1/2 the price) and extremely comfortable for me. Use sockless when commute temps are above mid 50's F. Can use them with cooler temps with socks. When "cold", I'll put on enclosed shoes. I like the Nashbar's so much that I swapped out the road pedals on the road bike and replaced with SPD pedals. The commuter has the combination pedal: Platform on one side and SPD clippy things on the other side. Yes, my feet can still get hot on a hot day, but they don't feel bad. Love the air on the toes! Unlike the Shimano sandals, the Nashbars (and the Keens) do have a toe box, so your toes do get some protection. They are comfortable enough that I could wear them all day. Look for when Nashbar has a sale. Even at "regular" price, they are affordable.
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Oakdale, CT
Bikes: 1998 Specialized FSR 26", 1998 Trek Wade Boots Team Issue 2 XXL 20", 2001 Cortina DH Extreme 8 26", 1999 Sinister DNA (work in progress) 26", 2001 LeMond Zurich (work in progress) 700c
Smartwool hikers or Timberland low cut athletic socks.
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,301
Likes: 14
From: La La Land (We love it!)
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
I ride spin shoes, Shimano FN51.
Amazing ventilation and lined so they can be worn without socks.
They have been discontinued but you can still find them NOS; I got mine NIB for about $50 on eBay.
Easily the most comfortable cycling shoes I have ever worn...
Amazing ventilation and lined so they can be worn without socks.
They have been discontinued but you can still find them NOS; I got mine NIB for about $50 on eBay.
Easily the most comfortable cycling shoes I have ever worn...
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...






