How do you keep your feet dry?
#1
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From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
How do you keep your feet dry?
First rainy commute this morning, and boy did it POUR for part of it. It felt like my shoes were literally filling up with water to the point of being mini foot swimming pools. Are there shoe covers or something else that will help keep water out of your shoes and socks?
#4
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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'm talking about while I'm commuting on my road bike with SPD pedals, cleats, and shoes. I need some way to keep the feet and inside of the shoes/socks dry.
#5
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From: NYC
Bikes: '83 Nishiki Olympic 12, '87 Panasonic DX-5000, Formerly owned: '84 Miyata 710 Campagnolo, '84 Miyata 610, 2010 Soma Smoothie ES
Rivendell splats. Super dorky, but they work.
https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ar3.htm
https://www.rivbike.com/product-p/ar3.htm
#6
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From: Portland OR
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
Booties, sold at almost any decent bike shop, a $25 neoprene pair will do the job.
#7
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From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
wow dorky is right haha, but the reviews speak highly of them.
#9
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Ugly bright yellow "nuke boot" shoe covers like these: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=latex+nuke+boots. My shoes are roughly US 10, Euro 45 and I use size XL nuke boots so they're easier to pull over my street shoes. The boots' height makes it easy to get very good coverage when combined with a pair of rain pants.
#10
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
It depends on how heavy the rain, whether or not you have fenders with a nice long mudflap on the front, and how long you're out in it. And if you've put your foot in a puddle at a red light.
At some point no matter how much "prevention" you throw at the issue, you'll get wet shoes, socks and feet. It's part of the deal, so get used to it.
So no matter what, you'll also need a plan to deal with wet shoes, socks and feet.
I don't have any sort of drying facilities at work, so I carry my second set of shoes for the ride home. I keep dry socks in my locker, along with a towel.
Once home, my old-school standing pilot light gas stove keeps the oven at 110°F with the pilot light alone. Wet shoes go in there, and I remove the oven control knob so I don't accidentally bake or broil my shoes if I forget they're in there.
I don't know how frequently it rains in Memphis, or how often you commute in it, but guys who ride daily and live where it rains daily use SPD sandals. Just get wet, then dry off.
After all, it's only water.
At some point no matter how much "prevention" you throw at the issue, you'll get wet shoes, socks and feet. It's part of the deal, so get used to it.
So no matter what, you'll also need a plan to deal with wet shoes, socks and feet.
I don't have any sort of drying facilities at work, so I carry my second set of shoes for the ride home. I keep dry socks in my locker, along with a towel.
Once home, my old-school standing pilot light gas stove keeps the oven at 110°F with the pilot light alone. Wet shoes go in there, and I remove the oven control knob so I don't accidentally bake or broil my shoes if I forget they're in there.
I don't know how frequently it rains in Memphis, or how often you commute in it, but guys who ride daily and live where it rains daily use SPD sandals. Just get wet, then dry off.
After all, it's only water.
Last edited by tsl; 06-01-13 at 06:08 AM.
#12
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From: central ohio
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
In the summer I wear Keen sandals and I just get wet. Other times I wear Showers Pass Touring shoe covers. Not made for SPD. I'm afraid you'll have a tough time finding a shoe cover that will keep your feet totally dry. Most neoprene shoe covers are more for warmth than waterproofness. In the early spring and fall when the morning temps start to dip I use Louis Garneau shoe covers over the sandals to keep the feet warm. But they don't keep 'em dry. The only ones that I've experienced to keep the feet totally dry in a torrential downpour are the heavy duty ones from Showers Pass. They work great, but again, aren't made for SPD. Good luck in your search.
#13
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From: Memphis TN area
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Yeah I guess sandals would be better for the summer. Would look kinda funny with bike shorts and jersey tho haha. But we do get rainy days in the 30's F in winter so that would be more of a concern I think, if I keep up this commuting on through the winter. I just started commuting a couple weeks ago btw.
#14
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From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
#17
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: cherry hill, nj
In the summer I wear Keen sandals and I just get wet. Other times I wear Showers Pass Touring shoe covers. Not made for SPD. I'm afraid you'll have a tough time finding a shoe cover that will keep your feet totally dry. Most neoprene shoe covers are more for warmth than waterproofness. In the early spring and fall when the morning temps start to dip I use Louis Garneau shoe covers over the sandals to keep the feet warm. But they don't keep 'em dry. The only ones that I've experienced to keep the feet totally dry in a torrential downpour are the heavy duty ones from Showers Pass. They work great, but again, aren't made for SPD. Good luck in your search.
#18
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From: cherry hill, nj
#19
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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Awning formed by my arms on the handlebars, while wearing my Cycle Rain Cape, works for me.
+ if it's raining when I start out, I put on my LL Bean Boots..
+ if it's raining when I start out, I put on my LL Bean Boots..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-02-13 at 09:39 AM.
#20
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: England
I think the perfect wet weather cycling footwear really doesn't exist. Why don't cyclists wear waterproof footwear instead of neoprene booties or waterproof socks?
hiking footwear is too low and too well padded, supportive and heavy for cycling, we need an unpadded, waterproof upper that is high enough to fit under waterproof pants and whose only function is to be waterproof.
Cycling boots for rain seem to be cut too low, carry too much padding or too much insulation.
hiking footwear is too low and too well padded, supportive and heavy for cycling, we need an unpadded, waterproof upper that is high enough to fit under waterproof pants and whose only function is to be waterproof.
Cycling boots for rain seem to be cut too low, carry too much padding or too much insulation.
#21
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: 6367 km away from the center of the Earth
I think the perfect wet weather cycling footwear really doesn't exist. Why don't cyclists wear waterproof footwear instead of neoprene booties or waterproof socks?
hiking footwear is too low and too well padded, supportive and heavy for cycling, we need an unpadded, waterproof upper that is high enough to fit under waterproof pants and whose only function is to be waterproof.
Cycling boots for rain seem to be cut too low, carry too much padding or too much insulation.
hiking footwear is too low and too well padded, supportive and heavy for cycling, we need an unpadded, waterproof upper that is high enough to fit under waterproof pants and whose only function is to be waterproof.
Cycling boots for rain seem to be cut too low, carry too much padding or too much insulation.
#22
Buy some waterproof over shoes. I plan to buy a pair soon, most likely a model made by Endura.
Both the Dexter and the Luminite fit both MTB and road shoes using different style cleats (off the product info).
https://www.endurasport.com/Dept.aspx?dept_id=107
I have cycling boots to handle cold and wet weather over the winter. But with warmer weather or when the forecast unexpectedly changes, an overshoe would be welcome insurance.
Last Tuesday, I was totally caught off guard and unprepared. Sunny skies heading to work turned into serious rain by my late night 14 mile commute home. The rain never stopped and it took several days to get the shoes dry.
Both the Dexter and the Luminite fit both MTB and road shoes using different style cleats (off the product info).
https://www.endurasport.com/Dept.aspx?dept_id=107
I have cycling boots to handle cold and wet weather over the winter. But with warmer weather or when the forecast unexpectedly changes, an overshoe would be welcome insurance.
Last Tuesday, I was totally caught off guard and unprepared. Sunny skies heading to work turned into serious rain by my late night 14 mile commute home. The rain never stopped and it took several days to get the shoes dry.
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
Buy some waterproof over shoes. I plan to buy a pair soon, most likely a model made by Endura.
Both the Dexter and the Luminite fit both MTB and road shoes using different style cleats (off the product info).
https://www.endurasport.com/Dept.aspx?dept_id=107
I have cycling boots to handle cold and wet weather over the winter. But with warmer weather or when the forecast unexpectedly changes, an overshoe would be welcome insurance.
Last Tuesday, I was totally caught off guard and unprepared. Sunny skies heading to work turned into serious rain by my late night 14 mile commute home. The rain never stopped and it took several days to get the shoes dry.
Both the Dexter and the Luminite fit both MTB and road shoes using different style cleats (off the product info).
https://www.endurasport.com/Dept.aspx?dept_id=107
I have cycling boots to handle cold and wet weather over the winter. But with warmer weather or when the forecast unexpectedly changes, an overshoe would be welcome insurance.
Last Tuesday, I was totally caught off guard and unprepared. Sunny skies heading to work turned into serious rain by my late night 14 mile commute home. The rain never stopped and it took several days to get the shoes dry.
#24
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 12,948
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From: England
Having toured through days of heavy rain with wet shoes, I can tell you that feet are very vulnerable to being continuously damp. In the UK we know the condition as "trenchfoot".
My waterproof Sealskinz socks were overwhelmed after a while.
Sandals are one possible solution but I don't like riding in them.
For everyday commuting in wet, cool, temperate conditions it becomes a real hassle to add an extra layer of waterproof bootie on top of your existing footwear, just to cycle to the shops or pub.
My waterproof Sealskinz socks were overwhelmed after a while.
Sandals are one possible solution but I don't like riding in them.
For everyday commuting in wet, cool, temperate conditions it becomes a real hassle to add an extra layer of waterproof bootie on top of your existing footwear, just to cycle to the shops or pub.
#25
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From: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
My personal solution to "trenchfoot" is to wear highly breathable ventilator shoes and wool socks. Any water that gets in also gets out. And they dry very fast.






