Warm toes on a budget
 

I couldn't afford booties at my LBS, but I was sick of cold toes.

Bought some wool socks for $10 because, despite living in New England all my life, I did not own any.

Then I used some packaging tape and taped up the toes of my cycling shoes (which I noticed today had mesh toe tops) to block the wind.

My feet were so warm on tonight's ride :)

Uh...these don't exactly break the bank:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/En...es/5360020535/

I've had warm feet down to the low 30s*F with just regular socks on. When it gets colder I'm going to use some wool socks and should be just fine.

Save up, buy some real booties, be happy:)

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...00_20000_56002

15% off and free shipping for another hour.

Sandwich baggies over your feet. 2 pairs of socks.

Check out my "Cold Feet" article here:

http://www.machka.net/whatworks/coldfeet.htm

A lot of people around here use this method, so it must work for them. FWIW, though, it's a fail for me. I have size 15 (Euro 50 or 51) feet, and my cycling shoes are snug. Two pairs of socks make them so tight I don't get good circulation. And the baggies or other impermeable layer give me instant sweaty feet, which are uncomfortable as hell.
I've had pretty good success into the 20s (about as cold as it gets here except for short cold snaps) with one pair of good wool socks plus a windproof barrier over the toes and back as far as the cleats--baggies (on the OUTside), duct tape or some killer windproof foam booties I bought on a clearance table for $5 last spring.

tape over the holes in the shoes and thin wool socks is my solution

Wool socks under the shoes, wool socks over the shoes, and booties over that and I'm good down to the teens.

A decent set of fleece-lined neoprene booties shouldn't run more than $20-25 bucks or so. I believe I saw some on the much-maligned Nash-Formance site someplace.

BL

Baggies are a bit on the dangerous side, go for thin thermals inside , shoe covers or thick wool/hockey socks outside.
When I was a messenger and poor, I used rubber overshoes lifted from the elevator banks. Now I use Gaerne winter riding boots.

I just bought Pearl Izumi toe covers, the heavier ones, for 20 bucks. Coupled with wool socks, and I was actually hot on a 40 degree day.

^ Very informative article. Have to try the wrist band trick next time I go for a run.

Morino wool socks and Goretex Toe Warmers to block the wind. When it gets too cold for the toe warmers, it also means more layers of clothes and at that point, I go skiing. :D

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/p...k/DSC00101.jpg

Neoprene of the Goretex?

Neoprene. Very nice for inbetween weather when a whole shoe cover isn't needed.

PI ones here

Heavy socks and toe covers should do the trick. Like others said, baggies etc can be dangerous. I worked up a sweat with them a few years ago, had to turn back against a cold wind as the temps dropped and still suffer the consequences of frostbite. Id NEVER do that again.

+1 on decent socks + toe covers. Should hold you until it gets reeeeally cold.

Warm feet are for freds.

Speaking of inexpensive warm clothes, I wear a $30 wind/water proof jacket from target over a basic sweatshirt. It is as warm as and as dry as my friend's $230 gore. By itself, it makes you sweat even if you're cold, which I don't really get. Only difference is his has armpit vents. And the back is longer. But I can deal with it.

I just use old socks over my shoes, cheap and easy.

Cold feet are for idiots.

I know this might sound counter-intuitive, but I've found that bicycle sandals (e.g. Shimano SPD) can make for a much warmer experience than shoes, when combined with overbooties. Commuting over the winter back in St Louis, I used thick wool socks with the sandals, and the Performance neoprene booties over everything. This traps warm air around your feet, which is better than the more constrictive shoes. I was fine on an hour commute, I think the lowest temp I had was around 5F. If it got any colder then I was going to switch to the heavy lined Sealskinz socks, but it never seemed necessary.

+2 on the PI toe warmers and defeet wooleateor socks.

I just got those delivered today. :lol:

Having warm feet is a joy when you live in a place where you might see -40 C...

I use a pair of winter hikers that are good to -20 by themselves and like Machka, use winter footwear that is 1/2 to a full size larger than my normal shoes to allow for more layers.

Those layers are a base sock of merino or neoprene covered by a thicker wool sock and with these I have ridden in temps below -40 (where C meets F) in comfort.

I don't use clip-less shoes or pedals when the weather turns nasty and prefer clips and straps to keep my foot securely planted on the pedal.

Take a joke man :lol:

I did! I'd suggest the same for you! Guess I shoulda put a winky face... ;)