I'm signed up for a gravel / paved road race with some double track tomorrow where my feet are likely to get wet in a creek crossing or two. It's been dry as a bone around here the last few months and I've not had to deal with this yet, however it's rained cats and dogs the last couple days and people who've pre-road the course say your feet will get wet. The forecast is for sun and a high of 40F.

Here's the equipment I have:
Non waterproof / summer mountain bike shoes
Thin, medium, and thick smart wool socks
Neoprene toe covers
Full Neoprene booties
Chemical toe warmers
Plastic baggies

What are your best ideas / experiences with keeping your feet warm and or dry. It's too late to get any more cycling specific equipment, so I'm stuck with what I've got and what's available at Wal-Mart. Thanks!

They keep my feet warm and dry on cold, wet rides. Shoes and bibs/tights are areas I don't cheap out on because they can make or break your riding experience.

just brainstorming but you could put some long plastic bags on over your socks but inside your shoes.. something like the ones you get at the produce section that will come up above your ankles. then put your booties on. that might keep your feet and socks dry even if your shoes get wet.

What you have are the makings of the best bet for keeping warm. I don't think you're going to be able to keep dry, however. I use summer mtn bike shoes in the winter, generally start with a base layer sock (thin), covered by a medium or thick wool sock. Place toe warmers on the shoe insoles up near the toes, then another pair directly on top of your socks. cover your shoes with the neoprene booties and you should keep warm, even in you get wet. If you use the plastic bags, your feet are going to get wet with sweat - they don't breathe at all. One of the most important parts of keeping your feet warm is to warm up your core and legs, so make sure they are warm and you should be ok. Maybe carry some spare socks in a baggy if you need them.

This is what I was leaning towards. I'm just worried about the sweat not being able to get out.. ever tried the bags over the shoes but under the booties? The problem I'm afraid I'll have with that is my feet getting too hot.

Yes, the plastic bags scare me for that reason. Have you ever had your feet get too hot with the chemical wamers. I'm good with dry feet, thin woolies and toe covers down to about 30F. What's your experience once those booties get wet? Cement shoes?

I've known a few people who tried the plastic bag thing and it never seems to work. Water finds a way in and you end up with trench-foot.

How far is the race? there is always the BF alternative of HTFU

I haven't tried this myself, but I've been told that filling all the holes in the bottom of your shoe with hot melt glue helps. Keeping the water out completely apparently requires the hot glue and then saran wrapping your entire shoe and carefully poking out the cleats, but as you said, you'd sweat inside like a sauna.

Any wet ride I do, I just expect to get wet, especially my feet.

60 miles of fun.

https://gravelgrovel.com/

It's do or die time now. I think I'm going with the chemical warmers, neoprene toe covers and a spare pair of socks. I'll let you all know how it works out.

Update: Wetness ended up not being a real factor, I was able to ride the creek crossings so I just got a little splash. I went with 2 layers of socks, toe covers, a spare spare of socks and some chem warmers for insurance. Toes got a bit cold but nothing bad. My big failure of the day ended up being three flats in 60 miles. Bummer.

BKW: Did you have any kind of prep on your legs for the Gavia? Any warming qualities, like today’s embrocations?

AH: We used a lanolin prep on everything. Mike Neel had the foresight to advise us to use it everywhere. I had it on my back, arms, legs, butt, everywhere except my hands. We had a meeting before the race and knew we would see rain, sleet, and snow. Some riders preferred to mix the lanolin with Cramer’s for heat, some preferred the blazing hot, and others a medium. I applied the lanolin with a little bit of warming so thick to my legs that it was 3-D.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=#post11833175