My toes are getting too cold. I ride with 2 pairs of socks and still not enough. I was thinking of cutting out a piece of plastic bag and sticking it in my shoe, over the toes…..

Plastic works well go for it...and check out this other thread!

https://www.bikeforums.net/winter-cycling/72359-how-do-i-prevent-cold-toes.html

I use chemical toe warmers ($2 for 2pr. at Wal-Mart), smartwool sox, and shoe covers (not booties). Works great. The toe warmers are good for about 6 hours, so after your ride, put them in a ziploc bag, then into a tupperware, and they will deactivate, then you can re-use them. I get 2-3 rides out of mine, depending on the length of the rides of course. Even at only 2 rides per pair, that's only $0.50 a ride, a small price to pay for warm feet.

Good advice. I'd see something like those, but they seemed too expensive. I didn't know they could be reusable. Thanks!

I also use chemical toe warmers when it gets really cold. As you state, it's a small price to pay for warm feet! I am going to try to reuse them this year thanks to your tip!

Why not booties? (just curious)

Can you explain the re-activate part. That sounds ideal and I never knew you could do that. Why the ziploc bag and tupperware?

Thanks.

When you open the outer envelope, exposing the inner envelope to air, an oxidation process produces heat. Placing the warmer in an airtight container stops the oxidation process and saves any remaining heating time.

I also use toe warmers. I use them as a treatment not as prevention. I carry them in my trunk bag and in the event that i get numb toes I place one under the effected toes/foot. Generally speaking, wearing a lightweight wicking sock, with a heavy wool sock over the top usually keeps my feet plenty warm.

Temps below 20 F require thinsulate lined hiking boots in addition to the aforementioned.

Thanks for great advise everyone, I sure will use it!

I bought a pair- they wouldn't fit over my shoes, and rather than order a larger pair, I had ordered (at the same time) a pair of Louis Garneau shoe covers, which did fit. So I just kept the covers (for a wind barrier) and sent back the booties. The covers work well with my smartwool sox, and when neccesary, the chemical toe warmers.

Booties? Bad design! They wear out on the bottom from doing what comes natural (walking from the parked bike to whereever).

Depends. I've been using a set with my C'dale MTB clogs. The openings on the bottom of the booties correspond to the lugged sections of the soles so the booties never really drag on the ground.

Road shoe / bootie combos will be more prone to wear and tear from walking about.

Yep.
I wore out a pair of booties real fast. After that I got an old pair of galoshes and cut a square out ot the bottom so I could clip in. They work great in rain or cold (they keep out the air). With the galoshes and 2 pair of socks I stay warm in sub zero temperatures.

I tried the chemical warmers yesterday, with booties and thin wool socks. The whole shebang was soaked and wet by the time I got home, the warmers were cold, and so were my feet.

was it raining?

It was dumping rain.

I used the chemical warmers last year on a commute to work. At the 7 mile mark my feet were getting cold. I stopped to check things out and found the chemical warmers made my feet SO warm that my feet began to sweat. The chemical warmers got wet and froze! When I took them out they were like ice!!

This year I've been using an old pair of boots (2 sizes too big), poly socks liners, wool or fleece socks, and power-grips on my pedals. So far, so good. I do carry chemical warmers just in case. Circulation also plays a big role in keeping feet warm. Keeping the laces a little loose helps me. I may try the boot covers this year just to see how they work.

Anybody tried these???? They have them at Canadian Tire for about $20 cdn



Nordic Battery Heated Socks
Battery-powered socks are preferred by those who work or play in icy temperatures.

The heating element is safely buried in a channel located in the toe area.
Invisible to the wearer, the heating element is designed to warm the toe cavity, thus keeping the toes and feet warm. (The wire down the leg does not heat)
Uses 2 D batteries per pair (not included)
Sock content: 36% Virgin Wool, 33% Winter Acrylic, 22% Hollofil® Polyester, 9% Nylon
The Lectra Sox are extremely safe. Low amperage eliminates all possibility of shock or burn, even when wet
Extra cushioning in the sole
Hand wash and air dry
Colour: Grey
Battery Information: Uses "D" cell alkaline or rechargeable batteries (alkalines last 5-6 hours, rechargeables last 2-3 hours)

Looks interesting. I wonder whether they come in a size small enough for a small woman, and whether they would be too thick to fit in my summer cycling shoes.

Ah! Sizing info and availability at www.REI.com (29.95USD)! There is an extra small that would fit! They still look kind of thick for my shoes, though. Maybe they have some in a store and I could look at them....

www.cabelas.com has both the boot version (batteries on the top of the socks), and a wader's version (batteries at waist) for 19.99 and 21.99. Unfortunately, they don't have extra small. Too bad, the wader's version might be nice to help protect the batteries from rain, and to turn them off or on as needed.