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Hi Cycling folks,
I'm getting sick of replacing the neo waterproof overshoes which wareout underfoot every year (although they are cheep) and they're too warm mid season. Any ideas for waterproof shoes? I have SPD's at the mo, but ifa few people really recomend a particular road shoe I'll consider changing to them.
Cheers in advance. Dave C
Currently testing the Vibram and Gore-Tex Shimano MT71 after my non-waterproof Tahoes started falling apart after a year. Haven't tried a proper downpour in them yet but they have so far kept my toes dry trundling through wet grass and splashing through puddles. If you wore waterproof trousers or gaiters over them the water might not creep down from the ankles.
Try replacing them with waterproof socks. I have sealskinz ones, they keep the wind and water out very well. They are thicker than normal socks though so if your shoes are tight you may need to go up a size.
If you're prepared to shell out for them, the Shimano MW-80 / 81 are excellent, can't recommend them enough. I got them before last winter after suffering with cold and wet feet the previous winter. There's also a "road" version with less chunky grips and a stiffer sole, for 3-bolt cleats.
Lots of leather in the construction, an insulated liner and a waterproof Goretex liner. Warm, waterproof, comfy. Fasten round the ankle with velco and neoprene so not too prone to water running down your legs and into the shoes.
I have the older version of K's Shimanos and like them a lot (apart from the tendency for water to run down the legs and into the boot). A spare pair of socks in the desk at work solves that.
I have tried neoprene and allegedly "waterproof" overshoes and have found the Endura ones in particular absolutely kack, and the Altura one's that claim to be water resistant better. Sealskinz socks are great but do fill up with water running down your legs, so long waterproofs covering the top of them is what you need. Goretex shoes are the way to go IMHO and for that particularly wet weather SS socks, and if you really want overshoes over that lot. Although I did find with the Endura overshoes over the Goretex Shimano footwear without waterproof socks your feet still got wet, the overshoes being that rubbish.
While searching, I read on a forum that the cuff of a Marigold glove can be deployed at the ankle / boot interface to provide an effective seal. Choose from yellow, pink or blue.
Sounds like you need some scuba diving technology. I go diving regularly in my drysuit and never get cold or wet inside due to tight latex seals.
Maybe someone should approach Edinburgh Dive centre on Watson Crescent to fit a wrist seal from a drysuit onto a pair of neoprene socks. Bet that would work a treat.
Yes I was thinking the same, I found these:
Scroll down to Ankle seals... pop then on your legs and then don shoes and pull down to over the shoe. BINGO!!
I always found "drysuit" to be a contradiction in terms! Slightly damp, often wet and sometimes flooded suit would be wordier but more honest ;-)
That said, a pair of ankle seals could make good top of overshoe seals, I'd go neoprene rather than latex though for durability.
There's a lot of blood pumping around your legs and feet and they do get hot. Would your feet not stew and be prone to fungal infections if you cycled in a drysuit boot?
@Smudge - think you should have got a better fitting drysuit :-)
@kaputnik - I've never found this to be an issue even when I used to spend 3-4 hours underwater in mine. Maybe it depends how sweaty your feet get??
I habitually wear two pairs of thin socks, on account of being a daredevil internatonal playboy secret agent, so I simply pull the outer pair right up like a schoolboy taking a rectorly admonishment literally. If my blonde/ginger Christmas tree leg hair doesn't sook up the water, the outer one gets rolled down tight on reaching t'office and doesn't bother me much.
@lezzles - but I assume you weren't cycling underwater?! Also it's much easier for body to lose heat to the water than to the air, so assume that helps keep feet cooler. I just imagine that there's a reason nobody has troubled to invent a cycling shoe based on a wellington boot.
Must admit, it doesn't bother me too much. Even if my feet get soaked on the way to work I have spare socks there or in my bag (and dry shoes and a towel in the office). My wet socks get rung out and hung on the radiator and my boots sit on top of the radiator, drying out and stinking up the place. By home time they're all usually dry or at least warm and ready to be soaked again. I'd prioritise warmth over dryness.
Not the dryboots but latex seals which look like the top half of a bottle.
I have paper in my shoes to try to dry them out but in my office we don't have radiators, just 'managed air', so my arm warmers and gloves are drying on my computer monitor and my socks on my PC (they're not wqringing wet, just very damp). I do have spare shoes but just want dry gear to set off home in.
I collegue just took delivery of these:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/northwave-celsius-arctic-gtx-gore-tex-winter-mtb-boots/
I might try the non arctic version at £127 which are still v ery expensive but when compared with the cost of refilling my car and how long I'll be able to get out of them, I think a good deal.
Dave C
Mr Bike Chain has the same MW80/81 as I, we were discussing how wonderful we both thought they were on Monday.
@kaputnik - you've obviously never seen a newbie diver. They generally look like they are riding a unicycle!
No I'm really not suggesting we wear drysuit boots out and about. It was a suggestion to reduce water running down your legs into your sock. Drysuit are builts for thermal comfort as well as keeping water out. Neoprene socks are often used by divers working in warm and cold water as they can change the boots they use on the outside depending on the temp of the water.
Personally I do what DaveC does - take a spare pare of socks and drape my wet stuff around the office to dry.
@Lezzles, my drybag fitted fine, but still suffered the perspiration dampness after longish dives, gave up on them when I realised semi-dry's are just as warm, nicer to dive in and don't end your dive if they get snagged on a bit of wreck :-)
Observation of many "drysuit" divers sees about 1 in 10 soaked and 7 out of the remainder with wet arms etc (90% of statistics are of course made up on the spot of course ;-))
Spare cuff seals though is a cunning plan for drip guards though :-)
move to the country and cycle in wellies - although as far as I know you can't get SPD ones yet.
I bought some (polyamide) Jeantex overshoes a few years back. They are not as visually slick as the road bike style 'aero' looking neoprene ones but the do keep your feet dry. Great in heavy rain like we have this afternoon. Can't get their products in this country much now (German manufacturer) but similar stuff exists.
One of the problems with waterproof shoes, on a day like this, is that they're of no use to you sitting at home when you're sitting in the office with some lightweight shoes in your locker downstairs.
Drat and double drat. Do something Mutley!
All through winter I left my lined waterproof sealskinz in the Carradice for days like today. Took them out when "summer" rolled round as they're too warm at temperatures above 5c and whilst I hate cold wet feet I can just about cope with warm wet feet.
At this time of year I'm happy wearing sandals in the rain. Your feet get wet in them but then dry out as soon as the rain stops.
It doesn't work in the winter because it's cold and wet.
Yes, I know, Brompton, sandals, Klingon beard, vegetarian…
The very tips of my socks' toes were still dry when I got home this evening.
Protective do make neoprene cuffs half price in EBC sale now. Bike chain sold me some goretex socks, youncan't walk in them. Ingress still occurs and recommendation was to wrap gaffs tape round the tops on my legs. Ouch
£3.99 a pair.
my legs are worth twice that
Don't try using gaffa tape, kitchen foil and a really old pair of spd shoes to make the ultimate winter proof boot. It doesn't work, and the gaffa falls off.
It may only be me that considered this potentially feasible anyway, but just in case...
I'll stick with my rigger's boots; the toe is pointy enough to strap in and they kept my feet cosy and grippy in the worst that two winters ago could throw at them.
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