I use Bridgedale thermal sock liners, SealSkinz socks and waterproof boots.
As long as my cycling trousers or tights pull down over the top of the boots my feet stay warm & dry
'Heat holder socks' are great, but you'll need the thinner kind. I wear my walking boots with flats, loosely laced up, also a merino cap (with ear flaps) under the helmet.
Northwave Arctic Goertex bootsI've got a roadie and an MTB pair. Run them with either thick wooly socks (actually snowboarding socks) if it's just cold and some sealskins (mid calf length) and some thin thermal socks underneath if it's wet.
Good down to about -15. And wading through snow.
Have poured a cup full of steaming hot sweat/rain water out of my boots at the end of a long, slightly sub zero road ride in the rain before now.
The one use chemical toe or glove warmers are good as well, put on top of toes .
I found some "winter boots" too hot ,so my feet sweated then got very cold. Just like bad sweaty gloves. For really cold i use neoprene over shoes, for semi cold or shorter rides neoprene toe thingies to keep wind off and so much easier to just leave them on spd shoes.
If it frosty/ icy and less risk of water (road/gravel) i choose a fluffier knee length sock.
For wet or know i will go through puddles etc the knee length sealskin are good as well.
Another bit of a pain was some winter boots were thicker souled so messed up saddle height for commuting with and another.bit of faff to deal with.
So tend to keep my normal shoes all year round.
I have drffted away from flat pedals again but can see there advantages in some winter scenarios.
>> I was always under the impression that Merino is supposed to act as an insulator even when wet
Woolie boolie (and in summer wooleator) fan here. I think they definitely do work to insulate while wet but wool can't work miracles. What I do find impressive is I often have no idea if my feet are wet until I take my shoes off - wool socks can be pretty soaked through and not feel it. Obviously at the point theres water sloshing about in your shoes you've gone beyond that point.
I was put riding through snow (and slush) for about 4 hours at minus 2C yesterday. Had on my Columbia boots and knee-length Sealskinz with a pair of lycra tights and thin waterproof trousers (I was in a fatbike sans mudguards so protection from backsplash is important 😉) Toes were just fine. Hands were toasty too as I was using pogies. TBH I'd have stayed out longer but I'd arranged to go out for a couple of beers.
just back from a 3 hour jaunt using my new columbias. thin m&s socks. feet toasty.
Do the OP & repliers have Raynaud's syndrome? Dead, white fingers and toes at the slightest hint of cold? If so, you will find it tricky to layer your way out of it. Many of my surfing & MTB buddies have it, and there is a licensed medicine routinely prescribed to relieve those symptoms. Entirely legit and inexplicably ignored in conversations about cold extremities.
It's Nifedipine 5 mg. Not suitable for everyone; your GP will be able to advise, but it will be a gamechanger for those with Raynaud's. You can read more about that on SRUK's page here:
removed link
The problem with all winter boots and seal skinz socks is the water runs down your calves and into your shoe. Best thing have found is condoms on your feet, no actually I mean those velotoze rubber over shoe protectors, they form a seal against your skin so no water gets in from the top. I have worn these on multiple long distance rides and 24hr MTB. Water does eventually seep up from the bottom but its slow so you stay warm.
GripGrab gaiters also work - and tend to last longer than the cut-off Marigolds 😊
