Absolutely freezing feet – help

I have posted before – went out last night with a group. It was cold – but other than my head, I was well covered.
I have cold feet issues – so in the winter, I ride with a pair of Keen waterproof boots on and flat pedals ( all industrial grade cycle specific boots seem to be SPD). They are fine and work well.
But I feet become blocks of ice – completely numb. It starts about 20 minutes into the ride ( and by the end of two hours I can’t feel a thing). Merino wool socks ( admittedly the On-One versions).
The outside of the boots got wet – so there would have been chill factor involved – but my feet were dry, socks were dry.
I will go back to plastic bags and two pairs of socks – there is a suggestion of sealskinz – but not sure how they will help if my feet are not wet. There is always roady style neoprene covers – but they will get wet from puddles etc.
I am a diabetic in remission – is the foot circulation likely to be something to do with that?
Any help much appreciated..
Thanks

You need roadie-style neoprene covers; I use them occasionally on the road bike and used to use them a lot on the mountain bike. They are awkward to put on and remove and your feet will get a little sweaty but they do work. The other thing is not to over-tighten your shoes compressing the socks and reducing blood supply.

I suffer from poor circulation which makes my feet v cold. One thing that helped me was getting shoes a size up from what I usually wear, and making sure the laces are very slack, so my feet have lots of room to move

Was hoping for some more suggestions and this doesn’t help much but I started this thread on the best way to wear overshoes with flats if you do go down that route. On overshoes, some soak up water much more easily than others so it’s not necessarily a problem e.g. the PlanetX £10 ones are the kind of uncoated neoprene which holds water out for around 20 seconds but then they take no time at all to put on so are great for short commutes.

Overshoes for flat pedals – butchering “normal” ones?

You don’t mention what’s on your legs and core (and arms and head).

There’s a lot of blood being pumped down your legs, if they’re not insulated then that blood is getting cold which has two impacts, 1 it can’t do anything to keep your feet warm if it’s already cold. 2 your body reduces the blood supply to protect itself from the cold bits.

Roadie style roubaix bib-longs and waterpoof shorts to keep the wind off them will make a lot more difference than any number of pairs of socks IME.

Same applies to the rest of your body, you need to be comfortably warm. Which means nice insulating (but wicking/breathable as appropriate) layers under a windstopper outer layer. If you’re on the cold side of comfortable then your body has to do something to correct that and won’t send blood to your feet. Avoid materials that soak up moisture (e.g. lycra) over the winter, polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene all repel water which makes them great for winter clothing as they won’t end up a soggy sweaty mess that chills you as soon as you stop moving. Leave the summer jerseys for summer. They make poor base layers and even poorer outer layers.

I have cold feet issues – so in the winter, I ride with a pair of Keen waterproof boots on and flat pedals ( all industrial grade cycle specific boots seem to be SPD).

TBH the availability of really good winter boots are an underappreciated reason to go to SPD’s.

I will go back to plastic bags and two pairs of socks – there is a suggestion of sealskinz – but not sure how they will help if my feet are not wet.

I’ve got the aldi versions (which TBH I much prefer). At a basic level they’re just really good socks. And being mostly man made water repellent materials they don’t trap moisture. The waterproof membrane is a bonus. Merino is great, as long as your other layers are perfectly balanced. If you’re sweaty it gets wet and cold, the claim it stays warm when wet is to be frank bollocks, maybe if your comparison is cotton. Conversely too few layers and it’s certainly not windproof.

It’s been mentioned above, but make sure there’s room in your boots for you feet to move a bit, sizing up is a good idea. Also, a pair of silk socks next to the skin works well (get them on ebay).

Again, as above, key is to make sure the rest of you is warm , especially your legs; as someone elsewhere put it, your radiators aren’t going to be war, if you don’t lag your pipes. I wear Shimano winter boots, a pair of silk socks under a pair of Mountain Warehouse merino hiker socks (they’re calf length, so keeping the bottom of my legs warm), under windproof long tights.

The boots are not overly tight ( and have a bit toe box, so toes can move) but laces can be loosened.
I was wearing some running tights with a fleecy liner , then shorts on top. My feet didn’t get wet , but my arse did … so core temp may contribute.
I was not wearing anything as a layer between my head an helmet – but that will be corrected next time.
Body had a merino wool cycling top, thick fleece and a windproof jacket.
Hands had On =-One lobster claw gloves which were toasty warm ….

There’s a few tips in here, as someone who suffers cold feet, the tin foil trick has helped in the past.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/video-how-to-survive-winter-mountain-bike-rides.html

Last week I was on a winter cycling training camp (by winter we are talking Alaska, Lapland type temps) so the following takeaways.

1. Don’t constrict the circulation in your shoes/boots. Go up one or two shoe sizes to give you room.
2. Extra cover on your arms and legs to keep blood flowing to the extremities. Less on your core as that’s easier to moderate overall temperature. Gaiters help for lower leg, combined with 3/4 length overtrousers they’ll keep wind and rain off you but won’t be too restrictive as full length overtrousers.
3. Don’t create a bottleneck of insulation at the top of your boots with two pairs of socks AND full length tights. Everything needs to work together.
4. Keep your insulation dry. However consider using a Vapour Barrier Layer (VBL) system – the thin liner sock gets damp but the main insulating socks stay dry.
5. Have a warm jacket you can put on immediately you stop for any reason. This should be big enough to go over all your existing clothes so you don’t have to take anything off to use it. You’ve created that heat – don’t lose it!

It wasn’t that cold on the camp, -2C or so but with 40km/h winds plus stronger gusts. I’d one pair of wool mix socks and had comfy warm feet.

You’ve got two feet so you can try different strategies on each foot to compare.

I used to suffer with slight numbness of the feet in summer and cold feet in the winter. I picked up some of the specialized insoles which helped. In the winter I also then stopped wearing two pairs of socks which were restricting blood flow IMO and made sure my knees were covered and warm.

Unless you were a seriously bad diabetic then its unlikely to contribute!… those aldi merino socks are great… wriggle room for toes is vital… 3/4 waterproof shorts are brilliant…. buffs on head and neck…. if you’re not using spds (luddite 🙄) what about some proper walking boots?

cycle specific boots seem to be SPD).

TBH the availability of really good winter boots are an underappreciated reason to go to SPD’s.

Or, an underappreciated mystery why no manufacturers cater for flat pedal users seemingly. Can’t see myself ever going spd, but it would be nice to be able to get a shoe with similar weather repellent qualities, or at least a walking style boot with a decent flat pedal sole.

Op, yeah size up, and get some tights to keep your legs really warm.

Old roadie trick – foil crisp packets as extra layer between socks and shoes. Eat crisps first!

The On One merinos aren’t warm enough for freezy rides IME.

I wear Defeet Woolie Boolies in the cold. And as above, make sure there’s enough room in your boots.

Maybe try putting tinfoil under the insole too?

A friend of mine has terrible cold feet. He has battery powered heated insoles. They suit him fine.

My solution to this is gore tex socks ( warmer than woolly ones IMO), shoes with plenty of room in them and as your feet start to get cold start pulling up consciously on the cleats which gets the circulation going. I think part of the issue is your feet effectively stay still thus you do not get the muscle pump which helps circulation. Over tight shoes also restrict circulation. Also make sure your core is a bit too warm – thus you dilate all your peripheral blood vessels to get more heat loss

I do not buy the ” blood gets cold in your legs” argument – blood flowing down the arteries to your feet is encased in the muscle and only spends a few seconds on its journey. I think its down to restricted circulation in your feet

Sealskinz. They don’t just keep out the water, they have the best thermal insulation of any sock or overshoe I have tried.

As above, sealskinz work a treat for me with whatever choice of sock underneath.

I don’t particularly suffer from cold feet but they are noticeably warmer if I wear knee warmers under my winter tights (same for hands and arm warmers).

I’m on blood thinners and also suffer from cold feet if I don’t dress properly. Let’s assume you’re otherwise dressed suitably:

First problem: There’s a ruddy great heatsink you place your feet on. I use old-fashioned track pedals instead of flats for this reason (and also because they don’t clog up with mud/slush). This works best with a shoe or boot with some tread.

Second problem: Lots of boots are also heatsinks. They may be waterproof, but the linings absorb sweat and then get cold. Especially boots with “warm” linings – these are good for one or two rides, but once you’ve sweated in them they’re done because you can’t remove the lining. Unless I am likely to be wading through ankle deep water I’ll pick a shoe in preference.

Third problem: The fit of your footwear. Insulation depends on the tiny air gaps, so if your socks are tight or your footwear is tight, then these air gaps are going to be compressed, and the insulating value of your boot or socks will be greatly reduced.

When it’s really cold I wear Keen sandals. There’s minimal lining, and any water that gets in, also gets out. With them I wear a liner sock (usually a wicking summer cycling type) and SealSkinz. The benefit of the sandal is it can be adjusted to fit neatly but not tightly, so multiple socks can be worn (or not).

This works well and I have tested the set up by breaking ice and standing in a pool of freezing water until my feet got cold, then walking around for a few minutes by which point my feet had warmed up.

The problem with sandals is there is very little foot protection from impacts, so it’s only good for riding in places where you’re not likely to hit a rock. However for fording creeks, going through bogs, it is good. This system is what I wear in the StrathPuffer when it is sub-zero and in snow and sleet conditions.

BTW no amount of insulation will keep you warm if your body is not generating heat. So if you’re feeling tired or cold, eat and have a warm drink.

The On One merinos aren’t warm enough for freezy rides IME.

I wear Defeet Woolie Boolies in the cold. And as above, make sure there’s enough room in your boots.

Prepared to try anything …
But On-One (not known for consistent quality) are 69% merino wool
Woolie Boolie are 49% merino wool

So thickness may come into it – but why are WB the solution?

I do not buy the ” blood gets cold in your legs” argument – blood flowing down the arteries to your feet is encased in the muscle and only spends a few seconds on its journey. I think its down to restricted circulation in your feet

I’m not 100% sure I buy it either, but if your calves are cold then all the blood vessels locally to them will be contracting and limit the bloodflow to your legs. So regardless of the mechanism the net effect is the same.

Certainly works on my arms, with a decent thermal jersey on I can get away with summer gloves until it starts raining.

try these Foot warmers

I suffer from very cold feet, to the point of permanent damage on one toe. I started using these last winter, and they work pretty well – after a few hours, my feet will be cold but still with some feeling in them. They are small, but I wrap them over the front of my toes, rather then just on the soles of my feet.
Try them, they might work for you, and if not, it’s only a couple of quid

Extra cover on your arms and legs to keep blood flowing to the extremities. Less on your core as that’s easier to moderate overall temperature.

I would say the opposite. For me what works is warm gloves/socks, winter boots, arms and legs covered, something on my head, possibly a buff around my neck, but with an additional warm layer on my core. My core gets hot and pushes the warm blood out to my arms/hands and legs/feet. In the unlikely event I get too warm I open the zip of my jacket.

I used to ride in a base layer, merino layer then windproof and always had cold hands/feet. I swapped the base layer for a second merino layer and it fixed it down to around 3°C. Colder than that and I use thicker/warmer merino layers. Avoid anything that’s too tight, you want a bit of air between the layers to hold the warmth. Snug not tight works for me.

Knee length merino socks over long tights to keep the blood warm on the way down to the feet helps me immensely. That and a half size larger shoes, shoe covers for road or winter boots.

My feet generally keep warm, but some less fortunate friends have worn a thick wool sock over their shoes with a wind and waterproof overshoe on top. It gives an another layer of insulation without compressing it all between your feet and the shoe. You’ll have to cut a cleat hole into the sock.

I’ve only skimmed most of the posts so this may have already been said, but what pedals are you using. Its been mentioned on other threads that plastic flats are better for keeping feet warm.

merino wool socks and seal skinz socks over the top pulled up halfway over my calfs
fleece lined leggings over the socks and bib shorts underneath
a pair of cheap Karrimore hiking trainers from Sports direct appx £30
and best bit is the cheap neoprene mtb overshoes I bought from Halfords. Not only do they keep my feet really warm, my trainers stay dry(ish) and clean even in all the winter mud and riding through floods.

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cycling-clothing/cycling-shoes/ridge-overshoes

A good base layer & jacket also helps – for crying out loud put a buff on yer head! and one around your neck if you feel the need, I find it really helps to keep ma face warm 🙂

When they go numb or close to, get off the bike and walk for a bit and the feeling/circulation will come back. No need to ride for hours with frozen feet.

When they go numb or close to, get off the bike and walk for a bit and the feeling/circulation will come back. No need to ride for hours with frozen feet.

plastic flats are better for keeping feet warm.

Yes, metal cleats and pedals are a really effective heat sink, cause of 90% of the problem imo.

I use happy hot feet heated insoles. They do help (as long as you start with warm shoes). They only last about two hours though (at least my ones do). I’m still trying to solve my cold feet problem but they do make it less bad.

@whitestone – agree (and I’ve been evangelising about this for a while):

It wasn’t that cold on the camp, -2C or so but with 40km/h winds plus stronger gusts. I’d one pair of wool mix socks and had comfy warm feet.

Walkers have had it right for years. When it’s chock freezing I wear my Merrel walking shoes (hard soled for) and I always use Brigdale Merino Blend socks.

Happy even when they get wet down to freezing temps.

Fat-boy-fat – how do they fair if you get a shoe full of water?

Had a quick look on their site but can’t see anywhere in mentions waterproofness…

Si

Just going to try some fisherman’s neoprene socks .
And will wander down to Halford an buy some shoe covers….

Re Sealskinz – there is a brand called otter socks. Cheaper – but rubbish ?? I would pay anything for warm feet. But off the 40 quid for a pair of socks seems astonishing… plastic bags would be cheaper … and may show if it is going to work.

Knee high sealskinz are worth every penny.

As above, plenty room in your shoes and good warm socks, you need to keep moving your feet.

When running, I never, ever get cold feet, cos there’s constant movement, even in sub zero wet hill races, feet are always toasty.

Sandals? You’re mental Brian. 👨‍🎤😂

I suffer from poor circulation which makes my feet v cold. One thing that helped me was getting shoes a size up from what I usually wear, and making sure the laces are very slack, so my feet have lots of room to move

All my winter shoes are a size up or 1.5 …. pair of nice warm socks under waterproof but unless you leave the extra room they just end up colder (if you get cold feet)

+1 for the foot warmers mentioned above. I stocked up at Christmas on the HotHands foot warmers. I have some damaged nerves in my left foot and my toes go cold pretty easily. I wear a pair of Bridgedale coolmax socks then a foot warmer stuck to the bottom of the sock then some merino wool socks from mountain warehouse. I use Shimano MW7’s which have loads of wriggle room. Not that we’ve had that much freezing weather here yet ( South Yorkshire) but I’ve not had any problems at all so far this winter. The foot warmers need a massage every 3 or so hours and it seems to reactivate them.
Regarding neoprene socks. I tried some that were for sailing, quite thin with a silver lining, ok to start with but they made my feet sweat which once cold wasn’t nice. Took them off and rode home with no socks and my feet were warmer!!!.
I also made some ghetto insoles from some thin laminate floor liner. Foil on one side stuck to thin layer of insulation.
This stuff
https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-5mm-extruded-polystyrene-foam-laminate-solid-wood-flooring-underlay-panels/1570774_BQ.prd

One thing I forgot (and no-one else has mentioned) is hydration and nutrition.

Are you eating and drinking enough? Something substantial one to two hours before starting the ride then something every thirty minutes or so. If what you are eating isn’t a sports gel then you’ll need to drink as well to aid absorption.

As @Nobeerinthefridge says, getting movement in your feet also helps. Wiggle and scrunch your toes every minute or so to encourage blood flow.

@teamslug – those chemical hand and foot warmers need oxygen to work which is why the “massage” works.

A few things that I’ve tried that work for me.
A later of tinfoil underneath the insoles of shoes.
Front of the foot wrapped in more tinfoil.
2 pairs of thin socks not 1 pair of thick. (for what it’s worth, I think the On-One socks are fine, very warm for the money).
Overshoes. Though they’re not great on flat pedals.
Do think about your lower legs as well, my mate swears by runnings calf sleezes like these as they keep lower legs warm and provide another layer to block any water. Same principle for hands, he also swears by cheap sweatbands on his wrists.
And yes, keep your head warm, a simple roadie cap is often enough, this is super warm if you get really cold.

Nobeerinthefridge
Sandals? You’re mental Brian.

Nah, just like to put ideas to the test. This one works.

Sandals packed with snow

Crack the ice open and immerse foot in some nice refreshing icy water until foot feels cold.

Sandal now free from snow

Go for a walk in the snow

Foot warms up quite quickly.

This system is good enough for soloing in a 24hr ‘Puffer back when we used to get proper weather and I actually used to manage to stay in one piece for the whole race. 🙂