Spare shoes for touring - waterproof?

[Rob D]

In the past, I've sometimes taken lightweight walking boots on tours, if I'm planning a trip into the mountains whilst touring. I like to cycle with Merrell Ventilators/MOABs. I've also taken as spares the Gore-Tex versions if no mountain trips planned. I use the waterproof shoes/boots for cycling if it gets wet. I have overshoes too, an effective combination.

But this is a heavy option! With our imminent 3.5 weeks across through N Spain, the Picos, Santiago and Portugal, I'm wondering if I can get away with maybe just the Ventilators? It's a pretty wet part of the world and I hate wet feet...

I have a very light pair of running shoes, so taking those would at least give me something dry to use at the end of the day. I could also take a pair of Sealskin socks.

What do others do?

[simonineaston]

Crocs (sox optional...) got a lot going for them except the material isn't quite up to long term use, pedalling...

[Rob D]

I should add, we're camping, sometimes wild, occasional WS and other accom.

[LittleGreyCat]

For day rides I wear waterproof socks with normal trainers.
No worry about waterproof or non-waterproof shoes and feet stay dry.
I haven't toured for a few years but see no reason not to use this strategy.

[Rob D]

Thanks Simon and LGC. I'm considering Crocs, but not sure how I'd get on if, say, we want to walk into town for a meal. I've used them for river crossings and exploring wet mines but not much more.

The Sealskins seem a good option, indeed, negating the need for that 2nd pair.

[Jdsk]

No good solution here. I'm afraid, but I'm interested in how others approach it.

The bike I use for touring and currently just about everything else has one-sided SPD MTB fittings. I wear Shimano MT34s (and would like advice on what to buy next). They have very good recesses for the cleats and I can walk on marble floors without fear. Rarely I wear them all day at work or similar, but usually I have another pair of shoes in the (left rear) pannier.

For touring the only other shoes that I carry are robust synthetic sandals. They're worn on campsites, for watersports and into town for the meal. If I have to I can flip the pedals the wrong way and up and cycle in them. If the main shoes fail I can buy a pair of shoes and flip the pedals and cycle in them.

But this isn't an adequate solution for walking in the hills. For day trips I carry the walking boots or shoes in the pannier and then have to put the cycling shoes in the rucksack if there isn't someone else's convenient car boot.

Hmmmm...

My wife uses flat pedals with plastic toe shovels and whatever shoes she wants, including walking shoes....

Jonathan

PS: Have fun in the Picos. Magnificent country.

[Nearholmer]

Sealskins socks work, but bear in mind that they amount to a plastic bag between two thin socks, so have absolutely no “breathability”. I use them in the wettest bits of winter (spring/autumn) in the UK, but I’m not sure I’d like to wear them for a prolonged period in a warming, humid climate.

In the summer, I wear very ventilated shoes (Giro Rumble) and lightweight synthetic cycling socks, which combination doesn’t keep water out at all, but does dry very quickly - I did a ten-day bike ramble a couple of summers ago when it rained on-and-off every day, some days hours of rain at a time, and with some major thunderstorm downpours, and that seemed to work.

[Cyclewala]

I use spd shoes for cycling and sliders for showering/campsite/evening wear.

I want one item with multiple uses. But I don’t envisage doing any major walking. For that, you might want rubberised sole spd’s. Bit like the now off-sale Shimano MT42. They’re stiff enough for pedalling and flexible enough for sightseeing/walking.

[roubaixtuesday]

IMO spds don't make sense touring; they're never actually any use for walking and it's a huge amount of volume to take up for what makes a marginal difference to cycling.

Current route I have all terrain sandals and trainers, plus waterproof socks. I don't have overshoes.

If I was going to do some serious walking I'd take proper walking shoes rather than trainers.

Almost all the time I wear just the sandals on and off the bike. Excellent when raining, no drying required.
Trainers only used for cold weather or if doing something more like a mountain walk.

[Paulatic]

I can’t envisage carrying another pair of shoes no matter how light they are. I carry waterproof socks in case of a deluge. Rarely used but not too heavy and need little space to carry.

[pjclinch]

But this is a heavy option! With our imminent 3.5 weeks across through N Spain, the Picos, Santiago and Portugal, I'm wondering if I can get away with maybe just the Ventilators? It's a pretty wet part of the world and I hate wet feet...

Lots of people say they hate wet feet... but I think what is mostly meant is they hate cold, wet feet in rubbing socks and shoes (otherwise baths and showers and swimming would be nightmares!)

If I'm taking any spare footwear it's usually light sandals, and contrary to a lot of Received Wisdom that's actually okay for a lot of walking, including mountains. Not good if you'll be scrambling with foot jams, obviously, and they suck on fine scree, but where there's a path they're usually fine. I've potted lots of Munros in Tevas.

Walking boots are a bit of a sacred cow. The oft-touted ankle support is (unless you've got an ankle injury) a red herring: our ankles have evolved to be entirely capable of walking without extra support, and ankles generally only need support if they're doing something outside usual spec, like trying to edge skis on ice or front-point up winter climbs. These days you'll find lots of people in the hills in trainers, and as long as they have a decent outsole designed for the job they're typically fine. Because they're very light and flexible with nothing much to rub they're not actually much of an issue wet, once you're past the first 10 seconds or so.
For more reassurance see https://www.christownsendoutdoors.com/2 ... twear.html.

I generally tour in Shimano SD5 SPuD sandals if I'm predominantly on roads in reasonably warm temperatures. Sealskinz socks if it's unseasonally chilly, but I don't mind getting wet feet in them because it's just water and there's no socks to be wet for ages. Once it stops raining they dry straight out. They're not as good for walking as my Tevas, but they're fine for a few miles.

Pete.

[pjclinch]

Sealskins socks work, but bear in mind that they amount to a plastic bag between two thin socks, so have absolutely no “breathability”.

The "plastic bag" is a microporous liner which uses the same principles as other microporous liners (e.g. Goretex) so it very much is breathable, but with the usual caveats that they can't defy the laws of physics.
Breathable waterproof fabrics need a positive vapour pressure to "breathe" and they won't allow liquid water to pass, so if they're actually wet inside that will have to evaporate before it can go, and if the outside is saturated you're very unlikely to get enough vapour pressure to get anything through what is effectively a wall of liquid water.

So don't expect miracles, but on the other hand if you compare cycling for any distance in Sealskinz (or similar) to actual plastic bags I'm fairly confident you'll notice a clear comfort difference, just as you'd fine a difference riding in a Goretex jacket to something with an impermeable PU coat. But as with Goretex, if you assume they're as wonderful as the marketing suggests you will be disappointed.

Also note that when the outer is saturated they'll allow a lot of heat to get conducted, so though warmer than plain wet socks they're not as warm as you might expect. For warmth you're better off keeping an air gap and that means putting the waterproof layer further out than right next to your foot.

In the summer, I wear very ventilated shoes (Giro Rumble) and lightweight synthetic cycling socks, which combination doesn’t keep water out at all, but does dry very quickly - I did a ten-day bike ramble a couple of summers ago when it rained on-and-off every day, some days hours of rain at a time, and with some major thunderstorm downpours, and that seemed to work.

I tend to adopt a similar tactic, but there are niche days when I'll use my Sealskinz.

Pete.

[Nearholmer]

if you compare cycling for any distance in Sealskinz (or similar) to actual plastic bags I'm fairly confident you'll notice a clear comfort difference

I only graduated to sealskins last winter, having previously used …… a plastic bag between two thin pairs of socks. TBH, the only major difference I’ve noticed is that they fit better!

But, I’m sure you’re right.

[LittleGreyCat]

I wear something like4 this:
https://showerspass.co.uk/products/cros ... classic-fx
Mine are bright yellow, though.

[AndyB1]

Is N Spain wet at this time of year? If it is, at least the rain will be warm! Personally I use plastic toe clips so I can cycle in flat bottomed shoes that I can walk in, and I take Merrell ‘adventure’ open sandals that I could pedal in (but normally don’t) - but I can walk in them, even up hills, and they are good in the morning dew. Just be careful not to get the top of your feet sunburnt through the holes.