Cycling UK Forum

Any advice on the best thermal socks for cycling me feet turn to ice blocks now the weather has turned especially on down hills.I have sealskinz socks and have thought about their thermal liners anyone got feedback

Which shoes do you use? I get cold feet. I found some good quality liners worked wonders in my cleated sidi shoes. And a neoprene cover when it looks like it might rain or when it's particularly cold. Then I just wear whatever socks I feel like!

Wool. Ideally nothing else in the mix. As thick as you can fit in without making your shoes tight. I run two insoles in the summer to solve a slight fit compromise. Take one out for the winter and thicker wool socks.

+1 for wool. Not only does it insulate well, it continues doing so when wet or sweaty. Also, keeping the legs warm will help keep the feet warm.

I too use wool, I luckily bought half a dozen M&S thin merino wool socks cheap, as Shimano shoes tend not to have much space in them.

I have always preferred to have two thin pairs of socks to one thick pair.

Neoprene overshoes are essential for me. They come in different thickness's.
When it is super cold and I couldnt spend more than a few hours out (we are talking ice tyres fitted and cars only on main roads, type cold) then I wear wellies with about three pairs of socks.

Extra layering and/or thicker socks work best with oversize shoes. The solution is to buy winter shoes in a looser fit, this works well for me.

Vorpal wrote:+1 for wool. Not only does it insulate well, it continues doing so when wet or sweaty. Also, keeping the legs warm will help keep the feet warm.

+1
I have a pair of MTB shoes one size too big just for winter/very cold weather,very cycle weather for me is below 5C,thin thermal liner socks and wool socks worn over them.I don't usually like neoprene overshoes as they make my feet sweat the sweat then goes cold and so do my feet but these work well for me:-
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/4 ... shoes.html
and they're waterproof.

Many threads on this previously, after many years struggling with cold feet the solution turns out to be not in the socks but in everything else you wear.

If it's cold your body shuts off circulation to the extremeties to retain core temperature and your feet get cold. I wear one pair of thick-ish socks in loose-ish shoes (good advice above) then overdress everywhere else (especially head, neck, wrists, ankles). I come back a bit sweaty (because sweat doesn't evaporate off as easily as it does in summer) but with warm feet - hooray!

Thanks for the advice will look into wool socks and oversize shoes

I use Marino wool socks but I also cut pieces of space blanket out and put these over the end of my feet then put my feet in my shoes.

They reflect heat back to your feet and they act as windstoppers. The only negative I have is they make it sound like you have crisp packets in your shoes. So good when on the bike and you don't have much walking to do.

sore thumb wrote:I use Marino wool socks but I also cut pieces of space blanket out and put these over the end of my feet then put my feet in my shoes.

They reflect heat back to your feet and they act as windstoppers. The only negative I have is they make it sound like you have crisp packets in your shoes. So good when on the bike and you don't have much walking to do.

Crisp packets would be just as good

cheese and onion or ready salted

On a more serious note 2 pairs of thinner socks can be more effective than 1 thick pair and as has been said tight shoes are not good. as they force the air out of the socks.

reohn2 wrote:

sore thumb wrote:I use Marino wool socks but I also cut pieces of space blanket out and put these over the end of my feet then put my feet in my shoes.

They reflect heat back to your feet and they act as windstoppers. The only negative I have is they make it sound like you have crisp packets in your shoes. So good when on the bike and you don't have much walking to do.

Crisp packets would be just as good

Ah, but don't conform around your toes.

One more for the wool campaign. It is my greatest improvement in foot comfort since dropping toe straps for clipless