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Cycling in winter is a particular challenge, especially when it comes to keeping your feet warm and dry. Whether on a gravel bike or road bike, cold and wet feet are not only unpleasant, but can also put an end to any winter ride sooner than desired. At the latest when your shoes start to tingle and your toes go numb.
From classic woollen socks to tried and tested neoprene overshoes and heated insoles, there is a wide range of products specially developed to protect against cold wind and rain or sleet showers. For cool and dry days, fur insoles and socks made from merino wool are ideal. The insoles provide excellent insulation and keep the heat inside the shoe, while merino wool is known for its warming and skin-friendly properties and good moisture regulation.
Winter shoes and socks: More than warming
If the temperatures continue to drop, heated soles with rechargeable batteries are an option, as they provide an active heat source, albeit with a slight loss of comfort, as the batteries attached to the ankle can always shake or pinch a little when pedalling. The prerequisite is, of course, that the shoe still offers enough space for the sometimes thick insoles. If the shoe is too tight, there is no more room for the insulating air and the warming effect is lost. Neoprene overshoes and waterproof oversocks are suitable for wet and cold conditions.
Neoprene overshoes provide excellent insulation and protect against wind and water. Waterproof oversocks keep your feet dry, even if water gets into your shoes. Lined overshoes with a Goretex membrane or proper winter cycling shoes can provide protection in extreme conditions, whereby the overshoe can be used more flexibly. The right combination of products depends on individual needs and the specific weather. However, the right choice and combination of these products can keep your feet warm and dry even in the harshest winter conditions, even on extended bad weather tours.
Cycling equipment for your feet in cool and dry conditions
As long as it stays dry, it is relatively easy to keep your feet warm. The prerequisite is a sufficiently thick air cushion as an insulating layer. Another tried and tested method is to create a wind barrier by wearing a wind blocker over the shoe.
Heated insole: Thermrup heated insole H1616 AKK
- Price: 75 Euro
- Sizes: One size with pattern
To ensure that the Thermrup heating soles fit perfectly into the cycling shoe, they must be cut to size with sharp scissors. You should take your time to do this so that the sole fits snugly and without slipping in the shoe. In the laboratory test, the sole warms up to 50 degrees at the highest setting and 30 degrees at the lowest. That sounds like a lot at first, but is put into perspective when sub-zero temperatures suck the heat out of the shoe.
With large feet, the heating range extends from the toes to the midfoot, with small feet it extends further to the heel. One battery charge lasts a good four hours at full load and an outside temperature of ten degrees, and the batteries are recharged after around two hours. Wiring to the batteries, which are worn in stretch gaiters over the ankle, is a little awkward, but the effort is compensated for by warm feet even on long winter rides.
Double sock: Wright Sock Adventure
- Price: 30 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: 34 to 49
The Adventure sock is actually a hiking sock and is made with two layers to prevent blisters. Used for other purposes in cycling shoes, the calf-length sock in the thick version for temperatures below ten degrees is particularly impressive with its warm fleece, good fit and terrycloth-reinforced toe and heel area. Available in two colours and also in a thinner version for temperatures above ten degrees.
Toe caps: Fizik Toe Cover
- Price: 15 Euro
- Sizes: S to L
The minimalist toe caps (Toe Cover) from Fizik are a classic for fans of slim equipment that can be quickly conjured up from a jersey pocket. Just like a heat shield protects a space capsule from burning up when re-entering the atmosphere, the windproof and flexible toe cover with a pair weight of just 34 grams saves your toes from cooling down quickly.
Wool socks: Rapha Deep Winter Socks
- Price: 35 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: S to XL
Rapha uses the natural product merino wool for the material. Thanks to its fine fibres, it is particularly dense and fluffy and has the positive side effect of being less smelly. The highlight of the long sock is a wind protection insert in the toe area to protect against draughts.
Insole: Sunbed/Barth
Sunbed
- Price: from 19,50 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: 23 to 48
The Fire model from the German manufacturer Sunbed is made of felt material with hollow fibres and the footbed is made of wax foam. A practical feature is that the insoles can be machine-washed at 30 degrees and are available in many sizes. However, as the insole is quite thick and not very flexible, the shoe should be large enough.
Barth
- Price: from 10 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: 37 to 46
Barth's insole made from real sheepskin is thinner, so the shoe it is fitted with can be correspondingly slimmer. Their Texon underlay is particularly non-slip and the insole is very affordable at a price of 10 euros.
Cycling equipment for your feet in cold and wet conditions
Moisture makes all the difference! If your feet get wet, they cool down extremely quickly. That's why they need a protective layer that repels raindrops. Membrane and impregnated outer skin act as a barrier.
Winter shoes: Northwave Celsius XC Arctic GTX
- Price: 270 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: 37-49
The best weather protection for your feet in winter is the winter shoe. We recommend the mountain bike shoe with a treaded sole because of its better walking properties on slippery surfaces. The Northwave shoe shown here was the test winner in our winter shoe test from the year before last with a score of 1.4. It scored excellent marks in the categories of waterproofness, handling, features and weight. As the boot offers a comparatively large amount of space inside, it is not too tight even with thick socks. Slipping into the shoe through the tubular shaft is best done with a shoehorn; the twist fasteners are not easy to operate with thick gloves.
Neoprene overshoe: Van Rysel overshoe road bike R500
- Price: 25 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: 36/38, 39/41, 42/44. 45,47
Neoprene overshoes as weather protection for cyclists are a classic. They offer good wind protection, keep you warm in temperatures above freezing and withstand rain and splashing water for a sufficiently long time. Our candidate from Decathlon is an attractive take-away item with a very good price-performance ratio for 25 euros; it also impresses in terms of quality. The small cuff without a zip is a little bulky when putting them on: First put it over your ankle, then put your shoes on and pull the neoprene overboot over it. To be on the safe side, instructions are printed on the label.
Winter shoes / winter overshoes: Gorewear Sleet Insulated
- Price: 100 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: S-XL
Gorewear is the expert when it comes to waterproof overshoes. In the warm winter model, the waterproof outer skin is also lined on the inside. Just right to provide sufficient warmth even at around zero degrees and not too thick, so that the overshoe does not rub against the crank. This model is also easy to put on thanks to the zip at the back, the robust toe and heel area, the comfortable upper cuff and the good visibility of strategically placed reflective strips.
Oversocks: SealSkinz Scoulton & Thetford
- Price: 46 or 50 Euro
- Sizes: S-XXL
The somewhat creased feel of the waterproof Scoulton sock from Sealskinz may be unfamiliar at first, but after a few kilometres you'll be satisfied thanks to the good warmth and moisture protection. However, you should not have sweaty feet, as the sock does not allow unlimited water vapour to escape. As the sock is relatively thick, it is advisable to try it on first with the chosen cycling shoe. If you prefer to wear a flexible sock over your shoe, you can opt for the water-repellent Thetford model from Sealskinz.
Oversocks: Gripgrab Flandrien Waterproof
- Price: 80 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: S-XL
The Flandrien model from weather protection specialist GripGrab from Denmark is the longest of the oversocks with a shaft length of 35 centimetres. The donning strategy must be correspondingly ingenious, with the sock first having to be pulled completely over the shoe and then up the leg. The outer skin allows water droplets to roll off permanently, sweat can evaporate easily and its insulation is sufficient for temperatures of five degrees plus.
Sole warmer: Thermopad
- Price: 3 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Sizes: S-XXL
Thermopads become warm as soon as they are removed from the packaging and come into contact with air. This makes the disposable insole a flexible companion that can also be inserted on the go when temperatures get too nasty. The pads are also available for gloves. As a disposable product, however, they only make limited sense.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
