Anyone commute in hiking boots?

[nightoff]

I currently commute in converse pumps. With the mornings a bit chillier I also wear my Aldi overshoes. Still my feet are cold.

I don't use SPDs or wish to use them so am looking for some decent footwear to commute in. They must stand upto cold and wet weather for the winter.

Proper waterproof winter cycle shoes cost a fortune so I was wondering if anyone can suggest a good value alternative. I can only think of something like hiking boots.

My current commute is 7.5 miles each way so I need to keep warm and dry for about 25 minutes.

 

[Alien8]

I wore hiking boots, on flats, for a 12-mile each way commute when we had snow earlier in the year.

However, that was cold, but not particularly wet, weather.

I'm not sure how good it would have been in a downpour - I imagine it wouldn't have taken very long for rain to run inside from down my legs.

I guess it depends if you'll be wearing some sort of tights/over-trousers that will stop rain getting in the top.


Of course they'd also need to be comfortable and not rub on the cranks.

 

[Norm]

Thinking a little bit laterally, how about changing the socks rather than the boots?

£30 on, for instance, a pair of Seal Skinz socks and you can keep wearing the Converse.

 

[nightoff]

Thinking a little bit laterally, how about changing the socks rather than the boots?

£30 on, for instance, a pair of Seal Skinz socks and you can keep wearing the Converse.

My office has a relaxed dress code so I wear the converse all day. I would rather have waterproof outer wear so I can wear them at work.

When it rains now I put a carrier bag between the shoe and overshoe which is a faff.

 

[potsy]

Thinking a little bit laterally, how about changing the socks rather than the boots?

£30 on, for instance, a pair of Seal Skinz socks and you can keep wearing the Converse.

£30

if I ever spend that on a pair of socks you have permission to punch me norm

 

[John the Monkey]

I use a pair of Hi-Tec waterproof hiking boots when I ride the Brompton in winter.


Snow Brompton by John the Monkey, on Flickr

They were fine, although I went to two pairs of socks too because of the cold. The boots cost me about £40, iirc.

 

[Panter]

Decathlon (as always!) do some very good waterproof hiking boots.

I've only used them a few times on the MTB in Winter (I generally wear SPD's) when playing around with flats but I found them to be very good.
They were IRO £30.00 I think

 

[nightoff]

JTM, the Hi-Tec boots look ok. What model do you have and how is the waterproofing?

I am looking at about the £40 mark.

This commuting lark is getting expensive. I calculated in the spring that a year commuting by bike would save about £500. I must have spent not far off that on equipment not including the bike. Hopefully I will see some savings next year as I have most of the stuff I need.

 

[John the Monkey]

JTM, the Hi-Tec boots look ok. What model do you have and how is the waterproofing?

Mine are these;
http://www.hi-tec.co...otrek-mens.html

Also had a pair called the Quebec, which sadly they don't make anymore. Waterproofing, ime, is fine - mine leak once I wear through the soles before they leak through the uppers! (Bear in mind my Brompton commute is short though, in the region of 3 1/2 miles / 15 mins or so).

EDIT: Panter is on to something if you have a decathlon near you though - their kit's usually v good.

 

[gaz]

A decent pair of waterproof overshoes only cost around £25.
Let me guess you dont have full mudguards?

 

[nightoff]

Thanks for the reply Panter.

I think there is a Decathlon about 25 miles from me. I might take a trip this weekend and have a look at their products.
Also seen a review for Hi-Tec Altitude IV which appear to get good reviews in the budget range.
Not too bothered what these look like as any hiking boots would look a bit daft on the end of winter tight wrapped chicken legs.

 

[nightoff]

A decent pair of waterproof overshoes only cost around £25.
Let me guess you dont have full mudguards?

I have Crud Road Racer guards on my road bike. The winter beater has full guards though. Just waiting for the gritters before I mothball the road bike.

My experience with overshoes is they are good whilst they last. Unfortunately they don't last long before I either bust the zip or split them. Incidently, the Aldi ones are the worst I have owned in terms of keeping feet dry.

 

[gaz]

I have Crud Road Racer guards on my road bike. The winter beater has full guards though. Just waiting for the gritters before I mothball the road bike.

My experience with overshoes is they are good whilst they last. Unfortunately they don't last long before I either bust the zip or split them. Incidently, the Aldi ones are the worst I have owned in term of keeping feet dry.

I use the endura road overshoe which is waterproof. Over a years use and it is still working fine.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Listening to you lot, reminds me of why I moved here.

It's never that cold and when it rains it's so heavy that you can't walk in it, let alone cycle in it.

 

[skudupnorth]

Hiking trainers for me with sealskinz socks when it's cold and wet.Rode to Cornwall with them and had no problems.