Staying Dry

[martint235]

Hi,

I've just finished my commute into London this morning with very, very wet feet. Ok so it's raining hard I accept but does anyone have any tips on keeping feet dry?

I currently wear sealskinz mids (come up to my calf) waterproof socks with neoprene overshoes over them, fastened tightly just above my ankle. I've got a front mudguard which I'm convinced just sprays water out over my feet but can't prove this and I run 23mm Rubino racing tyres so I should hardly be throwing lots of spray around.

Should I just accept wet feet in which case I may as well wear ordinary socks cos they dry quicker? Or is there a trick I'm missing?

Ta

M

 

[upsidedown]

hi Martin, i thinkyou may have answered your own question there. I have full length tortec guards with a large flap at the bottom and rarely get wet feet. If it's a heavy downpour i will get some water in, but never completely soaked.

 

[Moodyman]

These are preventative measures, but I think you have to accept in the heaviest downpours, you will get a little wet.

 

[knonist]

Gore-Tex shoes

 

[buddha]

Agree with the gore-tex shoes. I add gore-tex 'style' socks (bought from EBC a few years ago) for extra toastiness!

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Gore-Tex shoes

... providing your waterproof over-trousers don't end up short like mine do and funnel all the water they've been keeping off your legs into the inside of the Gore-Tex shoe.

My method is to wear calf-height leather boots, which for my max 1 hour commute are waterproof in all but the heaviest rain, combined with the waterproof over-trousers...

 

[palinurus]

Even if my overshoes/ cycling shoes keep the water mostly out I still get wet socks from the water draining from my tights/legwarmers.

 

[fossyant]

Either.... buy overshoes that have a PU covering over the neoprene (looks like rubber), or cut out the bottom corners of a plastic bag and place these over your shoe toe and put overshoe on top. Should stop most of the water, but wou will get seepage from the top unles.....

In heavy downpours, waterproof over trousers help (if a little warm). Great in winter, not good in summer.

 

[martint235]

Thanks everyone. I think from the comments I'll have to put up with wet feet. i think it's a design fault with socks that they have to have a hole in the top!!!

I have got race blade mudguards on which seem to offer similar coverage to the tortec ones. I think that as my foot goes forward though it just picks up the spray from the front curve of the guard.

Boots sound like they would work but I wouldn't be able to clip into my Looks with them.

I do appreciate your comments though so thanks again. Hopefully it will be summer soon so at least it will be warm water wetting my feet!

 

[Trevrev]

I go the old fashioned route, i put my feet in pedal bin liners.
Slip them on, shoes over the top, job done.
Get to work, nice dry feet, shoes on Radiator to dry.

 

[esrite]

hello, i need some help here

i commute on a MTB (hardrock pro) which ive put slicks on and wear "waterproof" hiking trainers (i use the term "waterproof" loosely).

anyway my feet get wet when it rains heavily such as today. ive tried looking for overshoes but none fit over my size 10 feet and hiking shoes.

without getting rid of my current shoes (3 months old) can anyone suggest any ingenious ideas to keep my feet dry or it is the plastic bag approach?

thanks in advance

 

[mcshroom]

If you don't fancy the plastic bag approach. Have a look at Sealskinz socks. They usualy keep my feet dry during my commute (in non-waterproof hiking shoes). They are a pain to dry though once they do get wet.

You could also have a look at something like Military style Goretex bootliners - [link]

Finally always keep a pair of dry socks at work, just in case

 

[mikeitup]

I am always bone dry in the wet (apart from sweat). I use sealskinz socks, waterproof overshoes and waterproof over trousers. if you just wear normal trousers they get wet, the water runs down your leg into the sealskinz socks and you have to pedal with water sloshing around in them. not nice.
You can get decent overtrousers for £30-40 or so (or very expensive ones if you like) for alot more. Depends on your budget.

 

[redjedi]

I don't worry about getting wet as long as I'm warm.

I use a pair of merino wool socks and Endura Road overshoes. They don't keep my feet dry in the heavy downpours but they do keep them warm, and that's better than nothing.

 

[esrite]

does having Sealskinz socks keep your feet warm but still get leakage into the shoes?

as my shoes dont dry in time for my journey home if rains in the morning. this is my main annoyance

am considering the Boot Liners, thanks Mcshroom