Stopping water getting into winter boots?

[AnthonyC]

Have you tried putting on rain proof overshoes, having your tights over the outside of your winter shoes but tucked inside the overshoes?

 

[andrew_s]

I find that marigold cuffs work well.
To state the obvious, the top edge has to seal against the skin of your leg*, and the bottom edge has to extend past any water entry points near the top of the boot (eg, it's common for the top of the tongue side to be lower than the main ankle top).
Longs should go over both the marigold seal and the top of the boot, which more or less means no stirrups.
* if your leg is particularly hairy, you could consider hair removal.

Most of the year, I just use SPD sandals, no socks, and everything dries out quickly once it stops raining. Most of the year extends up to last night (so far).

 

[Lozz360]

You won't - unless you wear a dry suit.

You'll get very hot pedaling away in a dry suit! I'd go for wet feet anytime (even though I have a dry suit).

 

[mythste]

I find that waterproof socks do a better job than over shoes. They go inside my waterproof tights and do a good job of keeping my little piggies warm.

I hear good things about sealskins but personally use showers pass, which passed the "lets try these in the bath" test!

Probably wouldn't work so well if you're wearing them with shorts though.

 

[SuperHans123]

I'm yet to find an over shoe that keeps water out, or my feet warm, which is why I got the winter boots. The warm bit is sorted, just need to stop the water getting in.....

Altura Attack. The ones that look like divers boots.
Pretty effective so far for me.

 

[simongt]

save yourself the 3 day drying time by packing them hard with lots of balled up newspaper. An hour or two later, remove it and re pack with fresh dry stuff. By morning your shoes will be dry inside.

Had to do same recently with my cycling shoes when \i was caught in an unexpected downpour. What amazes me about it is that in this day and age of so called scientific developments, come up with something that dries shoes out better than stuffing newspaper into them - !

 

[Ajax Bay]

come up with something that dries shoes out better than stuffing newspaper into them

Circulating air at room temperature combined with the hygroscopic properties of newspaper (a waste product which may then still be recycled) is effective, energy efficient and kind to the shoes/boots which may suffer if too much heat is applied.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Had to do same recently with my cycling shoes when \i was caught in an unexpected downpour. What amazes me about it is that in this day and age of so called scientific developments, come up with something that dries shoes out better than stuffing newspaper into them - !

It's funny isn't it, but even after something like 100 years of this method, it just works. We were taught it in the military, when your combat boots would be used in downpours all day, and yet had to be inspection ready (i.e. dried and shined) by morning. It sometimes took maybe 4 changes of paper (one every 45 mins), but even a sodden boot can be dried by that method if you can put the effort into the paper changes. A damp cycling shoe should be two paper changes and 10 mins effort.
As @Ajax Bay says, it's kind to the shoe as well. Sometimes the modern age doesn't have a better way, other than passing on the best way that passed before.

 

[grumpyoldwoman]

If you go barefoot,then you won't have this problem


Sorry,in a silly mood!

 

[AnthonyC]

Sometimes the modern age doesn't have a better way, other than passing on the best way that passed before.

That even goes for the bicycle itself!

 

[mynydd]

Well, have just invested in a pair of sealskinz socks, and have made some ankle cuffs with heavy duty black rubber gloves.....
Bet it doesn't rain for months now

 

[Slick]

Bet it does.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've not read this thread yet, but having ridden all day yesterday in continual rain, when I got off my bike with my water filled boots I l felt like this.

Some kind of gaiter is needed to keep the shins dry and cut off the source of the water that wicks down the leg methinks. I may experiment with marigolds.