numb tootsies! what winter socks?

MB Lacey · 23-11-2012 09:24AM #1

First morning of numb toes this morning.
In the overshoes thread someone recommended these Castelli Gregge 12 merino socks for warmth, I'm going to order some today.

Anyone else have any winter sock recommendations whilst I have the c/c out :rolleyes:

(I don't have cycling shoes, so overshoes is not really an option).

Thanks

MB Lacey · 23-11-2012 09:31AM

actually forget that, I can't order the above because they only have small/ medium left..
Which might be a good thing as this reviewer not happy at all with merino socks
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=60168

topcat77 · 23-11-2012 09:42AM

Sealskinz

http://www.sealskinz.com/socks?gclid=CMuy4rDm5LMCFZE_4QodCnYApQ

MB Lacey · 23-11-2012 09:54AM

topcat77 wrote: »

Sealskinz

http://www.sealskinz.com/socks?gclid=CMuy4rDm5LMCFZE_4QodCnYApQ

They look good, but they're €40 :eek: x 6 for each day of the week I cycle = €240.
Maybe one pair as a christmas present.

I should mention my budget would be about €70 for 6 pairs or something - and that seems steep said out loud, but I dont want to waste money on tat either, so see it as an investment in toasty toes..

ford2600 · 23-11-2012 09:59AM

One pair of sealskins, wear cheap socks underneath. Change them daily.
Less washing the better sealskins, and a low temperature wash at that.

Getting a new pair myself for Christmas!

MB Lacey wrote: »

They look good, but they're €40 :eek: x 6 for each day of the week I cycle = €240.
Maybe one pair as a christmas present.

I should mention my budget would be about €70 for 6 pairs or something - and that seems steep said out loud, but I dont want to waste money on tat either, so see it as an investment in toasty toes..

DirkVoodoo · 23-11-2012 10:08AM

Sorted:

DHB Merino Socks

Ole Rodrigo · 23-11-2012 10:10AM

Merino wool. Try two pairs + neoprene overshoes on really cold days.

Rocketpocket · 23-11-2012 10:35AM

http://www.galibiervelo.com/

Lumen · 23-11-2012 10:45AM

ror_74 wrote: »

Merino wool. Try two pairs + neoprene overshoes on really cold days.

FWIW I found those socks a bit short to wear with overshoes - the tops/zips of the overshoes come above the sock and rub against the skin.

smacl · 23-11-2012 10:45AM

ror_74 wrote: »

Merino wool. Try two pairs + neoprene overshoes on really cold days.

What he said. You don't need cycling shoes to use overshoes, they're fine with runners though may not stretch over hobnail boots*. I splashed out on a pair of sealskinz socks and reckon they're a waste of money. Merino socks are good, but make sure you're not too tight in your shoes afterwards, as this impairs circulation and leaves you colder as a result. In winter, I use one pair of liner socks, one pair of heavier socks, and BBB neoprene overshoes.

For the cold weather, if you can stomach a bit of warm porridge before you head out, I reckon it makes a huge difference.

*My sister cycles in hiking boots in the cold weather with toe clips, takes all sorts!

codie · 23-11-2012 11:07AM

I got some decent merino socks in TK max last week at a good price.

Seweryn · 23-11-2012 12:45PM

How about a pair of winter shoes ? Cheaper than the sealskins.
I use these and can recommend them.

doozerie · 23-11-2012 12:47PM

I've found DeFeet Woolie Boolie merino socks to be very good and reasonably priced too. I use them for my commute all year round and because I change out of them when I get to work and when I get home, I can use the same socks over several days without any issues.

The shoes I use on my road bike are a snugger fit. The Woolie Boolie's would probably work with them, I've not tried, but I have a pair of DeFeet Wooleators which are also (largely) merino but they are thinner, and these have worked well for me in cold weather combined with overshoes. I also have a pair of Assos Early Winter socks which I think may be merino too (and are actually close to the thickness of the Woolie Boolie's) and I'ved used these with overshoes on the road bike for a few winters now and they are great too.

manwithaplan · 23-11-2012 12:53PM

I have a couple of pairs of the DeFeet Woolie Boolies and, coupled with overshoes, they do the trick for me on the coldest rides. I wear them with my road shoes with no problem. They really last too, unlike merino base layers which seem to disintegrate quicker than I would expect, even when only hand washed in lukewarm water.

doozerie · 23-11-2012 01:15PM

@manwithaplan, I've had bad experiences with some merino stuff (Patagonia, Planet-X, On-one) in the past, which fell apart or just degraded over time. Since then I've found DeFeet (socks, gloves), ChocolateFish (base layers, beanies, buffs, boxers), and Rapha (base layers, boxers, socks) merino stuff to last very well washing them in the washing machine on the synthetic cycle (30C) with either Woolite or Assos cleaner. ChocolateFish actually specifically recommend Dri-Pak Liquid Soap Flakes, which is apparently readily available in Tesco in the UK but not here - they specifically advise against using regular soap flakes.

Some of the issues I've had in the past have likely related to how I've washed stuff (regular machine cycle at 40C), what I've used (soap flakes), and the quality of the merino stuff to start with. My current merino stuff is much better quality and has proved much better value despite being more expensive to buy initially.

MB Lacey · 23-11-2012 01:27PM

Thanks all, great to get reviews from experience rather than ordering cold.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Sorted:

DHB Merino Socks

going to order a pair plus the DeFeet Woolie Boolie's 2 others mentioned.

ror_74 wrote: »

Merino wool. Try two pairs + neoprene overshoes on really cold days.

They're doing 3 pairs for €45, I have siblings in london, going to ask them to go into the rapha shop and get me some for chrimbo (avoids me paying p&p

)

Rocketpocket wrote: »

http://www.galibiervelo.com/

unfortunately they're only doing sizes for big feeted people (I'd average a size 7)

smacl wrote: »

I splashed out on a pair of sealskinz socks and reckon they're a waste of money.

*My sister cycles in hiking boots in the cold weather with toe clips, takes all sorts!

mm, I have some thick sealskinz gloves which I wore this morning and my fingers were cold, so maybe that'd go for the socks too.
I would like to go cycling with your sister, she sounds ace.

codie wrote: »

I got some decent merino socks in TK max last week at a good price.

I'm in town tonight, so will head in, thanks - should have thought of tk maxx considering I got my best base layer cycling top from in there about a month ago (montane bionic base crew neck - €17!!!)

doozerie · 23-11-2012 02:04PM

Something to watch out for with the Woolie Boolie 2's: I bought 3 sets of these in recent months and 2 of them had elasticated threads just hanging as loops on the inner face of the cuff. It looks like they were not woven in properly when the socks were manufactured. The socks are no less effective but it means that they are very prone to snagging on your toes when putting them on. It seems to be a manufacturing defect and I've returned one of the pairs for replacement (still waiting to hear back). Check for that before wearing them as once they're worn the seller probably won't take them back.

Also, Woolie Boolie 2's are available with a (standard) 4" cuff or with a 6" cuff, though not everywhere sells the latter. ProBikeKit have had the 6" ones recently.

I have the Rapha socks listed above too and they are thinner than the Woolie Boolie's. I've worn them on cool days and warm days on my road bike (without shoe covers) and found them good but I'm not sure I'd find them as warm as the Woolie Boolie's on cold days. I reckon they are closer to the DeFeet Wooleators, so not intended for quite the same temperature range, but I'm speculating here. Since Rapha dramatically increased their prices (that 3-pack was 35euro when I bought them 12 months ago) I'd personally opt for DeFeet Wooleators by preference just based on cost alone.

doozerie · 23-11-2012 02:06PM

smacl wrote: »

For the cold weather, if you can stomach a bit of warm porridge before you head out, I reckon it makes a huge difference

Warm porridge is great. Call me radical, but I wouldn't put it on feet personally though.

CramCycle · 23-11-2012 02:08PM

I got a pair of Bicycle line winter socks in CSS the other day and they are lovely and toasty so far - 12 euro per pair

MB Lacey · 23-11-2012 02:38PM

just ordered:
1 x dhb Merino Sock 6-7.5 Black/Grey
1 x dhb Winter Thermo Sock 6-7.5 White/Red
1 x DeFeet Woolie Boolie 2 Socks - 6 Inch Cuff Small Charcoal

offa wiggle.
will dip my toes in porridge before I put them on too.

MB Lacey · 28-11-2012 09:20PM

Got my socks delivered today.
Advice to anyone ordering the DeFeet Woolie Boolie 2 Socks - their sizes are off, or my interpretation of what 6-7.5 is.
I'm a size 7, ordered the 6-7.5, but they must be American 6-7.5 because they're tiny, the ankle bit is under my foot

so I'd say they're an actual size 5.
The downfalls of online shopping - not going to pay postage to send them back, so will just give them to someone with small feet.
The other 2 dhb's don't look like they'll be too warm neither, especially the merino ones, but i will keep the faith and see tomorrow!

doozerie · 29-11-2012 01:50AM

I've only ever seen the Woolie Boolie's listed in sizes of S, M, L and XL. The small equates to 36-39.5eu which I've found to be accurate. ProbikeKit claims the medium is size 40-42.5eu or 7-9 (uk, presumably).

MB Lacey · 29-11-2012 09:24AM

doozerie wrote: »

I've only ever seen the Woolie Boolie's listed in sizes of S, M, L and XL. The small equates to 36-39.5eu which I've found to be accurate. ProbikeKit claims the medium is size 40-42.5eu or 7-9 (uk, presumably).

The size chart on wiggle says Small is 6-8 uk women's size (I'm a 7 uk size) and Medium was 8.5-10.5 uk size (way too big) so I went for small.
It arrived and it's about a 5 uk size.

The eu sizes are completely different on the chart, and I should have gone for them, but in fairness the sizing for the uk women's is completely out.

Wore the dhb merino's this morning, not hugely impressed, by 7k my left foot was numb with cold.
That was with my waterflex overshoes over my trainers as well.

seamus · 29-11-2012 09:32AM

Winter socks in Dunnes. 3 for €8. Stick on a pair of normal socks underneath and overshoes on top. Toasty.

Remember also that no matter how wrapped up your feet are, if your legs get cold, then your feet will get cold.

doozerie · 29-11-2012 10:04AM

MB Lacey wrote: »

The size chart on wiggle says Small is 6-7.5 uk women's size (I'm a 7 uk size) and Medium was 8.5-10.5 uk size (way too big) so I went for small.
It arrived and it's about a 5 uk size.

I'm a 39eu (roughly a 6uk men's) and the small is perfect for me. My wife finds the small fine for her and she is a 5.5uk women's. It does look like the Wiggle UK size guide is off alright, and that seems a valid reason for returning them (not that you need to defend your reasoning mind you, you are legally entitled to return them within 30(?) days of purchase regardless of reason assuming they are in their original packaging and unused).

I've found Wiggle to be good about returns in the past and they've refunded my postage costs.

MB Lacey · 29-11-2012 10:32AM

doozerie wrote: »

I've found Wiggle to be good about returns in the past and they've refunded my postage costs.

If they refund postage that would be great, just cost me €3 postage to send them back to the Dublin base, I'm exchanging for a Medium, uk size 8.5-10 ! I think they have UK sizes as US sizes.

numb tootsies! what winter socks?

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