cold toes - what can I do without spending any money?

[thistler]

I was warm and toasty today on my ride except for my toes, which were so cold they were almost numb. I had on a pair of cotton blend socks, a pair of wool socks, my leather cycling shoes and neoprene overshoes.

I plan on buying sealskinz socks as soon as I have the money but I just spent every last penny I had on a used touring bike, so am hoping to find some kind of tip to help keep my toes warm for the next few weeks without spending anything. 

2 pairs of socks are the most I can wear and have the shoes still feel comfortable.  I don't have any Thinsulate hats to steal the lining from, I did have a look. I only have the one pair of wool socks, and tbh I think they are also some sort of blend. 

I would appreciate any ideas/suggestions!

 

[Globalti]

Try riding with just the wool and keeping your shoes looseer; you may be restricting the blood supply.

 

[jimboalee]

Poundland have Thinsulate beanie hats. 50p per foot ( set of toes, that is )

 

[dellzeqq]

do you have a particular problem with your toes? I ask because I have a particular problem with my hands - I have to wear two pairs of gloves on days when I can get away with shorts.

I know this sounds daft - but tinfoil cut to shape and stuck on the soles of your shoes may just help.

 

[eldudino]

I got a pair of insulated innersoles from Aldi the other week, they stop draughts coming up through the cleat holes and were only £1.50(ish).

 

[simon_adams_uk]

If it really has to be a £0 solution then maybe try putting on small plastic bags between your two layers of socks? Not sure if anyone still does this but I've seen plenty of MTBers do this in winter...

 

[potsy]

I was warm and toasty today on my ride except for my toes, which were so cold they were almost numb. I had on a pair of cotton blend socks, a pair of wool socks, my leather cycling shoes and neoprene overshoes.

I was going to recommend a 2nd pair of socks when I read the title of the post,but I now see you already wear more than most people do.
I think Jimbo's idea sounds good,cheap and cheerful. Good luck.

 

[palinurus]

I'm with Globalti- try cutting out a pair of socks.

 

[Fab Foodie]

If it really has to be a £0 solution then maybe try putting on small plastic bags between your two layers of socks? Not sure if anyone still does this but I've seen plenty of MTBers do this in winter...

This works a treat.
Use the thicker 'freezer bags' from Tesco. There are some that we had that were almost exactly foot sized and worked well. In an emergency when out and about you can use the 'veg' bags from supermarkets.
If you're using cycle shoes then tape-over the webbing parts with insulating tape and plug the drain hole in the bottom.

Tried and tested and found to work by FF!

 

[Muddyfox]

Latex gloves underneath your socks will work a treat as well

Simon

 

[Amanda P]

My feet get cold because they get damp.

For me, the plastic bag thing would make the problem much, much worse.

What works for me is to wear brand new, fluffy cotton-rich socks. If I'm riding all day, I might carry a second pair and change to new, clean, dry fluffy socks at lunchtime.

After a few washes, the fluffiness goes away and they don't work so well. But while they're fluffy, they keep your feet bone dry, and for me, that's the way to keep 'em warm.

This isn't a free solution, but you're going to buy new socks anyway at some point, right? So keep the new ones for days out on the bike, and keep older ones for wearing to work or whatever. After a pair have done a few rides, demote them to workwear and replace them.

 

[zacklaws]

This is from a posting I did on the same subject almost a year ago:-

"Read somewhere the other day, and I have not the faintest where, may even have been on this forum in some thread that the best way to keep your feet warm is to:-

Cover your feet in petroleum jelly, wrap in clingfilm, put your sock on and then wrap it all in tinfoil, or maybe the tinfoil is before the sock, and then after the ride you can reuse the tin foil to wrap the Sunday dinner in.

I have read about petroleum jelly and tried it last year, but cannot remember if it did keep my feet warm, all I can remember was my feet sliding about in the socks, maybe thats what the clingfilm prevents. I also had it from a friend who's a tree surgeon at the weekend that the best way to keep your hands and feet warm is to rub petroleum jelly well into your hands and feet, so I shall have to try it again. "


I cannot remember though if I did try the petroleum Jelly again so I do not know if it does work.

 

[thistler]

Thanks everyone!  I don't have any circulation problems. My fingers stay warm, in fact I usually have to ditch the long fingered gloves after I have warmed up.

I just got back from a ride - I had on just the pair of the wool socks (they say 'smartwool' on them) and did my shoes up fairly loosely. I put the overshoes on top - after about 5 miles my toes were freezing. The overshoes are slightly big if it makes any difference.... I brought some aluminium foil with me so made little toe caps and put them on over the shoes but under the overshoes. Still freezing!!!! I moved them around the whole time in case it helped.

My toes didn't actually go numb today but it was warmer out than yesterday, very sunny and no wind.

I will try the plastic bag thing tomorrow or Wed, then the petroleum jelly if that doesn't work. I'm going into town this week as well so will have a look in Poundland for the thinsulate hats.

Thanks again!

 

[Fiona N]

My feet get cold because they get damp.

For me, the plastic bag thing would make the problem much, much worse.

Me as well - damp feet are the descent into hell.

For milder days, I use a 'toe cosy' - like a tea cosy but it just fits over my toes. I use a single sided polyester fleece (smooth on one side, fleecy on the other) that I happen to have to hand. These go on the toes first, then thin wool socks which leave me plenty of room in the shoes (tightness means restricted circulation thus coldness ) and finally Windstopper overshoes. Yesterday was 4C when I set out and this was fine. When it gets colder, I move to electric footheaters for longer rides but these are expensive (although not as expensive as using those disposable toe heaters).

I did try Sealskin socks once - once was enough - they were hellish. Feet were cold within 10 minutes (although I started with seakskins warmed on the radiator) and never warmed because of the sweat soaking the inner fleece.

 

[thistler]

My kids have outgrown some fleece gloves - I think I'll try to make toe cozies out of them!!

Thanks - I will look into electric footheaters for when I am not so skint - what kind of money are they and which makes are recommended? And what happens if your feet get wet while using them?