What's keeping your feet warm?

[s3steve]

As the temps drop what are you wearing on your feet to keep them warm?

 

With the RT it seems to be the only thing to gets cold during a long ride.

[EffBee]

I tell this to all my customers. So far, no complaints.

 

Whether it's heat, or cold, moisture is the enemy. Keep your feet dry at all costs.

 

First, powder your feet. Poly-Pro sock liners (Sport Chalet or REI, about $5) should be your first layer. This is a man-made material that will wick away moisture and help keep your feet dry. Then Smart Wool or Merino Wool socks (same sources, about $15/pr). Good waterproof boots with reasonably thick leather and at least a Gore-Tex liner. Gore-Tex "wannabe" liners like Venturi do not breathe as easily or as well as Gore-Tex, contributing to perspiration and moisture build-up, even when it's cold. Also, ride with the balls of your feet up on the pegs. With your arches on the pegs your toes tend to hang down into the underbelly airstream. Enough time down there and NOTHING will keep them warm. Also, regardless of the waterproofing of your boots, do not be afraid to coat them with Sno-Seal (also from SC or REI). Enough time in enough water and even the best boots will eventually either leak or the boot surfaces themselves will get cold enough to cause condensation on the inside.

 

If all else fails, Gerbing Comfort Socks. MMmmmmm good!

[John in VA]

I like winter riding, but of the first things I noticed when moving from an R1100RT to an R1200RT is that the new fairing provides LESS wind protection for your feet. This is progress??

 

Alpinestars Effex Gore-Tex boots work well for me.

[Burt]

As the temps drop what are you wearing on your feet to keep them warm?

Gerbings socks when it gets really cold.

[yechave]

Cabela's 16" (or shorter) Merino Wool Deluxe cold weather socks, followed by Danner 8" gortex boots. A good set of windproof, insulated pants on top. If that does not work, it is too cold to be out there for me. You can also use neoprene kayak/wet sock liners, many options to pick from. Try Altrec.com, then NRS socks.

 

I use this neoprene wader combo with the socks for extreme cold water fishing in Feb, and can be in frigid waters for hours.

[Todd_Z1]

Gerbing heated socks.

 

Cheers!

[zbassman]

Living in central Texas!! Keeps my feet, and the rest of my body, nice and warm just about year round.

[Weyman]

My feet definitely get cold even when I'm warm everywhere else. I've tried the chemical pack boot warmers and cannot tell that they do much at all (maybe because I'm wearing silk sock liners and wool or capilene socks).

 

Has anyone tried the rechargeable heated boot inserts? I think these products were developed for snow skiing. At one point there was a BMW-branded version; my local dealer had them but they were very expensive. One of the online dealers had them on clearance a while back but it still seemed very pricey.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

Oxtar Matrix boots and a couple pair of socks are all I need, I have used them down to 18 degrees F with no problems with feet. I always wear a pair of special open weave socks under them, designed for use by diabetics and available for not a lot of money from K-mart, among others. These are usually all I need but in truly heinous cold, I will put a pair of regular old tube type sweat socks on over them. The air gaps keep my feet pretty toasty and they don't sweat much, if at all, when temps are over 100.

[David]

The best way to keep your feet warm is to keep your core body warm. Seriously.

 

If you're feet are cold, that's a signal your body is sending. It's getting selfish with your warm blood, cutting it off to your (expendable) extensions (feet and hands). So a heated vest is the best tool for your feet.

[smiller]

The best way to keep your feet warm is to keep your core body warm. Seriously.

 

If you're feet are cold, that's a signal your body is sending. It's getting selfish with your warm blood, cutting it off to your (expendable) extensions (feet and hands). So a heated vest is the best tool for your feet.

From my own experience I absolutely agree. I suppose everyone's physiology is a bit different but in my case if I keep my body core toasty warm (with a heated liner, etc.) then my extremities tend to stay comfortable as well. With a cranked-up Gerbing liner I never get cold feet and with heated grips don't even need to mess with heavy gloves (until the 30's when the heated gloves come out.)

[Joel]

I combine what Fernando and David said (except I cheaped out on non Gore-Tex but allegedly waterproof boots). I can't remember having cold feet.

[KDeline]

The best way to keep your feet warm is to keep your core body warm. Seriously.

 

If you're feet are cold, that's a signal your body is sending. It's getting selfish with your warm blood, cutting it off to your (expendable) extensions (feet and hands). So a heated vest is the best tool for your feet.

 

I wish that were true for me, I have always had cold feet, even as a kid, could not stay out long in the snow, so another vote for Gerbings.

[bakerzdosen]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned their FJR...

 

Personally, I'm good with one pair of socks and my Sidi On-Roads. Now, true, I keep my core temp warm with my Gerbing Jacket and I wear insulated (SmartWool) bottoms, and with that, I've never had cold feet down into the teens (F).

[allikanbe]

Gerbing's heated socks.

[Linz]

Nothing worked for me until I bought a pair on Sidi On Road boots and heated socks. The Gerbings were a little pricey for me so I bought a set of heated hunting socks at a sports store. $10.00 plus batteries.

 

Linz

[Gregori]

Isn't that what those cylinder heads are sticking way out there for??

[Albert]

The best way to keep your feet warm is to keep your core body warm. Seriously.

 

If you're feet are cold, that's a signal your body is sending. It's getting selfish with your warm blood, cutting it off to your (expendable) extensions (feet and hands). So a heated vest is the best tool for your feet.

 

+1 Goes for hands too.