Best winter boots for cold climate

In article ,
Peter Cole wrote:

KnowWhen2HoldemKnowWhen2Foldem wrote:
I am looking into well insulated, over-the-shoe boots for winter. Would
appreciate everyone's experience.



Not over-the-shoe, but...

The guys in Alaska swear by the LL Bean "Snow Sneakers" (with flat
pedals). They don't come in my size (15), but my wife says they're
great. I just use over-size shoes (Sidi "Mega") with extra socks. I
never had much luck with covers. For cold-wet I use thin stretch latex
overboots with a cutout for the cleat (SPD). The ones have were bought
from an industrial supply store.

Similarly not over-the-shoe, I was very dissatisfied with neoprene
booties. So I bought a set of Exustar winter cycling boots. MEC (the
retailer) claims these boots are good down to about -10C, after which
they recommend some kind of regular winter boot and either toe clips or
flat pedals.

In my experience in the wet-and-drizzly conditions of a Vancouver
winter, they're great. My feet just aren't cold anymore. I wear them
with some fairly thick thermal socks (and sized for extra-thick socks)
and while my feet don't always stay dry in the rain, they haven't been
cold yet.

I suspect the weather matters a lot. Minnesotans will not be impressed
by a boot that is great in wet conditions, but fails at -20C.
Conversely, it really is a dry cold, and lots of stuff designed for it
fails miserably in the perma-wetness of a winter ride in Vancouver.

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"In other newsgroups, they killfile trolls."
"In rec.bicycles.racing, we coach them."

KnowWhen2HoldemKnowWhen2Foldem wrote:
I am looking into well insulated, over-the-shoe boots for winter. Would
appreciate everyone's experience.


The best I have found for winter riding are SPD compatible sandals a
size too large. I wear an inner "wicking" synthetic/wool blend sock, a
middle heavy wool sock and a Gore "Windstopper" outer shell sock.

--
Tom Sherman - 42.435731,-83.985007
If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the precipitate.