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Just had a trail run of my new commute today 16 miles each way, down lanes and thought a few fields... My feet and legs where soaked and frozen!
So I'm biting the bullet and buying some winter leg wear and boots... Can anyone recommend any full on waterproof / windproof set of trousers and MTB boots ?
Ta
Shimano MW81's, and Endura Stealth trousers
Shimano MW81's for sure footwear wise.
endura gridlock trousers
endura overshoes if using spd's
My commute to work is mainly off road on unmade canal towpaths. If it's been raining, and there's lkely to be surface water, specialized defroster boots with gaitors (£4 from TK Maxx) do the trick, dry feet and socks when i get to work. The gaitors might need trousers clips to keep them away from the chain, Wilkos do them.
If it's properly raining, spec boots and water proof trousers with over shoes - they keep the trousers out of the chain.
I wear the same shoes year round but wear overshoes from about now - I have a very thick (probably 5mm ) pair of Pro neoprene overshoes.
Tights are enduro which I've had for years - always nice and warm 🙂
They're not cycling specific but I use Paramo Cascada trousers over a pair of shorts when the weather is horrible. They have a press stud at the ankle that pulls them tight and they can vent very well using the side zips.
What kind of off road? If its not technical rocky stuff and is not clay stick cloggy mud then full length mud guards with a flap and make a massive difference. Add some of the above shoe and you will be sorted.
+1 for full length mudguards if it's not muddy (ironicaly mudguards dont like mud)
And a hat, if your brain thinks it's warm, it'll tell the rest of the body to MTFU, if it's cold it sends the signal to start restricting blood to the legs/arms.
Northwave fahrenheit arctic gtx, expensive, but bloomin amazing. The artic version is about £15 more than the standard one, but well worth it. I've never had cold toes or wet feet wearing them which is amazing, even in torrential downpour mid winter rides.
DHB roubaix longs, keeping your legs warm is half the battle to keeping warm feet, if the bood vessels in your legs start to constrict due to cold then you lose power, which stops them generating heat, which causes more constriction, etc. As the blod flow slows down it stops warming your feet, so they get cold.
I once saw a bloke in longs with some sort of half shorts over the top, looked like the same concept as a gillet in that it wont keep you dry, but it keeps the wind off the tops/side of your quads so you stay warm. Looked a bit special though!
+1 for the shimano boots. Best winter boots i've had.