Winter boots and gloves.

If on flats, I’ve if anything found these warmer than I needed for most ‘southern UK winter cold because it’s damp rather than actually cold’ riding. They’ve been lovely in any actual cold spells though.

Vaude

Ah sorry should of said it’s for SPD

I have the adidas five ten boots for flats, waterproof socks, no issues with cold toes 

If it’s any help, I gave up SPD’s as I found the cold transmitted from the pedal to the sole of my foot via the cleat. Once I went back to flats  cold feet weren’t such a problem. 

Lake mx305, successor to the mx304 I have that are the only boots that keep my feet warm in sub zero temperatures.

Expensive but worth it.

Make sure you get a size that allows for thick socks.

I've got some Lake mx146 and some MXZ304s.

The 146 are fairly warm. The 304s are too warm unless it's proper cold.

For me, the 146 with Woollie Boollie socks are good enough down to about zero. The cold is noticeable but bearable. At those temperatures, u the 304s my feel are quite toasty. 

Only trouble with the 304s is that they're real leather so they need a bit of love. You can't just chuck them on the radiator to dry them out. They need cleaning well and the leather need conditioning and the they need to have waterproof stuff smeared on them periodically. They're a cold weather boot rather than a wet weather boot. The 146 are built around a membrane but aren't as well insulated. 

Neither are perfect. Of the two, I'd say the 146 are more suited to UK winter. 

If you struggle with cold feet though, it's not just boots that you want, you'll want something to insulate your legs too. Long merino socks or tights or whatever is comfortable for you. Trousers rather than shorts. 

Gloves wise, I've been using a pair of Madison DTE primaloft for the last couple of years. They're well insulated and pretty waterproof. If it's proper cold, I wear some merino liners underneath. Probably the warmest gloves I've ever had. The cuff is quite small though so they're a bit tricky to get on. There's approximately zero chance of getting them back on with sweaty hands. 

I've got a pair of the Shimano MW702 and I find they work really well for me as it, without the need for extra socks, but I do feel the cold and have put merino thin socks as well once or twice and felt warm in sub zero temps so for me they have worked well plus super easy to keep clean when you get back, easy adjust BOA's etc. 

Have previously had other brands and not as good, so will keep and replace with similar. I've always fancied Lake shoes but couldn't find a shop to try them on, as I find sized vary wildly and didn't want the cost / faff of order 3 sizes mailorder and return two pairs :/

Gloves wise I really struggle to keep hands warm but have found merino / silk liner gloves inside another glove makes the world of difference but again it is a try and see. Always fancied trying a lobster type glove but not yet achieved.

James

Shimano XM9's with long sealskinz and Giro Proof gloves for me

+1 the Lake MXZ304. No cold feet anymore. They are splash resistant (puddles and spray etc) but if it’s pissing down water just runs down your leg and unless you have over trousers no boot will keep your feet totally dry. I have some Lake 146s too but if it’s 5 or so degrees or below I wear the boots. Woolie Boolie socks too. Never too hot in the boots if it’s anything below +10 ish. 

Gloves…. I spent ages and £££ trying to get warm hands including electric gloves and by far the absolute best performers are Rapha Deep Winter gloves, with their liner in for when it’s below  -2 or 3. Absolutely amazing gloves. Too warm if it’s above about +5 or 6 so definitely a winter glove. Gore Windstopper when it’s + 8 to 10 ish. I have Sealakinz for between +3 and +8 ish - silk liner as an option when wind chill knocks a load off the air temp.

Size is critical with gloves as too tight means there’s no air blanket but too big means the fingers are annoyingly long. Not many gloves are actually hand shaped IMO. With any gloves a silk liner makes a massive difference - £10 or so from Jasmine Silk (IIRC). 

Size up when it comes to footwear 

I'm using the Lake MXZ120 boots and find them warm in winter and not actually sweaty in mucky summer - mainly due to the wide fit and laces letting you adjust for thick or thin socks. No need to size up. Salt Dog cycles is the very helpful place for Lake boots - I bought 2 pairs (got an MX146 to compare with) and the sizes agreed with Richard were spot on (just preferred the 120s so sent others back as pre-arranged).

Love them but they could be improved. Laces are junk and soak up water (replaced with Ironlaces). Leather so needs some care. Could do with a bellows tongue and lace cover - a big splash can creep in.

Skytech Argon winter builders gloves are amazingly effective. Or the decathlon xc ski warm lobster gloves - mail order only and too hot for most times in UK (got for fat biking and winter stuff in Finland).

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/adult-warm-cross-country-ski-glove-500/_/R-p-334110

Posted by: zerocool

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Size up when it comes to footwear 

This isn’t always the best advice depending on the shoe brand. Different brands have different approaches to the roominess of their winter shoes so trying a pair on with your wintry socks is the only real way to decide on size IME.

On the subject of socks, I have found sock length to have a more pronounced effect on foot warmth than sock thickness. My go to pairs for N Scotland winter riding are ski touring socks that go all the way up my calves, but are relatively thin in places to aid with ski boot fit. 

Every year I read the winter gloves/boots threads in the hope I will find something that works. My hands and feet must have been grafted from a much larger person they are so big and they are a real challenge to keep warm. I have a draw full of rejected gloves bought on recommendation here which just don’t work for me. The only glove I have that works is a cheapo Aldi crab which is warm but very difficult to use because the liner pulls out every time you take them off. The search goes on!

When I used spuds I would wear a thin pair of socks and a pair of neoprene socks inside my boots. Kept my feet toasty.

Merino socks. 

It’s less about wearing thick sock and more about the fact that if you cram your feet into shoes with thick socks (when you’d normally have timing ones)  you will actually reduce the circulation to your feet because they get squished. 

But yes long warm socks will help and some brands have bigger sizing than others

Cheers all for the replies.

It’s weird as I wore the same socks and shoes last weekend to ride and was fine. It was only 4 degrees warmer but dry.

Yesterday was cold and wet and really struggled with cold feet.

I use northward boots, whixh on their own aren't great but matched with sealskin socks have totally eliminated cold feet for me. 

Likewise I bought some sealskin winter gloves which sorted out my freezing paws

I have a pair of Endura Deluge 2 gloves, in XL, black ones, that have been worn once, for half an hour in the dry, that are surplus to my needs. Happy to pass on for £20 posted if any use to someone? 

Whatever shoes/boots you buy, get a pair that allows you to wear a thin pair of summer socks under a pair of 3mm neoprene socks, can be had for not much more than £10 off Amazon.

If I venture outside in wintery weather, I have PlanetX Das Boots and PlanetX lobster claw gloves (can just about put a thin pair of gloves as well).

for proper cold weather i now use Pogies.  no need for gloves with em. but i carry thin merino gloves for off the bike.

for above freezing i use Extremities fleece things.

footwear in freezing needs to be flats compatible.   i use keen targhee arctic boots.

wore them in norway at fat viking, post holing at minus 15.  no cold feet.

I'd also recommend a boot/gloves dryer like this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LZEF17K/

Dry your kit post ride & also warm it up before you go out.

Starting a ride with warm shoes & gloves is great 😃