The Weird Alternative: Sandals in Winter
Don’t look at me. I’m just repeating what I’ve heard. In the cold, blustery, hideous weather of winter – even in the rain and snow – some cyclists (who shall remain unnamed) prefer to wear sandals.
Here’s their thinking. If you wear a cycling shoe, your feet will freeze. Cram as many socks as you can fit inside the shoe, zip on booties, tuck in a little crystallized synthetic heating pack or whatever — your feet are still going to freeze.
Sandals, like the Lake LXSDL, give you plenty of room to turn the high technology and innovation of cycling socks to your advantage. Inside these big, bulky sandals, you can wear several layers of winter socks and top them off with something rainproof – Gore-Tex oversocks, SealSkinz waterproofs, or neoprene booties, for example.
I hate to say it, but it makes a certain sense. If you don’t mind a little Frankenstein action going on, you might give it a try!
The important thing in winter is to keep your feet as warm and dry and possible. Some cyclists choose to do that by more conventional means, with mixed results. Others opt for winter sandal alternatives. Others throw fashion to the wind and pull thick, wool hiking socks on over their boots and cover everything in a plastic bag with a rubber band on top. And others join the gym and stay inside where it’s warm.
If you’re determined to get out in all kinds of weather, IceBike has even more alternatives. You know that people riding on the ice in snow drifts like the ones on this site have figured out how to stay warm on the ride!