Just wondered. It might just be sweat, but my feet are soaked when I get off the bike after riding in the rain despite having Shimano W100 boots and a pair of Porelle drys.

It's all a con.

Porelle's don't work too well if there's water running down your legs!

I find my feet are wet from sweat wearing porelles or sealskins, even on a dry day. Never tried waterproof shoes though.

Droopy - surely the issue is wether your feet are cold or not - I simply don't reckon that you'll ever keep your feet dry.

Any waterproof, breathable socks no matter how good will never be able to breathe properly when confined in a shoe, hence wet feet...

My Northwave Arctics do the trick. But after long rides, I do sometimes get the dreaded 'old man feet'. I think its sweat personally and theres not a lot youcan do about it.

That's what I figured. I mean I'm sure they'd be good for fording a stream (albeit a very shallow one) and keeping your feet dry. But throw in a little aerobic exercise and the old trench foot becomes a problem.

It's the same with my Timberlands and Rockports - if you've ever read the copy on one of the old Timberland ads, it goes on (and on) about how the gortex constuction lets your feet breathe so that all the sweat is whisked away and your feet stay toasty and dry.

Oh, and my goretex jacket. By the time I've finished riding anywhere in that I might as well have stuck a shower hose down my neck.

Maybe I'm just a big fat sweat monster.

There's always those neoprene shoe cover things, but they're really nasty looking items. Most of the water getting into my shoes is from the cleat hole underneath, so even if the upper's waterproof & you're wearing cover's it's still coming in if you walk across a stream or get loads of water splashed up from the trail. I don't think any breathable material can cope, so regardless of how wet you get, it's more important that you still stay warm & porelles are pretty good for that.

Goretex simply isn't breatheable enough to cope with anyone doing a reasonable level of exercise - I more than walking along. Many people actually reckon that a non-waterproof (but wind proof and water resistant) but highly breathable material is better for wet weather.

I like umbrellas and cars.

Are any of these boots such as the Northwave SPD compatible?

Yes. Unfortunately, umberellas and cars arent!

just bought some porelle drys in a sale. haven't worn them yet? are they good or simply 'bag-o-shite'?

got some wellies - bloody marvellous you can stand in puddles an everythin.

I use seal skins and specialized rockhopper shoes and I am always toasty warm and dry. In deepest winter a pair of thin bike socks under and waterproof strides and bobs your uncle.

Mind you I don't go riding in it.

What's the better winter boot, Northwave Artic's or Shimano W100's ?.
Can you still get the Artic's ?.

I always liked the Shimano FR-80 boots. They're only £40 from Chain Reaction and an unbelievable £75 from most bike shops. Worn with a pair of mid-thermal Sealskins in winter they've always been toasy warm and dry.

Waterproof boot over waterproof sock equals sweaty feet. If you were to wear goretex socks in breatheable shoes (like trainers) then you might be OK, but not if you then wear cotton socks underneath. I've got a set of goretex boot liners which are calf length (available in just below the knee length) but I wouldn't use them on a bike as the water trickles in the top, and I'm not taping them on.

Sidi Invernos - seem OK so far; hideously expensive, but size 13 feet = beggars can't be choosers. Went riding in the rain today with just normal socks, got back with only slightly damp feet.

Porelles = waste of time. I use Gore-tex socks, but your feet still get wet - it's just the windchill is kept down so your feet stay warm.