You can get an insulated winter boot and flat pedals for about half the cost of the "cycling" specific winter boots. The 45nrth boot is sweet looking but the price is a bit ridiculous. I am riding the Vasque Cold Spark with a thin Thorlo ski sock and haven't had any issues. If I got cold I would just put some toe warmers in my boots. The nice thing about an insulated winter boot is that it can be used for other activities i.e. snowshoeing. In regards to gloves I am running Bar Mitts with a Manzella Ranch Hand glove that I got on clearance at REI. On warmer days I use a thin Gore running glove or bare hands inside the mitts. The Manzella's are thrashed so I just ordered a Kinco 2051 for about $25. Kinco are high quality and inexpensive they are popular with Ski Patrollers and those that work outsided in the winter. For upper body I use mid-weight tops with a windproof cycling jacket. I usually overheat so I don't need much but if I do I use a light softshell or windstopper underneath the hard shell. On my head I use a Turtle Fur helmet liner with a buff or a full balaclava. Sometimes on really cold days I wear my ski specific helmet and clear goggles instead of a cycling helmet. Bottoms are Showers Pass Club convertible usually with a mid-weight long john. If I get into deeper conditions I would use a gaiter in combo with the pants as suggested in the Whitefish Bike Retreat video.
I find that wind is the enemy, then sweat. Wind will make you overdress then destroy you once you're sweaty. I dress so I'm borderline "I don't want to do this", then after about 2 - 3 miles I'm comfortable. Hands and feet are critical. Core/top/bottom have more blood vessels so once moving, you'll moderate well. Big fan of bar mitts. I will drop a hand warmer in there on really cold days. I usually carry 2 or 3 pairs of gloves with me. A thin layer, a bulky cloth pair, and battery powered pair. I also have heated insoles and wear merino wool socks. I carry a spare pair or two in case they get sweaty so I can change to a dry pair. Usually wear a good wicking thin base layer, a medium weight mid layer and a thin outer shell that blocks wind and is breathable/waterproof. Pants are a thin base layer and waterproof/windproof outer layer. Not much bulk and flexible, but once I'm warmed up I'm comfortable. If I stop/stand around outside without moving I'll start to freeze. Good thorough review. When I'm out I'll carry extra layers/socks/gloves since the supple life isn't the weight weenie life because conditions change on the trial or commute. I'm usually out for 3 - 4 hours at a time, with a coffee shop stop in between. Carry extra hand/foot warmers too. I'll hand them out to folks who look like they are hurting for money and maybe wearing tennis shoes or no gloves out in the cold if I'm done with my ride and on the way home so those folks have a little warmth. They're relatively cheap and it's good to help. Supple on!
Yup, my two big pieces of advice for dressing for winter are "If yo're warm eough before you ride, take off a layer" and "After you take the layers off, put them in a bag to take with you." If you have to stop riding for some reason, you're going to cool down an awful lot and be thankful for the extra layers. Broke my chain when it was ~20 degrees and had to remove my gloves to fix it....by the time I was done I was *very* glad I had brought extra clothing.
Russ, that was a spot on honest review, lots of options to choose from indeed. Of course everyone has different thresholds to cold and perspiration, so layering techniques are quite variable. My personal go to clothing system includes: ● Lower body... Padded thermal riding knickers, Bontrager OMW pants, if colder than -15ºc I add an extra thermal tights layer. ● Upper body... Assos spring/fall or winter long sleeve base layer, (worn together if lower than -5ºc), then an Assos Bonka Jacket as a mid layer, which is good to -5ºC. If colder, I will add either a Endura or North Face windstopper softshell, for temps as low as -20ºc. ● Hands... Power in Motion "Motion Heat" glove liners and either a windstopper shell over-glove, or if colder than -5ºc, the 45NRTH Sturmfist 4 gloves over the heated liners. I have 45NRTH Cobrafist pogies but rarely use them since I acquired the heated glove liners. ● Feet... Lenz heated socks ( I run mine between levels 3-5 ), and either 45NRTH Japanther or if colder than -5ºc WölvHammer BOA boots. The BOA makes for super easy on/off. A common mistake is layering too loosely and letting air between the layers resulting in cold spots. A close fitting base layer is benefitted by requiring fewer, thinner layers, just make sure it is NOT cotton. Either polypropylene or wool is preferred. I find the body hugging design of base layering paramount in keeping my core warm as not to let cold air between the layers. It also provides very good breathability. The heated gloves and socks make the difference between a comfortable 3-4 hour ride or an uncomfortable short ride. Nothing worse than thinking about your extremities instead of enjoying your ride. Not to mention the nerve damage in repetitively getting too cold does to your fingers and toes. If you suffer from cold hands/feet as I do, then I highly recommend them, an added expense, but for the 5 months of fatbiking here in Edmonton, Alberta, then definitely a worthy investment.
Here in Minneapolis we're almost always in that extra cold range this time of year. My best investments: Top: cheap technical t-shirts you get at charity rides, a UA Cold Gear base layer and a Surly Merino Wool LS Jersey with monkey sleeves. That jersey was expensive but worth every penny. Cover all that with a North Face soft shell jacket that's about the same color as the Bontrager (and half the price at their outlet stores) works fine with a flat bar riding position. Hands: PI 'convertible' Lobster Gloves nestled in Dogwood Designs Pogies. Legs: I bought the OMWs but have favored REI Co-op brand Soft Shell pants - my best gear buy this fall - over a base layer and underliner pad. For feet, merino socks+boot sock with a foot warmer between the two on really cold days....all in Keene Targhee boots. I like to ride flats in the slippery stuff. Head: Endura Baabaa neck gaiter, 45Nrth Greazy Hat, helmet, Giro OTG Index Goggles and a lot of Shea Butter moisturizer on exposed skin - gave up on baclavas that covered my mouth - every one I've ever tried gets soggy and wet. Ride on.
@@13craj LOL. Yeah, weird winter. That said, tomorrow the high is supposed to be 9 and you'll want to be wearing something warm if you're riding that bare ice on Tonka. Cheers!
I commute year round in Spokane, WA. I wear water-proof gortex lined aproach shoes with merino wool socks, varying thickness, depending on weather, and have gortex gators for when it is really sloppy. then rappelling ice climbing gloves, tons of grip, and stays nice and warm. I have merino wool tops and bottoms, keeps moisture away from you, and my shells, a PI jacket and OR outer pant, wind proof, water proof, breathable, and I've been comfortable to -3 degrees so far. the coldest I've had to ride so far. Most of my gear comes from mountaineering with the exception of the jacket. and it all works great in really cold climates.
I find the Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Convertible pants great for winter riding. They have stretch, zippered side pockets perfect for phone and snacks, repel water and snow, and come in tall lengths. If it gets really cold you can also get them fleece lined. You shouldn’t need 3 layers of pants, just chamois shorts and one pair of pants. Here in Michigan I’ve used them down to -10 F so far. For my head I use a snowboard helmet with ear pads, ski goggles, and balaclava. On my feet I use insulated hiking boots with flat pedals on the fat bike. For hands I like the Sugoi lobster claw gloves down to about 15 F, below that I use 45N Cobrafist pogies.
Great video. I agree that the Castelli Flanders base top is excellent. My favorite gilet is the Endura ProSL. Packs into a baggie-sized stuff-sack and I’m regularly pulling it out for descents. It’s got cut panels in the back for venting. Zip is up and down which helps venting too. Castelli winter bibs are great, but size up their brand, and I’m lean. Paid retail for all. Winter is all about layering...but nothing beats high quality gloves. Below 20 it’s lobsters and thin liners, and I’ve never tried mitts. I love liners since it allows me to pull off the heavier gloves and not freeze fingers when needing more dexterity for unzipping for snacks and such. Mine allow touchscreen through the fabric for photos, etc.
I love reading about what other people do to stay warm on their bikes in quite cold conditions! While it doesn't get that cold here in San Diego, I do like to test myself on my winter morning rides where it can be 45 degrees out. I will ride before the sun comes up. So with no sun and a little wind chill, I do need to bundle up and find that I can start warm enough with a pair of bike shorts layered with fleece-lined cannondale bicycle pants. On the top, I wear a base layer, a thick bicycle-specific fleece, and a vest to keep the chilly air of my chest. If there is a lot of moisture in the air due to fog, etc., then I will wear a LS lightweight jacket to keep me dry. It has a two-way zip, so I can easily ventilate. Fleece ear warmers to keep the cold out of my ears. I have a variety of gloves, that I wear depending on the temperature, but mostly wear a $10 pair of winter running gloves that I picked up from Costco.
Russ, great video as always! My family and I are also big into cross country skiing. The gear from that works really well crossing over onto the bike and vice versa. I often see people wearing winter bike jerseys while cross country skiing. The ski pants for nordic skiing are tighter fitting but able to handle the motion of cycling. There are some great options that have wind block panels on the leading edges of your body with different fabrics to ventilate heat on the back. As someone that sweats a lot, it has helped to use some of my ski gear on the bike. Swix and Salomon make some great stuff, although spendy at list price, there are a lot of off season sales and places to get discounts on great ski gear.
I highly recommend trying thermal bibs instead of your normal bibs or shorts. They really help keep you warm under the tighter technical layers. Those are tight because the air gap between the clothes and the body take a lot of energy to heat up and keep warm. Almost all my winter climbing kit is tightly fitted.
I think that's the best first step. Few layers needed, very warm, the tight fit pants will fit, and it's doubtuful that during these 2-4 months (depending on region) you would need to go less than fleece bibs. If fleece bibs might bee too much, you'll likely be able to tell before you go out.
My lower limit for winter riding is around -20c or -4f. Down low I use a base layer, thin sweat pants and a shell. On top I use a base layer, thin long sleeved shirt and depending on wind either a hardshell or softshell jacket. On my head I used a toque and buff. For my hands I have some leather military surplus mittens with a wool liner and a trigger finger for brakes. And on my feet I use some wool socks, grocery bags taped around my ankles and my 5-10's.
Thanks for the informative reviews. I find the Sporthill stuff is reasonably priced and manages to keep me warm. A lot of their stuff is made more for cold-weather running and cross-country skiing but still works fine for cycling. I agree that for cold-weather cycling their is a pretty sharp dividing line around 20F. Although depending on how far and how fast you are riding and your tolerance for pain that line can be more like 15F.
For gloves, I've had good luck with the Pearl Izumi AMFIB Lobster style gloves. My hands and feet are usually cold, but those gloves by themselves keep my hands toasty for my hour long commute. I believe the coldest I've worn them in was 19F with wind that made it feel like 9F.
^^^^ this! Also Victor, do you have issues with sweaty hands in those gloves? Even when it's really cold that ends up happening to me, and I haven't figured out how to get around it.
Russ, I have used booties over my normal mountain biking shoes. I have tried two brands over the years. Their cost is usually under $50. With good sock choices and chemical warmers I have used them in temperatures down to 20 Degrees F for 2 hours. The main advantage is that they are easy to get on and take off. They are less expensive (this is helpful if you are not sure if winter riding is for you). Cons are that they can wear out depending on how much you are out of your pedals on the trail. Sometime the velcro version may come undone during the ride requiring you to stop and fix. One time in the dark I put two on the same foot. While riding I felt cold on the one foot, I thought I had somehow lost it on the trail. I did't find it until I got back and took off my shoes. :)
XC ski clothing can provide plenty of solutions to fatbiking clothing headaches. Both sports are fairly high intensity in cold climates. XC ski pants are particularly good at providing good movement but breathable and mapped wind resistance. Ones with braces are even better over slippery thermal cycling bib longs. Gloves. There's no argument. Thin gloves and pogies. Far warmer and thin gloves make adjusting layers, eating and photography much easier. For longer days out and fatbike touring I'll go even more 'pedestrian' and wear Patagonia Backcountry Guide pants (the gold standard of fatbike pants!) and ditch any kind of cycling boot in favour of flat pedals and warm, over-sized backcountry boots like Sorel. Columbia and Vasque, among others, do good options. Any boot with a removable liner is an excellent idea when fatbike touring, so you can bring the liner into your sleeping bag at night and not have to put your feet into freezing cold boots in the morning!
45nrth Cobrafist pogies. I don't wear gloves under mine down to (so far!) -18*C while fatbiking. Worst wind I've ridden in so far with them was 90+ km/h. I bring gloves/mitts for when I'm off the bike.
At 0 degrees C or 32 degree F or a little lower, I use lined fingered ski gloves with a large thin waterproof, windproof mitten on top. On feet, I use soft Goretex hiking shoes with merino wool socks then a Vaude overshoe on top to cut the wind. I wear a base layer of merino wool underwear on legs and body, then a shirt and sweater and finally a ski jacket. On legs I wear snowboard pants over the underwear, and padded cycling shorts. The fingers and toes are the most susceptible to cold and the system here is good for about an hour and a half of riding. Fingers and toes will be cold but not frozen. I'm going to experiment with Heatholder socks, BlackDiamond Mercury Mittens and Toe warmers when I purchase them to see if I can stay warmer.
Great review Russ! We get nearly all of our cycling gear, including winter gear, from Aldi here in the UK. Great quality stuff at bargain prices! No I’m not sponsored! Lol! Great Marino wool products too. Like yourself we’re not big into the Lycra look, so a lot of our warmer gear is actually hiking gear.
Did you ever try the Bontrager boot without the inner liner? I'd like to try it with a Smartwool Mountaineering sock or something similar. Might not have to size up quite so much as well.
Check out Black Diamond gloves. They have been my go to glove for anything winter ever since their inception(Ice Climbing, skiing and building a snowman). Currently, I have a 10+ year old version that would sit between the Guide and Pursuit. They are the warmest I've ever used.
You need no expensive gear to get you down to at least zero-degrees F. One main tip: moisture and temp control are tough to gauge and critical: you don't want to be cold the entire time, but sweat is your mortal enemy. With my gear, the time I'm most comfortable is in the teens, where the heat I generate balances the efficiency of my clothing. Some small tips: -thin no-seam undergarments with average polyester sweats works just fine -2 pairs of socks: a good wool blend over a pair of over-the-calf liners -insulated leather "work gloves" get you down the high teens. After that, I go to insulated driving gloves inside of mittens. At zero F or below, I now add warming pads to be on the "safe side". You don't really want to mess with frostbite. -oversized work boots, layered with that thin bubble-wrap packaging (no, I'm not kidding). At zero F, you might want the warming pads -layered headwear; with everything else adequately covered, your head is where you control your heat loss.
The pogies I have won't fit on the Jones bars I put on my fat bike, so I looked at other outdoor gear I have for hand wear. I came up with gloves made by the clam corporation. They are made primarily for ice fishing. My hands literally get too warm until about -10. About the only cycle specific clothing I wear for winter riding is some soft shell windproof pants by Aero tech. Layering is the key and dress so you're chilly when you start your ride so you won't be a sweaty mess when you get done.
Have you tried Little Hotties Toe Warmers? I have Raynauds Syndrome(aka zero circulation to the extremities at times) and have spent a lot of money on electric boot warmers and expensive socks but the Toe Warmers just plain work!! 2 pairs of socks the first being a thin smartwool sock with toe warmers along top of toes layed at an angle then a med weight wool sock over top.
Forget the bulky gloves and get some pogies! You can use light gloves and keep warm even at minus 40! And, Costco toe hot pockets are awesome to put on top of your toes to ensure your toes stay toasty. Just make sure they have about 20 minutes to generate heat before putting your feet in the boots.
Russ, I'm from Syracuse NY and we get our fair share of cold and snow. What I wear for pants when it's below the teens is my Mt. Hardware compressor pants. They're awesome. You can tighten them up around the boot, your waist and they have a full length zipper at the bottom and the top so if you heat up too much, you unzip and all is good. A climate control. Check em out. Been using them for years and they still make them the same.
If you don't have to worry about moisture, $35 Adidas soccer warmup pants are tough to beat. With long underwear underneath, I can be comfortable at 20. The materials wears well in the crotch, unlike some more expensive technical fabrics. Tapered legs with zippers also fit the bill.
GLOVES: Over the last few years I have invested hundreds of dollars for winter cycling gloves, and none worked well in cold weather. Then I got Bar Mitts. Bar Mitts work well. But when I'm riding on drop bars I like to take my gloved hands off the hoods, i.e. out of the Bar Mitts, and ride with my hands on other parts of the handlebars. So I still need to wear gloves. However once my gloved hands were no longer protected by the Bar Mitts, or even when my gloved hands were inside the Bar Mitts, I found that most of the cycling specific gloves I had didn't keep my hands warm in temps below 20 to 25 degrees. Then one day I wore a pair of cheap wool gloves that also have Thinsulate insulation, that I had laying around. Eureka! These inexpensive wool gloves work better at keeping my hands warm than any of the "high dollar" Giro or Pearl Izumi winter gloves I own. I have had these wool work gloves for a number of years. So I don't recall where I purchased them, or how much I paid. But I'm seeing what appears to be a similar wool glove on Amazon for about $20. The gloves I have also have these black gripper things (like small black dots) on the palms and fingers. The wool gloves I have allow easy manipulation of the brake/shift levers. And the wool gloves seem to keep my hands warmer whether my hands are inside the Bar Mitts on the hoods, or if I'm riding on the bar tops. On January 1st, 2019, I did a one and one half hour ride on a road bike. It was 8*F when I left the house, 14 degrees F when I returned after a 90 minute ride. I was riding a bike with Bar Mitts, with my hands on the hoods for 90% of the ride, 10% on the tops. I was wearing the inexpensive wool gloves. My hands were never cold. I suggest that inexpensive wool gloves with Thinsulate might be worth a try. They seem to work well for my purposes. One other piece of gear I wear when temps drop below 30*F is a snow boarding/ski helmet. The type that also covers one's ears. On days when temps are below 20*, I pair the ski helmet with a balaclava. I find that a ski helmet, either with or without a balaclava, keeps my head warmer than a cycling helmet (with a cover over it) and balaclava.
I assume the old man winter pant is designed with thermal tights in mind. Most winter days I start with thermal bibs as a minimum which the old man winter pants could easily fit over. A rain pant is helpful for me, especially as higher speeds, as half the time the problem is it's windy. Once the winds is cut, you produce all the warmth you need. I also don't mind sweating when riding uphill in the winter. Is the Bontrager boot too tight for width or length? Do you know your width? Or do that have nothing to do with it?
The boot is two sizes larger than my normal shoe. It is oversized plenty. The opening is just a hard angle and the booty can get caught as you put your foot inside.
The men in our skiing group used to swear by wearing women's Nylon pantihose as thin, very effective warmth maintenance under thick insulated long pants.
Surplus store for cheap insulting layers sounds like a soild idea. Do you shell out the cash for waterproof socks or just not worry about it because you have decent waterproof boots?
Haven't had much rain since I got the gloves. I've used several styles in the past and they all seem to do well with intermittent rain, but I've yet to find one that stays waterproof after a serious deluge.
My winter biking has been in Newfoundland where it is the snow is fairly wet. I've used a wool liner glove inside of a lobster mitt. Pants have been army fleece leggings with a stretchy pair of hiking pants with rain pants on top. For my torso, wool or poly base layer, Patagonia R1 fleece, Patagonia Nano air, and Patagonia Triolet coat. I've currently acquired a pair or Lowa winter boots that have been awesome but haven't used them for biking yet. Are the Montana winters wet? Or a dry cold? I'm currently living in High Level, Alberta.
I have the Wolvhammer boots (though not the fancy Red Wing edition that Russ was sent!) and I'll second everything said about them here-for my purposes (sub-60 minute commutes around town, sometimes with multiple legs on one trip) they've been pretty much ideal in the very warm winter we've been having where I live. There have been a few 20 and below days and with nice thick socks they've held up extremely well. Anyone here commute to work in the very cold and have a good solution for legwear that's easy to get out of once you arrive at work? I've just been wearing regular pants and while, again, my commute is pretty short, my legs get super chilly when it's much below freezing and/or there's winds over 5 mph or so. I wonder if those fleece legging things he mentioned would help that at all-would prolly need to size up a bit for mobility.
Lower body.... crafter storm 2.0 pants.... fine with only padded shorts. Feet.... any 1000 gram thinsulate boot. Upper body..... craft extreme base, Revelate Design powerline hoody. Any outer-shell you’d like. I’ve been fatbiking in Northern Mn. since ‘07
Path Less Pedaled keep at it!! You’ll learn slowly but surely..... if I can say one thing... don’t get discouraged. What has worked for me over the years..... is starting cold (when standing around), bring different layers, warm jacket/s with you..... if you find the need for them you’ll have them. Good luck, and stay #supple
Mistakes I made today: wearing my summer flat shoes in the snow with non-waterproof socks. It turns out that even if you have the gear, you have to wear it. Weird, right? :-) Thanks for the reviews! I've been looking for some better boots that'll grip the pedal better in cold weather. It's a bit challenging, since I'm trying to find some that are vegan, or at least vegetarian.
Try some bread bags over your socks and taped around your ankles. Normally I would pair that with some wool socks in my 5-10's and for most rides I was toasty.
Try the Kinko Ski Mitt/Glove. 20ish bucks on amazon. Kept my hands warm in below zero over an hour of riding. Nothing better, or cheaper that does the job. Period.
Also - they are tough, have used them four four winters now. Bike riding tears up gloves. All of the bike specific gloves out there REALLY skimp on quality and are WAY over priced. Avoid at all costs.
Please HELP I work in the snow I bike for like 8/9 hours some days I made it last year but looking to survive and thrive this year what brand boot do I get to keep my toesies warm?? I'm looking into glacier Sorel but not sure if that'll cut it
@@PathLessPedaledTV .. Do I sense a little sarcasm? Lol. Funny guy. I grew up over here by Glacier with holes in my shoes and bags on my feet. I got the money for whatever I need, I just like like to be a militant pragmatist. For old times sake.
How are you not a sweaty mess 1/2 way through your ride??? You should check out www.foxwear.net.... Lou will hook you up for a 1/3 of the price those over priced OMW rags!!
@@PathLessPedaledTV how do you address hand sweat? I have good gloves but often it's just a matter of time before it gets all damp in there and then there's no avoiding cold hands :/
Are you kidding me! Bontrager OMW pants are incredibly well made, super comfy, breathable, well fitted, and engineered specifically for winter riding. I wear a thin base layer underneath and they're good down to -15ºC (5ºF), below that, I use a thermal base layer, good for -20ºc and lower.
You can get an insulated winter boot and flat pedals for about half the cost of the "cycling" specific winter boots. The 45nrth boot is sweet looking but the price is a bit ridiculous. I am riding the Vasque Cold Spark with a thin Thorlo ski sock and haven't had any issues. If I got cold I would just put some toe warmers in my boots. The nice thing about an insulated winter boot is that it can be used for other activities i.e. snowshoeing.
In regards to gloves I am running Bar Mitts with a Manzella Ranch Hand glove that I got on clearance at REI. On warmer days I use a thin Gore running glove or bare hands inside the mitts. The Manzella's are thrashed so I just ordered a Kinco 2051 for about $25. Kinco are high quality and inexpensive they are popular with Ski Patrollers and those that work outsided in the winter.
For upper body I use mid-weight tops with a windproof cycling jacket. I usually overheat so I don't need much but if I do I use a light softshell or windstopper underneath the hard shell. On my head I use a Turtle Fur helmet liner with a buff or a full balaclava. Sometimes on really cold days I wear my ski specific helmet and clear goggles instead of a cycling helmet.
Bottoms are Showers Pass Club convertible usually with a mid-weight long john. If I get into deeper conditions I would use a gaiter in combo with the pants as suggested in the Whitefish Bike Retreat video.
I find that wind is the enemy, then sweat. Wind will make you overdress then destroy you once you're sweaty. I dress so I'm borderline "I don't want to do this", then after about 2 - 3 miles I'm comfortable. Hands and feet are critical. Core/top/bottom have more blood vessels so once moving, you'll moderate well. Big fan of bar mitts. I will drop a hand warmer in there on really cold days. I usually carry 2 or 3 pairs of gloves with me. A thin layer, a bulky cloth pair, and battery powered pair. I also have heated insoles and wear merino wool socks. I carry a spare pair or two in case they get sweaty so I can change to a dry pair. Usually wear a good wicking thin base layer, a medium weight mid layer and a thin outer shell that blocks wind and is breathable/waterproof. Pants are a thin base layer and waterproof/windproof outer layer. Not much bulk and flexible, but once I'm warmed up I'm comfortable. If I stop/stand around outside without moving I'll start to freeze.
Good thorough review. When I'm out I'll carry extra layers/socks/gloves since the supple life isn't the weight weenie life because conditions change on the trial or commute. I'm usually out for 3 - 4 hours at a time, with a coffee shop stop in between. Carry extra hand/foot warmers too. I'll hand them out to folks who look like they are hurting for money and maybe wearing tennis shoes or no gloves out in the cold if I'm done with my ride and on the way home so those folks have a little warmth. They're relatively cheap and it's good to help.
Supple on!
Yup, my two big pieces of advice for dressing for winter are "If yo're warm eough before you ride, take off a layer" and "After you take the layers off, put them in a bag to take with you."
If you have to stop riding for some reason, you're going to cool down an awful lot and be thankful for the extra layers. Broke my chain when it was ~20 degrees and had to remove my gloves to fix it....by the time I was done I was *very* glad I had brought extra clothing.
Russ, that was a spot on honest review, lots of options to choose from indeed. Of course everyone has different thresholds to cold and perspiration, so layering techniques are quite variable.
My personal go to clothing system includes:
● Lower body... Padded thermal riding knickers, Bontrager OMW pants, if colder than -15ºc I add an extra thermal tights layer.
● Upper body... Assos spring/fall or winter long sleeve base layer, (worn together if lower than -5ºc), then an Assos Bonka Jacket as a mid layer, which is good to -5ºC. If colder, I will add either a Endura or North Face windstopper softshell, for temps as low as -20ºc.
● Hands... Power in Motion "Motion Heat" glove liners and either a windstopper shell over-glove, or if colder than -5ºc, the 45NRTH Sturmfist 4 gloves over the heated liners. I have 45NRTH Cobrafist pogies but rarely use them since I acquired the heated glove liners.
● Feet... Lenz heated socks ( I run mine between levels 3-5 ), and either 45NRTH Japanther or if colder than -5ºc WölvHammer BOA boots. The BOA makes for super easy on/off.
A common mistake is layering too loosely and letting air between the layers resulting in cold spots. A close fitting base layer is benefitted by requiring fewer, thinner layers, just make sure it is NOT cotton. Either polypropylene or wool is preferred.
I find the body hugging design of base layering paramount in keeping my core warm as not to let cold air between the layers. It also provides very good breathability.
The heated gloves and socks make the difference between a comfortable 3-4 hour ride or an uncomfortable short ride. Nothing worse than thinking about your extremities instead of enjoying your ride. Not to mention the nerve damage in repetitively getting too cold does to your fingers and toes. If you suffer from cold hands/feet as I do, then I highly recommend them, an added expense, but for the 5 months of fatbiking here in Edmonton, Alberta, then definitely a worthy investment.
Here in Minneapolis we're almost always in that extra cold range this time of year. My best investments: Top: cheap technical t-shirts you get at charity rides, a UA Cold Gear base layer and a Surly Merino Wool LS Jersey with monkey sleeves. That jersey was expensive but worth every penny. Cover all that with a North Face soft shell jacket that's about the same color as the Bontrager (and half the price at their outlet stores) works fine with a flat bar riding position. Hands: PI 'convertible' Lobster Gloves nestled in Dogwood Designs Pogies. Legs: I bought the OMWs but have favored REI Co-op brand Soft Shell pants - my best gear buy this fall - over a base layer and underliner pad. For feet, merino socks+boot sock with a foot warmer between the two on really cold days....all in Keene Targhee boots. I like to ride flats in the slippery stuff. Head: Endura Baabaa neck gaiter, 45Nrth Greazy Hat, helmet, Giro OTG Index Goggles and a lot of Shea Butter moisturizer on exposed skin - gave up on baclavas that covered my mouth - every one I've ever tried gets soggy and wet. Ride on.
@@13craj LOL. Yeah, weird winter. That said, tomorrow the high is supposed to be 9 and you'll want to be wearing something warm if you're riding that bare ice on Tonka. Cheers!
I commute year round in Spokane, WA. I wear water-proof gortex lined aproach shoes with merino wool socks, varying thickness, depending on weather, and have gortex gators for when it is really sloppy. then rappelling ice climbing gloves, tons of grip, and stays nice and warm. I have merino wool tops and bottoms, keeps moisture away from you, and my shells, a PI jacket and OR outer pant, wind proof, water proof, breathable, and I've been comfortable to -3 degrees so far. the coldest I've had to ride so far. Most of my gear comes from mountaineering with the exception of the jacket. and it all works great in really cold climates.
Thanks Russ for keeping it honest and not a Bontrager commercial, I am waiting for you and Laura to review some Trek bikes next.
Biking here in Alaska, we LOVE the Dogwood Designs pogies. They go to 20 below. Thanks for a timely video, Russ.
Russ, I can spot you in the Bontrager OMW jacket all the way from Canada. Appreciate the reviews.
Russ, Thank you very much for your reviews. Always Good. Take Care and keep warm
I find the Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Convertible pants great for winter riding. They have stretch, zippered side pockets perfect for phone and snacks, repel water and snow, and come in tall lengths. If it gets really cold you can also get them fleece lined. You shouldn’t need 3 layers of pants, just chamois shorts and one pair of pants. Here in Michigan I’ve used them down to -10 F so far. For my head I use a snowboard helmet with ear pads, ski goggles, and balaclava. On my feet I use insulated hiking boots with flat pedals on the fat bike. For hands I like the Sugoi lobster claw gloves down to about 15 F, below that I use 45N Cobrafist pogies.
Great video. I agree that the Castelli Flanders base top is excellent. My favorite gilet is the Endura ProSL. Packs into a baggie-sized stuff-sack and I’m regularly pulling it out for descents. It’s got cut panels in the back for venting. Zip is up and down which helps venting too. Castelli winter bibs are great, but size up their brand, and I’m lean. Paid retail for all.
Winter is all about layering...but nothing beats high quality gloves. Below 20 it’s lobsters and thin liners, and I’ve never tried mitts. I love liners since it allows me to pull off the heavier gloves and not freeze fingers when needing more dexterity for unzipping for snacks and such. Mine allow touchscreen through the fabric for photos, etc.
I love reading about what other people do to stay warm on their bikes in quite cold conditions!
While it doesn't get that cold here in San Diego, I do like to test myself on my winter morning rides where it can be 45 degrees out. I will ride before the sun comes up. So with no sun and a little wind chill, I do need to bundle up and find that I can start warm enough with a pair of bike shorts layered with fleece-lined cannondale bicycle pants. On the top, I wear a base layer, a thick bicycle-specific fleece, and a vest to keep the chilly air of my chest. If there is a lot of moisture in the air due to fog, etc., then I will wear a LS lightweight jacket to keep me dry. It has a two-way zip, so I can easily ventilate. Fleece ear warmers to keep the cold out of my ears. I have a variety of gloves, that I wear depending on the temperature, but mostly wear a $10 pair of winter running gloves that I picked up from Costco.
Russ, great video as always! My family and I are also big into cross country skiing. The gear from that works really well crossing over onto the bike and vice versa. I often see people wearing winter bike jerseys while cross country skiing. The ski pants for nordic skiing are tighter fitting but able to handle the motion of cycling. There are some great options that have wind block panels on the leading edges of your body with different fabrics to ventilate heat on the back. As someone that sweats a lot, it has helped to use some of my ski gear on the bike. Swix and Salomon make some great stuff, although spendy at list price, there are a lot of off season sales and places to get discounts on great ski gear.
I highly recommend trying thermal bibs instead of your normal bibs or shorts. They really help keep you warm under the tighter technical layers. Those are tight because the air gap between the clothes and the body take a lot of energy to heat up and keep warm. Almost all my winter climbing kit is tightly fitted.
+1 I also use some thermal winter bibs from Pearl Izumi when it gets really cold but didn’t dig it out for this vid.
I think that's the best first step. Few layers needed, very warm, the tight fit pants will fit, and it's doubtuful that during these 2-4 months (depending on region) you would need to go less than fleece bibs. If fleece bibs might bee too much, you'll likely be able to tell before you go out.
Thank you for the help.
My lower limit for winter riding is around -20c or -4f. Down low I use a base layer, thin sweat pants and a shell. On top I use a base layer, thin long sleeved shirt and depending on wind either a hardshell or softshell jacket. On my head I used a toque and buff. For my hands I have some leather military surplus mittens with a wool liner and a trigger finger for brakes. And on my feet I use some wool socks, grocery bags taped around my ankles and my 5-10's.
Thanks for the informative reviews.
I find the Sporthill stuff is reasonably priced and manages to keep me warm. A lot of their stuff is made more for cold-weather running and cross-country skiing but still works fine for cycling.
I agree that for cold-weather cycling their is a pretty sharp dividing line around 20F. Although depending on how far and how fast you are riding and your tolerance for pain that line can be more like 15F.
For gloves, I've had good luck with the Pearl Izumi AMFIB Lobster style gloves. My hands and feet are usually cold, but those gloves by themselves keep my hands toasty for my hour long commute. I believe the coldest I've worn them in was 19F with wind that made it feel like 9F.
^^^^ this! Also Victor, do you have issues with sweaty hands in those gloves? Even when it's really cold that ends up happening to me, and I haven't figured out how to get around it.
ericfreef I do. If it’s in the 20s I don’t notice it much. But if it’s over 30 I do. I switch to lighter gloves.
Russ, I have used booties over my normal mountain biking shoes. I have tried two brands over the years. Their cost is usually under $50. With good sock choices and chemical warmers I have used them in temperatures down to 20 Degrees F for 2 hours. The main advantage is that they are easy to get on and take off. They are less expensive (this is helpful if you are not sure if winter riding is for you). Cons are that they can wear out depending on how much you are out of your pedals on the trail. Sometime the velcro version may come undone during the ride requiring you to stop and fix.
One time in the dark I put two on the same foot. While riding I felt cold on the one foot, I thought I had somehow lost it on the trail. I did't find it until I got back and took off my shoes. :)
XC ski clothing can provide plenty of solutions to fatbiking clothing headaches. Both sports are fairly high intensity in cold climates. XC ski pants are particularly good at providing good movement but breathable and mapped wind resistance. Ones with braces are even better over slippery thermal cycling bib longs.
Gloves. There's no argument. Thin gloves and pogies. Far warmer and thin gloves make adjusting layers, eating and photography much easier.
For longer days out and fatbike touring I'll go even more 'pedestrian' and wear Patagonia Backcountry Guide pants (the gold standard of fatbike pants!) and ditch any kind of cycling boot in favour of flat pedals and warm, over-sized backcountry boots like Sorel. Columbia and Vasque, among others, do good options. Any boot with a removable liner is an excellent idea when fatbike touring, so you can bring the liner into your sleeping bag at night and not have to put your feet into freezing cold boots in the morning!
Compression socks help with cold feet by increasing blood flow which keeps the inside of your boot warm longer.
45nrth Cobrafist pogies. I don't wear gloves under mine down to (so far!) -18*C while fatbiking. Worst wind I've ridden in so far with them was 90+ km/h. I bring gloves/mitts for when I'm off the bike.
"if you get stupid cold..." Classic!
On a bike in Toronto in winter we wear cross country ski thermals.
At 0 degrees C or 32 degree F or a little lower, I use lined fingered ski gloves with a large thin waterproof, windproof mitten on top. On feet, I use soft Goretex hiking shoes with merino wool socks then a Vaude overshoe on top to cut the wind. I wear a base layer of merino wool underwear on legs and body, then a shirt and sweater and finally a ski jacket. On legs I wear snowboard pants over the underwear, and padded cycling shorts. The fingers and toes are the most susceptible to cold and the system here is good for about an hour and a half of riding. Fingers and toes will be cold but not frozen. I'm going to experiment with Heatholder socks, BlackDiamond Mercury Mittens and Toe warmers when I purchase them to see if I can stay warmer.
Great review Russ! We get nearly all of our cycling gear, including winter gear, from Aldi here in the UK. Great quality stuff at bargain prices! No I’m not sponsored! Lol!
Great Marino wool products too. Like yourself we’re not big into the Lycra look, so a lot of our warmer gear is actually hiking gear.
Did you ever try the Bontrager boot without the inner liner? I'd like to try it with a Smartwool Mountaineering sock or something similar. Might not have to size up quite so much as well.
Check out Black Diamond gloves. They have been my go to glove for anything winter ever since their inception(Ice Climbing, skiing and building a snowman). Currently, I have a 10+ year old version that would sit between the Guide and Pursuit. They are the warmest I've ever used.
You need no expensive gear to get you down to at least zero-degrees F. One main tip: moisture and temp control are tough to gauge and critical: you don't want to be cold the entire time, but sweat is your mortal enemy. With my gear, the time I'm most comfortable is in the teens, where the heat I generate balances the efficiency of my clothing.
Some small tips:
-thin no-seam undergarments with average polyester sweats works just fine
-2 pairs of socks: a good wool blend over a pair of over-the-calf liners
-insulated leather "work gloves" get you down the high teens. After that, I go to insulated driving gloves inside of mittens. At zero F or below, I now add warming pads to be on the "safe side". You don't really want to mess with frostbite.
-oversized work boots, layered with that thin bubble-wrap packaging (no, I'm not kidding). At zero F, you might want the warming pads
-layered headwear; with everything else adequately covered, your head is where you control your heat loss.
Thanks
The pogies I have won't fit on the Jones bars I put on my fat bike, so I looked at other outdoor gear I have for hand wear. I came up with gloves made by the clam corporation. They are made primarily for ice fishing. My hands literally get too warm until about -10. About the only cycle specific clothing I wear for winter riding is some soft shell windproof pants by Aero tech. Layering is the key and dress so you're chilly when you start your ride so you won't be a sweaty mess when you get done.
Have you tried Little Hotties Toe Warmers? I have Raynauds Syndrome(aka zero circulation to the extremities at times) and have spent a lot of money on electric boot warmers and expensive socks but the Toe Warmers just plain work!! 2 pairs of socks the first being a thin smartwool sock with toe warmers along top of toes layed at an angle then a med weight wool sock over top.
Forget the bulky gloves and get some pogies! You can use light gloves and keep warm even at minus 40!
And, Costco toe hot pockets are awesome to put on top of your toes to ensure your toes stay toasty. Just make sure they have about 20 minutes to generate heat before putting your feet in the boots.
for a base layer i use under armour cold gear, not very expensive and works really well
Russ, I'm from Syracuse NY and we get our fair share of cold and snow. What I wear for pants when it's below the teens is my Mt. Hardware compressor pants. They're awesome. You can tighten them up around the boot, your waist and they have a full length zipper at the bottom and the top so if you heat up too much, you unzip and all is good. A climate control. Check em out. Been using them for years and they still make them the same.
Russ, what do you shoot your trail and riding footage with? Chest mounted GoPro?
Thanks,
Hero Session. Been experimenting with the Insta360 R lately.
That castelli base layer is fantastic. Dries out really well
But very expensive
It is spendy but pretty similar to the old Ibex stuff.
For $180 you can by Milwaukee heated gloves. Keeps you warm for 6 hours.
If you don't have to worry about moisture, $35 Adidas soccer warmup pants are tough to beat. With long underwear underneath, I can be comfortable at 20. The materials wears well in the crotch, unlike some more expensive technical fabrics. Tapered legs with zippers also fit the bill.
GLOVES: Over the last few years I have invested hundreds of dollars for winter cycling gloves, and none worked well in cold weather. Then I got Bar Mitts. Bar Mitts work well. But when I'm riding on drop bars I like to take my gloved hands off the hoods, i.e. out of the Bar Mitts, and ride with my hands on other parts of the handlebars. So I still need to wear gloves. However once my gloved hands were no longer protected by the Bar Mitts, or even when my gloved hands were inside the Bar Mitts, I found that most of the cycling specific gloves I had didn't keep my hands warm in temps below 20 to 25 degrees. Then one day I wore a pair of cheap wool gloves that also have Thinsulate insulation, that I had laying around. Eureka! These inexpensive wool gloves work better at keeping my hands warm than any of the "high dollar" Giro or Pearl Izumi winter gloves I own.
I have had these wool work gloves for a number of years. So I don't recall where I purchased them, or how much I paid. But I'm seeing what appears to be a similar wool glove on Amazon for about $20. The gloves I have also have these black gripper things (like small black dots) on the palms and fingers.
The wool gloves I have allow easy manipulation of the brake/shift levers. And the wool gloves seem to keep my hands warmer whether my hands are inside the Bar Mitts on the hoods, or if I'm riding on the bar tops.
On January 1st, 2019, I did a one and one half hour ride on a road bike. It was 8*F when I left the house, 14 degrees F when I returned after a 90 minute ride. I was riding a bike with Bar Mitts, with my hands on the hoods for 90% of the ride, 10% on the tops. I was wearing the inexpensive wool gloves. My hands were never cold.
I suggest that inexpensive wool gloves with Thinsulate might be worth a try. They seem to work well for my purposes.
One other piece of gear I wear when temps drop below 30*F is a snow boarding/ski helmet. The type that also covers one's ears. On days when temps are below 20*, I pair the ski helmet with a balaclava. I find that a ski helmet, either with or without a balaclava, keeps my head warmer than a cycling helmet (with a cover over it) and balaclava.
I assume the old man winter pant is designed with thermal tights in mind. Most winter days I start with thermal bibs as a minimum which the old man winter pants could easily fit over. A rain pant is helpful for me, especially as higher speeds, as half the time the problem is it's windy. Once the winds is cut, you produce all the warmth you need. I also don't mind sweating when riding uphill in the winter.
Is the Bontrager boot too tight for width or length? Do you know your width? Or do that have nothing to do with it?
The boot is two sizes larger than my normal shoe. It is oversized plenty. The opening is just a hard angle and the booty can get caught as you put your foot inside.
How about your choice of head and face gear, do you use anything worth mentioning?
Just two Buffs. One wool and one synthetic.
Have you tried using the internal sock of the black boot in the 45 north boot.
Good idea, but would have to size up.
The men in our skiing group used to swear by wearing women's Nylon pantihose as thin, very effective warmth maintenance under thick insulated long pants.
Interesting. This is only our 2nd winter in a place that actually has winter, so still figuring things out.
Surplus store for cheap insulting layers sounds like a soild idea. Do you shell out the cash for waterproof socks or just not worry about it because you have decent waterproof boots?
Both boots are waterproof, so have been using wool socks.
I've never felt insulted by surplus gear, but they do keep me warm (sorry couldn't resist).
Lined jeans with a rubber band Sherpa lined flannel kinco gloves beanie under helmet
How do you like the waterproof gloves? I have been thinking of getting a pair of those because the 38° rain is not very fun, haha
Haven't had much rain since I got the gloves. I've used several styles in the past and they all seem to do well with intermittent rain, but I've yet to find one that stays waterproof after a serious deluge.
My winter biking has been in Newfoundland where it is the snow is fairly wet. I've used a wool liner glove inside of a lobster mitt. Pants have been army fleece leggings with a stretchy pair of hiking pants with rain pants on top. For my torso, wool or poly base layer, Patagonia R1 fleece, Patagonia Nano air, and Patagonia Triolet coat. I've currently acquired a pair or Lowa winter boots that have been awesome but haven't used them for biking yet.
Are the Montana winters wet? Or a dry cold? I'm currently living in High Level, Alberta.
Where we are, the winters are mostly dry and cold.
@@PathLessPedaledTV That sounds like a dream!
Thanks for sharing about our cleat covers. Could we share your video to our Social Media page and website?
Yes
I have the Wolvhammer boots (though not the fancy Red Wing edition that Russ was sent!) and I'll second everything said about them here-for my purposes (sub-60 minute commutes around town, sometimes with multiple legs on one trip) they've been pretty much ideal in the very warm winter we've been having where I live. There have been a few 20 and below days and with nice thick socks they've held up extremely well.
Anyone here commute to work in the very cold and have a good solution for legwear that's easy to get out of once you arrive at work? I've just been wearing regular pants and while, again, my commute is pretty short, my legs get super chilly when it's much below freezing and/or there's winds over 5 mph or so. I wonder if those fleece legging things he mentioned would help that at all-would prolly need to size up a bit for mobility.
Laura sometimes commutes in with thin rain paints that goes over her regular work attire.
Lower body.... crafter storm 2.0 pants.... fine with only padded shorts.
Feet.... any 1000 gram thinsulate boot.
Upper body..... craft extreme base, Revelate Design powerline hoody.
Any outer-shell you’d like.
I’ve been fatbiking in Northern Mn. since ‘07
It's only our 2nd winter so we're just figuring things out.
Path Less Pedaled keep at it!! You’ll learn slowly but surely..... if I can say one thing... don’t get discouraged.
What has worked for me over the years..... is starting cold (when standing around), bring different layers, warm jacket/s with you..... if you find the need for them you’ll have them.
Good luck, and stay #supple
Mistakes I made today: wearing my summer flat shoes in the snow with non-waterproof socks. It turns out that even if you have the gear, you have to wear it. Weird, right? :-)
Thanks for the reviews! I've been looking for some better boots that'll grip the pedal better in cold weather. It's a bit challenging, since I'm trying to find some that are vegan, or at least vegetarian.
Try some bread bags over your socks and taped around your ankles. Normally I would pair that with some wool socks in my 5-10's and for most rides I was toasty.
@@patricklogan313 ah, yeah, that would have worked. I have some showers pass waterproof socks, I just forgot to wear them today. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@tawanga Typically wool. Leather isn't vegetarian for obvious reasons, but wool doesn't necessitate killing the animal, so it's vegetarian. :-)
Try the Kinko Ski Mitt/Glove. 20ish bucks on amazon. Kept my hands warm in below zero over an hour of riding. Nothing better, or cheaper that does the job. Period.
Also - they are tough, have used them four four winters now. Bike riding tears up gloves. All of the bike specific gloves out there REALLY skimp on quality and are WAY over priced. Avoid at all costs.
Agree! I have waterproofed mine and use for skiing as well. I wear mine with a silk liner when Very cold. Below 15 I use poggies
did you say OLD MAN winter pants ?
Gettin' Fleecey! LOL!
Please HELP I work in the snow I bike for like 8/9 hours some days I made it last year but looking to survive and thrive this year what brand boot do I get to keep my toesies warm?? I'm looking into glacier Sorel but not sure if that'll cut it
The problem for me is I'm a big clyde, I sweat and then it chills me and I die of pneumonia. Do you have any solutions for that?
Multiple thin layers. Ride with less intensity.
Pit zips on your top shell layer-or at absolute minimum, a shell that you can unzip from both the bottom and the top.
Merino wool baselayers
“Mid twenties” every rider from Texas: um what’s that?
I’ve found multiple layers more effective than just one.
If your feet are cold it's because your legs are not insulated enough!
Whatever the thrift store has. You spend $1000 or more. I'm around $25.
Yay. You get militant pragmatist award.
@@PathLessPedaledTV .. Do I sense a little sarcasm? Lol. Funny guy. I grew up over here by Glacier with holes in my shoes and bags on my feet. I got the money for whatever I need, I just like like to be a militant pragmatist. For old times sake.
How are you not a sweaty mess 1/2 way through your ride???
You should check out www.foxwear.net.... Lou will hook you up for a 1/3 of the price those over priced OMW rags!!
Clearly, I don't wear all the layers at once. Just usually just the thin baselayer and midlayer.
Path Less Pedaled LOL I realize that.... are you sweat hog?
That’s where I’m coming from as a sweat hog myself.
@@Saccojoe Yeah. Definitely have a hard time managing sweat.
@@PathLessPedaledTV how do you address hand sweat? I have good gloves but often it's just a matter of time before it gets all damp in there and then there's no avoiding cold hands :/
Are you kidding me! Bontrager OMW pants are incredibly well made, super comfy, breathable, well fitted, and engineered specifically for winter riding.
I wear a thin base layer underneath and they're good down to -15ºC (5ºF), below that, I use a thermal base layer, good for -20ºc and lower.