Essential winter clothing?

A slightly lighter alternative to Woolie Boolies are Decathlon's Merin blend winter socks, they're also a bargain at about £8 https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-winter-cycling-socks-3-pack-3-colours/_/R-p-9475?mc=8396773&c=BLACK

Looks like there's also a Merino Primaloft blend as well: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/700-winter-cycling-socks/_/R-p-9519?mc=8549196&c=BLACK

I have the cheaper ones and they're great for when the weather is cold, but not freezing. They wash well too. Woolie Boolies seem to last forever as well. I think my oldest pair is well over 5 years old.

Think the Dexshell socks we used in Scotland costs £25 a pair. We sent one pair back as the top was all cracked but the pairs we took worked well for us. For road stuff I normally use Woolie Boolie and if it's cold winter shoes. But I also suffered for years with no real options due to midfoot so my feet have no nerves in them these days to complain. "Shut up, feet!"

I'm still using old PX merino socks. They're much thinner but if it's not super cold they're fine for me in most cases.

2nd'd.
I've just binned a pair of their winter bibs (with pad) after literally wearing through them in the seat area. They've done a lot of road and off road winter miles over about 5 seasons. New pair already on order. Compared to a cheap pair of DHB tights I picked up for emergency wear, they're in another league.

Another vote for Lusso bib tights here (mine unpacked)

Anyone have any opinons on Vans MTE shoes? My feet are getting too cold again, cannot get chill blains again. The wind chill really seems to be the problem, tend to be okay when riding with cleats and overshoes but in trainers it is no fun.

Can’t help re the vans but for all day city riding in winter I wear boots instead of trainers. Had a pair of wills vegan shoes dock boots and another set of palladiums. Both were comfy and warm enough :)

warmest bib tights possible? Ive never had warm legs in winter so cant think being overly hot will be an issue.

Would imagine wind proof tights would go a good way to helping warmth. Do gore or sportful still do them?

Assos gt bonka . Expensive but they are my go to for the winter.

Double layer a 2/3 unpadded bib with a winter bib.

Anyone got woolie bollie and darn tough? What would be the equivalent thickness in darn tough?

Following a recoomendation upthread last Winter,
and a chat wth the people at Trekkit,
I purchased 2 pairs of : Darn Tough Mountain Sock Micro Crew Extra Cushion Smoke

The large size is big enough that with size 11 feet
I can also wear Bridgedale merino liners for very cold weather
and still fit in my EU48 Shimano SW700 Winter boots

I would say probably the "cushion" ones are similar, e.g. https://www.trekitt.co.uk/clothing/socks/darn-tough-mens-hiker-micro-crew-cushion-black__33490

"Full cushion" and "extra cusion" are even thicker.

Thanks. Is cushion just thickness or is it padding for actual cushioning?

After Saturday's ride I am definitely I need of some winter shoes. Shimano mw5 or 7, are the 7s worth the extra coin?

It pretty much comes down to if you crave boa or not.

I'll go with the MW5 then. Cheers

Just thickness

Thanks. Will go full cushion then.

Not a particularly stylish question, but I fancy an insulated gilet, mainly as my trusty old (very knackered) castelli alpha jersey has a zip up insulation layer that’s fantastic

Orange/red’ish preferred

Forum favourite Albion at an eye watering £140, la passione at £125 but with branded polartec alpha, or Galibier at £50

Anyone anything to say about Galibier? They do two versions, one seemingly lighter with a more “pro” cut than the other.

Do like the endura pro primaloft (it's quite race cut if that's what you want) that's on sale at sigma for £71 in orange if you are XS-M.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Endura/Pro-SL-Primaloft-Gilet-II/NMZ3

Yep that was my first choice, but feedback (think on here) was that the zip is rubbish: hard to use, gets stuck and breaks, hence looking elsewhere

I've been eyeing up the £20 decathlon one.

Decathlon all the way for running, but I couldn’t bring myself to wear their stuff for cycling. Or dhb for that matter whom also have a v good insulated gilet. (Or rapha, but that’s another story)

Yeah the endura zip is shite which is a shame as it was a really nice bit of kit. Can't remember if I moaned on here about or not.