Essential winter clothing?

I tried those a few winters ago, sadly they did nothing.

I ordered some wollie boolie ones. Will post something up once I try them in anger.

I've not tried them for rides over 2hrs yet, but the DeFeet Woolie Boolies I got for Christmas are amazing.

Waterproof gloves?

My current long finger gloves are Gore Windstopper which do nothing in the wet.

I guess - is it worth shelling out for goretex or just get the Aldi type ones?

Also fingers vs lobsters / mitts?

Waterproof gloves are pointless, your hands will just sweat really.
I do have some Gore gloves, but never use them.

I use polartec ones. They keep your hands warm, and will keep them dry in all but the most torrential storms. Even when wet, they'll stay warm.

http://rab.equipment/uk/accessories-equipment/gloves/phantom-grip-glove

There has been a whole discussion here; https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/138186/?offset=2100#comment13353289

Great; thanks

I've just bought a Lusso Aero+ windproof winter jacket thing. Like this.

I've got some other Lusso stuff, including the Repel Corsa jersey and armwarmers, which are awesome. They've seen me through all but the coldest couple of days this year (in fact, they were fine for last week's sleet blizzard night until I got to the station and started cooling down, but I fancy something properly warm.

Also, Lusso stuff is designed and actually made in UK, which is nice :) I'll keep you posted as to just how lovely and warm it is.

So I got my lusso windtex aero+ jacket for cheap from ebay.

It's amazing. No windchill at all through it, good fit, nice long collar and arms and warm enough for just a long sleeve base layer underneath today. I'm glad I got it for cheap, but if I'd paid full price I wouldn't feel like I'd been ripped off.

Has anyone else used the Castelli Nanoflex+ knee warmers? I'm having real trouble with mine, they keep sliding down, won't stay up at all. I started with a medium and then exchanged for a small hoping a snugger fit might help but it hasn't. I don't have any trouble with my much cheaper DHB ones.

I have to wash them frequently to have them retain their shape, otherwise I get the slidey down thing. They are fine right after a wash.

I might give this a go, cheers! Today was my first day using them, bit disappointed really.

I console myself with the fact that I got them on massive clearance when I bought them.

I've had a pair for a couple of years and they've always stayed in place and been faultless. So bought a second pair a few months back and this pair slip. Perhaps they've had a redesign and are now not as good. It's a shame.

Bumping this. I'm trying to get prepared now so I'm ready for the cold weather when it comes.

I'm looking for waterproof overshoes. Recommendations please.
Was going to just get velotoze but reviews of tearing have put me off a little. I'm happy with zip up ones as long as they're not baggy and cumbersome

I got a set of tenn ones last winter that were remarkably good, were less than a tenner and kept my feet toasty and dry. I then bought a set of similar dayglo tenn ones, same size, to keep in my Brompton bag and they were baggy and weird fitting.

More recently, I got some Craft toe covers off ebay for £3 and they've been great. Kept my shoes shiny and stopped the vast majority of water getting in.

Velotoze would be a nightmare for a commuter. Apart from being fragile (don't walk), they are a bastard to get on and off: you need to pull the whole thing up around your ankle, put your shoe on and then pull them down over your shoe.

Race use only.

They're all varying degrees of shit IME, but the length of your commute (and how much of it is wet) will effect that. Most act like a wetsuit, trapping warm water inside (that'll be the neoprene), or they'll trap your sweat and you'll end up just as wet (oh hai Velotoze).

Better off investing in some proper winter boots: you won't trash your summer shoes, nor waste time and effort trying to block their vents.

Either way, if you're riding in the wet long enough, your leggings will wick water into your socks. Pearl Izumi Elite AmFIB solve this with an external gaiter: I've done an almost entirely wet 200k audax with them and only the very top of my socks were slightly damp.

1. Dont ride in rain
   
2. Mudguards
   
3. Zwift
   
4. See 1
   

I was only going to get the toe covers for this reason. Only a 40 minute commute.
But I was considering some boots too

Again, recommendations?

Looking for a good, ideally cheap winter cap. Needs to keep my nut warm and dryish (or failing that, wet but warm) for 9ish hours per day. What should I be looking at?

I got a pair of barely worn Louis Garneau off here (I think) about five years ago: still going strong.

I like them because rather than being a proper boot, they are shoes with an integrated gaiter, so you have more ankle movement. And being Canadian, they're proper toasty. And they take 2 or 3 bolt cleats.

Not much use to you though, as a quick Duckle suggests they no longer make them.

TBF for 40 minutes, you could probably live with overshoes assuming it's not bucketing down for all of those 40 minutes.

Mudguards and wool socks

Had a real unpleasant winter last year with this approach.

Could I ask? Was planning something like this...

Bread bags and elastic bands.