Styles of Shoe Covers for Colder Weather

This style of overshoe is practical.

Riding on asphalt does not get the overshoes that muddy, and they can be washed in washing machine. They do not require any more ongoing cleaning than normal clothes, but are significantly easier to clean than shoes. The zipper shown in photo is sealed type, so dirt that could possibly jam it can be wiped off before opening the zipper.

The procedure for putting on the shoe covers is simple: first shoes, then covers. There is no rule that prevents putting on both shoes and shoe covers before leaving house.

If you don't have cleats (ie clipless) then there are other shoe cover styles as well.

I own some waterproof-fabric overshoes that have a complete sole with no holes. They zip up the inner-side nearest the bike, and have some tread to assist with walking. They are waterproof and don't breathe, so you do end up getting damp from sweat. And they're tall enough that the tops are well under any over trouser cuffs. You can wear any shoe inside that fits.

However these are more for rain/water and less about warmth.

Second option is to carry your normal shoes (or leave them at work) and wear temperature-appropriate shoes, like snow boots.

Third - I have been known to wear normal gumboots with two layers of socks on the inside. In combination with overtrousers on the outside, these work well at shedding water. Downside is they're a little slippery on the pedals.

Additionally, you might choose to combine shoes with a warming solution, like:

1. super-saturated saline packs used as hand-warmers. Activate, then tuck one in somewhere near your ankle for warmth. Don't pressurise, they're very salty water inside.
   
2. electrically-heated socks/boots
   
   These can be powered by their own batteries, or there are some systems that use a drill battery for power.
3. Add thermal leg warmers/tights. I have some thermal tights that are fleecy on the inside, and they are uncomfortably warm inside. This helps get the warmth from your core all the way down your leg.
4. Try pedalling harder - this will work your leg muscles more, generating heat which will keep the whole leg and therefore foot warmer.

I need these covers as a solution to feet getting too cold, and nearly numb, at just 12°C/54°F.

You then probably are not accustomed to cold climates. Two days ago I rode 20km at around 6°C and only made a mental note to switch to warmer shoes and gloves the next day when the forecasted temperature was going to be few degrees colder. Neither my feet nor my hands were nearly numb.

I used to have these kinds of shoe covers long time ago when I was a poor student. I didn't have enough money to purchase two sets of cleated shoes -- one for summer costing around 50 euros, and one for winter costing around 100 euros. I only had the summer shoes and then shoe covers for winter. I found that it was a pain to mount the shoe covers, so what I did was to always have the shoe covers partially mounted. Then when using the shoes, I only had to roll the ends of the shoe cover on the shoes and my feet.

The neoprene shoe covers I used to have were very cheap -- so I suspect a better shoe cover would be less pain to mount.

A problem with this kind of approach of using cheap shoe covers is that mounting the shoe covers is so difficult that it's not reasonable to look at the weather forecast and decide on a day-by-day basis whether the shoe covers are needed. You should partially mount the shoe covers late in the autumn when it's going to become cold, use the shoe covers for the winter season, and when the temperatures permanently rise again, remove the shoe covers.

If you have enough money for a second pair of winter shoes, I would recommend that approach instead. Shoe covers are a poor solution -- mounting them is difficult and it's far better to design the shoe to be useful for winter rather than adding a poor hack on top of it.