Specialized Defroster Boots Price: £99.99 From: Specialized 020 8391 3500 www.specialized.com Tested: Several downpours Reviewed: Singletrack Magazine – Issue 39 A decent pair of winter boots is long overdue from the (other) Big S. In all other fields, they rival both Shimano and Sidi in popularity and (for me at least) usually exceed both in ergonomics and fit. It’s good to see that they’ve done their homework and not just come out with a slightly less vented racing shoe or DH boot. The Defroster is a ground-up boot designed purely to work well in the winter slop. For a start, the faux leather and nylon upper features no vents, and it does have two easy to use Velcro straps and a Velcro neoprene cuff to seal off the top of the boots. The sole of the shoe features a nylon sole with chunky Specialized tread and full Body Geometry features (yay!) and a provision for two toe studs (double yay!). And that’s it. No other bells or whistles, the way it should be. In use, the boots are waterproof to about 4in, to the point that water comes over the top of the neoprene inner cuff. They’re not particularly warm, but that’s no bad thing. There is room for you to add warmth with wooly socks, rather than having a too-hot shoe and this opens up the Defrosters to be used from autumn to the final warmth of late spring. For everything from winter slogs, dark road miles and frozen ‘cross runups, the Defrosters are great. They won’t blend in with your work clothes and are definitely riding shoes rather than walking boots with cleats. Overall: It’s great to finally get Specialized’s BG features in a winter boot. All warm socks and nothing will stop you. Chipps
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Love mine, only critisism is a slight nag at the neoprene cuff closure (for me). Just can’t seem to get it quite as snug as I’d like. Not horrendous but always seem to leave a little ruck in the cuff.
Otherwise recommended.
I’ve used these shoes for the past winter season here in Oregon, and they are superb! I swear by Specializeds shoes and won’t wear any others, and had been waiting for them to do a winter boot. As your review mentions, they aren’t super hot, so you can wear them across a range of temps (I’ve worn them as cold as 25F and as warm as in the 60’s F). We get plenty of rain here, and they’re great. They also seem to hold up well. I’ve watched other guys go through the Lake and Pearl Izumi boots/have various problems, none with these so far. I highly recommend them.
I had a pair of these shoes, they leaked like a sieve I don’t think they are a match for the british weather. I can’t recommend these shoes.
Without waterproof trousers over the top, NO shoe is completely waterproof, due to the big hole where your foot goes. Having said that, these are as close as you’ll get and with a decent pair of wolly socks they’re warm too.