Please tell me about winter boots?

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Please tell me about winter boots?

27 posts & 16 voices | Started 7 months ago by bigsi | Latest reply from 40mpg

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bigsi - Member

After this mornings commute i started considering the need for some winter boots, again!

I normally look at them & try different ones on but never seem to be able to put my hand in my pocket & shell out the £125 ish that they are going to cost. This is partly i guess as i don't really know if they are going to make that much difference to my normal shoes with thick/winter socks?

I'm slightly limited in which ones i can go for having size 13 feet which are also quite a wide fit. Shimano aren't wide enough.

So i guess my questions are -

* Will it make that much difference?
* Are they worth the money?
* Would I be just as happy with some decent winter socks & my normal riding shoes?
* Which winter shoes are worth the money & which should i avoid?
* Has anyone seen any deals on winter shoes that could save me some money?

Cheers

Posted 7 months ago #
Pimpmaster Jazz - Member
* Will it make that much difference?
* Are they worth the money?
* Would I be just as happy with some decent winter socks & my normal riding shoes?
* Which winter shoes are worth the money & which should i avoid?
* Has anyone seen any deals on winter shoes that could save me some money?
- Yes.
- Just as happy? No.
- I love my Shimano MW80s, but obviously not for you. Saying that, have you tried the MT91? I have friends that really rate the earlier versions, especially as a hike-a-bike boot.
- No. Winter's coming.
Posted 7 months ago #
z1ppy - Member

Personnally I've gone through three pairs of winter boots over the last number years. Once you get a good set you'll know there worth while.
One set I had that were great as a waterproof boot but pathetic as a winter boot: NorthWave Celsius... though in fairness they may well have updated them to something useful since then.

Shimano MT80's for me, waterproof & warm which for me is the the point of them & makes cold winter riding an option, not a torture. I see in the OP Shimano aren't an option for you, but still thought it worth mentioning that I've found them to be a good boot.
It is possible to get through winter with your normal boots, warm sock and some overshoes but I always found personnally them more hassle than it's worth.
But it's a cheap options, that should be onsidered as they 'can' work quite well.

EDIT: I also have a set of MT91's, great boot warm and waterproof but the large open collar is a bugger for letting excessive amounts of water... hense why I then got the MT80's (much better but obviously not perfect). There are cheap winter boots on sale, but there going cheap for a reason IMO...

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

What is size 13 in Euro sizes?

I take a size 50 in euro, and have just bought some lake winter boots which are fantastic thay are quite wide to start with compared to most cycle shoes, and also come in wide fittings. Sidi are the only other make that go up to that size, and have wide fittings, and their soles are slippy as greased up slippy stuff.

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

OK, just looked at the size comparison size chart, you want a euro 50 so same as me, shimano stop at 48. My recommendation go for the Lake!

Posted 7 months ago #
MrTall - Member

With your size feet you'll struggle as most people seem to suggest sizing up if you can.

I bought my first set last winter (Spesh Defroster) and i'm a size 12 (think i got size 48 in these). They are just about ok but i doubt i'd be able to get a 2nd pair of socks on which would be nice. They are a bit warmer than my other shoes but my feet still get cold, but then my feet are a lot further away from my body than most peoples!

The other thing i have tried was buying a cheap set of Diadora shoes from CRC in their sale for around £30 in a size 49 so that i could fit on a few pairs of socks. Not as waterproof for wet rides obviously but pretty warm except on the days well below zero.

Posted 7 months ago #
fasthaggis - Member

Boots are great.
Use them on and off road over the winter,and don't have to worry about forgetting overshoes if the weather turns bad.

You might be leaving it a bit late to pick up any bargains ( in the good brands) though

Buy a size up FTW

Posted 7 months ago #
ransos - Member

Diadora boots leak and the zips break. Apart from that, they're brilliant.

Posted 7 months ago #
fasthaggis - Member

Diadora boots leak and the zips break

Aye they did ,but the new ones without the zips were better.

Use Shimano MW80s now.

Posted 7 months ago #
ransos - Member

Aye they did ,but the new ones without the zips were better.

I had a cobbler stitch in some new zips (this was my second pair, the first pair were replaced under warranty. They've been fine since, which suggests it was poor manufacturing rather than a poor design.

Posted 7 months ago #
bigsi - Member

Sorry i forgot to say that as they will be used 3 times a week for commuting then i really want them to be waterproof as well.

Now. Where id i leave that moon on a stick.......

MSP where did you get your Lake's from? I've had some Lake summer shoes which i loved but few places seem to stock them that i can find

Posted 7 months ago #
neil853 - Member

Tried a decent pair of overshoes? Transformed my winter commuting. Can't comment on the sizing though as I have midget feet (compared to you) but I thought my MT500 overshoes were great

(I do have MW80's however which I also think are fantastic)

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

I bought my mx140's from a German shop, a quick google says they can"t be had anymore, I probably got the last size 50 in the country (good price too). Check here for the newer models

http://www.saltdogcycling.com/brands/Lake-Cycling-Shoes.html?page=2&sort=featured.

I think wiggle also stock them, as do rose bikes and hibike in Germany.

Its a problem having feet this size, can never try stuff on, have to buy mail order and fath around with returns if they don't fit.

Posted 7 months ago #
spacemonkey - Member

Tried a decent pair of overshoes? Transformed my winter commuting. Can't comment on the sizing though as I have midget feet (compared to you) but I thought my MT500 overshoes were great

Don't they just fall apart at the back though?

EDIT: how much bigger was the size you went for? E.g. size 8 shoe = size 10 overshoe.

Posted 7 months ago #
ransos - Member

I thought the MT500s were very poor - they wore through very quickly. If you can't walk more than a couple of paces without breaking them, they're not much use. The road ones are better, but make your feet sweaty on long rides.

Posted 7 months ago #
Munqe-chick - Member

What about this thread ....

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/winter-mtb-shoes

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

Shimano are the only overshoes that I have found to go big enough, they do a 49-51 size.

These are good, they have a lite inner overshoe for autumn and spring then you add the heavier overshoe for deep winter, still not as good as a winter boot though.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/shimano-rain-overshoes-multifunktion-2-in-1/aid:441260

Posted 7 months ago #
jimbobrighton - Member

personally I just use Shimano MP66 shoe with some waterproof socks.

at the end of the day I've yet to find a waterproof combo for cycling unless you wear full length trousers (which I hate) as the water just runs down your leg and into your socks/shoes - answer is to just wear something that keeps you at least half-warm when wet. and, as with most winter cycling comfort issues, it's either a case of accepting you're going to have shorter rides, or MTFU.

I normally ride a bit less

Posted 7 months ago #
bigsi - Member

I have used overshoes for the past 2 winters & where as they work to a fashion have you ever tried buying off road overshoes in anything big enough to go over a pair of size 13 shoes..... they just don't exist. I konw they will stretch but you just end up going through the back of them which is what has happened to mine.

Cheers for the link MSP. Looks like they only have size 41's left but i'll try the other places as well.

Posted 7 months ago #
soops - Member

I love my MW80's too. Even better with woolie bullie socks on.

Posted 7 months ago #
Love Tubs - Member

Used overshoes = toe cover popped up and off a few times, PITA while night riding as first indication is cold ..erm toes! Didn't want to start that glue faffing so bined that method.

Purchased these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gaerne-eskimo-mtb-shoes/ = fantastic....until it's raining/huge puddle action; no good for MTB IMO.

Purchased these http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31693 = infinitely better, very happy with them.

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

@ bigsi YHM.

Posted 7 months ago #
2tyred - Member

I wear the road version of the Shimano boots (RW80?) on the commute and on the road throughout the winter and while they prevent cold feet, I think they're pretty useless at keeping water out. I guess this is because water runs down your leg to the 'sock' bit then soaks through this to the lining. Even with overshoes they end up soaking.

Does anyone have any tips for waterproofing them a bit?

Posted 7 months ago #
MSP - Member

wear winter tights over the top off the ankle opening.

Posted 7 months ago #
Big Pete - Member

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=16847

http://www.cyclesportsuk.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=8407

Posted 7 months ago #
40mpg - Member

I've got some older Lake boots which are still going strong - very warm and cosy, waterproof, and pittards leather so I just give them a rinse and re-wax now and then.

I know later models had problems with quality - heel stitching coming undone - but mine have been great. Riding with warm feet makes all the difference.

Ps got a size up from normal and use go-outdoors cheap merino socks for extra cosyness

Posted 7 months ago #
40mpg - Member

Waterproofing MW80's - a mate has made gaiters out of a short bit of wetsuit leg to get a tighter fit between leg and over the top of the boot. Seems to work.

Posted 7 months ago #

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