I'm riding a lot at the moment - loving it. Big 30 mile commute on epic northern Scottish back lanes. I'm currently doing 6 journeys a week (sometimes drive in, ride home then ride back in the next day and drive home etc). Averaging 160miles a week and want to keep on going right through on all bar the stupidly icey or windy days.
My winter road shoes (demoted years ago from 12 month a year shoes that now live permanently inside a set of overshoes) are pretty much stuffed - ripped one of the Velcro straps off yesterday. But then I bought them in 1999 so I think they have done their time!
Question(s) for those who have gone down the winter boots for road cycling route....Are they significantly warmer that a relatively non mesh shoe and chunky neoprene overshoe? And, do you find them restrictive to your ankle flexibility cycling?
Ta
I've used (the same pair of) Shimano MW80s for the past 8/9 "winters". The reality is that I drag them out around October and wear them until April. I've not done that sort of mileage in them though as I'm mixing up my riding.
I can't say that they've ever felt clumsy or restrictive at the ankle.
Definitely warmer than a normal shoe, though I still wear a neoprene overshoe when it's particularly cold/wet.
I use northwave celcius, as above, a chunk warmer than an overshoe, although you can double up if you want extra warmth. Doesn't feel clumsy at all. Ice on the roads puts me off way before foot temperature does, its bloody horrible when you can be put down, hard, at a moments notice
merlin has them cheap at the moment
I use northwave celcius
2nd those, they work a treat 🙂
Yep, Northwave Celsius for me too, well worth the outlay. So much more convenient than faffing around with overshoes.
IME winter boots are loads better than shoes/overshoes (as well as less hassle).
I had some Specialized Deforsters which I really liked, but they were the 3-bolt road cleat versions and I wanted something to use offroad as well so I sold them on. I've now got Northwave Raptors and find them to be a better shoe in general anyway - the neoprene cuff is much more effective than the velcro one on the defrosters. I think they're a bit less insulated than the celcius ones, but that's been OK for me - I'd pribably look at the celcius if I was likely to spend more time in the super-cold.
I use RW5 winterboots. They are a revelation, as long as the ends of your waterproof bib tights are over the cuff to stop water running in.
I've had a pair of Specialized Defroster winter boots (actually MTB but they do a road version, I think) for nearly ten years and worn them every winter. Much better than overshoes.
I’ve had a pair of Specialized Defroster winter boots (actually MTB but they do a road version, I think) for nearly ten years and worn them every winter. Much better than overshoes.
+1
Yep, mine are from mid 2000s I think.
I was looking for the road Defrosters the other day as I really like my mtb ones but they don't seem to be made/stocked anymore 🙁
I’ll be the lone dissenting voice I suppose. I’ve had a couple of pairs over the years, I’ve never found them to be as warm or comfortable as my regular shoes with warmers.
The comfiest I’ve ever been in the winter is my regular shoes, gaffer tape over the holes in the bottom, toe covers and neoprene overshoes on the top.
I’ve only tried shimano winter boots, so far because I use shimano summer shoes. I’ve always fancied trying the northwave ones, but haven’t had the cash/inclination.
I’ll spend my money on zwift this year instead, no more commuting for me for a while.
Got some of the shimano RW5 road winter shoes. They are nice and warm, but the sole is definitely less stiff than my carbon soled summer shoes. Since riding with a faster group, I've been using my summer carbon shoes with overshoes instead.
Keep an eye on the Planet X ones.
A friend has them he is also a 100mile a week commuter.
He likes them.
Ive had the Northwave Celcius which I always found warm but prone to water ingress from above. Ive been using Lake MX145 for the commute and have been impressed. I'm waiting for delivery of the new Lake CXZ176 as a happy medium, insulated, no sole or upper vents and able to use overshoes when biblical.
Sidi zero Gore with extra pair of socks are superb. Bought mine second hand. Heavy.
I have some Bontrager winter boots - they have a separate inner a bit like a snowboard boot and are much warmer than anything I've ever tried before, including other winter boots and overshoes etc. Worth a look if you get cold extremities
Thanks all for your thoughts.
I think my limiting factor will be the spendiness and relative limited options for a boot with properly stiff sole.
An evening of google ahead I fear.
Another Northwave Celsius Artic(sic) user here. Tried the raptors but the upper came apart after 3 rides. Had Lake mx145’s and was disappointed that they leaked. I love lake shoes so was really miffed with the mx145. Tempted by a pair of the insulated 176 but have just spunked loads on a pair of cx238 Supercross
Over the years I've had Shimano, Northwave, Gaerne, Sidi, Mavic and currently got 2 pairs of 45Nrth - depending on how cold it gets. Overshoes are fine over road shoes, but useless where you want to walk about a bit. I use boots with MTB SPD cleats because I find I'm walking around a lot more - either going to cafes, standing around for mechanicals / punctures. Warmth is often down to getting the right size / room enough for thicker socks but there are a few boots with an extra insulation layer.
I’ve got the Northwave Arctic, good for cold dry days.
I find heavy duty shoe covers to be the best approach for most of my winter riding.
Also for regular riding, worth saying that my Northwave boots take a good while to dry out. Worth bearing in mind if your wearing them for regular commuting.
Also for regular riding, worth saying that my Northwave boots take a good while to dry out. Worth bearing in mind if your wearing them for regular commuting.
Very good point, thanks. That mouldy wetsuit boot smell in the airing cupboard of kit that never quite dries out before being used again and develops its own ecosystem is always a favourite with the wife.
I have a pair of shimanos - I hardly ever use them as I find them too warm even in below zero.
I've used winter boots since W101s came out. I wouldn't be without, so much so I've just dropped £170 on some new ones. I also have some NorthWave road boots.
They are definitely more comfortable than overshoes, and less faff. And better for walking. And you can get them bigger than your summer shoes to admit thicker socks.
The only advantage of overshoes is that your actual shoes stay dry (on a short ride anyway) which means they are handy for commuting.
Out of what I've had, Defrosters. Just be great if they moved on from the current reflective silver colour.
Also got Raptors, comfortable and nicely stiff for pedalling. However they do seem to take longer to dry and mine shrunk. Noticeably more the right shoe and easy to see from the outside. And no I didn't microwave them. Wiggle were selling off Raptor Arctics for £99 last week so just got the next size up. Looks like a couple of things got changed, stronger stitching, more toe room, but also a different much looser ankle cuff #facepalm. Also ordered Fizik X5 so will see if they fit and return either these or the Northwaves.
"Faffing about with overshoes"
That said, overshoes are considerably cheaper, by half or thereabouts, though usually, or up to a third cheaper, dependent of shoes.
Neoprene is the choice for people diving or wind/surfing.
That is the other key advantage of overshoes yes - low cost.
Overshoes wear out faster though. I used to get one winter out of overshoes but 3-4 winters out of boots so I basically break even.
If it's wet, ankle gaiters stop water getting in from the top.
My kids use https://www.spatzwear.com/ and absolutely swear by them (yearly mileage over 15k miles).
Also if totally covered in muck you can just jetwash your feet with them on.
Anyone any experience of the Planet x winter boots ? they do both road and mtb versions and are on sale for £80 at the moment
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/SH365DBER/365x-das-boot-extreme-weather-road-cycling-boot---3-bolt-cleat?deal=BLACKFRIDAYVIP&utm_source=The+Planet+X+and+On-One+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=fbd16c08d9-141120-vipblackfridaypart2&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_561486488b-fbd16c08d9-273292901&mc_cid=fbd16c08d9&mc_eid=8468462b04
Edit-
Mate has is MTB flavour for commuting 100-150miles a week.
He loves them.
I keep looking at those PX Das Boots and wondering if I could justify them for the winter commutes and the very odd winter receational ride. I guess the MTB version would make most sense for me, given my road bike barely ever goes outdoors Nov-Apr and pretty much stays permanently hooked up to the turbo, plus the MTB version should have better walking design.
Just pressed the button on a pair of those Planet X road ones. I have MTB defrosters.
@shedbrewed road. just to be clear they use the roadman 2. Absolutely swear by them. For me they seem a bit OTT, but I was commuting a small distance, they have used them in all sorts of weather.
Got some of the shimano RW5 road winter shoes. They are nice and warm, but the sole is definitely less stiff than my carbon soled summer shoes. Since riding with a faster group, I’ve been using my summer carbon shoes with overshoes instead.
Apologies for derailing the thread for a moment, but it was said here and isnt a big enough discussion for its own thread.
Do people really believe they cant keep up with a fast road group unless they have their super stiff carbon soled shoes on? Is there a study anywhere that shows a significant Watts advantage to stiffer soles? My guess is its probably single digit figures. Genuinely interested.
I can feel the difference between the soles on my carbon summer / bendy winter boots. It might have negligible difference to my speed, but I need all the help I can get. Our fast road group contains ex-elite road racers and Cat 1 racers (I am neither!)
Do people really believe they cant keep up with a fast road group unless they have their super stiff carbon soled shoes on? Is there a study anywhere that shows a significant Watts advantage to stiffer soles? My guess is its probably single digit figures. Genuinely interested.
For me it's more of a comfort thing than a pure efficiency thing. As an experiment I rode in in my sidi dominator mtb shoes on Saturday - a good quality non carbon sole that is relatively stiff for a plastic sole. Usually on the commute bike I ride mtb spds but with my (very) old Nike Poggio full carbon road shoes which have 2 and 3 hole cleat options. The difference was substantial. With the Nike's the small mtb cleat is not really noticeable and I feel like I'm using my whole foot flat. With the sidis in the high power sections my foot noticeably bends around the pedal. For me the carbon feels much more comfortable but I acknowledge that might be also because it's what I'm used to. One feels like walking up stairs in slippers and other like going up a ladder with narrow rungs in the same slippers with pressure across the middle of your foot. To contradict myself I have also suffered hotspots with brutally stiff high end road race shoes in the past so for me at least there is a sweetspot of stiffness that feels comfortable for tempo longer distance reasonable power output (circa averaging 250-260 average wattage so nothing awsums) riding.
It might be cheaper plastic soles with broader road pedals/cleats could be the sensible compromise to save some money and keep the bendiness minimised. Otherwise I'm looking at some budget busting Northwave Extreme XC GTX boots which look like they will be stiffer even if the price will make me weep.