Winter cycling Boots. Size up or not?

Depends how old your existing shoes are that you are comparing against - you used to have to size up in all Shimano shoes. The latest MW are much longer than our old ones (but maybe a bit narrower). This is an old MW81 size 43 insole on top of a current MW501 - big size difference.

The sole and closure is quite good, but I'm finding them narrower, sweatier, colder and instantly smellier than my old Goretex MW81

I bought a pair of these and like them.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/fizik-terra-artica-x5-gtx-off-road-shoes
There's a review by singletrack if you look for it.
I'm normally 44 in Shimano so bought the same in the Fizik, they're quite roomy and have enough room for thicker socks.

Edit, they are not the widest of shoes.

I did and don't regret it. Normally a 43 but sized up for MT91 Winter Boots.

I tend to wear Woolie Boolies in winter which add at least have a size I reckon. 

Thank you, interesting replies.

I like a wide shoe.   I think I'll have to go old fashioned and actually try some on in a real shop.

I bought a pair of these and like them.

https://www.wiggle.com/p/fizik-terra-artica-x5-gtx-off-road-shoes
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There’s a review by singletrack if you look for it.

I’m normally 44 in Shimano so bought the same in the Fizik, they’re quite roomy and have enough room for thicker socks.

Edit, they are not the widest of shoes

Conversely I got a pair to review and went for my normal size, fine with a thin sock. But if you want to wear a waterproof or proper winter sock go up a size. I've bought a bigger pair for this year to wear proper socks with.

The cleat box adjustment is generous too so you won't be penalised by going for a bigger size

I bought some Shimano MW7s last winter and they're massive compared to the (nominally same size) Shimano boots they replaced. I'm normally a Size 42. The old ones were size 42 and fine, the new ones are size 42 and huge. 

MW7 for me was large enough volume for Woolie boolies without going up a size.  Previous Shimano winter boots I did need to size up.

(though I'd not trust shimano not to have completely changed the fit again - I had an old pair of ME7's but when I tried to buy a pair last year the new ones were way too narrow and low volume)

Depends on the brand. I usually have to up a size in shimano to get the width I need, and my Northwave boots are a size larger than my usual shoes. But Lake do a wide fit so you could try those.

conversely the new lakes i bought, having already had two pairs, i had to size up on. you just need to try 'em.

Defo depends on the make and model. Total lottery really !

For Lake I wide fit, I got 44.5 on the road shoes bit had to go to 45 on the otherwise supposedly identical mtb shoe.  And a size up again for their epic winter boot to 46.

Shimano - had to go to coco-the-clown esque size 47 on their winter boots to get adequate width about 6 years ago. 

By comparison, ON run shoes I'm a 44.5 usually (except their goretex trail shoe then need bigger FFS)

Approach shoes 44.5 or 45 depends on male and model.

Good luck !

@rocketdog

It was partly your review that put onto them. I went for the boring black ones though, my thinking being that I'd have them for a while and the purple accented ones wouldn't age so well.

IME the key to keeping your feet warm in extreme cold is enough room to wriggle your toes - wearing thick socks and cramming your feet into tight boots still results in cold feet.

I have MW500s and sized up to a 43 vs my usual 42 (Fizik and Shimano eg). Definitely the right decision esp. as I wear Woollie Boolies in them.

didnthurt

Full Member

@rocketdog

It was partly your review that put onto them. I went for the boring black ones though, my thinking being that I’d have them for a while and the purple accented ones wouldn’t age so well.

👌

Just bought a pair of MW702 in a 42 which is my normal size - very glad I didn’t size up as they are a good fit but there’s easily enough room for thicker socks too -  0 deg out tonight and toes were all good 

I bought a pair of the Shimano MW501 in my normal size (11 / 46) and they were fine. Toasty.

didnthurt
Full Member
I bought a pair of these and like them.
https://www.wiggle.com/p/fizik-terra-artica-x5-gtx-off-road-shoes
There’s a review by singletrack if you look for it.
I’m normally 44 in Shimano so bought the same in the Fizik, they’re quite roomy and have enough room for thicker socks.

Edit, they are not the widest of shoes

Gotta confess I'm slightly disappointed in mine. They really don't feel that warm. I bought them hoping to ditch the overshoes but think I'll be at least putting some toe covers over them before long. Bought some silk liners to try too. Been using them with Galibier Burner winter socks and temps aren't really that low yet, but feet are going numb within an hour.

downshep

Full Member

I did and don’t regret it. Normally a 43 but sized up for MT91* Winter Boots.

I am sat wearing my MW5's in size 44, when my usual size is 43.
I too think that having some more space in there means I can wear really thick winter socks and I have added a couple of mm thick foam & foil off-cut from a yoga mat under the insole.
I rode in -5 this morning - while my hands were agony, my feet were toaty warm.

Galibier Burner winter socks

I think there is a reason they give them away free. They are really not warm. I can see my skin through the top mesh when I put them on! I found that the Madison and Endura socks we bought are similar - they are warm-er, but but not winter socks.

I use proper hiking socks for warmth.

Size up.

How winter are you going to go?
Mu first winter boots (MTB) were ok with "normal" socks down to about -5, but couldn't get thicker socks on, and it's already been -12 here this week. And forecast to get colder. So i sized up on my next pair, and can "happily" ride at down to about -15. With some meraklon liners and wooly socks.

Road is less of an issue, as there's no way to shoehorn winter tyres into any of my road bikes, and i'm not riding on sheet ice/packed snow on 30mm road tyres.
So i didn't size up.

Buy 2 (or 3) sizes and send back the wrong ones. Having the wrong sized shoes is just not worth it and you can’t tell without trying a few on.

Previous models of shimano boots I have sized up, but the current ones are normal size. 42 for me in any shimano. The MW5 feel very roomy (wife has the MW5), my MW7 are narrower but still enough room for thicker socks

I bought shimano in line with my normal sizing(44/44.5), and got Size 44: MW5 and find them spot on for me at a ~UK9.5(ish)...
Everyone seems to think they've got "wide" feet these days, I'm beginning to wonder if mine are actually more "average" than I used to think as shoes keep on fitting me where other people find them too narrow, that said for some brands of trainer I seem to need to go up to an EU45...

Generally I don't go bonkers on thick/multiple socks in winter, just normal thickness regualr socks. But I'm probably not doing more than ~3 hours riding if temperatures are around ~0*C which the MW5 seem to keep out well enough on their own (IME). Age now provides an excuse to keep me indoors if the temperatures are heading much below -5

This weekend is apparently going to brush -3 round here and I've only got Saturday as an option for riding so I'll be wearing them and might be out for a bit longer to make the most of my available time, I doubt it will be my feet that cause me the most discomfort...

I do because it allows me to wear both socks and thick dexshell/sealskins socks (or walking socks) on bitter days.

My Defrosters are the same size as my other specialized shoes. My Sidi road boots are half a size larger. I just use an insole and one pair of merino socks. Good down to freeing if the ankle/calf is kept warm.

Go larger and swap insole is an easier strategy with more options.

I cannot find any winter boots to fit and that includes sizing up. Tried some Lake winter boots - wide fit and sized up and couldn't even get my foot in the boot. Shimano MW5s were the closest, but I had to go up to a 47 (I'm a 44 2e width in Brooks running shoes) and then they flex way too much at the toe as there is so much length spare. Back to trying to find overshoes that will go over my Recons with w/proof socks as well.

Everyone seems to think they’ve got “wide” feet these days

Think that's an age thing reflecting your average Singletrack member as much as anything. Feet get wider as you get older, there's no way I can fit some of my old running shoes now.

Also another voice on not having had to size up my Shimano MW7s. Pre-warming them on the radiator before a ride keeps the heat in for longer as well!

for shimano - for me size 48 in winter and none winter offererings and all good, their wintering offers do seem to be sizes to accomodate thicker socks withiut the need to size up (no that I have the option at EU48 anyhow,,,,)

that has been for MW5 and more recently the new non spd GP8 - the GP8s are (so far) excellent 

I always size up, because there are days when you need proper thick socks (like today), or water proof socks (like most of November), and without extra room for them you get reduced circulation and numb cold feet… going against the whole point of having winter footwear.