Lake MX146. Any good?

My ancient MW80s are on their way out – the biggest issue is that  the neoprene cuff is disintegrating, but I’ve also worn through the stitching on the heels where they rub on my cranks and all the various layers are starting to separate.

Not overly impressed by Shimano’s current winter offerings – the MW702 doesn’t feel especially sturdy and the sole isn’t what I think of as suitable for pushing/carrying bikes over rocks.

The Lake MX146 looks a slightly better bet, but I’ve never seen Lake shoes in real life. I get the impression they’re less a “full winter boot”, more of a “bit cold, bit wet, kinda grotty out” thing, which actually describes most UK riding. Sole design is still a little suboptimal but better, subject to the rubber used. I’m nervous about trying to tension the whole shoe appropriatly with just a single Boa.

How do they size up? According to Lake I’m a 43. My MW80s are 44 and are about right; my AM9s and AM5s are 43, but a bit baggy; Spech Recon 3 is a 42 and nicely snug. All with the same socks on… Narrow heel, high arches, wide forefoot.

Thoughts and impressions?

(The Fizik winter boots look most like what I’m after, but expensive and with my heels-in pedaling, the zip on the inside of the ankle is an absolute deal breaker!)

Thanks

Watching with interest, as I too am looking for Santa to bring me a replacement for some worn out MW80s. I take 44 in most things, but the MW80s are a 46 to allow room for thick socks and toe wiggling

I have a pair. They’re ‘ok’. I also have a pair of 303 and they’re the go to for proper wet and minging – I don’t like cold wet feet. Both are quite clunky but the 303 more so, naturally. The points raised in the review about the boa dial’s location are valid. Roomy enough for me – true to size IMV but YMMV.

I also have a pair of ‘crono’ that Merlin were doing a few months ago – very pleased with those. Warm enough so far and discounted much cheaper than the lakes.

I’ve got some direct experience on all those shoes in similar sizes so here goes:

I too loved the old Shimano winter boots – I was MW81 but think pretty similar to the MW80.

In MW81 / all Shimano of that era you had to size up (they were small compared to normal shoes) so I was also a size 44. Great shoes and finally died after years of abuse due to the cuff ripping and sole tread falling off.

I’ve tried the newer MW5 and hate them – narrow, sweaty, cold and the speedlace is uncomfortable. Size wise I’m in 43 as size for size they are much longer than the MW81.

I’ve only tried the wide fit in Lake MX146 (which I need – you might not). Size 43 was too short. Size 44 is OK on length and width but quite baggy in vertical volume so I’d have to wind the boa right in and wear thick socks. Quite clumpy and medium stiff so OK but not great for walking in. Can snug them up around my skinny ankles and they are a little insulated with a membrane so probably good for a UK winter but not the super cold. I found the Boa slow / faffy and imagine it would go wrong at the worst moment possible (especially with mud).

I also bought some Lake MXZ120 to try at the same time (send back the pair that didn’t suit). They are available in half sizes and the fabulous comfort last shape (if you have wide / square feet). They don’t have a bellows tongue, laces are going to be a faff to clean, water will probably come in via the top without trousers or a gaiter, and they maybe rely on the leather more than a membrane for waterproofness.

But my goodness they are the most comfortable and warm SPD shoes that I’ve worn in the last 30 years! Sole is maybe a bit smooth treaded but otherwise great for walking. Super soft leather is going to need looking after. So they have a few design flaws for a UK winter but otherwise unlike any SPD shoe I’ve tried before (in a very good way). The unique last shape means I’m able to use a size 43 (and half sizes let you tailor the fit). Lighter and less clumpy than I imagined and I’m instantly hooked on them.

Also can’t fault the helpfulness and comprehensive stock of Richard at Salt Dog Cycling. He has his own size calculator that is more comprehensive than the Lake one.

Plus one for Richard at Salt Dog (they are one of our club sponsors) and also Dave at RX Custom.

But my goodness they are the most comfortable and warm SPD shoes that I’ve worn in the last 30

Yeah the lake comfort last is fantastic, but IME the shoes they are building on this last are horribly heavy and clumpy. I wish they would just use this last on some more standard mountain bike shoes.

I bought a pair of size 50 wide MX146 last year, and they were smaller than the spesh defrosters size 49 they were replacing, the mx304 were even worse, on paper they look great but they seem to size them up weird, they put the insulation on the inside and make no allowance for that reducing the fit by a full size.

This year I scoured the internet and managed to find a new pair of spesh defrosters in spain for 50e, so the mx146 are now just my backup shoe for when these wear out.

Not exactly a shocker that shoes billed as wide and foot shaped are……..wide and foot shaped (so will always be a bit clompy).

The MXZ120s are 575g so not super heavy – certainly over 100g lighter than the MX146.

They are starting to do some racier shoes in the comfort last e.g. CX201, but admittedly not much choice in MTB yet.

Not exactly a shocker that shoes billed as wide and foot shaped are……..wide and foot shaped (so will always be a bit clompy).

No need for them to be clompy at all just being foot shaped, I just weighed my wide mx238 and a single shoe is 505g my lake mx201 are 750g. That’s not just the foot shape making the difference, that construction would be almost as heavy with a traditional shaped shoe. Plus they have a rather high stack height, and while I do think that the effects of stack height can be exaggerated the mx201 do feel rather disconnected from the bike.

I also have a pair of cx201 and they feel pretty similar in weight to any other road cycling shoes, no noticeable weight difference and the comfort last, they do what I expect but keep my feet comfortable for hours.

Like I say, the comfort last is brilliant, but so far the mountain bike offerings built on that last are a bit disappointingly shit.

Can’t remember which Lakes I’ve got but they’ve been the best cycling shoes I’ve ever owned. Still going strong after 4 years.

And another +1 for Richard at Salt Dog, who helped me get the right pair.

I’ve got 4 pairs of Lakes (I really should sell 1 pair) and they are the comfiest cycling shoes I have worn. I used to get all sorts of foot pain with other shoes – no more. I have the MXz304 for winter duties and they are outstanding in cold weather. Quite bulky but obviously they need to be so not a criticism just an observation. I also have some MXZ200 which I use in the damp, almost as warm as the 304s but cheaper and more of a faff to put on because they are lace ups. I also have some MX238 for summer use and some MXZ176 for windy spring/autumn, they are all extremely comfy on long rides and very well made. I ride in all winter coldness and don’t get cold feet with Woolie Boolies  .

++1 for Richard at Salt Dog. Very helpful chap.

Loved mine until the soles fell off after a couple of months.

They were warm but still needed thick socks when it was getting on for 0’c. They were as waterproof as a boot is going to get. Obviously, water is going to get in the hole at the top but the insulation along wpth merino socks means that they still stay fairly warm.

I found the soles good for hike a bike and for walking around on rocks and in the woods. You can add toe studs which hive a bit more grip.

Sadly, I managed to snap the studs on both boots which left the threaded part inside and no real way to get it out. Presumably this was rock strikes but who knows. The material the uppes are made for feels quite tough but after lightly grazing some more rocks, there were chunks missing from the material.

I’m not a fan of the single Boa. I had to size up because my normal size was too tight (I could have done with a half size really) and the single boa doesn’t pull the cuff tight enough around my ankles. I had hoped that the cuff would synch up nice and tight to help keep the water out but I run out of adjustment in the dial before that happens. Having 2 Boas would help or even basic velcro so you could tighten the ankle independently of the foot part.

In theory, for me, they’re almost the perfect boot but given the state they ended up in after such a short time means I wouldn’t buy another pair.

It probably sounds like I gave them a hard time but they weren’t subjected to anything different from the pair of Mavic boots that I’ve had for 5 years. They’re still going strong.

I have the MX238 which is marketed as a gravel shoe, but I use them for gravel, MTB and road. They’re brilliantly comfortable even on multi day tours and audaxes.

@Del, what is the sizing like for the Chrono winter boots? Very difficult to find any reviews of them.

That size chart is amazing – does using it result in shoes that fit?

https://uk.lakecycling.com/pages/sizing-chart

Mmm, excellent sizing chart. Just a shame it says I need a 49, which seems to be perennialy unavailable for almost all of Lake’s range.

Going back to the OP, Fizik do have winter boots without the zip that are worth looking at. But having both I prefer Northwave.

That size chart is amazing – does using it result in shoes that fit?

I used it and my shoes fit. Whether that’s coincidence or not, I can’t say.

I had the MXZ303’s for years, great for British weather i.e very wet, gritty and cold.

I bought the MX146’s and sent them back.  The killer was the fact that the shoes now have a tongue that has a slit that extends down towards the end of your foot, presumably to make them easier to get on, but of course they are now not remotely waterproof for big puddles or dabbing a foot when crossing a stream.  They also had the insulation edges open to the elements and the reflection chevrons were not on straight and the stitching on them was messy.  I think if I’d used them like my old 303s they would never have been properly dried out between October and May!

Hmm. Overall, I’m not really feeling the love…

For the money they want for them, they need to be nigh on perfect spec and fit and to then last a bloody long time.

Another thing that’s bugging me, which kinda goes with the sole issue is the lack of rand/protection around the periphery of the shoe. It feels like every winter boot maker is just taking their road boot and sticking a few lugs on the bottom, which is not what I call an mtb shoe. Ideally I want something I can clobber rocks with at speed and not break toes! For me Shimano MP66s or ME7s, or the old yellow and black Mavic Crossmax shoe are what a (summer) MTB shoe should start from. If Shimano did the GF800GTX in clip form, that could be great.

I’ve just been looking at Northwave – they do some interesting options, most of which seem to be unavailable in the UK – the Kingrock Plus GTX and X-Celcius Artic GTX look pretty good, but I don’t really want to order something that’s so fit specific from one of the Euro-sheds.

The Endura ones look OK on paper too, but after many years of hit’n’miss with Endura kit, I’m nervous about chucking that much cash their way. They might be excellent and last forever – or they might fit like clown shoes and last seconds….

Sounds like you need the 304s then.

I was also tempted by the Vaude Minaki and Gaerne G Ice Storm All Terrain (I use Gaerne for summer spd) which have the rand protection you want but again big money and no chance to buy / try in the UK. And also couldn’t face risking that much money on Endura….

Sounds like you need the 304s then.

I’ve got some of those too. They’re a lot more substantial than the 146. They feel protective and sturdy.

No membrane and being made from leather make me question their suitability as a boot for the majority of the UK though. They’re marketed as a winter boot but I reckon that’s for places where winter is a frozen wonder/wasteland for a few months. They’ll keep you warm but not necessarily dry.

The lack of a gusset on the tongue means a foot down in the mud or a stream crossing will fill the boots with water. Also means water runs off your trousers, onto the boot and finds its way in. The insulation is exposed allobgaode the tongue too so it absorbs water. Ok, they are very warm so combined with merino socks your feet stay warm but then you’ve got soaking wet boots that don’t appreciate being stuck on the radiator being made from leather.

^^Having looked at the spec/reviews of the 304s, that was roughly the same conclusion I came to. I don’t do that much riding below zero. I do quite a lot in the 2-10*C range when it’s piss wet on the ground, so waterproofing is more important than ultimate warmth. Also being able to dry the things efficiently is important too.

The 304s are also another step more expensive. I might be (ok, obviously am) out of touch, but £200 for a pair of shoes is ludicrous. More than that is verging on a piss take. For that kind of cash, lifespan needs to be measured in decades, and they need to be functionally perfect, which is not something I’m seeing in the current available offerings.

£200 for a pair of shoes is ludicrous

Specialized Defrosters were £220 on a 2021 review. Shimano MW7 £220.  that is what stuff costs now.

I had a pair of Lake shoes about 15 years ago and the materials and construction was way better than any other mtb shoe I’ve ever owned.  Almost no-one else is using real leather which wears in rather that out.  They were a bit narrow for me in the end, and I was running time pedals which wore a groove in the sole under the cleat so they rocked on my pedals by the time I stopped using them, but the uppers were still in great condition.

The crono’ are true to size. As a guide they are the same size and similar fit as Scarpa crux I’m on about the 4th pair of…

@jonedwards

Hmm. Overall, I’m not really feeling the love…

Apologies, it was the MXZ304s I was talking about! Definitely felt like a boot for cold dry weather and not slush/rain/icy river crossings.

I ended up buying the more expensive Shimano winter boots (the one with the Boa). They are ok, but not as comfy or warm as the MXZ303s