Winter SPD boot recommendations

What’s the word on SPD winter MTB boots? I suffer from very cold feet in the slightest of cold weather so something warm and preferably with a high top to reduce water intake!

Shimano Goretex?

I can vouch for Spesh Defrosters.

I’ve found Spesh Defrosters really good too.

If it gets *really* cold my Lake Franken Boots are better but I didn’t get to wear them at last winter as the Spesh’s are so good.

Northwave celcius Arctic are rather good (it’s what I went for when I had the same dilemma)

Shimano MW81(?)

Oh, and silk liner socks. Toasty

North wave Celsius here, 3 seasons in and showing no signs of giving in anywhere. Very warm but light too.

Northwave Artic here, too. Defrosters aren’t a stiff enough sole for me.

Shimanos are good when it’s wet but not that warm / well insulated.

Lake MX303 for cold toes, my shimanos MW80 are good for most of the winter but sub zero rides I wish for those lake’s.

Northwave Celsius Arctic here as well, I’m a cold feet sufferer and these are the first solution I’ve found that worked in 10+ years of trying.

Northwave Artic GTX got a good review in the latest mag – £170 though, I’d expect them to be pretty good for that money….

These http://45nrth.com/products/footwear/fasterkatt Very good and warm

Shimano MW81 🙂

And some Belgian booties to keep the crap off.

These http://45nrth.com/products/footwear/fasterkatt Very good and warm

Have they sorted the zip problems out yet?

Shimanos are good when it’s wet but not that warm / well insulated.

Mine are toasty!!

I’d say defrosters are not that warm – good boots, and if you can get a decent pair (or 2?) of socks in there then they would be fine in real cold weather (south coast here, so it’s keeping out the wet mostly)

No zip problem? Been worna dozen times I guess. I have used grease like they suggest. Their a great fit, lot better than the Northwave arctics. These are waterproof too. I expect with any zip you need tobe careful?

Just seen the babies now they have to be waterproof and warm, no zip either http://45nrth.com/products/footwear/wolvhammer

Having tried both current and last versions of spesh defrosters, shimano mw80 (they were a bit small so maybe not a true impression), some lake ones (not the current all singing and dancing model)and northwave celcius artic.

The nortwave are the best I have tried.

ps. Don’t forget, boots are **** useless if the blood is cold by the time it gets to your feet, better tights are more important than better boots unless you are doing the iditarod when you will want the best of everything.

Their [sic] a great fit, lot better than the Northwave arctics.

Quite an assumption there. Are you familiar with the exact shape and size of the OP’s feet? Nope. Thought not.

They might be a better fit for you, but that’s no indicator that their (ahem) going to be a better fit for anyone else.

FWIW, I usually wear wider lasted shoes (Spesh, primarily), but was pleasantly surprised with the Northwave Artics in terms of width. No zip, and all the fastening gubbins is under the flap, so well out of the mud and crud.

That’s a good point about foot shape. I have quite narrow feet and find that there are limited number of climbing shoes / mountaineering boots that fit me for that reason – mostly La Sportiva. So it seems to be between the following:

Specialized Defrosters
Northwave Celcius Arctic
45nrth jobbies

I am drawn in by the Goretex because I know, generally speaking, how good it is from mountaineering. Can any of you shed any light on fit on the above? A narrow fit is good. I’m aware that trying these things on is always a good idea but not always feasible.

ps. Don’t forget, boots are **** useless if the blood is cold by the time it gets to your feet, better tights are more important than better boots unless you are doing the iditarod when you will want the best of everything.

That’s a very good point.

http://www.tweekscycles.com/cycling-clothing/mountain-bike-shoes/northwave-celsius-gtx-winter-mtb-shoes

http://www.tweekscycles.com/cycling-clothing/mountain-bike-shoes/northwave-arctic-commuter-gtx-winter-mtb-shoes

Captain flash yup I’m a Spesh fan too. I had a pair of Northwave Arctic boots, the tops let the water in as their too low and are quite stiff construction isn’t as good as the 45north. The tread on . The arctic tread and sole material is very hard and tends to slip on anything hard. 45North is vibram material and fits like a glove for me. It was because of these features I was recommending 45North. Buyers should always try before buying.

Lakes are the best I’ve found.
Size wise they are tiny though, I went 3 sizes up and to be honest I wish I’d made it 4 or 5 so I could wear two pairs of socks and have ‘wiggle room’ for my toes.

That’s a good point about foot shape. I have quite narrow feet and find that there are limited number of climbing shoes / mountaineering boots that fit me for that reason – mostly La Sportiva. So it seems to be between the following:

Specialized Defrosters

Defrosters fit my D-width stick-like feet. Go a size larger. Boots are useless if you wear thick socks and constrict the blood flow. I also wear Sidi road boots a size larger (and mega wide as they were SH) with a decent Fizik inner sole and nice wool or sealskinz socks.

Shimano mw81 have been great for me. Use them way more than winter too. Have got two pairs for letting one dry out when soaked.

Biggest downfall is water getting in through the ankle cuff but I’ve purchased some mini Gators that just sit around the ankle and this stopped the water for 50-60 miles on sunday.

Just purchased some lake mxz 303 as they look a cut above but don’t appear to have a goretex type liner and do all their weather proofing through leather. Really hope water can’t get in on these as easy! Like to keep going through winter so having a few pairs of boots around makes good sense over the long term.

a point to note re Defrosters, the 2014 ones are very different to previosu models and are significantly larger fitting. Most people find that if they wear Spesh shoes in say a 45, with normal ‘summer’ socks, then Defrosters in same size will be plenty roomy for thick socks. I have certainly found that to be the case, I need decent thick hiking socks to fill the boots, my Woolie Boolies for example are too thin in them, volume wise. My defrosters, and all my Spesh mtb and road shoes, are all size 45.

I have lake 303’s and they are brilliant in cold weather. They are expensive but they keep your feet warm and dry in the worst of conditions.. Cant rate them highly enough

I too have Lake 303’s, the best boots bar none and come in a wide fit too! Love mine paired with long waterproofs in seriously crappy weather to stop the proverbial water creep down legs/socks past the ankles. Why people don’t wear longs and complain about water running in I don’t know….no boot will be waterproof against that syndrome.

I have the Louis Garneau 0º LS 100’s. Bought the in the UK last x-mas and rode them several times over there. Great shoe for over here in Australia where we don’t get really cold winters… wouldn’t recommend them for 2 hr plus rides in UK winter when the temp is sub zero.

Where did you guys with the Lake 303s get them from?

Halfords ordered a pair in for me but they were just too small, and the local branch says they have no way to order a bigger size because they’re out of stock in the warehouse

Anyone?

Shimano MW81 all day every day. Best 120 quid I’ve ever spent on anything bike related. Make sure you buy a size bigger than usual though

Halfords sell the Lakes 303s

I’ve got skinny slim feet, and have been very pleased with the fit of this years defrosters, the cuff is also better fitted round my sparrow-esque ankles, wheresa the northwaves they replaced were always baggy, leading to gaps for little chills and splashes to enter via.