• Suggest some winter mtb boots?

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:12 pm**

I boiled my Shimano winter boots. Now they are about half a size smaller (well, the heel digs in when walking but otherwise they're ok). Tony gave me some nice specs shoes but I think I'm gonna buy some more new unsure just for winter.

Anyway, anyone got any suggestions of stuff out there that is actually waterproof/warm. Don't say Bontrager OMW as they're out of stock everywhere (and spending £250 is probably not the smartest idea for me).

2nd best option is to grab some goretex flat hiking boots and use them. But, I think I'm gonna give spd for winter another shot as my insoles are lovely.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:12 pm**

Thanks in advance.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:38 pm**

I've a pair of Specialized Defroster boots. I think mine are the original version. Good to -5C or so if you are even slightly active but I wouldn't spend a lot of time just standing around in them at those temps. They are approaching the OMW price though.

Cath has two pairs of 45Nrth boots, a set of Wolvhammers and a pair of Japanthers, the predecessor of the current Ragnarok model which is the equivalent of the Defroster but about £30 cheaper looking at the first page of Google hits.

You are getting a double whammy with winter boots: most (all?) are imported so ain't cheap; it's not a big market so the production volumes are low meaning higher prices.

Having said that my Defrosters will be ten years old so not bad value when you look at it that way.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:45 pm**

Irate vaudemoab stx flat boots. Not a great tread for hike a bike,but good pedal grip and seem to last well. They do a winter version, which is insulated and therefore warmer, but i find the normal ones fine for 95% of winter. Bikeinn usually have them on offer

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 3:49 pm**

Defroster. Might put them on my list. Annoying thing is that usually I'd buy hiking boots that then double up for winter. But my latest ones weren't even waterproof despite being (appraently) GTX.

Usually would get the boots to last me 2 years of constant use for work and then 2 winters for the mtb. But now goretex hiking boots don't seem to even be a smart choice anymore. Plus, with the woolen insoles I bought last year, they seem to be resistant to the metal pedals/heatsink.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:31 pm**

in Norway las Jan, my mate used these for the 1st time. said they were very warm and comfy.

https://velo-store.co.uk/nwb80184022-al ... e03334d2ae

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:39 pm**

I've ordered a pair of these, https://www.chillcheater.com/collection ... ding-socks

Just wear a pair of socks inside and your normal shoes.

(There's a thread on them here - https://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?thr ... king.8891/ )

YMMV but if you are a size 9, don't size up unless you are wearing 2 fat pairs of socks.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:42 pm**

....Btw I do have a pair of Bontrager OMW, and whilst they do keep my feet warm as, the inners are more than damp after a proper day out in wet weather.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 7:50 pm**

Bit like Rich mentions above. I've always meant to buy a pair of winter MTB boots, but end up muddling along surprisingly well with a pair of knee high sealskin socks and normal spds (past 10-15 years at least). In winter it's with trousers generally so they take some of the worst crap, but they keep my legs and toes dry pretty much all the time. Only in biblical rain am I soaked through, but I tend to not go out if it's that horrible, and you'd be wet through no matter what anyway. Only thing they don't cover is the extra warmth, which on frosty days I sometimes feel I need.

I've sometimes thought of using winter boots and sealskins, but feels like cleaning/drying out a winter boot would be more of a faff, my thin spds get hosed inside and out and then they dry fairly quickly with insoles out and newspaper inside...

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 7:51 pm**

Richpips wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:39 pm I've ordered a pair of these, https://www.chillcheater.com/collection ... ding-socks

Just wear a pair of socks inside and your normal shoes.

(There's a thread on them here - https://www.trek-lite.com/index.php?thr ... king.8891/ )

YMMV but if you are a size 9, don't size up unless you are wearing 2 fat pairs of socks.

These look really clever, thanks Rich.

Tony, I've been thinking about them NW too but a much lighter pair

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 7:54 pm**

faustus wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 7:50 pm Bit like Rich mentions above. I've always meant to buy a pair of winter MTB boots, but end up muddling along surprisingly well with a pair of knee high sealskin socks and normal spds (past 10-15 years at least). In winter it's with trousers generally so they take some of the worst crap, but they keep my legs and toes dry pretty much all the time. Only in biblical rain am I soaked through, but I tend to not go out if it's that horrible, and you'd be wet through no matter what anyway. Only thing they don't cover is the extra warmth, which on frosty days I sometimes feel I need.

I've sometimes thought of using winter boots and sealskins, but feels like cleaning/drying out a winter boot would be more of a faff, my thin spds get hosed inside and out and then they dry fairly quickly with insoles out and newspaper inside...

Basically I have 2 x 240+ miler journeys planned. Last year with the shimano waterproof side, worked well. With the neoprene overstocks though, when I stopped at a mosque at mile 260 or so, my feet stunk +++

Trying to work on the stink-management a bit better and usually in spd my feet would freeze. Thanks to the uprated insoles though, been working well last year.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:18 pm**

If you have cold feet , and i do then nothing fully works IME
Your feet will eventually get wet from rain or sweat ( i talc my socks whoch delays this) IME
For road I have some Spatz gravlr thermal overshoes which are warmer but not great on a mtb as you cannot walk with them and walking is the best way to warm.feet i know.
Probably better to carry some feet warmers ( electric or chemical as you prefer )

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:37 pm**

Thanks John. Yes,ever since you mentioned walking for feet warming, I always use that technique in the winters

Works great. But, still need some winter boots though

which I can walk in.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:13 pm**

Must admit, I eventually splashed out on a pair of heated insoles last year and they work a treat. That said for normal cold, wet commutes, the NW arctics I've been wearing for the last 9 years are no longer waterproof and I could do with a replacement. I got a pair of the boa versions second hand a couple of years back but they are much tighter, despite being the same size and my feet freeze in them below 10 degrees....

I'm probably just going to use my Lake MXZ200's this year - I had to do major surgery on one and neither are that waterproof but I'm trying to avoid splashing out c£200!

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:22 pm**

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:13 pm Must admit, I eventually splashed out on a pair of heated insoles last year and they work a treat. That said for normal cold, wet commutes, the NW arctics I've been wearing for the last 9 years are no longer waterproof and I could do with a replacement. I got a pair of the boa versions second hand a couple of years back but they are much tighter, despite being the same size and my feet freeze in them below 10 degrees....

I'm probably just going to use my Lake MXZ200's this year - I had to do major surgery on one and neither are that waterproof but I'm trying to avoid splashing out c£200!

How many years did the Arctics stay waterproof Phil. I'm actually eyeing a pair of https://www.bikeradar.com/reviews/shoes ... ots-review for about £140

My non proofs ones lasted too long. But I know to definitely size up. Not sure if the toe box would be any wider though! Maybe the ones Ton suggested might be a good option. Especially if (in my exp if they'relike the standard NW stuff) they last a few years.

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:28 pm**

Just noticed them leaking last year so nearly 9 years with a lot of use. They were the old velcro and lace ones. The ones I got SH are waterproof around the shoe bit but he ankle cuff is only neoprene - the older versions were waterproof right up to the ankle.

Oh dear, I've just spied a pair of Lake MX146's on the bay and made an offer....

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:05 pm**

Now is probably the 'worst' time to buy winter boots cost-wise Shaf! Good ones aren't cheap, so best to keep an eye out for a bargain either end of winter..
Proper winter boots last years if looked after as they only really come out in the colder periods.
I'm on my 2nd pair of Northwave Artic boots, they're good, but still eventually fill with water.

There's some good bargains on the Fizik Clima X2 boot atm (approaching half price), they're more of a 2-3 season boot, but that will prob mean you'll get more use out of them..
Sizing is very similar to Shimano.
https://bikepacking.com/gear/fizik-terr ... es-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MECvpGA560

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:26 pm**

Planetx had some new ones online recently which looked reasonable

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:42 pm**

Now is probably the 'worst' time to buy winter boots cost-wise Shaf!

I agree Jason (surely I've got it right), but then we'd have no, 'suggest some winter boots' thread this winter. Hey, hey...

Besides, Phils already gotten a potential ebay deal, we've had lots of other compulsory winter-boots discussion and I've got another excuse to tell everyone how I washes the current boots at 95 degrees C and shrunk em!

I'm defo one step closer to having stink-free feet this winter

Posted: **Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:43 pm**

Lemming wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 11:26 pm Planetx had some new ones online recently which looked reasonable

Just looked. Carnac. Just can't bring myself to buy that.

Posted: **Sun Oct 20, 2024 10:46 am**

Just looked. Carnac. Just can't bring myself to buy that.

Deep in the heart of the Pays de la Loire region of France, Carnac has 45 people working at its Gesté factory. Carnac shoes are sold worldwide, and despite the local identity, exports account for 70 percent of the firm's sales, vs. 30 percent in France. Among the export nations, the United States is the largest customer, with 10 percent of shoe sales, followed by other European markets, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa.

if this is still the case, Carnac shoes are probably just as well made as all the Shimano and other fashionable brands, which are made in China, Singapore and Malaysia, by people being paid a pittance.

Posted: **Sun Oct 20, 2024 2:48 pm**

ton wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 10:46 am
Just looked. Carnac. Just can't bring myself to buy that.
Deep in the heart of the Pays de la Loire region of France, Carnac has 45 people working at its Gesté factory. Carnac shoes are sold worldwide, and despite the local identity, exports account for 70 percent of the firm's sales, vs. 30 percent in France. Among the export nations, the United States is the largest customer, with 10 percent of shoe sales, followed by other European markets, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Africa.

if this is still the case, Carnac shoes are probably just as well made as all the Shimano and other fashionable brands, which are made in China, Singapore and Malaysia, by people being paid a pittance.

Thanks for that Ton. It was less the brand but more the designs. What I've seen so far doesn't really grow on me yet. But, you've defo mentioned stuff that could change my mind.

Do you think Malaysia also pays abusive rates/conditions? I always thought otherwise.

[Edit] the only place I can find mention of their factory is this old article on CycleNews. https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/sponsor ... ?id=carnac

Since then it seems Planet X took over manufacture of their shoes (and I can't see anything about the factory still churning out stuff). Also, one report mentioned Shimano bought them ((the factory out) at some point

Not arguing with someone double size of me, but just saying

Posted: **Sun Oct 20, 2024 2:50 pm**

Richpips wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:42 pm ....Btw I do have a pair of Bontrager OMW, and whilst they do keep my feet warm as, the inners are more than damp after a proper day out in wet weather.

These are my go to winter boots .. as long as it’s dry

Posted: **Sun Oct 20, 2024 3:38 pm**

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 2:50 pm
Richpips wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:42 pm ....Btw I do have a pair of Bontrager OMW, and whilst they do keep my feet warm as, the inners are more than damp after a proper day out in wet weather.
These are my go to winter boots .. as long as it’s dry

But, for a 240+ mile road ride Dave. Bit heavy? Waterproofing probably my biggest buying point (I'll have a goretex type trousers over my biking trousers so hopefully not too much ingress.

Posted: **Sun Oct 20, 2024 3:55 pm**

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 3:38 pm
Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 2:50 pm
Richpips wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 6:42 pm ....Btw I do have a pair of Bontrager OMW, and whilst they do keep my feet warm as, the inners are more than damp after a proper day out in wet weather.
These are my go to winter boots .. as long as it’s dry
But, for a 240+ mile road ride Dave. Bit heavy?

I pretty much lived in mine last year, including many long road rides. I'd wear them regardless of the weight if they keep my feet warm - which they do a better job of than anything else I've tried.

I've just bought another pair after wearing holes in the last ones

Suggest some winter mtb boots?

Suggest some winter mtb boots?

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