Winter Boots - Northwave Fahrenheit Arctic 2 GTX

I have Northwave Fahrenheit Arctic 2 GTX Boots. Having lived in Scandinavia for several years, the construction and draw-string closure seemed very familiar: they are a cross-country ski boot stuck onto a cycling shoe sole. Northwave makes various types of sports shoes for other brand names, so this makes sense.

I reckon they come up small. I normally take a UK9/EU43 and needed a EU44 to get enough length in these. My feet are fairly broad at the forefoot  and I can't tolerate any constriction due to Morton's neuroma, but find these boots OK. They are fairly wide and the footbed is flat rather than the bathtub construction of some shoes and allows the toes to splay. Unfortunately, the toebox is round rather than anatomically shaped and I think this is where the confusion over sizing comes from: if your toes are straight, you will need to go up a size or they will be squashed; if your big toe is curved in, you might get away with your usual size.

The soles are vented, but the vents are blocked by the boot footbed so don't let any cold air in. The combination of shoe sole and boot footbed laminated together increases stack height significantly, so you may need to raise the saddle.

The thing that spoils these boots for me is that the cleat mounts are about half an inch too far forward. I have speedplays mounted as far back as possible but they are still about 15mm further forward than my bont road shoes. You can't drill the soles for a better anatomical position because the plugged spd slots are in the way of the centre mount. This really spoils their utility as a serious winter training boot in my view.

The supplied insole is cheap, cold and unsupportive. Especially if you have gone up a size, you can fit a thermal wool insole to help with cold feet.

Btw, the -25°C rating is nonsense, but they are good enough for UK conditions. 

Rather than ambient temperatures, riders should use a WIND CHILL FACTOR GUIDE ( on the Internet) as do the military, mountaineers and others for temperatures below or close to zero. For example, at -5 C, riding at 20 miles per hour the wind speed chill factor is vastly different, about minus 15 C.  Thus your time outside must be drastically reduced. Frostbite. Add to this a headwind; it could be even lower. Your lungs act like a car radiator but are more delicate, when breathing in freezing cold air rapidly from exertion, they may be damaged. Riding midday when the sun is strong is vastly different from when overcast, or in the dark, radiant heat / or lack of it. I myself never ride at temps below zero C anymore, unless there is strong sunshine, and then at a leisurely pace with plenty of cafe stops. Cover up as much of your exposed skin as possible for wind protection. There is an old Scandinavian expression If your feet are cold wear a hat. Take it seriously. 

I have Northwave Celsius GTX 2 and I'm happy with them.

But if you want to buy them keep in mind that:

- they're waterproof, but in the downpour the water will get in if you don't wear overshoes

- don't believe they're good up to -15C. I've tested them in -14C this week (with standard insole), wearing my extremely thick merino sock, and I was toasty for the first 30min, after 45mins I was feeling slightly cold, and finished just after an hour due to really cold feet.

- for my commute (ca. 50mins) they're ok up to -5C with only WoolieBoolie sock. Need to add one more layer if it gets colder.

- they're a bit slippery when used with hybrid platform+spd pedals

- don't go too far with upsizing - the pull string closure makes it difficult to fasten the laces tightly

For the water running into the shoe moments, a friend recommended the cut-off cuffs of a rubber glove under your tights and over the boots. 

I've never tried it but I've used his other recommendation several times - insulation tape around the top of waterproof socks for those really wet rides - stops the water running in so you only get sweaty feet, not wet ones. Having dry feet when the rest of you is soaked is such a bonus.

I purchased these one size larger than normal, placing sheep's wool insoles under those supplied. Can wear thick socks and ride in temps down to minus seven C where I live here in Hungary for 3 or 4-hour sessions, using STD clips. They are very warm, I will never go back to the hell of overshoes. Ratchets would not work on winter boots, velcro is fine. Here they cost much more, so you are very lucky. Last night it was minus 24 Cent. Good luck, keep riding.

As with the other comments, I'd recommend the Northwave Arctic Commuter Gore-Tex boots, with a couple of slight reservations.

The good - they keep me warm enough with merino socks in sub zero temperatures (think i've recorded down to -7 degrees on the Garmin,  albeit only briefly), and my fingers with ski gloves and merino liners are a problem way before my feet at those temperatures. They're also pretty waterproof, although I think this advantage is a little overstated due to water ingress at the top.

The not-so good is that the pull string closure, while okay, isn't as snug as the ratchet/velcro combination in typical shoes, but as I say, it's probably good enough. Also, the rubber heel doesn't seem particularly thick, and I have some doubts about its longevity, but I guess we'll see in time. 

Glad I've got mine overall - paid ~ £120 a year or so ago.

I've got the Northwave Fahrenheit Arctic 2 GTX Road Boot as I got fed up with overshoes. I wear them with some merino socks and I'm really pleased with them. My feet were starting to get cold on a ride last week when the Garmin recorded down to -7C, but my hands were getting colder too. Frankly at that temperature I shouldn't have been cycling.

I ordered mine in 42 and 43 (I wear 43 Sidi summer shoes) and kept the 43. There's room for a pair of thick socks ontop of some regular socks I'd say.

They do keep the rain off, but in heavy rain water runs down bibtights and into the shoes. It may be better if you can get the leg cuff over the shoe.

I (foolishly) rode through deep water a few weeks back and they held water all the way home, which was unpleasant but I suppose a testament to water tighnightness. I would reccomend them at a discounted price if you can get them, I paid about £107.

I've got the Northwave Artic Commuter version (SPD clips on my road bike) and they're great shoes.  When the temperature gets down to freezing, my feet will end up (after an hour or two) getting cold, but I put the blame on only wearing tights and thin merino socks and not anything more substantial.

Definitely go for a bigger size - I've found that Northwave tend to under-size their shoes.

I have the Northwave Fahrenheit 2 GTX , but ordinary version not the Arctic version.

I have ridden in them for around 6 Scottish winters and they are still in good condition, wore them this morning for the commute.

I have found them warm enough for anything I would cycle in, including rides around freezing.  Even with decent gloves I usually find my fingers are the problem before my toes.  They are way better and simpler than overshoes.

I bought a pair with sufficient room for a decent thick pair of socks, too tight and you restrict the blood flow and end up colder, so consider sizing.

They are excellent for road spray etc, but they have the same problems all boots and shoes have - water runs down your legs into the boots and you wil get wet feet if it is a wet day.

These versions are available at the moment in a couple of places at £100 if you can find your size.  I would say good value at that.