[Canyon48]

Hi all,

The temperatures have really plummeted this last week and my feet are back to being freezing on my bike – despite wearing merino socks, oversocks and overshoes.

All last winter I had issues with my toes going really numb no matter what I wore and I can’t face another winter of it (especially now that I’m commuting daily). My normal shoes are well-vented top and bottom, so even overshoes don’t help much. I’m not overly concerned about the shoes being super waterproof, that’s an entirely different issue, I just want warmth on my winter rides!

I’m after a pair of 2 bolt SPD winter boots/shoes around £120, wondering if anyone has any recommendations?

Topic

[Canyon48]

I have to say, I’m chuffed

I have to say, I’m chuffed with the performance of my RW-5’s.

After raising the saddle a fairly massive 4mm to accommodate for the slightly thicker sole and the stabilisers, everything felt very comfortable and back to “usual”.

Gave them a good two hour thrash with a few hills and descents – nice and stiff shoes, comfortable and warm.

My feet were far more comfortable and had no numbness issues during or after the cycle.

[don simon fbpe]

I took my brand spanking pair

I took my brand spanking pair of Gaerne https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/gaerne-g.winter-gore-tex-r-road-cycling-winter-shoes-250808?currency=3&delivery_country=190&varid=250814&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6enQBRDUARIsAGs1YQihteRUnEJs4UH95cSrvQD9Dh91x4OnkGsH9fQAumqDQ6dVbA26r78aAj74EALw_wcB WWinter boots out today, Wet, cold, windy and a section of flooding and I’m impressed with them. My feet weren’t as toasty as I’d hoped for, but they were nowhere near as cold as the summer shoes were.

Socks were wet when I got home, but feet didn’t need defrosting before having a shower. I don’t run a front mudguard, for reasons of lugging it in an out of the car, and they held upo superbly in the face of all the crap and water being thrown at them during a 4.5 hour ride.

[Langlais]

Another vote for Shimano MW81

Another vote for Shimano MW81 boots or similar. In (dry) freezing weather, I am now able to ride for about 3 hours before my feet start to get cold. In normal road shoes + merino socks + overshoes, it was no more than half that.  Not bad on wet roads but in heavy rain, the water does get through the top quickly.

[Canyon48]

Got my Shimano RW5’s today

Got my Shimano RW5’s today and gave them a 25 mile test ride in about 8 degrees.

The fit of the shoes is a little odd, they are size 45 (same as my other two pairs of shoes – one shimano the other bontrager), but they are quite long. Fine on width and tightness though. No aching/numb toes so far.

Nice shoes, much stiffer than I thought they’d be (which is good) and very comfortable.

The only annoying thing is, as I’m using SPD’s with cleat stabilisers they have about 2mm extra stack than my usual recessed SPD shoes. It’s not much, but I notice it – if it carries on annoying me I might just raise my saddle height a couple of mm (I don’t think I’ll be using my normal summer shoes for quite a while now!).

[Anonymous]

Welsh boy wrote:

Now, you say they fit well with normal socks, this could be an issue then, if you want to wear thick, warm socks. These could make the fit very tight, reducing blood flow and therefore causing your feet to be colder than they should be. 

[/quote]

Dont you think that I factored in that these are winter shoes so they fit with my “normal” winter socks?

Secondly, why do people keep repeating this rubbish about slightly thicker socks make your feet cold?  Compression clothing is sold to football and rugby player because it keeps them warm on cold days.  If your heart is so weak that it cant pump blood around a slightly tight sock you have serious problems.  This is another of those oldclub run tales where someone has brought this up and anyone who has had cold feet on a cold day when they have tried slightly thicker sock instanly blames the socks for being cold.

I agree that shoe fit is a very personal thing but I was passing on my experience of this particular shoe, not making a sweeping generalisation on a particular manufacturer.  I hoped it would help anyone thinking of terying the same product.

[/quote]

Good luck with that!

[Welsh boy]

[/quote]

[/quote]

Now, you say they fit well with normal socks, this could be an issue then, if you want to wear thick, warm socks. These could make the fit very tight, reducing blood flow and therefore causing your feet to be colder than they should be. 

[/quote]

Dont you think that I factored in that these are winter shoes so they fit with my “normal” winter socks?

Secondly, why do people keep repeating this rubbish about slightly thicker socks make your feet cold?  Compression clothing is sold to football and rugby player because it keeps them warm on cold days.  If your heart is so weak that it cant pump blood around a slightly tight sock you have serious problems.  This is another of those oldclub run tales where someone has brought this up and anyone who has had cold feet on a cold day when they have tried slightly thicker sock instanly blames the socks for being cold.

I agree that shoe fit is a very personal thing but I was passing on my experience of this particular shoe, not making a sweeping generalisation on a particular manufacturer.  I hoped it would help anyone thinking of terying the same product.

[Anonymous]

Welsh boy wrote:

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

If only you wanted a road shoe…

https://www.evanscycles.com/northwave-flash-th-winter-thermal-road-shoe-EV303888

 

Oh, brilliant!  Have you tried these at all?

I normally wear a size 41 shoe so i ordered a size 41 and guess what?  They fitted like a size 41 shoe so where people get this idea that Northwave sizing is a joke is beyond me.

I’m glad they fit. People don’t get an idea about fitting, it comes from trying them on and wearing them… For me, Northwave were too small in my regular shoe fitting.

Now, you say they fit well with normal socks, this could be an issue then, if you want to wear thick, warm socks. These could make the fit very tight, reducing blood flow and therefore causing your feet to be colder than they should be. 

[Welsh boy]

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

If only you wanted a road shoe…

https://www.evanscycles.com/northwave-flash-th-winter-thermal-road-shoe-EV303888

 

Oh, brilliant!  Have you tried these at all?

 

First impression when trying them on (to see if they needed to be sent back for another size) was that they were very comfortable with plenty of toe space.  It is also my first shoe with those silly cable fasteners and a wheel to tighten them up.  First time i put them on i was converted to the closure system, velcro straps now seem rather crude!

First ride in them was tonight, just under 3 hours at around 6 degrees which would have been too cold for my thin overshoes and would normally have had me wearing neoprene overshoes.   My first impression about them being comfortable was confirmed, very comfortable on the bike and light too.  However, normal socks, no overshoes and my feet were cool by the time i got home but not uncomfortably so.  10 minutes after i got in the gritters were out doing our road so it was definitely cold by the time i got home.  I think that with some slightly warmer socks these will be fine down to 3 or 4 degrees so i am very pleased with them.

I normally wear a size 41 shoe so i ordered a size 41 and guess what?  They fitted like a size 41 shoe so where people get this idea that Northwave sizing is a joke is beyond me.

[baconjam]

I tried the NW Raptor GTX and

I tried the NW Raptor GTX and Extreme XCM GTX and couldnt get on with either. The fit is odd compared to other shoes/boots i’ve tried, definitely felt like i needed a second dial lower down. Also NW sizing is ridiculous.

Waiting on a par of Fizik Artica X5s, if no luck with them will try the Shimano MW7s.

 

 

[Welsh boy]

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

If only you wanted a road shoe…

https://www.evanscycles.com/northwave-flash-th-winter-thermal-road-shoe-EV303888

 

Oh, brilliant!  Have you tried these at all?

They have arrived!  I will be trying them tonight (6 degrees forecast which is cool enough to give me uncomfortable feet with thin, not neoprene, overshoes).  First impression is very positive.  To help pay for these new shoes my old Northwave Celsius 2 GTX boots (mtb) are on a well known auction site, currently selling for £16 if anyone with a size 41 foot is interested, auction ends Sunday 19th Nov.

[Canyon48]

JeffB wrote:

JeffB wrote:

I have same issues and bought the Shimano Dryshield which are good, seem like cheapest boot style. Thry come with a nice felt liner, very comfy. At £100 or so you can afford these with enough left over for a couple of pairs of Woolie Bookie socks by Defeet, one of the best winter socks. If you easily get numb cold toes like me you may still need to look at other things like keeping your core warm and avoiding sweat, which turns wet and cold when slowing / stopping. You can always add overshoes if still not warm enough

For the price, and the 2bolt compatibility, the RW5’s look ideal for me.

It’s interesting what a few others have said about wool content – my PlanetX Merino thicky socks are 69% Merino (or so they say…).

[JeffB]

I have same issues and bought
I have same issues and bought the Shimano Dryshield which are good, seem like cheapest boot style. Thry come with a nice felt liner, very comfy. At £100 or so you can afford these with enough left over for a couple of pairs of Woolie Bookie socks by Defeet, one of the best winter socks. If you easily get numb cold toes like me you may still need to look at other things like keeping your core warm and avoiding sweat, which turns wet and cold when slowing / stopping. You can always add overshoes if still not warm enough

[Anonymous]

I’ve been using Shimano MW81

I’ve been using Shimano MW81 shoes for three years now, they are superseded but even the latest model is worth the extra cost. So much easier first thing in the morning putting these on and not having the faff of shoe covers. Get a proper winter boot, you won’t regret it. For what its worth I got mine second hand off ebay for less than half retail – seller had an issue with sizing.

[kil0ran]

I got to test my Shimano shoe

I got to test my Shimano shoe covers this evening in torrential rain with a lot of surface water. Actively sought out the puddles I knew that weren’t concealing a pothole.

Result: warm, dry feet at ride end, just the rest of me absolutely sopping wet. Impressed and I saved £80 over buying the MW5s.

 

[Welsh boy]

Rapha Nadal wrote:

Welsh boy wrote:

If only you wanted a road shoe…

https://www.evanscycles.com/northwave-flash-th-winter-thermal-road-shoe-EV303888

 

Oh, brilliant!  Have you tried these at all?

 

Not yet but I am probably going to get a pair soon.

[Author]

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