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review

Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX shoes

9
£209.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Warm, very comfortable and very well made – excellent winter footwear
Warm
Solidly built
Waterproof
Stylish looks
Weight: 
737g
road.cc Recommends

This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX winter shoes are warm, extremely comfortable and impressively water resistant, while their carbon-reinforced soles are stiff enough for decent pedalling and, perhaps more importantly, well insulated and plush. If your feet, like mine, average the same temperatures as an ice cream on Pluto, you'll love them.

While you can shield your regular shoes with all kinds of overshoes and covers, even the best essentially stick a plaster over the real problem. These Northwave boots outperform them by being designed appropriately in the first place: there are no vents in the sole to block up, and no holes or gaps in the upper, either – just a big, smooth flap for water to run straight off.

> Find your nearest dealer here

There are small perforations across the sides and top, but these clearly only lead to a breathable – but waterproof – layer, as nothing seeps in.

2021 Northwave Celsius R Arctic - toe.jpg

The neoprene collar is a good height for significant extra warmth around your ankles, and there's a Gore-Tex Rattler membrane inside to stop water and wind getting through. I found the collars completely unrestrictive for pedalling – an advantage, beyond the aesthetic ones, of the shoe-style construction.

2021 Northwave Celsius R Arctic - heels.jpg

Obviously, nothing (bar waterproof trousers that reach your midfoot, or perhaps surgically implanted ankle guttering) can stop that pesky gravity sending water down your legs, through your socks and into your riding shoes, but that's really its only route in.

2020 Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX vents.JPEG

Northwave has closed off most routes for heat to leave by, too. The Arctic 4Layer insole is both effective and plushly soft, though not so soft that it compromises pedalling feel or leads to movement inside the shoe. The fleecy lining all around the sides is similarly cosseting.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

Northwave rates these down to -10°C, and while it hasn't been meaningfully below zero during this test, it has been grim at times. Nevertheless, my feet have never felt less than warm – and at times actively cosy – despite a) deliberately wearing thin socks to test them and b) the bloodless flippers I call feet being so reliably cold they grow snowcaps, without fail, every September.

At first I found the Celsius Rs hard to get on, thanks to that tight(ish) collar, but once you get the knack they slip right on. It's a very obvious knack – poke your foot in at the easiest angle (90 degrees to the correct one, where the collar's widest), grab a big pull tab in each hand and just twist them straight on.

2021 Northwave Celsius R Arctic - detail.jpg

The tabs are big loops and feel very strongly attached.

The heel cup is very well judged – I could probably ride with these unlaced – and these boots feel instantly secure. The SLW2 dial works very well to cinch them up, too, as pulling up on the (metal) lever releases the cord completely to allow room to get in.

Once dialled tight, pushing the lever down releases tension a single ratchet click at a time, but I never found it particularly critical – in fact, I never once stopped either to loosen them for comfort or tighten them for security. Fit and sizing, for me, are spot on.

2021 Northwave Celsius R Arctic - logo.jpg

I personally really like the style, especially in this reflective Anthracite grey (black is also available), though that matt finish can polish your cranks pretty aggressively if you don't get your cleat adjustment quite right.

2021 Northwave Celsius R Arctic - reflective.jpg

The stitches on the panels and the seams along the soles are impressively neat and feel strong – this, and the well-armoured toe box, bodes well should icy conditions get the better of you.

Value

At £209.99, these shoes are a considerable investment, but if you'd rather get outside despite the winter than hole up with a turbo trainer, it's a worthy one for the extra warmth, comfort and ease of use over regular shoes and overshoes.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

Mavic's Ksyrium Pro Thermo shoes are a little cheaper at £199, but unless you can guarantee it won't rain they're hard to recommend as the waterproofing is extremely weak.

Northwave's own Flash Arctic GTX winter boots, which Dave tested last winter, are similar (if flashier looking) for exactly the same price (£209.99), though they do have vents in the soles.

For a lot less you could take a look at the Shimano RW5 Dryshield SPD-SL shoes. They're £129.99, but their waterproofing is less successful than Northwave's.

> 6 top tips to help keep you cycling through the winter

The Celsius R Arctic GTX shoes are cosy, extremely comfortable, very well made and as waterproof as anything's likely to be when attached to a tight-covered leg that guides water inexorably down inside. If cold feet are a problem, these are a proper touch of luxury.

Verdict

Warm, very comfortable and very well made – excellent winter footwear

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX shoes

Size tested: 44

Tell us what the product is for

Northwave doesn't really sum these up, so I'll do it instead: they're winter shoes.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Northwave lists:

NRG Air carbon reinforced sole (8 stiffness index)

Reinforced toe area with anti-abrasion technology.

SLW2 closure system.

Easyfit Climaflex collar with Gore-Tex Rattler® membrane.

Arctic 4layer insole.

360 ° visibility.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Impressive.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Very solidly constructed, so no obvious worries.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Supportive and comfortable.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10

Actually pretty light for what they are.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Lovely.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Cheaper than many high-end road shoes, but fit for (winter) purpose.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Warmth and comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Rain still gets in eventually...

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Mavic's Ksyrium Pro Thermo shoes are a similar price at £199, though the waterproofing is weak. Northwave's own Flash Arctic GTX winter boots are similar (if flashier looking) for exactly the same price (£209.99). Shimano's RW5 Dryshield SPD-SL shoes are a lot less at £129.99, but their waterproofing is less successful than the Northwaves'.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

These are exceptionally good in every area, with no weak spots. They're about as waterproof as you're seriously likely to get, and I think that lifts them to a 9.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

Add new comment

10 comments

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have an older pair of these, there are warm and waterproof, such that even rolling through a subway which was flooded, and toes on both feet were submerged at the same time for some distance, no water ingress.

Unfortunately one of the loops holding the wire has split, so one boot doesn't properly fasten at the top. The new revised fastening looks much better.

Avatar
cdamian | 3 years ago
1 like

I have an old pair of SPDs of these, but I am tempted to get a road version too.
It isn't that cold here, but I am a bit of a wimp.

Could you research what the difference between the different GTX R versions is, so I don't have too? There are these:

  • Extreme R GTX £270
  • Celsius R Arctic GTX £210
  • Celsius R GTX £190

Is it just about the insulation? They all seem to have BOA and Goretex.

Only the ones you reviewed are available in the reflective colour though, which I quite like.

Avatar
jayinjapants replied to cdamian | 3 years ago
1 like

Extreme R GTX, stiffer sole, warmer.
Celsius R Arctic, warmer.
Celsius R GTX, warm.

Avatar
Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
1 like

I have a pair of these - they're great. I'd definitely recommend them if you suffer from cold feet.  When the temperatures get really low I wear booties over them (anyone can be cold!) and I use Assos rainbooties if its cold a throwing it down... and cold, which is common for UK winters.

Two main issues are vents in the soles...and a need to be gentle with the neoprene when you're putting them on..

Avatar
wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

The SLW2 dial works very well to cinch them up, too, as pulling up on the (metal) lever releases the cord completely to allow room to get in.

All these months I've been undoing my summer shoes one click at a time to take them off and put them on   2

Avatar
Mark_1973_ replied to wycombewheeler | 3 years ago
0 likes

And....did you know that pushing the metal lever down will loosen the dial one notch at a time?

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to Mark_1973_ | 3 years ago
2 likes
Mark_1973_ wrote:

And....did you know that pushing the metal lever down will loosen the dial one notch at a time?

well obviously, as that is how I have been loosening them, one notch at a time. click twist, click, twist, click, twist etc

Otherwise I would have put them on the first time and would still be wearing them

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
1 like

I'm really tempted by the SPD version of these.   They show up quite regularly on Ebay, which is the only thing that makes me hesistate - is it just normal Ebay "churn" or some actual issue.

Avatar
morgyporg replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

I'm just going into my third winter with a pair of the SPD ones (the rather cool reflective camo pattern) and they're holding up well with no leaks. I'm usually pretty tough on shoes so I don't think there's an inherent issue with them to explain the pairs on ebay. In pouring rain your feet will get wet, but warm and wet feet I can live with.

Avatar
kil0ran replied to Secret_squirrel | 3 years ago
0 likes

Size up if you do - I tried these a couple of years ago (in the awesome camo/orange combo) and they were incredibly narrow and tight in the toe box. If you're wearing winter socks with them probably a size and a half unless you have narrow feet.

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