Shimano MW7 Gore-Tex SPD shoes

With decent levels of waterproofing and insulation, Shimano's MW7 shoes are a good choice for winter riding, and you can walk easily in them too.

Much of what I said about the Northwave Extreme Winter Boots applies to the MW7s. They're very warm and as waterproof as winter shoes can be, subject to the usual caveat of water getting in at the ankles. You can beat that by using tights like the Pearl Izumi Amfibs, which have extended ankles that cover the cuffs of winter shoes.

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I finished long rides on cold days in the MW7s with comfortable feet, including my first 100km ride of the year on a day the temperature never got above 1°C. I had chilly toes at the lunch stop, but once they'd thawed they were fine for all of the second half.

They didn't do as good a job of fending off the wet as of keeping my feet warm, but I'm willing to live with that in winter shoes; I'm fortunate enough to live in one of the least rainy parts of the country. My socks were wetter after a two-hour ride in the rain than after a dry ride in similar temperature, but the chill was tolerable. I escaped that feeling of cold needles in the toes and subsequent agonising warm-up. Happy with that.

That the MW7s perform similarly to the Northwave Extreme Winters is not surprising, as they use a similar insulated Gore lining. Gore calls this one Insulated Comfort but it seems very similar to the Sierra lining in the Northwaves.

The liner sits under a synthetic leather and plastic outer that repels water well. It closes with a combination of Velcro and speed laces, so you just pull the laces snug and cover them with the flap.

Another Velcro flap pulls the neoprene cuff closed around the ankle. It's high enough to keep out road spray and flexible enough that it doesn't impede pedalling.

There's reflective trim front and back for visibility after dark.

I went for a 44, a size up on my usual 43. That leaves plenty of room for thick socks, and the overall fit is reasonably roomy for my medium-width feet. The MW7s are not built on a narrow Italian-style last, owners of non-skinny feet will be pleased to hear.

The toe box is relatively low-volume, which is a bit of an issue in a winter shoe. You want plenty of room to wiggle your toes to keep the circulation going. Since you'll probably be wearing a thicker sock, you want a bit more space around the toes than cycling shoes usually have. The toe space isn't cramped, but it's not as generous as some.

The MW7s are nominally mountain bike shoes, in that they have a recessed, two-bolt cleat mounting. But the tread is quite light, which makes them more suitable for pavement and grass than deep trail mud. That makes them perfect commuting shoes for anyone who keeps going right through the winter.

They're definitely much easier to walk in than winter shoes with external cleats. Having used both MW7s and Northwave Extremes I'm leaning to the conclusion that SPD shoes are a better idea for winter riding. There were a couple of spots on my 100km ride where I had to get off and walk to get past short sections of ice. Even when it's just a few steps I'd much rather do that in SPD shoes.

Switching to SPD pedals for the winter isn't an expensive option, either. A pair of Shimano PD-M520 or PD-M530 pedals will set you back just £20. If you're buying winter shoes, that's not much for safer walking.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

And don't think mountain bike shoes like the MW7s are flexible and inefficient. Pedalling in the MW7s is plenty comfortable thanks to the stiff sole and well-shaped insole. Fleece insulation on the insole helps keep your feet warm too.

Sure, they're not carbon-road-race-shoe stiff, but you're not going to be racing in them anyway. What you are going to be doing is riding in all weathers and conditions, and the MW7s are spot-on for that.

Verdict

Warm and waterproof winter shoes that you can walk in too