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I'm tired of making do with overshoes and seal skin socks come winter, the time nigh to invest in a pair of winter SPD boots/shoes!
I'm thinking either Specialized Defroster or Northwave Raptor GTX. Has anyone any experience of wither of those two? Or is there something else I should be looking at? Cheers
I have Lake MXZ303'S really realy good boots.
I've the defrosters.
Warmer than you think they are going to be - there doesn't appear to be anything bulky to insulate you. The rubber used for the sole is very hard so don't expect to be able to stick to rocks if you have to scramble over something.
Like all boots if you go into water higher than the cuff then they'll fill up.
I've had the defrosters and now have the northwave ones. The latter are considerably better for me. Strangely my feet kept getting cold in the defrosters.
I've had the Shimano ones for year (MT something). Picked them up fairly cheap in a sale, they're excellent.
45North boots bought when CtBM had a sale before Easter and have just installed cleats in them. Of course that means it'll be warm and dry until February.
I got the Shimano ones cheap, they're really good if they fit you, warm as toast and dry with a better grip if you have to walk than they look like. Just remember that if its REALLY chucking it down, the rain will run down your legs, fill the boots up, and the fact they're waterproof will stop it escaping. This is even worse in a damp blizzard on a wet 10 mile commute, by the time I got home my feet were no longer with me and my hands too cold to open the front door...and I accidentally poured about a pint of water on the floor when I took them off...
Not sure I like the look, but they actually do the job really well...if you can get a deal.
I saw the new Fizik boots at the cycle show and they look excellent
For road I have a pair of one size too big Sidis. Comfortable, warm, but seem to let a lot of water down the leg. Hence they fill up! They are also very heavy. Noticeable when pedalling.
I also have had old Shimano and now more recently some right sized Specialised defrosters. Love the defrosters, comfortable, keep out the cold and wet. Not too heavy.
Last winter was very mild. For winter I mainly wore Castelli Toe Things with long merino socks. Never had cold feet.
Get some proper winter boots, like the lakes 303, 45north or the bontrager ones, instead of spending money on what are really decent but just wet weather boot like the shimano, NW or spesh IMHO. Wish I had years ago instead of being cheap & buying the 2 pairs of wet weather boots & suffering with cold feet. The Lakes get my vote btw
Northwave for me when it's really filthy , like waterproof toasty slippers !