[Closed] Winter MTB boots- specifically Shimano MW81s

Yes. They're good. I've had a pair for the last ~5 years. They're knackered now but that's not bad going. They are (were) waterproof, and pretty warm - especially if you wear a nice warm sock underneath.

The only shoes I'd have in preference to them for winter are 45NRTH but they're way more expensive.

Some very good deals available on remaining sizes of MW81s at the moment, I think brought on by the lack or properly cold weather so far this winter probably hitting sales. Feel free to give us a shout if we can help or if you just want to pick my brains.

Good boots but I've just ordered some Bontrager OMWs for proper weather.

Good shoes but get a size bigger so you have room for more/thicker socks.

[i]Yes. They're good.[/i]

Good at keeping your feet warm, yes, good at keeping your feet dry, no. But it's the same with any boot as water runs down your leg into the boots.

I thought waterproof overtrousers would stop that happening but a colleague has a new pair of shimano winter boots and goretex overtrousers - his feet were soaked this week.

My 2 penneth is dont get the Shimanos, mine didnt keep my feet dry and the goretex liner split after about 14 months, get the Northwave Celcius, keep my feet dry and warm and are now on their 3rd winter.

They are pretty good but water will always head in through the hole in the top. To counter this I use Gore tights with long Seal Skinz socks – water still gets into the boots but not into the socks (as they are too long).

Yep, my feet have never actually been dry in them for all that long as I always end up wading through thigh-deep bogs on winter rides in mid Wales anyway, but show me a shoe that could cope with that and I'll have some!

Shimano have some new boots out - MW7, but I haven't seen any reviews.

I have a pair and really like them (though I've never had any other boots to compare).

I tend to use tights over the winter, and don't go wading, so my feet have stayed dry. They're a revelation compared to standard shoes and SealSkinz.

Echo the comment about getting a size bigger.

I got a replacement pair of the MT91s, after panning the arse out of my last pair.

Got another size up so I could get proper muckle wooly socks in there, they're great!!

Have both MT91 and MW81, love them both but their different creatures for different activities.. I use the MT91 all year round but would suggest if you do much hike a bike they're the boot for you. My MW81's have been brilliant over the last two years in properly wet weather, & soles are far stiffer than the Mt91's but I stuggle with cold toes when the temperature drops.
Bought some Lake MXZ 303's for the cold weather & they are the next step up protection wise.

best purchase I ever made. Keep my feet dy and warm..

My MW81s only lasted about 8 months before the neoprene cuff detached itself from the boot. 12 months and both have come off.

They never kept my feet particularly warm either.

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/shimano-mw81-boots-falling-apart-at-2y

MW81s have been great for me, however if you want the next step up get the Lake MXZ 303s.

They don't have the same water down the cuff problem and don't have a gortex liner.

They are very comfortable and warm - and pedal great.

We did a very very wet event in the Peak on sunday - my feet were virtually dry and my friend's wearing MW81 plus gaiters were soaked.

I think of MW81 as an in between winter boot. Good enough for most things but not the extremes.

Not sure how people are managing to keep their feet dry using these. The two of us in work that commute use them, I don't wear waterproof trousers so don't expect the wet to stay out, the other guy does, and decent gore ones, and his feet got soaked this week.

In light rain, yeh they're fine, in proper heavy rain they just don't keep the rain out.

I do find them warm enough though.

those new shimano ones look good but I'm looking ath the northwave arctic.

Go a size up for thicker socks and/or thermal insoles.

Great piece of kit. Much easier than layers and overshoes in my experience.

I love mine but two things, don't wear long socks, keep the socks below the cuffs and do the cuffs up tight and your feet will stay dry even in heavy rain and mud secondly do go a size up as they come up small. I find a light pair of normal riding socks and the boots keep my feet completely dry and very warm even in the wettest conditions - Maybe I have a "good" pair. After a wet ride a few weeks back with multiple deep puddles, rain for 3 hours and me in a pair of waterproof shorts I had a clear line where the cuffs were and completely dry feet.

I'm on my second winter with MW81s now. There have been a few times where I've had serious problems with water getting in, and not little bits either - properly filling with puddles. And they take days to dry too...

But 95% of the time they're fantastic. Much warmer in winter. They are waterproof.....mine get used mostly on the road, and the problem occurs only when there's a lot of standing water, or puddles. Which fires streams of water at your legs, which then runs straight down your boot. Under any other circumstance, they're fine. And some waterproof pants would fix it.

Usual tiny Shimano size, so get a size up and then some, for thicker socks.

Trying to keep your feet dry is impossible; all shoes are built with a big hole in the top which lets water (and yer feet) in.

I've had Specialised Defrosters for a few years, they keep me feet warm which is the main task. If it's really shitty I put a pair of overshoes on too.

Sock wise, I've tried all sorts but now I just use whatever I find in the draw!

Def go size up.

Get some of these in large and then trim down the narrow end until it is snugly tight around your ankle, and the wider end goes over the top of the boot - stops water getting in.

http://www.simplyscuba.com/products/Submerge/ConeWristSeal%28Pair%29.aspx

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