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Mate of mine wanted rid of his Orange RX9 so rather than sell it for him I've stripped it down and am building it back up as a winter bike with mudguards for me. Wanting to get kitted up to be able to ride more through the winter now so i'm after some winter spd recommendations. Nothing too expensive because I do turbo a lot during the winter so don't want a massive cost investment, however, I have AWFUL circulation so always have cold feet. Mens or womens really because feet are feet after all!!
Bontrager OMW
I found some exceptionally ugly ones on sports direct website. Muddy fox I think. (I didn't realize the name had been kept Ali e either).
They are warm and waterproof as far as splashes but water still will run down leg.
Yowzers!
Nothing too expensive
Flats is the answer. If you have shit circulation, the cleat sucks the heat and fun out of your feet. Flats also work better in mud and ice, win win.*
*This comes from someone who rode spd for years, prefers them to flats, but got pissed off with baltic feet and knee pain.
Sport pursuit had some Shimano ones recently, I picked up a set for this winter. Oh the irony of them turning up on the hottest day of the year
Great price compared to RRP but still might be more than you want to spend
You won't get a really decent set of winter boots that aren't expensive* (unless on sale), if you want cost effective you need to struggle with thick socks & overshoes.
*after 3 set of waterproof boots (shimano and NW) that were not suitable, I bit the bullet and bought some Lakes MXZ303's, they were expensive but have lasted 4 winter so far and are looking like they'll last plenty more. So in the long run, were my boots really expensive?
For MTB I'm on flats, for winter I wear warmer socks or boots
For commuting I've spent the last few years with neoprene overshoes and normal shoes, with warm socks on the particularly bad days. It's not too bad but I commute into London so it's a bit warmer down here than many bits of the country and it's stop start so my feet move a bit more. When i commuted in the opposite direction I had more cold feet problems as I'd be pedalling for an hour without stopping so my feet spent a lot of time getting cold from wind chill and then not generating any heat. I killed two pairs of overshoes in the last few years and have used the same pair of cycling shoes for about 7 years. They're still in great condition. Hoping the winter boots have the same lifespan!
I used to ride on/off road all through winter on SPDs. Specialized Defrosters were excellent, just combine with thick woolen socks and it was fine down to about -5C. Don't think I've ridden below that IIRC.
Northwave, get the propper goretex ones with the fleacy lining (they have artic in the name). £150, but last for years and one of the best investments I've made for winter riding. Mine are I think 8 years old, and one has a slight leak in the toe, enough to leave me with damp sock but not wet.
The next step down would be some overshoes, but they won't stop water coming in or heat getting out through the cleat or sole.
Also get some gripgrab gaiters, they work really well and will seal the top of your shoes against anything short of total immersion upto your calves.
Sport pursuit had some Shimano ones recently
MW700 - still have sizes 38, 39, 42, 43, 46 for £80
After having pretty poor experience of a few sets of winter boots, I've ended up getting a pair of cheapish Shimano shoes but in a larger size (47 compared to my normal 45) and a set of thick, knee length sealskinz socks with a pair of warm Merino socks underneath.
Toasty and dry! 👍
Spesh Defrosters, Bontrager OMW, 45Nrth Japanther or Ragnarök. I've the Defrosters and my wife has Japanthers, both fine down to -5C or so. Had my Defrosters about six or seven years now so although expensive at the time (£160 from memory) they haven't worked out too badly cost wise.
Don't get the boots too tight fitting as that will limit circulation.
If you want to properly stop water getting in to the boots (and it's only a problem if the water that does get in finds a way out and gets replaced) then use gaiters with waterproof trousers going over the top of the gaiters - think of how roof slates are arranged. This also keeps your legs warm and means blood getting to your feet isn't being chilled.
+1 for Defrosters which have lasted better than the Shimanos they replaced. I still haven’t found a solution to winter flats riding. Even with waterproof socks my feet still get really cold sloshing around in the water the shoes let in
Spesh Defrosters with DeFeet Woolie Boolie wool socks.
Cheers all, warmth is more important than super waterproofing as I dont plan on going out when its hoofing it down. I MTB all year round but due to having a nice road bike it doesnt tend to go out over the winter so this is more of a test run than a certainty that it's going to work/be something I enjoy the same, hence not wanting to spend a fortune nor wanting to find something that may last 6 years. Might give some Shimano RW5 shoes a go as a test and not a fortune.
What size feet are you? I've got a pair of Gaerne goretex SPD winter boots I'm looking to sell. Used for one winter only and no longer needed after a change of bike and back to flat pedals. They're the business, Italian made. Still in good nick. Usually I'm a size 9 or 9.5 these are EU size 45 so two sizes up, similar to Shimano sizing. They did a great job. Still needed a chopped set of overshoes at the top to prevent water ingress when wearing shorts but that's inevitable when one is svelte of shin.
Only a size 6 here but cheers!
Get some dry suit ankle seals like these ones
http://www.seaskin.co.uk/acatalog/Latex-Ankle-Seals-36cm--Pair--Spare-part--LATEXANKLESEAL36CM.html
Cut to size so they dont cut off circulation, but are still snug, and no more puddle splashes running down your leg filling up the boots.
OP - I found I had issues in cold weather with numb feet and wasnt sure what it was, have since picked up some Spesh insoles and am a lot more comfortable in winter now with like for like pedals and shoes. Shoes are the shinamo MW something with sealskinz and maybe another pair underneath.
Yeah I have custom insoles already as I have a high instep which causes my knee to twist without them. Mine is just literally poor circulation, I'm still using my winter duvet and although I'm a bit warm, I'm not cooking!
Ebay is worth a look. I picked up some used MW81s in my size for £35, hardly any marks or wear on them! Bargain. Only ridden them twice because of the mild winter, but they should last a good while!
Mine is just literally poor circulation,
In which case look at heated insoles for ski boots, you clip a Li-ion battery to the back of the boot and it keeps your feet warm for hours. Sports Pursuit will have some on sale at some point in the autumn..
Shimano boots with DeFeet Woolie Boolie wool socks for me. One size up ,still allows room for another pair of lambswool socks for when it's really cold - which has been rare this last year.
Shimano MW7's here. Had them 3 years, and 3 2 winters so far, but used over the first summer extensively (wet), not so much over last summer (dry), but again a fair bit this year (Llandegla 3 weeks ago).
Buy 2 pairs (because the pair you wore the previous day will still be waterlogged) and if the weather is going to be especially wet I suggest cling filming your shoes before pulling the overshoe on top (I shit you not)...
Skip Defrosters, one of the worst shoes/boots experience I ever had.
Fragile, leaky and not warm at all.
At least for someone that suffers with poor feet circulation like me.
Tried Shimano MW80, killed it in 3 days in the Lakes.
Defrosters already mentioned.
On LG Zero Extreme now. Probably the best so far, but not ideal.
Might be tempted by Lakes if I will find them in reasonable price. Reasonable like for winter shoes of course...
Cheers!
I.
My experience was would echo most of the above: water gets in at the top eventually.
However I have had good experience with Shimanoi MW80's / 81s (?)
Then got some Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX - proper warm. Probably my favourite - keeping them for the coldest days. Seem very durable.
Then recently some Shimano Dryshild MW5 - which are ok for spring / autumn but for some reason once they get wet inside (and all boots will do eventually) - OMG but these things can stink. Not something I've had with other boots. Soaking them in bio washing powder helped a bit. I'm hoping to wear them out so I can buy something else.
I’ve got some Defrosters, size nine.
Pm if you’re interested.