SPD-compatible winter boots

[jabberwocky]

I had Lakes for many years, and they are fantastic for warmth but I found their build quality to be a bit questionable (mine were held together with shoe goo after a few seasons).

I replaced them with a pair of Northwave Celsius Arctic boots a few years ago and like them a lot. Equally warm and comfortable but they have held up far better (other than being a little dirty mine look the same as new after 3-4 winters of commuting).

[Harry Meatmotor]

I’ve got one winter season on my Lakes and they look new, albeit dirty.

45NRTH also has some pretty beefy boots.

I’ve ridden with a guy that has Specialized Defrosters (kinda neat that they do both 2- and 3-bolt compatible soles; Road Defroster and Mountain Defroster) that he bought on super-closeout for $45 and he loves them.

[Tania]

I have the Lakes and the Giro Alpineduros. The Lakes are crazy heavy and honestly I don’t find either the Lakes or the Giros keep my feet entirely warm when it’s 10F on my hour long commute but my feet don’t start to feel the cold until around 45 minutes in and even then they’re not frozen, just not cozy warm.

It’s entirely possible they’re TOO warm and my feet are sweating – I have this issue with hands (I wear thin, no-insulation mountain bike gloves until it’s in the 20’s).

Caveat – I run hot. YMMV.

[huskerdont]

I have some Shimano SH-MW81 Gore-Tex boots that I purchased in 2011 that and are doing fine. They are very warm so I only use them when temps get down into the teens or lower. When it’s warmer than that, booty covers over reasonably robust cycling shoes work better for me.

[jrenaut]

So many options.

I run warm, too, but I find as I’m getting older my hands and feet no longer do. I can deal with cold feet to some extent, but with covers plus my regular shoes, my feet are uncomfortable after 10-15 minutes when it’s 25 degrees.

[huskerdont]

@jrenaut 149081 wrote:

So many options.

I run warm, too, but I find as I’m getting older my hands and feet no longer do. I can deal with cold feet to some extent, but with covers plus my regular shoes, my feet are uncomfortable after 10-15 minutes when it’s 25 degrees.

You’ll love either the Lakes or the Shimanos then. (Everybody swears by the Lakes; for the Shimanos, I had to go up a size–46 instead of 45.) Also, if you have absolutely monster feet, dbb just posted a pair in the classifieds. They’re like a size 13.5 or something, I dunno, all I know is I have ski boots with a lower wind profile.

[jrenaut]

My feet are more like 45s.

[Drewdane]

I don’t know about gold standard, but I absolutely love my Lakes; almost no problems in the 5 or 6 years I’ve owned them (caveat: I only need to wear them once or twice a year when it’s really cold out and usually raining as well). I did have to replace one of the BOA mechanisms the first year after I cranked down too hard trying to get a super-snug fit but that was my fault, not the boot’s.

[AFHokie]

I have Lake boots and they’re plenty warm, but I’ve found them nowhere near as waterproof as advertised.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 149075 wrote:

I have the Lakes and the Giro Alpineduros. The Lakes are crazy heavy and honestly I don’t find either the Lakes or the Giros keep my feet entirely warm when it’s 10F on my hour long commute but my feet don’t start to feel the cold until around 45 minutes in and even then they’re not frozen, just not cozy warm.

It’s entirely possible they’re TOO warm and my feet are sweating – I have this issue with hands (I wear thin, no-insulation mountain bike gloves until it’s in the 20’s).

Caveat – I run hot. YMMV.

I don’t suppose you have Giros other than the Alpineduros? I’d like to know how they fit compared to the rest of Giro’s lineup.

[Tania]

@TwoWheelsDC 149098 wrote:

I don’t suppose you have Giros other than the Alpineduros? I’d like to know how they fit compared to the rest of Giro’s lineup.

Along with bike jackets, I collect bike shoes. And I have big feet, don’t judge.

Alpineduros (boots) – 41 : roomy and comfortable with thick wool socks (WAY too big with normal socks however)
Terraduros (everyday ride shoes) – 39.5 : best with thin to med socks. I did initially have the issue that Sunyata mentioned in another post where they were tight through the arch, more so on my left foot. I don’t even notice it now though. They’ve been on many long rides with no issues.

Lake MXZ 303 (boots) – 40 : narrow, almost too tight with thicker socks, med thickness socks best
Lake MX331 (cx shoes) – 39 : thinner socks only

For reference
Chucks – 39 : thin socks or no socks

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 149100 wrote:

Along with bike jackets, I collect bike shoes. And I have big feet, don’t judge.

Alpineduros (boots) – 41 : roomy and comfortable with thick wool socks (WAY too big with normal socks however)
Terraduros (everyday ride shoes) – 39.5 : best with thin to med socks. I did initially have the issue that Sunyata mentioned in another post where they were tight through the arch, more so on my left foot. I don’t even notice it now though. They’ve been on many long rides with no issues.

Lake MXZ 303 (boots) – 40 : narrow, almost too tight with thicker socks, med thickness socks best
Lake MX331 (cx shoes) – 39 : thinner socks only

For reference
Chucks – 39 : thin socks or no socks

Sweet. I have Terraduros in 45 and they are perfect with summer socks, so I think I’d probably do Alpineduros in a 46. I hate reading about sizing because people always say “go one size up” and that gets confusing when all the brands you wear tend to be the ones that run small…so like, do I size up from my already small shoes, or size up from a not small shoe, which I do anyway?

Anyway, this thread made me realize it’s almost boot weather and my slightly-too-small Sidis, which were tolerable for a 25 minute commute, most definitely will not work for my now 60 minute commute. I was considering the 45NRTH Japanthers, but I’m wary of any shoes that velcro at the ankle (something to think about Jon!), as the velcro on my Sidis barely lasted a season and I had to start using elastic bands to keep the top flap in place (I had lost the paperwork for a return). At this point I’m leaning toward the Lakes, but thinking I may have to go with a 46W (!)

[Tania]

Right Alpineduro boot – 452 grams
Right Lake boot – 592 grams.

Just a thought.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 149103 wrote:

Right Alpineduro boot – 452 grams
Right Lake boot – 592 grams.

Just a thought.

Just makes for extra off-season quad sculpting.

[dbb]

@huskerdont 149082 wrote:

Also, if you have absolutely monster feet, dbb just posted a pair in the classifieds.

Monster? Be nice!

[Author]

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