@Dirt 65372 wrote:
My buddy Sean loves his. He’s got Lake Boots too and he says the NorthWaves kick butt. Much lighter and virtually as warm.
The Northwave Celsius Arctic GTX. The Arctic version is supposed to be warmer than the non-Arctic. I don’t know, never tried the non-Arctic.
I have Lake boots from a few years ago. They are still useful in deep snow or if the temps go below 20 degrees. Both of those have been rare the past couple years though.
I bought the Northwave boots because I tried their summer shoes and they were a great fit for my wide feet. I wanted a lighter boot. The boots also have a spacious toebox, which is essential for thick socks. If your winter boots are not loose then they are not warm no matter what you are wearing. Circulation is key. I wear the same sized Northwave boot as Northwave summer shoe because the toe box is so big.
I RARELY wear my Lake boots anymore. The Northwave’s are way way way waaaaaay lighter. Nearly summer shoe light, especially compared to the Lakes. They claim to have a water resistant lining, but when it rains your feet will get wet due mostly to the short tops on them. If it is rain an in the 30s I will pull out the Lakes.
With all that said, the Northwaves rock. I can wear my Arctics comfortably up to 45F. Too hot above that temp. But then again 40F is about the transition temp for me to wear wool socks and toe covers on summer shoes anyway. The weight of the Northwave shoes cannot be understated. They are so much more efficient than the heavier Lake boots.
I have worn mine very comfortably from about 25-45 degrees. I did race Snotcycle this year in them when the temp was 19F. For that I added a toe chem warmer and my feet were very happy.
For anyone entertaining the idea of purchasing the 3-bolt road cleat version of any boot, DON’T. Road cleats are USELESS in snow and ice. Step off the bike one time and the cleat fills with ice and you don’t get clipped back in. Invest in MTB pedals for winter if you have not already. Road soles are also USELESS to walk on in perfect summer conditions. Now try walking on them on ice and snow. Get the MTB pedals for winter.
This winter will be my third season on my Northwave boots. I will wear them every day the temp stays below 45F just like the past 2 seasons. The boot is essentially as good as new, unlike Lakes which fall apart every season.
One of the best pieces of kit I own.
BTW, I wrote down what works for me at different temps and edit it year after year to adjust to new insights and my evolving needs for winter clothing. Here is my personal FAQ I refer to for myself each Autumn so I don’t have to reinvent the wheel every year when I try to remember what worked 6 months ago.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ynG_e-u1JNPF8pudUURLVRF0PPXxkBghoICRsfva2CI/edit?usp=sharing
