Winter Mountain Biking Shoes
By James Sharp and Jon Sharp

As I look at my closet, I notice that I have quite a lot of shoes. I have shoes for running, hiking, walking around town; I have dressy shoes and sandals. It seems that I have shoes for every occasion, but for years I have only had one pair of riding shoes at a time and I am willing to wager that most riders are the same. Why not, you ask? One word… winter. If you ride in the winter, you are asking your shoes to protect your feet from cold, wind, rain and mud. A pretty tall order for shoes designed to keep your feet cool and comfy in the summer. Booties help, but they are more of a duct-tape-and-bailing wire approach. The fix is a pair of shoes that are made for the harsh environment Old Man Winter throws at us every year.

Take a look at these shoes:

Lake MXZ-300
Northwave Grizzly

Lake MXZ-300
Lake knows cycling shoes. In fact they have 22 different mountain and road bike shoes listed on there website, and that’s not including leisure and women’s specific models. All Lake shoes use natural leather for breathability, and the MXZ-300 is no different. In addition to the full Pittard’s leather upper, there is a full neoprene bootie, three hook and loop straps, Thermosol sock liner, Thinsulate toe insulation and a premolded heel cup. The shoe is also built on a winter last to accommodate thicker socks. Naturally, the shoes are SPD compatible. All of these add up to feet that are comfortable during the coldest, wettest night rides.

I found these shoes to be ideal for winter. They are incredibly comfortable and warm. They shed water mud without a hitch. The only time I have had my feet get wet was when I sprayed off mud using a hose, not once on a ride. In fact, they are comfortable off the bike as well. The sole flexes enough for hike-a-bike sections without being too flexy on the bike. I actually prefer winter shoes to have more flex than summer shoes. I seem to spend more time pushing through the mud in the winter. Fortunately, the MXZ-300 come with two sets of toe spikes, one shorter and one longer. While I don’t use them as a rule, in the right conditions, these are indispensable.

Lake used laces as well as three hook-and-loop straps, two across the top and one for the heel counter, on the MXZ-300 Due to the neoprene bootie, I found these shoes to be some of the more difficult to get into. As a consequence I removed the laces and never looked back. I found that the two straps on the top did a fine job securing the shoe and I never missed the adjustability that the laces would have afforded.

Summary: With an MSRP of $189.99, the Lake MXZ-300 winter cycling shoes aren’t cheap. What they are is feature packed, warm, comfortable, well made and built to take winter at its worst and come back for more. If you are serious about riding in the winter, these are your shoes. If you ride once in a while, when it is dry or only moderately wet, booties might serve you better. What is the biggest benefit? Your summer shoes will last that much longer by not using them when the weather is lousy. I recommend these to anyone who rides year round.

For More Information:
Lake
www.lakecycling.com
Tel: 800-804-7777
Fax: 847-491-9269
lake@phx-int.com

Northwave Grizzly
The Northwave Grizzly is definitely built around cold weather riding. While the closure uses laces, there is a waterproof zippered flap that fits snugly over the top of the laces. Instead of your traditional ankle-high opening, there is an over-the-ankle insulated Lycra bootie that fits snugly to keep the elements (mud, snow, dirt, etc.) out. The inside is insulated and uses an Airdry membrane that allows for transpiration of moisture. In addition to all these features, the seams are welded to keep out moisture, the insole is thermal, and, of course, the SPD-compatible cleat holes don't penetrate to the inside of the shoe.

The first thing we noticed was that the sizes are off. They run pretty large. Not "thick-socks" large, but "too-big" large. According to the sizes, they should have fit another of our editors, but they fit me instead. Because of this, we recommend you either try them on before buying, or order a size (or two) smaller than normal.

Once we found the right foot for the shoe, however, the fun began. Riding in 24 degree weather was actually enjoyable (well, for my feet, anyway). The soles were quite stiff, so there was no feeling like I was riding in winter hiking boots. In fact, I find that on the bike, these shoes are every bit as comfortable as my summer riding shoes. Because of their Airdry fabric, even in warmish weather (around 50 degrees), my feet never overheated. As for repelling moisture, I'm not sure I'd forge a river with them, but while riding across one, my shoes got wet but my feet stayed dry. Off the bike, I found hiking uncomfortable. The reinforced heel cup is quite stiff, and the transition between it and the soft Lycra bootie isn't padded enough. As a result, I found that while hiking for a long period of time, the stiff part dug into my Achilles tendon much more than your average (or even below average) riding shoe. This probably wouldn't be so apparent if the bootie didn't keep my foot so secure in the shoe. If you hike a lot, watch out.

Summary: The Grizzly is a good winter mountain biking shoe. It helped me ride longer, with more comfort, than ever possible in standard shoes. The sole is stiff. The shoe kept my feet warm and dry in cold, muddy, and wet conditions. In essence, it does the job of protecting your feet, and your summer riding shoes. The Grizzly retails for $140--not too expensive, but not cheap either. The one thing I'd change (besides the sizing) with this shoe is the comfort while walking. As I mentioned above, prolonged hiking is uncomfortable--a problem when it gets messy. This is definitely a shoe that requires at least a walk around the store before purchasing.

For More Information:
Northwave
http://www.trialtir-usa.com/2003-northwave/northwave.htm

James Sharp is a Contributing Editor to GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

Jon Sharp is a Contributing Editor to GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.