5 Boots Made for Riding
And that’s just what they’ll do, no matter the winter conditions
And that’s just what they’ll do, no matter the winter conditions
These cold-weather boots are all made for clipping spd cleats into your pedals and ripping in the winter. Shimano XM9 $350 ( shimano-lifestylegear.com)
Sporting a hiking boot look, the XM9 shoes have lugs for good grip. If you find yourself in a hike-a-bike situation, these boots will support your ankles well as you head to rideable surfaces. On the bike, their stiffness rating of three out of 12 on Shimano’s scale means you do have some cycling-specific stiffness in the sole for good power transfer. Nubuck leather adds toughness and durability, while the Gore-tex membrane keeps water out and lets moisture move away from your socks. These are your bikepacking buddies.
Mavic Crossmax SL Pro Thermo $300 ( mavic.ca)
If you face slush, the Mavic Crossmax SL Pro Thermo shoes are the boots to slip on your feet. The outer fabric does an excellent job of blocking water. Should some wetness creep in, there’s Gore-tex to move moisture out. At the ankles, neoprene will actually hold water while keeping you warm. The dial-based lacing system is by Ergo. It works well by ratcheting up the tightness when you turn it in one direction, and loosens completely when you twist the other way.
Bontrager OMW $300 ( bontrager.com)
Omg, the omw shoes are feature-rich. The boots, made by Bontrager to keep Old Man Winter in check, have solid Vibram soles for when you need to put your feet down on the trail. The toe box is roomy so your tootsies won’t feel crowded when you’re sporting thick wool socks. At the back of each boot, there’s a hook-and-loop strap perfect for attaching an Ember rear light for extra visibility. Après-ride, you can remove the fleece-lined booties to dry things out or to wear as slippers.
Garneau Klondike $325 ( garneau.com)
Garneau, a St-augustin-de-desmaures, Que.-based company, knows a thing or two about winter. If you have toes that are perpetually cold, the Klondike shoes, with Thinsulate insulation and padded insoles, will keep your extremities warm. The last was designed to accommodate thick socks should you need more insulation. The Boa dials snug things up well, but once you set them, they’re covered to keep out the cold. For deep snow, the shoes have loops at their throats for hooking in gaiters. The shoes definitely pair well with a fat bike.
Specialized Defroster Trail $280 ( specialized.com)
The outboard sides of the Specialized Def roster trail shoes have large reflective surfaces to bounce the light of passing vehicles. The hook-and-loop closures at the ankles are massive sealing your feet in and keeping winter out. The shoes have a rating of six on Specialized’s stiffness index. (The company’s S-works 6 ltd road shoes are 13 on that scale.) Whether you ride these boots on your winter ’cross or mountain bike, you’ll churn out some respectable power. More important, you’ll have fun outside.— MP