When the cold weather hits and your feet freeze, the right winter cycling shoes make the difference between riding and staying home. Winter models add insulation, a roomier shape for thick socks, and a weather-resistant or waterproof upper, although the protection varies by model, so below we only quote what each maker or listing states.
We picked three: two Lake boots built for two-bolt (SPD-style) mountain pedals, and one Fizik road shoe with a Gore-Tex membrane. Check cleat compatibility first, because a winter boot that doesn’t fit your pedals is no help.
By the way, before you go further, we also put together a guide to winter cycling gear, which covers what to wear by temperature. It pairs well with a new pair of shoes.
The extremities are the first to feel the cold. When temperatures drop, feet can become very cold or numb, which makes it hard to keep riding. Winter cycling shoes are designed to help with that, with insulated footbeds, linings and uppers that resist wind and moisture.
The days are shorter and the temperatures lower, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop riding. Here are three winter cycling shoes worth a look.
1. Lake MXZ303 Winter Cycling Boot
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The Lake MXZ303 is a winter boot with a mountain-bike style sole and two-hole cleat compatibility, so it pairs with SPD-style pedals. It’s the more aggressive of the two Lake boots here.
According to the listing, the upper is Pittards WR100 leather with an Outlast temperature-regulating liner, 3M Thinsulate lining in the toe box and a Thermosol composite insulation insole. WR100 is a water-resistant leather rather than a waterproof membrane, so think of it as protection from splashes and wet snow, not a boot you can stand in a puddle with. The outsole is a heavy-duty Mountain V by Vibram.
The closure is a side-mounted push/pull BOA IP1 lacing system with a buckle top flap, and the listing says the leather flap where laces would normally be blocks wind and moisture. Lake also describes Outlast heat-reflective technology in the heel and tongue liner, which holds heat from your feet and releases it when the temperature drops.
The listing doesn’t give a temperature rating for this boot. Lake’s current winter range lists the MXZ304 and the MXZ200, and Lake rates the MXZ304 for 7°F to 45°F (-14°C to 7°C), so if the MXZ303 is out of stock, the MXZ304 is the model to look at. If you ride mostly on pavement, a road-style winter shoe (see the Fizik below) may suit your pedals better.
2. Lake MXZ200 Winter Cycling Boot
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If the MXZ303 looks like more boot than you need, the Lake MXZ200 is the lace-up alternative. It looks like a classic leather hiking boot, and Lake describes it as a hiker-style design with a semi-flexible nylon sole that’s as comfortable off the bike as on it.
Lake’s page lists Pittard’s WR100 water-resistant leather on the black version and Ecco vegetable-tan leather on the brown, with a waterproof membrane liner and 3M Thinsulate lining in the toe box. It also says the uppers are treated with a durable water-repellent (DWR) coating that will wear away over time. Lake gives a temperature rating of down to 13°F (-10°C).
The outsole is a heavy-duty Vibram Mountain Trail sole that’s two-hole SPD compatible, and the bottom comes sealed, so you can also use the boot with flat pedals as an all-day hike-and-bike shoe. The closure is laces.
Lake builds the boot on its Winter Last, which has a wider and taller toebox so you can wear thicker socks without cutting off circulation, and recommends ordering 1 to 1.5 sizes up from your normal Lake size if you plan to wear winter-weight socks. The listing notes it for mud, sand, snow and trail use, with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
3. Fizik Tempo Artica GTX Winter Road Cycling Shoe
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Although some riders would rather stay indoors for the winter, others won’t give up the road over a few cold miles. The Fizik Tempo Artica GTX is a winter road shoe that Fizik describes as fully insulated, waterproof and breathable.
The waterproofing comes from an insulated Gore-Tex Koala membrane, and the lining is brushed fleece for warmth. The closure uses two parts: an upper Velcro closure that wraps around the ankle, and a single L6 BOA dial for the lower section.
The outsole is the R5 nylon sole, which Fizik describes as moderately stiff, with the cleat position set slightly further back than traditional settings. On this winter version the outsole leaves out the vent holes to keep your feet warm and dry. This is a road-style shoe, so check that its cleat pattern matches your pedals before ordering.
The listing doesn’t give a temperature rating, so use the Gore-Tex membrane and fleece lining as a guide to the conditions it was built for: cold and wet road riding.
Conclusion
Hopefully you found this helpful. Though there are many winter cycling shoe options on the market, these three cover two different needs: a two-bolt winter boot from Lake for mountain-style pedals, and a Gore-Tex road shoe from Fizik.
If you pick one from above, it would be nice to get yourself the best bicycle socks as well.
Nothing makes winter riding better than the right gear. A good pair of winter cycling shoes that keep your feet warm and dry can turn a miserable cold-weather ride into a good one.
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