In article <
[email protected]>,
amakyonin <
[email protected]> wrote:
> For winter cycling, the Lake MXZ-300's are likely the best shoe
> available. They have good insulation in the sole and are well protected
> from water. I am comfortable for extended rides down to 20F with just a
> polypro liner and an acrylic winter sock (I hate wool). For colder
> temperatures I use a footbed I found at Wal-mart that accepts chemical
> hand warmer packets. With the warmers I have ridden down to -5F in
> comfort although you do notice the heat being sucked out of the shoe at
> those temperatures. I only did this temperature once for a 5 mile
> commute so I don't know how long they will work for longer rides in
> such extreme cold. Being leather they aren't completely waterproof (no
> stream wading) but I haven't had any problems with leaks and you can
> confidently walk through puddles. They come with a packet of Nik-Wax
> which is a very effective treatment for leather. For best fit you
> should go one size up from your normal shoes. This preserves
> circulation when wearing layers of socks and the straps can still take
> up the extra space for warmer days. The unique heel strap on the Lake
> shoes is particularly useful for tuning the fit. The sole has good
> traction but it is narrower than a usual winter boot so it still pays
> to walk judiciously. The toe spike attachments come with filler bolts
> installed so you won't rust out the inserts if you chose to go without
> them.
>
> I ruled out the Gaerne polars because they are reported to have
> durability issues. The Sidi winter storms have had flaws in the past
> with leaks and lack of insulation. The current storm 3's may be
> improved. Answer has a new winter shoe with leather uppers
> (http://www.answerproducts.com/items.asp?deptid=10&itemid=140) that
> might be worth a look. It doesn't appear to have as much coverage of
> the upper flap than the Lakes do though.
>
Continuing on the subject... I second that the MXZ-300s are the best
cold weather cycling boot/shoe available; but, again, they are not
without their limitations. As amakyonin recommends, buy a size up from
your regular shoe size to accommodate socks on the extra frigid days.
The greatest weakness of the MXZs is the boots' lack of waterproofness
- indeed the term water resistant is more applicable in this case. And
once wet, the leather takes a good deal of time to dry, much more than
shoes with synthetic uppers. Here I deviate amakyonin observation: if
you anticipate much walking in slushy conditions, it's best to avoid
this choice in footwear.
It's for this reason that the MXZ's achilles heel is less subzero
temperatures than near zero wet/slushy conditions. These boots have
kept my toes toasty warm in -25 degree celsius temperatures; but also
had them wet and freezing at +5 degrees.
As to using the boots in conjunction with neoprene booties or nylon
covers to ensure dryness, the nuisance of the extra equipment wasn't
worth it for me; I'd rather forego the SPDs, install platform pedals,
and have a greater variety of footwear to choose from.
And lastly, in my MXZs, the stitching securing the leather upper to the
vinyl heel cup tore loose; and the rubber foresole separated from the
front upper as the glue gave way. The cobbler charged $20 for repairs
and the boots are still in service to this day. I add this not as an
indictment of the quality of the Lakes; but rather as a testament to
their durability: these boots served me while I was a messenger 8+
hours a day for 2 winters - they are well built!!
The perfect pair of cold/wet weather SPD shoes has yet to be made; and
until it is, the Lake's represent the closest thing to perfection that
you're likely to encounter.
Luke