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2023’s Top 6 Best Winter Cycling Shoes & Boots to Keep Your Feet Warm 

 December 9, 2020

By  Max Shumpert

Overview

There is nothing worse than getting cold feet while riding fast in the winter.

People generally put on their regular cycling shoes and cover them with heavy-duty winter cycling shoe covers to keep their feet warm.  That may not be the best solution.

Best Winter Cycling shoes and Boots

Winter cycling shoes are specifically designed to keep your foot dry and to reduce the effects of the wind dropping your foot temperature.

To make your selection easier, we have listed the best winter riding shoes below. Each of these shoes is designed to keep your feet warm and dry and have features to ward off the moisture and offer comfort.


Our research effort lasted 4 weeks and we logged over 10 hours in each of the tested shoes.  We made sure to spend some time off the bike walking through snow and puddles.

In A Hurry? The Winner After 74 Hours Of Research:

editors pick
Nortwave winter cycling shoes
Northwave winter cycling shoes

Why is it better?

  • Stiff carbon sole
  • Strong and comfortable
  • Lightweight

92/100
our score


researched sources

10

Researched sources

reviews considered

160

REviews considered

hours researched

74

hours researching

products compared

20

products compared

Last Updated: November 25,2021

This article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information regarding winter bicycling boots  and shoes available for those who are interested in buying. The best 6 available have changed, and information has been added to assist individuals in finding the top bicycling shoes currently available on the market. The FAQ has also been added.

Best Cold Weather Cycling Shoes Of 2021

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  
Nortwave Winter Cycling Shoes Northwave Winter Cycling Shoes Rating: 92/100 View Latest Deal →
Shimano Winter Cycling Shoes
Shimano Winter Cycling Shoes Rating: 91/100 View Latest Deal →
Lake Winter Cycling Shoes Lake winter Cycling Shoes Rating: 90/100 View Latest Deal →
Sidi Frost winter Bicycling Shoes Sidi Frost Bicycling Shoes Rating: 90/100 View Latest Deal →
Mavic winter Cycling shoes Mavic winter Cycling shoes Rating: 88/100 View Latest Deal →
45nrthh winter cycling boots 45nrthh Winter Cycling Boots Rating: 85/100 View Latest Deal →

Men's Mtb Winter Cycling Shoes

1. Northwave Extreme Winter GTX shoes

These Northwave Celsius Artic GTX Winter Shoes have a huge group of users for a reason. These winter mountain bike shoes are designed with amazing gore-tex material to keep the cold outside and separate the moisture inside.

These shoes offer extreme protection from the wind and extreme temperature drops. The Gore-Tex Panda protects the foot from the rain and sharp headwinds. 

The Synthetic upper fabric keeps your feet warm and dry and the membrane of the shoes offers great breathability along with water and wind protection.

The lace design holds down the shoes and offers you great comfort while the hook and loop system closes the heat inside. 

The sole of the shoes is strengthened with weather protection and improved traction.

What We Like

  • Stiff carbon sole
  • Precise adjustment
  • Strong, comfortable and lightweight

What We Don't Like

  • The lace system has flaws.
  • Difficult to put on.

Best Womens Winter Cycling shoes

Shimano Winter Cycling Shoes

Shimano Winter Cycling shoes

Shimano Winter Cycling Shoes


  • Stiff nylon sole
  • Comfortable and stable fit
  • Low stack height makes for a low profile and efficient platform.

These RC3 Cycling Shoes from Shimano offer a fresh new look for both indoor and outdoor. They are engineered for high-performance at a very affordable budget range.

These shoes are in the mid-level cycling range as an upgrade to the RC1 level. They are built with BOA L6 dial that offers high adjustments for proper fitting.

These shoes are great from underneath and transfer power to the pedals with fiberglass strengthened nylon sole along with rubber pattern for extra grip.

The seamless fit and unified offers stability to the foot and provides high power efforts.

The fabric is breathable and durable and offers great comfort. 

These are also great winter road cycling shoes and are available in limited edition color.

Shimano is known for its name and has a great variety in men's shoes as well. Check out the best variety of Shimano's winter cycling shoes collection here

What We Like

  • Soft and comfortable
  • Boa L6 dial for a perfect fit
  • Lightweight
  • Efficient power transfer

What We Don't Like

  • Size issue due to wide design

Best Winter Cycling Boots 

3. Lake Winter Cycling shoes

=Lake Winter Cycling shoes
  • UPPER MATERIAL: Pittards WR100 leather | Outlast temperature regulating liner | 3M Thinsulate lining in toe box | Thermosol composite insulation...
  • OUTSOLE MATERIAL: Heavy duty Mountain V outsole by Vibram.
  • CLOSURE: Side mounted Push/Pull BOA IP1 lacing system and buckle top flap. There's a leather flap where you'd typically find laces, which serves...

Invest in Lake's MXZ 303 Winter boots if you can't stand one more training session in your basement this winter. 

These shoes are the ultimate robust winter shoes to get through the cold, snow, and rain.

These are built to keep your feet warm and happy and are one of the best waterproof winter shoes. It is designed with Pitards WR100 resistant leather which makes it breathable and highly durable.

The grip of the sole is Vibram and offers very good grip even on snow or icy underground. The Thinsulate liner regulating inside keeps the cold out and protects your feet and toe areas from getting numb. 

The BOA Micro closure system of the shoes ensures a fine distribution of pressure points and hot spots. 

These shoes are the perfect fit for men and are designed and imported in the USA. The Shoes are highly comfortable with the two-hole compatibility.

What We Like

  • Boa L6 dial for a perfect fit
  • Lightweight
  • Reflective surface to retain heat inside
  • Sole is soft and flexible

What We Don't Like

  • Toe area is smaller
  • Issue with the sizes 

Winter Cycling Shoes for Seriously Cold Weather

4. Sidi Frost Cycling Shoe

Sidi Frost winter Bicycling Shoes

Sidi frost bicycling shoes


  • Stiff nylon sole
  • Comfortable and stable fit
  • Low stack height makes for a low profile and efficient platform.

The shoes are designed to look like the brand's moto look. These Sidi Frost Gore MTB/gravel shoes are made with a combination of leather and microfiber mesh along with a membrane of Gore-Tex underneath to keep your feet dry during wet conditions.

The neoprene tall ankle cuff offers you security with a velcro strap and the shoes have a techno-3 dial over the toe foot areas.

If you are looking forward to riding in fall, winter, or early spring then these boots will keep you warm and dry. 

These shoes will keep your feet dry with quality and durability which you highly expect from Sidi shoes. 

The Gore-Tec membrane is water-resistant and is made of breathable fabric. It blocks the cold wind outside and lets you keep the moisture inside.

The sole is designed with MTB competition and offers great power transfer. Hence these shoes are also one of the best men's mtb winter shoes.

Sidi offers really good shoes that are lightweight, protective, and highly durable. They are insulated with a Gore-Tex membrane to keep you warm in winter. You may also find a great Sidi shoe collection from this amazon page.

What We Like

  • Techno-3 dial closure
  • Tall ankle cuff 
  • Gore-tex membrane
  • Reinforced heel

What We Don't Like

  • MTB cleats only

Warmest Winter Shoes

5. Mavic Winter Cycling shoes

Mavic winter Cycling shoes

Mavic winter cycling shoes


  • Streamlined, foot-conforming fit
  • Grippy rubber sole for placing a foot down over rocky trails
  • Prevents uncomfortable pressure points with a supportive Ortholite footbed

These Mavic Crossman Elite Shoes are an amazing pair of winter performance cycling shoes for men with extra weather protection. When it comes down to stiffness, these shoes are one of the best options.

These shoes feature streamlined, feet conforming fit, and a strong grip sole for rocky hills. The upper is tightened with Ergo Dial that offers micro-adjustment with precision. 

The shoes feel lightweight on your feet even when you have to get down with mud and the sole is very stiff to racy power transfer during cycling rides.

The weather shagging and the toe box maxes the comfort in cold weather conditions. The neoprene collar offers you excellent protection from water splashes and keeps your ankles and feet warm when the water gets in.

The shoes are designed with an Ortholite footbed that cradles and supports your feet offering you maximum comfort. 

What We Like

  • High-Performance cycling shoes
  • Weather shagging ability
  • Lightweight and comfortable

What We Don't Like

  • Limited toe box space

Best Waterproof Winter Cycling Shoes

6. 45NRTH  Winter Cycling Boots

45nrthh-winter-cycling-boots

45nrth Winter Cycling Boots


  • Hook-and-loop neoprene ankles
  • Waterproof membranes protect feet from the elements
  • Works with 2-bolt mountain compatible cleats

These shoes are specifically designed for wet and cold conditions. These winter bicycling boots offer a great level of water resistance and moisture regulation in extreme winter rides and offer high comfort while cycling. 

These shoes are one of the best cold weather kickers any person can buy. 

The Ragnarok is designed with a fully waterproof membrane that lies just beneath the microfiber fabric and locks the water outside and the thermal insulation inside.

The neoprene cuff around the angle is super comfortable and keeps the drip of water outside along with one BOA dial reels in the shoes.

These shoes are basically the best mountain bike shoes and work on only two-bolt cleats. It is built with less aggressive lugs and has a glass fiber embedded into the rubber for creating protruding shards to offer grip on slippery terrains.

What We Like

  • Comfortable from the go
  • Hook and loop neoprene ankles for a secure fit
  • Boa Closure with the micro-adjustable fit

What We Don't Like

  • Boa cable can be finicky

How To Choose The Best Winter Cycling Shoes?

When you are looking to buy the winter cycling gear, the most essential thing to note is the  winter shoes that fit perfectly. It should not hurt your feet and will keep your warm at any temperature.

1. SOLE

Many shoes are reinforced with nylon or fiber soles. When you ride or logging in winter base miles, you don't really need an uber stiff sole. This type of sole can be really soft on your feet.

Winter shoes need to have a more flexible sole rather than race dedicated. If you are a road lover then make sure you buy shoes which are road dedicated and are designed with road cleat.

However, if you are off-roading by any chance.

2. ROAD / MTB CLEAT

Similar to the sole part, you should go for shoes that are compatible with the roads, these should do fine on cold, dry rides or nice roads, but for everything else, you should consider MTB cleats.

Mountain bike cleats are much more compatible with road shoes in winter rides. 

Road riders don't usually encounter muds and treads while they ride but may come across a slippery section that they cannot traverse with their bike. 

In this time you will regret having to climb off the bike and cover the distance by walking with your road shoes.

3. TWO OR THREE CLEATS

You may find the best cycling shoes in three-bolt or 4-bolt cleats. However, many cycling shoes are delivered with two-bolt cleats as well. 

3 Bolt Cleat

Image Source: BackCountry

you should consider going for mtb shoes with a two-bolt cleat interface. Road shoes can be slippery and we know it. 

Mountain cleat shoes help your clear mud as well as snow and slushes during winter months and are a much better option than road cleats and pedals. 

4. HIGH TOPS

Seek for high ankle winter boots or has an adjustable cuff that can reach up to your tights or leg warmers. These tops should fit tight so that they can keep out the rain cold, snow and road sprays away from creeping inside your shoes.

5. WEATHERPROOFING

Not only chilly weather is the problem in winter, but wet conditions are also a real problem  so you should also follow some winter cycling tips before going out for a ride. So the best way to avoid this is to have a really good pair of winter weatherproofing and insulated pairs of cycling shoes. before  going ou

Weather Proof Winter Bicycle Shoes

Image Source: Snappygoat

Make sure you look for the Gore-Tex membrane or any other waterproof membranes built on the upper. This fabric helps the shoes make them weatherproof, water-resistant, and breathable. 

6. Fit

A little extra room for socks, winter cycling gloves can be really precious in winter. Many companies and  best bike brands built their shoes with extra room so that you need to just go with normal size, however, this is not the case every time.

Make sure you visit a shop in person before you buy the shoes, or order from an online retailer with the best return policy options so that you can try with the socks and see whether they fit your right or not.

Common FAQs

How do cyclists keep their feet warm in the winter?

  • Add heavy-duty overshoes or booties
  • Use mudguards
  • Warm your feet before the ride
  • Use best-insulated socks
  • Check for vents
  • Pull your tights over the top of socks

Can you bike during winter?

Cycling can be tough in winter. Experiment with your tires first before you start to ride to avoid changing flats in the middle of nowhere. Also, make sure you use wide tires that can fit your bike.

Why do cyclists wear shoe covers?

These Shoe covers or overshoes are used for two main reasons. For trail cyclists, it can be used as an aerodynamic profile, and for other cyclists, these shoe covers protect their feet from cold and wet weather. 

How do I keep my feet warm in cleats?

  • Use less breathable shoes
  • Insulate your feet with paper
  • Use plastic wrap to keep your feet away from cold
  • Disposable shower caps to rescue
  • Duct tape
  • Layering of socks
  • Sweat-wicking socks can help

How do I stop my feet from going numb when cycling?

  • Keep the thickness of the socks consistent. 
  • Look out for cleat plate
  • Width and height of the shoe matters

 

Is cycling good for your feet?

Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular exercise. Cycling has proven to be a great help in reducing joint pains in the foot as well.

Conclusion

So here are our top choices for the best winter cycling shoes. Make sure you pick the best fit so that you can ride comfortably and happily this winter. 

With the best winter shoes, you don't have to go overboard, a thick layer of socks can be more than enough. Every product listed in this review is best selling and is chosen according to the customer.

Get your perfect pair of shoes today!

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