The best winter cycling shoes are designed to solve the problem affecting most other cycling shoes. They are meant to keep your feet cool, which is great in the summer, but can make keeping them warm in the winter an almost impossible task.
It feels as though we have the same conversation every year: ‘How do I stop my feet getting cold in the winter?’. And while there’s an endless array of socks, overshoes and ingenious tricks that are claimed to help with cycling in the rain and to be able to put an end to your misery, for some people and conditions, none of these will even come close.
This is where the dedicated winter cycling shoe comes in.
Free of superfluous ventilation, roomy enough for thick, woolly socks and built with materials designed specifically to protect your feet from the elements, winter cycling shoes are the equivalent of a proper winter jacket for your feet.
We have also included our buyer's guide to winter cycling shoes below our product recommendations giving more detail on what to look for in your next pair.
Best winter cycling shoes 2024, as rated by our expert testers
Fizik Artica X5
- £190 / $229 / €200 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Completely waterproof; exceptionally grippy
- Cons: Not the lightest
For off-road riding when extended periods of walking are expected, the Fizik Artica X5 is the best winter cycling shoe we’ve tested.
With a reinforced nylon sole that is covered with a very soft and grippy rubber sole, the shoes are tenaciously tacky on slimy and wet surfaces.
On the bike, the shoes give a supportive pedalling platform with a pleasingly supportive and firm heel cup.
Leatt 7.0 HydraDri
- £190 / $190 as tested
- Cleat type: Flat pedal
- Pros: Impressive comfort; good breathability; keep water out
- Cons: Could be lighter
Leatt’s new winter flat shoes offer impressive comfort, thanks to their true-to-size fit and cosy insulation. That makes them good for colder, not just wet, weather.
While the HydraDri liner doesn’t offer the same waterproof and breathability ratings as Gore-Tex, the zipped-up boot design does a credible job of keeping water out, and our feet remained dry during testing.
The speed-lace system is tucked inside the waterproof zip, keeping it clean, and offers a secure and snug fit.
Not only does the cuff extend a good way up, but, with its elastic opening and popper fastener,
it fits close to the ankle and tucks neatly under riding pants.
There’s plenty of bite from Leatt’s RideGrip Pro outsole, which keeps your feet attached securely to the pedals. The mid-sole balances stiffness and comfort well, and we never felt any harsh feedback.
A bonus is the Active Carbon insole, claimed to be anti-bacterial, anti-odour and quick-drying.
Northwave Kingrock Plus GTX
- £243 / $297 / €270 / AU$456 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Insulation feels comfortable; sole is good for hike-a-bike
- Cons: Expensive
The Kingrocks feature plenty of similarities to their Multicross flat-pedal cousins, but the clipless sole is better for hiking on sloppy trails.
It works flawlessly with multiple pedal designs and has enough cleat setback for aggressive riding. While the sole is stiff, it isn’t uncomfortable.
The Gore-Tex Koala membrane performs impressively in prolonged exposure to wet weather, and the tough construction helps protect against puddle splashes.
While the cuff can’t be adjusted, it’s tall, works well with riding pants and wasn’t loose around our ankles.
The insulation feels cosy on colder rides, although it doesn’t dry as quickly as some here.
These shoes fit true to size, and comfort is great for all-day adventures. An SLW3 dial and Velcro strap work well to keep them secure, too.
If you can justify the asking price, these are impressive winter boots.
Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex
- £219.99 / $229.99 / €229.90 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Warm with good breathability; excellent in wet and submerged conditions
- Cons: Can feel bulky around the ankle; take a long time to dry
Scott's Heater boots offer neutral proportions that weren't too tight or roomy on our tester's foot, allowing enough room for the type of thick socks needed for winter riding.
Though slightly bulky, the insulation makes the boot warm enough for the majority of what winter has to offer, and a neoprene cuff helps the shoe stay dry when submerged.
These have become our tester's winter shoe of choice for mountain biking.
Endura MT500 Burner Clipless
- £170 / $200 / €190 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Good waterproofing; high levels of heat retention without insulating layer
- Cons: Not as comfortable as others
Endura’s robust boots can handle the worst weather. The synthetic upper shrugs off puddle splashes and light rain, while the ‘ExoshellFW’ membrane kept our feet dry on wet rides.
While there isn’t a specific insulating layer, the liner, padding and outer offer moderate warmth on colder days.
The speed lace system covers the top of the foot, aided by a Velcro strap, and provides good retention of the shoe.
There’s a flap covering the laces, to help keep them clean. Getting the shoes on and off is easy, and the cuff is adjustable and tall. The sole is stiff, but offers decent comfort and shock absorption.
Setting up the cleats took longer than with other shoes here, but we clipped in and out easily once done. The cleat pocket has enough setback for DH riding.
Five Ten Trailcross GTX
- £160 as tested
- Cleat type: Flat pedal
- Pros: Good comfort; high levels of grip
- Cons: Laces get muddy and lose bite
Five Ten’s Stealth Phantom sole is unmatched here, in terms of pedal grip, with its dotted pattern and soft rubber delivering brilliant bite. At the toe and heel, there are added tread features to aid walking.
The midsole is stiff enough for good stability, but mutes impacts well enough that our feet didn’t ache on bumpy descents.
Comfort is impressive and our shoes fitted true to size. Getting them on and off is manageable but not the easiest.
While the laces keep them secure, they’re exposed and get muddy. The Gore-Tex membrane kept our feet dry even when the trails were soaked, while the Velcro neoprene cuff is useful for tailoring the fit and keeping muck out.
Insulation is moderate, but these aren’t the warmest for riding in deepest winter.
Fizik Artica R5
- £189.99 / $229 / €200 as tested
- Cleat type: Road cleat
- Pros: Warm and water-resistant; good value
- Cons: Zip can get a little sticky
These might be the perfect winter cycling shoes for road cyclists worried about sacrificing style for comfort.
Now into their second winter, our tester's pair is still going as strong as ever. Highly water-resistant and warm, they also have a great fit (which is about half a size larger than usual Fizik shoes to accommodate thick socks) and, for winter-specific cycling shoes, also retain very sleek looks.
The inner soles were a particular highlight, while the bottoms are foil-lined for a bit of extra heat retention. The tops are covered in a soft, almost fleecy fabric that makes them very comfortable.
Northwave Himalaya Boot
- £230 / $252.99 / €252.09 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Very warm; weatherproof
- Cons: Hefty
Possibly the ultimate bad-weather cycling shoe, Northwave’s Himalaya Boots look as if they're built to take on a cycling trip up Everest, and they don’t disappoint when out on the road or trail.
The only question is whether you ride enough in the terrible conditions that these will protect you against to make them worth the cost.
If you do, you won't be disappointed. These are probably the warmest boots we’ve ever tested, and their waterproofing is great too – easily shrugging off plenty of rain and deep puddles.
Shimano MW5(01)
- £140 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Good levels of waterproofing; very comfortable
- Cons: Not the warmest
Shimano’s lower-spec winter boots use the brand’s own ‘DRYSHIELD’ membrane (not the Gore-Tex of the MW7s), but still keep your feet dry on all but the soggiest rides.
The fleece lining provides warmth without too much bulk, but when the mercury drops they aren't as warm as other options.
These shoes have a good fit and a sole that isn’t overly rigid or harsh. The cuff is shorter than ideal, but fits under riding trousers – if they reach – and is secured with Velcro.
There’s a flap to protect the speedlace system, which also provides an additional barrier against water ingress.
Ease of pedal entry and exit is good, and while they don’t have the most cleat setback here, it’s enough even for aggressive riding.
The sole provides fair off-bike grip and is one of the comfiest on the trail.
Shimano MW7 MTB
- £189.99 / $275 / €242 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Gore-Tex lining for great wind and water resistance; warm and comfortable
- Cons: Heavy rain overcomes waterproofing
The MW7s are Shimano’s top-of-the-range winter riding shoes and they offer performance to match, keeping your feet happy in pretty terrible winter conditions.
They’re designed for SPD pedals, but you can still use them on a road bike – you just need the right pedals. Even roadies will appreciate the chunky, grippy sole for when you need to get off the bike at any point.
They have a Gore-Tex lining that means the upper is essentially waterproof and windproof, although they will get overwhelmed eventually if you’re out for hours. The integrated lace shield also stops the Boa closure from becoming overwhelmed with mud when you’re off-road.
Also consider…
The following winter cycling shoes scored fewer than four stars in our reviews, but are still worth considering.
Fizik Terra Artica X2
- £280 / $280 / €280 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Impressively warm; very comfortable
- Cons: Difficult to get on and off; quite pricey
If you can get them on, Fizik’s Terra Artica X2 shoes are wonderfully plush and warm, with decent stiffness and a super-grippy sole.
However, our tester found them frustratingly difficult to pull on, even with dry, warm hands at the start of a ride.
Their performance also comes at a relatively high price compared to the competition, so it’s worth trying these on in a shop before buying, if possible.
Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX
- £210 / $280 / €250 / AU$378 as tested
- Cleat type: Road cleat
- Pros: Comfortable; fully waterproof uppers
- Cons: Collar can leak in heavy downpours
We found Northwave's Celsius R Arctic GTX boots to be luxuriously soft and comfortable, with a lovely fleece lining that kept our tootsies warm, even with thin socks.
However, the SLW2 dials were really fiddly to use with thick gloves and suffered from water ingress around the neoprene collar.
Shimano MW702
- £230.95 / $274.33 / €230.95
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Boa dial provides a good fit; generous internal room
- Cons: Not the best heel-hold; some pressure points when cranked tight
The MW702 is the latest iteration of Shimano's MW7 shoe, and is built around a chunky XC sole with a hint of toe flex to assist with walking.
A Gore-Tex liner in the upper and a neoprene sleeve help keep water at bay, and also protect the Boa dial from wheel spray.
The shoe is let down partially by pressure points in the fit and a loose heel-hold.
Fizik Artica GTX Tempo
- £250 / $260 / €259 as tested
- Cleat type: Road cleat
- Pros: Comfortable; generous sizing for winter socks
- Cons: Collar can seep water into the shoe
The Fizik Artica GTX Tempo winter cycling shoe is a step down in quality from its predecessor, the Artica R5.
Although insulation is ample to keep your feet warm in low temperatures, waterproofing is inconsistent.
The upper of the shoe is impermeable, but water running down your leg seeps in through the top. This meant our tester had to wear them with overshoes in the rain, which is an inconvenience you're trying to avoid.
Giro Blaze MTB
- £209.99 / $250 / €229.95 as tested
- Cleat type: MTB cleat
- Pros: Great insulation; keeps splashes at bay
- Cons: Speedlace can loosen during pushes; sole isn’t great at hike-a-bike
Giro's Blaze features a single-piece outer waterproof jacket that zips up the whole shoe. It offers one of the highest levels of warmth around, being rated down to -7 degrees.
The shoe isn't too bulky, and still manages to maintain a good fit with ample room for thicker socks.
The Blaze was let down by its laces, which slipped when the boot flexed while walking.
Lake CXZ 176
- £155 / $190 / €159 as tested
- Cleat type: Road cleat
- Pros: Great fit
- Cons: Not that warm or waterproof
Lake's CXZ 176 shoes are an interesting take on the winter cycling shoe, pairing a fairly standard last with less venting and more weatherproof construction.
Unfortunately, the design doesn't quite hit the mark, with our tester finding the shoes to be neither that warm nor waterproof.
Winter cycling shoes buyer's guide
Do you need winter cycling shoes?
It depends. Do you get cold feet while cycling in the winter and how much does it bother you?
If the answer to those two questions is ‘no’ and ‘not much’, then you probably don’t need winter cycling shoes.
In milder parts of the world, for example, the best overshoes will keep your lovely disco slippers clean, and your feet dry and fairly warm.
If your answers to the above questions are ‘yes’ and ‘a lot’, it’s likely you could benefit greatly from a pair of dedicated winter cycling shoes.
Not only are they more likely to keep your feet warm and dry in the harshest conditions, the best winter cycling shoes are also considerably more durable than overshoes, many of which begin to fall apart the instant they come into contact with the ground.
There's also the 'hassle factor'. Getting ready for a winter ride can become a chore if you've got countless layers to pull on – winter cycling shoes can remove the inconvenience often associated with overshoes.
If overshoes will meet your demands, why not check out our lists of the best road cycling shoes and the best mountain bike shoes.
Weatherproofing
It’s not only chilly temperatures and the wind that make your feet cold in winter. Wet conditions are a real problem, too, so the key to a good pair of winter cycling shoes is weatherproofing and added insulation.
Look for shoes with Gore-Tex or other waterproof membranes built into the uppers. Just like with waterproof jackets for cyclists, these fabrics help make shoes waterproof, windproof and breathable (the last of which is important to avoid sweat building up on the inside and eventually making feet cold).
However, while winter shoes are designed to keep rain out, the cuff sometimes acts as a weak spot for water ingress.
Insulation, through the addition of thicker, fleecy fabrics, and a lack of ventilation in the uppers, is also important because you want to trap heat within the shoe, rather than let it escape to the outside air.
Soles
Winter-specific cycling shoes tend to have a more flexible sole than race-dedicated summer shoes, and while you might be giving up a couple of watts when really cranking on the pedals, you’ll appreciate the extra comfort over the course of a long ride or whenever you have to get off the bike and walk.
If you’re a dedicated road rider, then a shoe with a road sole (i.e. one without any tread and designed to accommodate a road cleat), as found on the Fizik Artica R5, will do fine and often go better with the sleek look of your road kit.
But if there’s any chance of going off-road, or even just on rough or icy surfaces, then the grippy tread present on an MTB-style sole is a real boon – you don’t want to have to resort to walking on road cleats during the winter.
Road or MTB cleat?
Similar to the previous point about soles and tread, it’s easy to assume that if you ride a road bike you should get shoes that are compatible with road cleats, and though these will be fine on cold, dry rides on nice roads, for everything else, it's worth considering mountain bike cleats.
Though they usually mean a smaller, marginally less stable platform than road pedals, MTB cleats and compatible shoes often have a number of advantages over road shoes, that come into their own during the winter.
Concepts such as tread and mud clearance aren’t things most roadies usually have to pay much attention to, but come across a slippery section of road or an overly muddy farm track that you just can’t traverse on your road bike, and you’ll instantly regret having to climb off and shuffle delicately over the obstacle in your road shoes.
If you want a more in-depth look at the difference between road and MTB pedals and cleat systems, check out our guide on how to use clipless pedals.
Fit
While you usually want a pair of summer cycling shoes to fit snugly with thin, lightweight socks, a little extra room for warm socks can be invaluable in winter shoes.
Many brands build in this extra room as standard, meaning you might be able to just go with your normal size, but this isn’t always the case.
As always with shoes, it’s worth visiting a shop in person or ordering from a retailer with a good returns policy, so you can try them on for size with the kind of socks you’re likely to want to wear while riding.
Other features
One of the most important areas of a winter cycling shoe is the ankle cuff. A well-designed cuff should fit snugly to help keep out wind and water, while still enabling you to get the shoes on and off without too much trouble.
While it might also add a little weight and bulk, a tall cuff that extends a bit further up your calf will also add a bit more protection and enable you to utilise one of BikeRadar staffers' most beloved tricks: putting the end of your tights over the top of the cuff of the shoe or overshoes.
The idea is that water will run off the bottom of the tight and onto the outside of the shoe, rather than soaking down the inside of the cuff and into your socks. It's not necessarily a great look, we'll admit, but if you can get over that, it works very well.
