One of the least photogenic pairs of shoes out there. That said, in comparison to the Lake 301MX, which we tested previously, they're positively dainty.
Shimano uses a Gore-Tex membrane to keep water out, but still let sweat vapour out. This system works well, although after a full day in the rain, a small amount of water seepage made it through the lateral seam on the sides.
As good as this boot is in the wet, its thermal insulating property was its stand-out feature
for us. This is one of the warmest we've tested, with cosy toes pretty much guaranteed whatever the outside temperature.
The only minor niggle is the neoprene cuff, which makes it difficult to put the boot on in a hurry. If you're pedalling hard, you'll get damp socks where the sweat builds up under the neoprene. While the cuff seal isn't waterproof, it should seal out almost all trail debris. We've worn these while trail building, too, and you can operate a spade effectively while wearing these, which you couldn't with the other models here.
