Fizik Terra Nanuk GTX Winter Boots review

The fleece-lined Terra Nanuk GTX winter boots from Fizik promise to keep the elements out while tackling the trails through the coldest months of the year.

And so they should, considering their high asking price.

For the most part, they live up to expectations. They’re cosy and warm, and feel great on the bike.

In heavy downpours or when walking through deeper puddles, water will get in through the zippers on the neoprene collars, which will lead to soggy feet in the end.

Getting them on and off can also be quite challenging.

Fizik Terra Nanuk GTX winter boots construction

What does just under £290 get you when it comes to a set of winter mountain bike boots? A whole host of features, it seems.

To protect your tootsies from a soaking, Fizik has used the Gore-Tex insulated Koala membrane. This is said to keep the water out but still offer a decent level of breathability.

A very soft, brushed-fleece lining helps to boost warmth and comfort on cold days.

The upper itself is constructed from layered ripstop fabric to help boost durability, while toughened PU-laminated toe bumpers and side reinforcements help to keep your feet better protected.

A reasonably tall, neoprene cuff (also fleece lined) extends up the lower leg and is closed with a zip located on the inside of the ankle. This cuff can’t be tightened, so relies on the stretch and fit alone to help keep the wet out.

At the rear of the cuff is a pull-loop to aid with getting the Terra Nanuk GTXs onto your feet. And trust me, you’ll need those loops.

To lock the boots onto your feet, a Boa retention dial winds a wire across the top of the foot and allows for quick and easy tweaks to the fit.

Underneath, you’ll find the Vibram sole, which uses the brand's ‘Megagrip’ rubber compound and some seriously chunky treads for off-the-bike grip.

Fizik says the Terra Nanuk GTX boots are a three on its sole stiffness rating scale. Foot support and comfort comes courtesy of the nylon shank and EVA mid-sole.

The cleat pocket is sufficiently wide and offers plenty of rearward adjustment, which is ideal for those who are very particular about setup.

With cleats fitted, the size EU42 boots weigh 1,060g.

Fizik Terra Nanuk GTX winter boots performance

Just like the Fizik Terra Artica X2 boots, getting the Terra Nanuk GTXs on takes some serious effort.

Those finger loops at the back of the neoprene cuffs are essential for yanking the boots on.

Unsurprisingly, things get tougher should you wear thick winter socks, so be prepared to have to wrestle these onto your feet.

Rest assured, though, this isn’t an issue limited to Fizik. I’ve been riding in the new Shimano GF800 Gore-Tex boots too, and they're also tricky to get on.

Once the Terra boots are on, your feet feel instantly comfortable and toasty warm thanks to the fleece lining.

Off the bike, there’s ample toe flex to prevent any waddling about and a decent amount of grip should you need to scramble up the side of any trail.

In terms of cleat setup, I had no issues getting the cleats as far back towards the mid-foot as I liked.

In fact, there’s enough room to get them as far back as on my benchmark (for cleat adjustment) Specialized 2FO 2.0 Clip shoes, which is impressive.

Under power, the Terra Nanuk GTXs support your feet well, with no sag or give, even when using smaller cross-country style clipless pedals.

That means power transfer through to the cranks feels good. These offer a little more feel and give than a carbon-soled, ultra-efficient winter boot (and they’re a little heavier, too), but they don’t feel inefficient or lethargic when you start pushing.

When it comes to waterproofing, the key here is to wear waterproof trousers with the ankle cuffs sitting comfortably over the neoprene cuffs of the boots.

If you do this, your feet will stay drier for longer. That’s largely because the zip on the ankle cuff is the Terra Nanuk GTX boots' Achilles heel when it comes to water ingress.

The main upper does a sterling job of keeping the damp out. Stand in water up to, but not above, the base of the ankle zip and nothing seems to get in.

Equally, ride head-on into a heavy downpour and you can expect your feet to stay dry and warm.

But should water make it underneath the bottom of your waterproof trousers and onto the neoprene cuff, you can start to feel the damp creeping in through the zip.

Likewise, if your trousers do wet out, water can run down your legs and into the cuff from the top.

Although the cuff is reasonably snug, I’d prefer to be able to cinch this up a little, to improve the chances of keeping the rain out for longer.

I only suffered from wet feet on really horrendous days on the trail, where the puddles were deep and the rain didn’t stop pouring down.

Despite this, my feet did at least stay warm.

Pick a day where a bike rather than an ark is a smart choice, and you’re unlikely to have these issues.

For the most part on rainy, damp days, once I could peel the boots off at the end of the ride, my feet were dry and warm.

After a couple of months of hard use in some of the grimmest conditions going, the boots seem to be holding up well.

There’s a little wear on the upper from crank rub and the ankle zip on both boots is a little sticky during the first use once they’ve dried out, but otherwise they’re faring well.

Fizik Terra Nanuk GTX winter boots bottom line

The Fizik Terra Nanuk GTX winter boots are warm, comfortable and, in many situations, will keep your feet nice and dry.

However, riding in the worst conditions shows they’re not perfect, with water making its way in through the neoprene cuff zip after a while.

This won’t happen on every ride, only in really heavy downpours, where few winter boots can keep every last drop at bay.

Otherwise, the warmth, masses of cleat adjustment and feel through the pedals make them a decent option if you’ve got deep pockets.