Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex shoe review

The MTB Heater Gore-Tex is Scott’s latest winter shoe, designed to keep warmth in and water out.

It’s one of the most trail-focused winter mountain bike shoes out there, although we'd like to see more, so how does it perform on the bike?

Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex shoe specifications

The sole of the shoe features a mid-depth tread with a fairly high density of tread blocks, rather than pared-down cross-country-style blocks found elsewhere. There’s no provision for toe studs.

The cleat channel isn’t the widest (though this caused no issues in testing) and the cleat can be positioned relatively close to the middle of the foot.

The nylon and glass-fibre shank in the sole is fairly stiff, though there’s some toe flex to aid walking. The toe box features decent levels of protection and the heel is pretty stiff too.

The upper has a heavier-weight boot-like construction with a Gore-Tex liner to keep water out. It features a Gore-Tex Duratherm L Kelvin 200g liner to give insulation, too.

A speedlace system secures the shoe to the foot, and this is covered with a canopy secured via a waterproof zip. The top of the boot features a neoprene sock with Velcro closure, along with some reflective details.

Inside is Scott’s adjustable ErgoLogic footbed with replaceable arch supports to get the right fit. My neutral feet got on well with the stock medium support insert. The neoprene sock also offers some ankle-bone protection.

Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex shoe performance

I found the shoes to be comfortable even on long rides. The insole is excellent and the padding is adequate without being too intrusive.

The proportions are neutral, so it didn't feel too tight or overly roomy. I was able to wear either standard or slightly thicker socks without issue.

The shoes are warm – not the warmest out there, but enough for the majority of situations, and they won't make your feet too sweaty.

The downside of the insulation, which runs fairly high up the sides, is that it makes the shoes fairly bulky, so expect some crank rub.

The neoprene sock’s Velcro closure gives a close-fitting seal at the top of the shoe, which helps keep warmth in, but it is also quite bulky.

Trousers with an elastic cuff were prone to slipping above the neoprene for instance, and this could also be a point where water enters the shoe. I had no issues when wearing trousers with non-elasticated cuffs, because the neoprene sock is tall and fits well underneath.

The tongue’s baffle, joining it to the rest of the shoe, extends high up the ankle. This meant the shoe performed well in my immersion test, which is designed to mimic walking through a stream or bog, and my feet stayed dry in water well past my upper ankle.

Prolonged immersion results in water getting through the upper reaches of the neoprene sock, but the Gore-Tex liner extends midway up the sock.

The sole is excellent. It's stiff, so transfers power nicely to the pedals, but the slight flex by the toe helps walking. While all speedlace systems loosen a touch when hiking, the Scott shoes performed better than most in this regard.

The tread’s ‘Sticki’ rubber is grippier than most on rocks and roots, and features closer-packed treads than those found on more XC-styled shoes. This offers more confidence on hike-a-bike sections.

Other than the bulky neoprene closure, my only complaint is the zip’s puller is small and hard to grab when wearing thick gloves. The shoes take a long time to dry, and at 1,102g per pair (size 44), they're around 100g heavier than most, per shoe.

I did have an issue with one of the speedlace’s fabric loops pulling through when tightening the shoes. However, this was quickly resolved under warranty.

Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex shoe bottom line

With excellent waterproofing and plenty of insulation, the Scott MTB Heater Gore-Tex has fast become my winter shoe of choice.

They’re a touch bulky and don’t work seamlessly with elasticated trouser cuffs, but look past this and you have an excellent pair of winter shoes that are suited to slogs across rugged ground.