EKOI Perf W4 Boa review: expensive winter boots that excel in the cold but fall short in the wet

The Perf W4 road boots, from French online clothing specialists EKOI, are designed for cold conditions with light rain.

EKOI even recommends combining the W4s with its own overshoes in order to get full winter protection.

Even with that caveat, though, the W4s offer plenty.

The boots' upper combines a one-piece seamless PU outer bonded to a high ankle with a neoprene-lined cuff.

EKOI Perf W4 Boa specifications

A single Boa dial takes care of the fit and volume control and a wrap-over Velcro strap controls the ankle closure. The ripstop fabric tongue completes the robust upper.

The interior of the upper has a fully waterproof lining, combined with an insulation layer.

EKOI claims independent lab tests showed that, when placed at -17ºC for 30 minutes, the W4s maintained an internal temperature 2.8ºC higher than standard road cycling shoes.

The upper sits on a polyamide outsole with 15 per cent carbon fibre content, and although the outsole has a toe vent, it's blocked out.

The sole also features protective toe bumpers and heel pads.

EKOI Perf W4 Boa performance

On the bike, the Perf W4s are up to scratch when it comes to keeping your feet warm.

The fit is on the narrow side in the toe box, although I don’t have particularly wide feet.

The Perf W4 is certainly a shoe that you should size up with, considering you’ll almost certainly be wearing winter cycling socks.

On a three-hour misty and drizzle-filled ride, the Perfs kept my feet and socks dry. Like other lower-cuff winter boots, however, they’re not the best when the rain gets heavier.

Although I initially found I could cinch the softshell cuff tightly enough to seal out the elements, pedalling stretched the cuff out enough to allow water ingress.

The single Boa dial is well placed and provides even tension, controlling the volume well without creasing or folding the integrated tongue and creating pressure points.

The outsole is impressively stiff too, giving the W4s the feel of a performance road shoe that just happens to keep your feet warm.

EKOI Perf W4 Boa bottom line

Like many winter cycling shoes, the Perf W4s impress on the coldest rides, but don’t deal brilliantly with anything but the lightest rain showers.

The main issue with the EKOI Perf W4 is the very high price of £377.30 / $394.99 / €349.99 – at this price, there are equal or better options available for significantly less.

However, it’s worth remembering that EKOI is a direct-to-market clothing brand that often discounts heavily.

At the time of writing, the Perf W4s are on sale at £150.92 / $158 / €140 – and at that price, the boots make a lot more sense, particularly if your riding is more about cold dry days than wet ones.