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Tech specs
Price: $296.99 / £242.99 / €269.99
Sizes: EU 36-48
Weight: 551 grams – EU 43
Cleat drilling: Two bolt
Colours: Black, yellow, light grey
Northwave is probably the main player when it comes to winter cycling shoes. The Italian brand has specialised in winter footwear for use on the bike for a long time and offers more winter-specific models than any other brand on the market.
It’s a shoe that has received plenty of Northwave’s winter expertise. There’s a Gore-Tex membrane for weatherproofing, added Primaloft insulation, and a neoprene ankle gaiter. But what caught my eye initially was the light grey and fluoro colourway (there are two others to choose from) and slightly less bulky silhouette.
A bulky winter boot doesn’t leave you feeling particularly nimble on the bike at times, at least that is the case for me, and I look for alternatives that balance protection and style. This shoe achieves that for me.
I usually test a couple of pairs of winter cycling shoes per year for my best winter cycling shoes guide and take my testing job seriously. I’ve ridden with these shoes in the mud, rain, and even a surprise bout of quite heavy snow over British winter to put them to the test; here’s how I got on with them.
Design and aesthetics
‘Stormtrooper boots’ was one of the first comments I received after posting a picture of the shoes on Instagram during testing, which probably wasn’t a design focus for Northwave.
The shoes reminded some of the bright white boots worn by the Empire’s footsoldiers in Star Wars out of the box, but they aren’t actually bright white, but rather a light grey – far more suited to off-road use. With use and dirt it darkens slightly, in a good way actually.
There are also black toe, instep, and heel box protectors that are made of a heavy duty suede-feeling material. It’s the same as the range-topping Flagship…
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