Best winter cycling shoes: footwear for the cold months reviewed

Investing in the best winter cycling shoes will keep your feet warm every winter for years to come

For dedicated cyclists, keeping the extremities warm in cold conditions is a perennial problem. It can be particularly difficult to keep feet comfortable hour after hour on the bike as they are a long way from the warm core and are also right in the firing line for any freezing road spray, even if using mudguards. Furthermore, the requirement for cycling shoes to have stiff soles means that they are largely immobile, save for the occasion toe wiggle.

One solution is normal cycling shoes, warm socks and overshoes, but this is not always ideal; your summer shoes will get damp and dirty, overshoes are rarely fully waterproof and cramming thick socks into close-fitting shoes further reduces blood flow and therefore, warmth.

Lake CX146 winter shoe in black on a white backgroundBest overall winter cycling shoe

Best overall winter cycling shoe

The Lake CX146 winter cycling shoe is a great option for anyone who wants solid weather protection and warmth. The high ankle cuff keeps out wind and water, and the front flap prevents the ingress of any road spray.

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Fizik Tempo Artica GTX shoesBest for performance

Best for performance

The Arctica shoes combine Gore-Tex protection with a fleece lining and stiff carbon-reinforced sole. It is also offered in a gravel-friendly version - the Terra.

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Northwave Celsius R Arctic winter cycling bootBest for visibility

Best for visibility

Well-insulated with a weatherproof collar, this comfortable winter boot is made even more season-specific by the Gore-Tex membrane and reflective details.

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The Sidi Algor winter cycling shoe on a white backgroundBest for off-road

Best for off-road

Robustly built, the Sidi Algor features an off-road sole designed for slight flex to deliver traction, Primaloft insulation, and a burly, waterproof TPU fabric upper.

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Sidi Nix winter cycling boot in blue with yellow details on a white backgroundBest for quality

Best for quality

The microfibre upper with Gore-Tex membrane on the Sidi Nix winter cycling boot is matched to a carbon-injected nylon sole, delivering weather protection, stiffness, and durability. It uses Sidi's own dials for closure and adjustment.

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45NRTH Ragnarok45NRTH Ragnarok

Best for bikepacking

Another 2-bolt option, the Ragnarok proved to be warm, waterproof and comfortable. A bonus is that the sole works well on slippery surfaces thanks to embedded microscopic glass fibres.

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You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Lake 146 shoes clipped in on a snowy day

The Lake CX146 is our pick of the best overall winter cycling shoe

Our expert review:

Fizik Tempo Artica winter cycling boots

Fizik Tempo Artica winter cycling boots

Our expert review:

Northwave Celsius R Artic GTX winter boots

Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX boots

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Pair of Sidi Algor boots in the snow

Sidi Algor off-road cycling shoes

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A pair of blue Sidi Nix shoes on the snow

Sidi Nix shoe

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best winter cycling shoes: 45NRTH Ragnarok

45NRTH Ragnarok

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For summer cycling shoes, manufacturers will go all out in the pursuit of breathability; this becomes less of a concern in colder weather but it is still important that your feet don't get damp and chilled from sweat.

Ventilation is the first feature to be addressed – you won’t find large vent holes in winter cycling shoes as you do in summer versions as this would let cold air and water in, but some breathability is still important to mover water vapour away from the skin.

Often, the top of the shoe will feature a neoprene cuff or cover. This will keep the rain out and act as an extra layer of defence against the chill.

The ankle cuff will be high, too – this is to prevent puddle water from seeping into the shoe. If you can try on the shoes, check that the cuff is not overly tight for you and allows full range of motion – ideally you’re looking for an adjustable fit.

Fastenings, as per summer cycling shoes, can be BOA dials, ratchets, Velcro, or even laces. BOA dials and ratchets are the most effective when it comes to holding your foot in place and surviving the conditions.

'Quick lace' fastening beneath the Velcro on Northwave Fahrenheit winter boots

The same rules applied to summer shoes come into play when it comes to the sole, too. Nylon soles are the cheapest, they’ll do the job but will provide a little more flex — they also insulate a bit better than carbon.

Carbon soles are the most expensive, they’ll be mega stiff and will offer plenty of power transfer. It’s worth bearing in mind that in winter you may be completing long base miles, where you might not want the ultimate stiffness, and a nylon/carbon mix may be more comfortable, but this is down to personal preference.

Since you might be walking on slippery surfaces (dismounting to get to that long-awaited hot chocolate stop, for example), a sole with some grip is desirable. Replaceable heel treads are a ‘nice to have’ as you’ll expect that these shoes will last for more than one season.

For the added traction, it may even be worth considering a set of two-bolt MTB winter kicks; the rubber lugs provide lots of additional purchase as you're trudging through the snow or across a wet tile floor at the coffee shop — but you'll then need to invest in a set of two-bolt pedals too if you don't already have them.

Finally - obviously if you're cycling clipped in then your shoes need to be compatible with the pedal system - all road-specific winter cycling shoes should come ready to fit three-bolt pedals and cleats.

Making sure the shoe allows enough room without letting the foot float around has been a big issue for us - in previous tests, we've found both BOA versions and Velcro versions that haven't really done the job. The shoe needs adequate fastenings to stop your heel from slipping during the pedal stroke.

Shoe brand sizing differs tremendously. Where a rider might wear a Euro 38 in one brand, they could be pulling on a 42 in another – sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. Where possible, try shoes on; where it’s not, look to buy shoes from a brand you’re already familiar with.

One of the biggest mistakes riders make over winter is wearing thick socks which reduce the amount of space in the shoe and cut off blood supply – worsening the numbness or even causing it. With good winter boots, you shouldn’t need to go overboard, and a thin merino sock should be enough. But if you think you’ll need more sock, make sure you leave a little extra breathing room.