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review

Shimano MW7 Gore-Tex SPD shoes

8
£179.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Warm and waterproof winter shoes that you can walk in too
Weight: 
1,010g

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With decent levels of waterproofing and insulation, Shimano's MW7 shoes are a good choice for winter riding, and you can walk easily in them too.

Much of what I said about the Northwave Extreme Winter Boots applies to the MW7s. They're very warm and as waterproof as winter shoes can be, subject to the usual caveat of water getting in at the ankles. You can beat that by using tights like the Pearl Izumi Amfibs, which have extended ankles that cover the cuffs of winter shoes.

> Find your nearest dealer here

I finished long rides on cold days in the MW7s with comfortable feet, including my first 100km ride of the year on a day the temperature never got above 1°C. I had chilly toes at the lunch stop, but once they'd thawed they were fine for all of the second half.

They didn't do as good a job of fending off the wet as of keeping my feet warm, but I'm willing to live with that in winter shoes; I'm fortunate enough to live in one of the least rainy parts of the country. My socks were wetter after a two-hour ride in the rain than after a dry ride in similar temperature, but the chill was tolerable. I escaped that feeling of cold needles in the toes and subsequent agonising warm-up. Happy with that.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - Gore-Tex

That the MW7s perform similarly to the Northwave Extreme Winters is not surprising, as they use a similar insulated Gore lining. Gore calls this one Insulated Comfort but it seems very similar to the Sierra lining in the Northwaves.

The liner sits under a synthetic leather and plastic outer that repels water well. It closes with a combination of Velcro and speed laces, so you just pull the laces snug and cover them with the flap.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - laces

Another Velcro flap pulls the neoprene cuff closed around the ankle. It's high enough to keep out road spray and flexible enough that it doesn't impede pedalling.

There's reflective trim front and back for visibility after dark.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - heel cup

I went for a 44, a size up on my usual 43. That leaves plenty of room for thick socks, and the overall fit is reasonably roomy for my medium-width feet. The MW7s are not built on a narrow Italian-style last, owners of non-skinny feet will be pleased to hear.

The toe box is relatively low-volume, which is a bit of an issue in a winter shoe. You want plenty of room to wiggle your toes to keep the circulation going. Since you'll probably be wearing a thicker sock, you want a bit more space around the toes than cycling shoes usually have. The toe space isn't cramped, but it's not as generous as some.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - toe

The MW7s are nominally mountain bike shoes, in that they have a recessed, two-bolt cleat mounting. But the tread is quite light, which makes them more suitable for pavement and grass than deep trail mud. That makes them perfect commuting shoes for anyone who keeps going right through the winter.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - sole

They're definitely much easier to walk in than winter shoes with external cleats. Having used both MW7s and Northwave Extremes I'm leaning to the conclusion that SPD shoes are a better idea for winter riding. There were a couple of spots on my 100km ride where I had to get off and walk to get past short sections of ice. Even when it's just a few steps I'd much rather do that in SPD shoes.

Switching to SPD pedals for the winter isn't an expensive option, either. A pair of Shimano PD-M520 or PD-M530 pedals will set you back just £20. If you're buying winter shoes, that's not much for safer walking.

> How to keep your feet warm while cycling in winter

And don't think mountain bike shoes like the MW7s are flexible and inefficient. Pedalling in the MW7s is plenty comfortable thanks to the stiff sole and well-shaped insole. Fleece insulation on the insole helps keep your feet warm too.

Shimano MW7 winter boots - sole detail

Sure, they're not carbon-road-race-shoe stiff, but you're not going to be racing in them anyway. What you are going to be doing is riding in all weathers and conditions, and the MW7s are spot-on for that.

Verdict

Warm and waterproof winter shoes that you can walk in too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Shimano MW7 Gore-Tex SPD shoes

Size tested: 44

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Shimano says they're "Tough, insulated, waterproof and comfortable built for riders without an off-season". And Shimano says it in ALL CAPS so it must be true.

Kidding aside, this claim is pretty much on the money.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

FEATURES

Waterproof GORE-TEX® Insulated Comfort liner for maximum comfort

Lace shield design and high cut cover construction

Insole with fleece liner for added insulation and heat retention

360-degree reflectivity for high visibility

Torsional midsole 'TORBAL' allows natural rider 'flow' motion during downhill descents

Rubber outsole improves grip in wet and slippery conditions

Single density extra-cushion insole with fleece liner

Speed lacing system allow fast, easy adjustments and a secure fit

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Protection against the cold and wet is as good as winter cycling shoes get.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Plenty of rubber at impact/abrasion points and tough fabrics bode well for durability.

Rate the product for fit:
 
6/10

Generally good, but a bit more room in the toe box would be nice.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Winter shoes are never cheap, because the quality of materials and construction has to be on a par with, say, a good pair of lightweight, waterproof walking boots. The RRP of the last pair of those I bought was about the same as the MW7s, and I was happy to pay it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well. There's enough insulation to keep your feet warm in temperatures around zero, and in combination with that the waterproofing stops you getting uncomfortable in the wet, even though your toes still get damp.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Having warm and comfortable feet when the temperature is around freezing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

My only gripe is with the slightly small toe box.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

The MW7s do the job very well. They get credit for a reasonable price given the quality of materials and construction, but lose a point for the size of the toe box.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 5ft 11in  Weight: 85kg

I usually ride: Scapin Style  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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1 comments

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pockstone | 6 years ago
1 like

I have a pair of the MW5s which are very similar. I think that the sizing issues above need a little further explantion. I am a size 43 in nearly every type of shoe, but when I tried on my first pair of (summer) Shimano shoes a 44 was  bang on. ( I had been told that Shimano shoes were a bit undersized.) Every pair of cycling shoes I've bought since, (Shimano and Louis Garneau) have been 44s and are fine with lightweight socks.

If you're going to rely on these boots to keep you warm and allow the blood to circulate in sub zero temperatures you'll need to size up yet again. I assumed that a 44 would allow for thicker winter socks, but they are just as snug as my summer shoes. Wish I'd bought a 45.

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