Best winter cycling shoes 2025: footwear for cold weather riding reviewed and rated

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.

Winter-specific cycling shoes are the best solution to warm feet in cold weather. They usually include insulation, a waterproof membrane and a more forgiving fit to accommodate thicker socks as well as a high cuff to protect the ankle. Using winter shoes in grotty weather also means that your summer shoes stay in good condition.

Quick list

Best winter cycling shoes ridden and rated

Best overall

Made from leather-look water-resistant microfibre, the Lake CX146 shoes have a real old-school boot vibe. The cuff is taller than many of the other winter footwear that we've tested and this helped in the overall weatherproofing of these comfortable winter cycling shoes.

Ideally, we would have preferred a couple of BOA closures rather than just one, but reducing the number of openings on a shoe does assist in keeping water out, and it didn't seem to impact fit or comfort unduly. If anything, it probably helps keep the overall price down, making these one of the most reasonably priced pairs of winter boots on the market right now.

The sole does have slightly more flex than a performance road cycling shoe, but we noted that it wasn't over-flexible, and there was no noticeable lack of power.

Overall, on a snowy bike ride our tester's feet were kept warm and cosy and didn't feel any negative impact from the added bulk of the boot instead of a shoe.

An excellent weatherproof winter cycling boot for a reasonable price.

More information in the full review.

Best for performance

Fizik's Artica winter shoes were the first pair of winter shoes that convinced me to never go back to overshoes. After 12 winters in the very wet and cold Pacific Northwest of Americaq, I finally became a winter boot convert. Warm, convenient and with a fit not too unlike a regular road shoe, Fizik’s Artica boots are a performance-oriented offering that will make the dreaded winter base miles a lot more comfortable.

The Tempo is the road version and features a traditional reinforced carbon sole with a three-bolt attachment for road cleats. I found it to be stiff enough.

Considering the protection it offers, it’s a reasonably light shoe, and the L6 BOA closure allowed me to dial in the fit so it was nice and snug. The ankle cuff helps here too although I did find it a little roomy, which meant it let in the rain.

Still, the inner fleece material did a great job of keeping my feet warm - in fact, you’ll need to consider whether you need such warmth depending on where you live. However, if you ride often in temperatures that dip below freezing then they’re likely a good match.

Best for visibility

The Northwave Celsius R Arctic GTX shoes are fleece-lined with a Gore-Tex membrane - a great starting point for a warm winter cycling boot. We reviewed its predecessor, the Flash Arctic GTX, which was very similar and loved its warmth and weather protection, and we anticipate that the Celsius R Arctic GTX will perform similarly.

The combination of a shoe-like lower section with a flexible cuff works well in providing a nice, natural-feeling pedal stroke helped by the power transmission of the NRG Air Carbon Reinforced sole. The upper is secured using a single SLW2 dial which tensions the lace using a large, protective tongue that keeps road spray at bay and spreads any pressure.

The cuff now has a new, more flexible Gore-Tex Rattler membrane which should help when pedalling as well as making the boot easier to put on, and more reflective areas for improved visibility.

It is also well worth mentioning the Arctic 4Layer insole which provides valuable insulation underneath the foot, an oft-neglected area that can lose a lot of heat.

Best for offroad

Even after four hours of riding the Sidi Algor winter cycling shoes in sub-zero, snowy conditions, my feet were still warm and dry which was very impressive.

This can be attributed to the Primaloft synthetic insulation layer on the inside and the fully wrapped TPU waterproof outer layer.

Despite their stiff-looking appearance, the Algors were pretty easy to put on, thanks to the nearly full-length zip and quick-lace closure system. That said, they are on the slim side once on, so they are not the best choice for wide-footed riders.

Ideally, the lacing could have gone a little further up the foot to provide a more secure fit, especially on the heel. However, this is only noticeable when off the bike and walking.

I would also have liked to have seen a closer fit between the front of the shoe and my ankle. The gap was prone to having cold chunks of snow and ice flicked into it and couldn't be reduced using the zip or the Velcro ankle tab.

There is also a non-Primaloft version available called the Nubes MTB which is identical except for the added insulation.

Overall, these were warm, comfortable shoes that worked well in challenging conditions, but check heel retention and fit around the ankle before buying.

Read the full review here.

Best for quality

As you might expect from Sidi, the Nix sits at the more performance-orientated end of the winter shoe spectrum, with a 9 out of 12 stiffness sole unit and a relatively slim fit. However, their new ‘Millennium’ last is more in line with that of other brands in terms of sizing and our tester wore his normal cycling shoe size.

The boot is lined with Primaloft fleece which provides good levels of warmth and has the added advantage of providing a secure, non-slip grip on the foot. The single BOA-style dial doesn’t go all the way to the top of the boot, but rather the final level of adjustment is provided by a Velcro strap. This runs all the way around the ankle and further improves heel security. A new PFC Gore-Tex membrane protects from rain, snow and road spray.

The Nix felt very neat on the bike, a result of their close fit. Stiffness was simply never an issue and neither were cold feet - the combination of insulation and waterproof membrane did its job very well in chilly conditions. However, the cuff is pretty low and sometimes left a draughty gap between bib tights and shoes which wasn’t ideal when there was spray coming off the front wheel.

Get all the details in the full review.

Best for winter bikepacking

The winters in Minnesota are nothing short of biblical: they are cold, windy, and wet, so it's no surprise that Bloomington-based 45NRTH makes some of the best cold weather kicks money can buy.

The Ragnarok sees a fully waterproof membrane just beneath the microfibre face fabric to keep the water on the outside, but also to allow for thermal and moisture regulation on the inside. Around the ankle is a neoprene cuff to keep drips out, and a single BOA dial reels the shoe in. 45NRTH says they are comfortable down to about 25ºF / -3ºC.

These are technically mountain bike shoes and will only work with two-bolt cleats. The lugs are semi-aggressive, but also see microscopic glass fibres embedded into the rubber to create abrasive protruding shards to produce grip on slippery surfaces like ice, wet wood, wet tiles, and wet metal.

What to expect from winter cycling shoes