Over the last week, in Central Europe we got a taste of the cold and wet weather that makes cyclocross a sloppy fun time. But at the same time it gave a glimpse of colder weather to come when it gets harder and harder to make it out for anything beyond a short 45-60 minutes of racing circles. Northwave has been working for years to keep our feet warm and dry so we can get out for those long multi-hour rides even when it drops below freezing, and with updated versions of their winter boots for both road and trail, they’ve stepped their game up again. The next generation Fahrenheit road and Celcius mountain shoes come in both basic waterproof versions and insulated Arctic versions. Take a closer look after the break…
The difference between the Fahrenheit and Celsius is just the sole. The road Fahrenheits get a nylon sole reinforced with both fiberglass and carbon. The mountain Celsius use a carbon powder reinforces thermoplastic sole with softer natural rubber tread lugs.
Both road and mountain, insulated or not, the shoes use a multi-layer thermowelded upper that lets Northwave get a good anatomical fit from fabrics that are not always so flexible on their own, but also keeps them thin and light. At the heart of all of the Northwave winter shoes is a Gore-Tex (hence GTX) membrane for waterproofing and sweat transpiration, but also because it acts as a decent thermal insulation layer. The Arctic boots swap in Gore-Tex’s Koala membrane, which adds a fleece-lined layer of insulation for warmth down to even lower temps. The base Fahrenheit 2 GTX and Celsius 2 GTX boots are recommended for a -10°/+15°C temperature range, while the Arctics with Gore Koala take that down to -25°/+5°C.
The neoprene cuff of both shoes got a redesign for a better wrap and seal at the ankle to keep out the elements, especially water running down the legs. The update also adds a new Speed Lace system for quick fit with hidden laces, then covered by a pair of large straps to keep the weather out.
For max visibility, both Arctic versions are available in high-vis fluo-yellow, with black as an option for the trail boot. The standard GTX boots are offered in black for both road or mountain, and a red version for the mountain boot only. All four new winter models should be available now in shops and online.
