The best clipless MTB winter shoes you can buy

Best in test – SCOTT MTB Heater GORE-TEX

The SCOTT MTB Heater boot looks ready to go toe-to-toe with winter straight out of the box. Insulated with 200 g of GORE-TEX Duratherm lining and protected from the elements by a full GORE-TEX membrane the Heater is built from quality materials. The speed lace closure has a waterproof zipped cover which is pulled in tight around your ankles by a velcro cuffed closure, so you can seal the boot up and gives a bit of protection for your ankles.

The fit is generous without being too big; plenty of room to layer up and still wiggle your toes but with good heel and midfoot support when hiking up stuff. The downside of a zip cover is that there is no adjustment in the width of the boot but unless you have super wide or ultra-narrow feet, the SCOTT Heater will fit you spot on. SCOTT use a soft compound ‘Sticki’ rubber for the sole which offers good traction off the bike. The fairly stiff sole gives plenty of support and power to the pedals while giving enough flex in the toe to be comfortable walking.
The downside to the Heater is that it was the heaviest boot on test when dry and then increased in weight by 30% after being submerged. After 24 hrs drying time the SCOTT retained over 80% of that water, making the Heater the second-worst performer on test. Evidently, the GORE-TEX Duratherm lining may be a great insulator but it also retains moisture.

Conclusion

Despite the disappointing absorbance and drying time results, the SCOTT MTB Heater was one of the comfiest, best sealed and warmest boots we’ve tested and it quickly became our ‘go to’ for long rides and cold photoshoots so we would recommend it to any rider looking for maximum protection from the elements.