The best clipless MTB winter shoes you can buy

Best Value – Specialized Defroster Trail

Following the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, principal, the Defroster remains essentially the same: the fit is still generous around the midsection and toes allowing thick socks to be worn. With 400 grams of Thinsulate insulation and a reflective heat-loss barrier in the sole, they are definitely one of the warmest boots we’ve tested. The waterproof outer has a neoprene collar keep water and debris out and to seal the wide opening. A single Boa dial controls the tension across your foot, the system works well and can easily be adjusted once your feet get up to riding temperature if they feel too tight once moving.

In our water absorption test, the Defroster was the top performer, only absorbing 16.6% of its weight in water and the boot’s materials dried the quickest, losing over 50% of the water absorbed in 24hrs. Specialized’s composite sole, with a stiffness rating of 6.0, feels comfortable off the bike and stiff enough on the pedals. Hike a bike traction is good thanks to the soft compound SlipNot sole and the heal stayed put even when walking up steep inclines.

Conclusion

All in all, the Specialized Defroster Trail is a fantastically warm and comfortable Winter boot that dries better than any of the other boots. However, Specialized in their infinite wisdom, have coloured them in disco silver, a move probably welcomed by commuters but for off-road riding, it seems overkill and may limit their shelf appeal no matter how good the actual boot is.