Test: Lake MXZ303 - The winter shoe for nasty days

It's not everyone's cup of tea to go biking in nasty weather and in winter. But those who brave the elements are well advised to dress accordingly - especially on their feet. Where the winter is long and cold, we wanted to know whether the Lake Winter shoe will save you from icy feet.

The Lake MXZ303 has a Vibram sole with a coarse profile and is SPD-compatible. It also impresses with its high design, thanks to which not only the ankles are protected. The two-part front strap can be fastened snugly to the ankle cuffs and secured with a snap fastener. The upper material is waterproof and the boot is insulated with Thinsulate material. Inside, a Thermosol insole provides additional protection against the cold from the SPD cleats. Thanks to the BOA lacing system, the MKZ303 can be ideally adapted to the respective foot shape. The range of shoe sizes from 39 to 50 is rather unusual for bike shoes.

For those who know no limits even in winter, the sole can also be retrofitted with two spikes in the toe area. At around 615 grams per shoe, it is not a lightweight, but still within a tolerable range.

From dry as dust to soaking wet

As the past winter turned out to be mild rather than hard and snowy, a long-term endurance test was not possible. However, we had the opportunity to wear the shoe in temperatures ranging from plus ten to minus 15 degrees and had neither cold nor hot feet to complain about. The MXZ303 gave rise to the expectation that it would cause feet to sweat profusely in double-digit plus temperatures. But that was not the case. Of course, there were plenty of warm boots, but the warmth never turned unpleasant.

Since the snow was a long time coming, we rode a good number of kilometers on dry trails with the Lake MXZ303. The often rough terrain and a few hairy riding maneuvers clearly marked the shoe and it also had to leave some "wallpaper". Nevertheless, it held tight and so there was no water ingress to complain about on the following rainy days.The shoe did not have to complete any long running sections. However, the few times when it was necessary to push briefly, there was no lack of comfort to complain about. Winter bike shoes are often a clunky affair, which is definitely not the case with this model.

The shoe is cut a little wide. So ideal for people with wide feet or for "Gfrörlis" (cold-sensitive people), as they can also wear thicker socks for additional insulation.

Conclusion

The Lake MXZ303 defies the elements and can also withstand some rough use in rugged terrain. It is a loyal companion on cold days that scores points for comfort

www.lakecycling.com