Shimano's MW7 shoes are aimed at riders who constantly find themselves battling foul weather, those hearty individuals who don't shy away from heading out for a ride in monsoon-like conditions.To help keep the elements at bay the SPD-compatible MW7 uses a waterproof, insulated Gore-Tex liner in conjunction with a neoprene cuff that extends above the ankle. A drawstring-style speed lacing mechanism makes adjusting the fit a quick and easy process, and a velcro strap at the front of the ankle ensures that there's no unwanted heel lift. The entire lacing system is covered with a water resistant flap that fastens with velcro around the perimeter of the laces and around the neoprene cuff.
Shimano MW7 Details• Waterproof, insulated GoreTex liner
• Fleece lined insole
• Speed lacing system
• SPD compatible
• Sizes: 38 - 48
• Weight: 538 grams (per shoe, size 45)
• MSRP: $250.00 USD
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www.shimano.com /
@shimano The MW7's midsole uses Shimano's Torbal technology, which gives the shoe the ability to flex slightly around the heel while still retaining stiffness at the front of the foot. The thinking behind this design is that the flex creates a more comfortable, natural feel underfoot, especially during cornering and descending. Other details include a rubber outsole to provide traction for off-the-bike excursions, and a generous amount of room for cleat mounting, a plus for riders who prefer their cleats to be set further back. Sizes: 38 - 48. MSRP: $250 USD.
PerformanceWinters where I live typically involve copious amount of rain, the occasional snowstorm, and temperatures that fluctuate between just below freezing up to 50°F (10° C). In the past, I've toughed out plenty of wet rides by simply wearing thicker socks and dealing with the inevitable shoe and foot sogginess, but after spending the last few months wearing the MW7 shoes I'm not sure I'll be able to return to my old approach. There's just something about finishing a ride with dry
and warm feet that's hard to give up.
Even on the wettest rides imaginable, days where the puddles were axle deep and the rain refused to let up, I'd return home with my feet completely dry, other than a ring of dampness around the top of my ankles where water soaked through the neoprene cuff. That's what the cuff is there for – to prevent water from making its way all the way into the shoe, and it did just that. As far as the fit goes, the MW7 shoes run true to size, but riders who are planning on venturing out into below-freezing temperatures will probably want to go up a size in order to leave room for thicker socks. My feet stayed warm in temperatures down to around 32° F (0° C), and didn't feel excessively warm as long as temperatures remained below 50° F (10° C), although if you regularly ride in Arctic conditions something with more insulation than the MW7 may be a better bet.
The MW7s fall in the middle of the road as far as stiffness goes – they're not as rigid as an XC race shoe, but they're still supportive enough that my feet stayed comfortable no matter how long I ventured out for. During the occasional off-bike excursions the rubber sole provided good traction for scrambling through patches of snow or over fallen trees, without any unexpected slipping or sliding. After more than three months of mucking around in the rain and mud there haven't been any durability issues, and a quick blast with the hose after a sloppy ride is all it takes to keep them looking relatively fresh. As an added bonus, as long as you pay attention to where you're spraying, the waterproof Gore-Tex liner means that you'll be stepping into dry shoes the next time you head out.
Pinkbike's Take | For riders in search of a shoe to keep their feet warm and dry during wet, sloppy rides in cooler temperatures, Shimano's MW7 is an ideal choice. Comfortable and waterproof without being overly heavy or bulky, the MW7 can help make those rainy rides much more enjoyable. - Mike Kazimer |
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- shoes, helmets, drivetrain weight in grams
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I love Pinkbike, it has great articles and everything. But I agree they should do measurements in both American and RestOfTheWorld instead of only American. Half their readers have no clue what they are talking about.
Thank god at least the angles are the same in the USA
-10 - 0 = cold but not too cold
0 - 10 = still sweater weather but getting nicer
10 - 20 = perfect mountain biking weather
20 - 30 = beach weather
Boom, and you're done.
They either have some sort of 'Merican aversion to the metric system, or do not understand it.
I've been using the middleweight ones lately here in Colorado, several rides were like 15-18 degrees f. thats like -9 or -8c. (right)? Just using my my regular shoes fizik m5's, or some old mavic mantras, and I stay warm.
Face was cold, wore a facemask. I may have gotten them at ChainReaction, they are tough to find.
You can use them for climbing and hiking too. Makes more sense for me than getting insulated boots.
Then I rode in 18-22F (-7-5 C) and my toes started to get cold in about 55 minutes ( or 3300 seconds)
But my toes NEVER got to the point where they got numb and I had to stop. My other shoes which are Teva Pivots, in the same weather would get numb after 25 minutes with 2 socks. To the point I had to stop my ride.
Got these for the winter and wet slop. I havent walked in water yet so I dont know how well it is in keeping my feet dry but in terms of the occasional splash it did fine.
I also purchased from www.bike-discount.de for $160
It is an amazing piece of kit for fall riding here in Québec. My experience is that it is great between 10C and -10C (actually, -10C might be pushing it, YMMV). Below -10C, it can also work, but for short rides only.
However, they are not very well suited for true winter riding. For that, I believe 45North have better products, but I don't have first hand experience with them...
Thinking of Specialized, 2FO,s… Any other suggestions?
only gum boots will keep your feet dry in torrential rain.
How do they perform when going under water, during rivercrossings..
Does the cuff do the magic? or is it more like splash proof?
I am using since the beginning of January, so far they are doing pretty good, deep puddles included. I was a little bit scared about clip holes, bit they are waterproof. No water entering from the cuff, lets see after at least 1 year use.
Mike