Shimano MW7 Shoes - Review

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.


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.





Performance

Winters 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

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