My Specialized BG Defroster MTB Boot ongoing Review

[Fiona N]

As a winter boot (which is how they pushed), Defrosters are terrible. Fine as a wet/mud boot, but not good for low temps. One of the most dissapointing bits of kit I've bought.

Shame you had such a bad experience as I've found the opposite so far - they're much better in cold dry than the Shimano boots I had previously. Part of this is down to fit, I think, as the Shimano boots weren't good after I broke my big toe as they are shaped to cut in quite sharply and this mean that I could only use the thinnest of socks before the pressure on the toe caused it to go 'dead'. The roomier toe box of the Specialized boots is far better in this respect (both pairs of boots are size 40 and the fit in other respects is pretty similar). But the Specialized boots seem to be much more cosy without being significantly sweatier than the Shimano ones.

For very cold conditions (in the Lake District, that it, not Siberia) I still prefer electronic foot heaters under a solid pair of Windstopper overshoes so condensation is minimised.

But for everyday trips on the bike in generally wet road, damp atmosphere conditions, the Specialised boots are great - more convenient to get into and out of than the tight cuffs on the Shimano boots, waterproof enough for my requirements and warm enough that my cold-damaged (i.e. frost-bitten) toes stay in good condition.

 

[Dormouse]

For very cold conditions (in the Lake District, that it, not Siberia) I still prefer electronic foot heaters under a solid pair of Windstopper overshoes so condensation is minimised.

What make of foot warmers do you use and would you recommend them?

I tried some marketed by scarpa and they were useless. Luckily I got a refund.

 

[Fiona N]

Hi Dormouse
I used Hotronics foot heaters - quite pricey (ca. £100) but they're built for skiers and mountaineers (as opposed to motor bikers) so are robust enough to take some abuse during normal usage. The rechargeable battery packs are also very long-lived ( I make a point of keeping the batteries topped up even in summer, which I think helps) as well as living up to the figures Hotronics give for 'burn time'. The heaters come either already mounted in cut-to-fit insoles or as the naked heating element which you can stick into your own insoles - which I did as I used 'Conformable' insoles.