Now, with the way bib tights typically tuck into a winter boot, there is naturally only so much you can expect with regard to water entering the shoe. Unfortunately, the ankle cuff was neither tall nor stretchy enough to keep a close seal against my bib tights. That said, the routing of the lacing did mean having to hook it back over the tongue each time I pulled the shoes on, which was a bit of a faff. With the one dial in an accessible location, it was easy making those quick, on-the-fly adjustments – even with heavily gloved fingers. Equally, if a shoe is too tight, then it can reduce the blood flow and result in painfully cold feet. As with all riding, it’s never pleasant to feel like the shoe is too loose, with the floppy, disconnected feeling it gives. Once you’ve used a Boa IP-1 dial, it’s hard to go back, and they’re arguably even more important on a winter boot than a summer shoe. ![]() But at the same time, neither did I feel jarred or punished on longer rides taking in more rocky terrain. With the Icestorm 1.0s, I was able to put in hard efforts up technical off-road climbs and those sharp little kickers, which are more punishing when taken slowly, without feeling like I was wallowing or wasting energy. On long, cold, winter rides, a super stiff sole isn’t really necessary nor wanted, but at the same time, an overly flexy pedalling platform can feel like a constant drain of inefficiency. The stiffness of the sole hit a great balance too. Right down to the very low single digits (Celsius) my toes were still kept perfectly toasty and in only mid-weight merino socks. They feel less cumbersome than even race shoes when paired with certain overshoes. ![]() The insulation is brilliant in just how warm it makes the shoes – yet without adding an unacceptable level of bulk. Gaerne’s Icestorm 1.0 is almost frustratingly close to completely nailing what it is to be a great winter boot. Rounding things off, there’s plenty of reflective detailing and a reassuringly hefty tag on the back of the shoes to help with pulling them on and off. It's very useful for finding the balance between a secure fit but not going so tight as to reduce circulation to your toes. ![]() The binding is taken care of by a single Boa IP-1 dial, which is the model that allows you to both tighten and loosen the pressure by millimetre increments.
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