Giving Frostbite the Finger

WHAT: Answer Kashmir shoes WHERE: answerproducts.com HOW MUCH: $150

At this point in the winter you’ve suffered enough to realize that putting two pairs of socks and plastic bags on your feet only goes so far. You’ve invested in water repellant spray and maybe you’ve even bought a pair of shoe covers. But unless you live in the tropics or opt for the wind trainer every time the weather turns foul, you’ve learned there is simply no replacement for winter riding shoes.

Unfortunately, the only thing worse than that pins and needles you feel just before your toes go numb is the empty wallet feeling after shelling-out $250 for winter shoes. Answer feels your pain, and they’re here to help with the new $150 Kashmir boots. Considering the Kashmirs will likely be secondary for most and only worn through the winter, they’re still far from cheap. But you get what you pay for when it comes to shoes. So what exactly do you get with the Kashmirs?

To keep warmth in and moisture out, Answer starts off with a comfortable internal neoprene lining that runs from the toe box all the way to above the ankle. To add to the water-shedding and overall resilience, everything from the ankle down is covered in durable, water resistant Pittards leather. The soles are among the stiffest for maximum power transfer and the tread is a softer compound than most for extra grip in wet and icy conditions. To keep this much boot in place, three standard Velcro straps and one extra-large Velcro ankle closure are deployed.

I grabbed the Kashmirs whenever the weather turned cold and wet, and was pleasantly surprised at just how much I could ride through—blasting through the deep-ends of icy creek crossings and kicking slushy mounds of snow didn’t faze ‘em. The Kashmirs weren’t completely waterproof, but aside from actually dunking them into rushing streams, my feet were comfortable, warm and dry. Another plus: when frigid temps and mud-packed cleats left me slipping and sliding, thicker padding around the ankles offered needed protection from rocks, crankarms and chainrings.

Fit wise, the Kashmirs ran big, really big. The extra room allows for thicker socks, but regular cycling socks left my dogs swimming. And I never did fell the need to double up or slip-on thick socks for warmth, so I ended-up cranking the straps as tight as possible. The high-tops kept them on my feet, but the toe-box was cavernous. My recommendation: go at least a half size smaller than normal.

I found that the Kashmirs also shined as downhill/freeride boots in any weather. The added support and ankle protection really paid off in fast and out-of-control situations. Extra insulation made them unbearable for XC rides in warm weather, but whenever bruised and bloody ankles were a concern, I gladly chose the Kashmirs and the accompanying foot sweat.

If you’re tired of numb toes and plastic bags, head on over to answerproducts.com and check out the Kashmirs. A buck fifty is quite a lot to shell out for a pair of “off-season” shoes, but considering the cost of frostbite, they’re pure value.