Bike Perfect Verdict
Solid uppers and overlapping seals give excellent weather protection with firm pedaling performance. Stiffness can affect grip and feedback though and you’ll need to sock up for winter cosiness
Pros
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Excellent waterproofing and sealing
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Stiff soles for pedaling efficiency
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Tough upper and hard-wearing sole
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Easy to get into and out of
- +
Advanced ‘dotty’ orthotics for sensitive soles
Cons
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Designed as a year-round boot, not a winter special, so ‘sock up’ for coziness
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Walking/unclipped grip is OK, not outstanding
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Can pinch wide feet
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Endura’s new MT500 Waterproof boots add extra height, sealing, and excellent weatherproofing to their tough, stiff, efficient pedaling MT500 Burner trail shoes. They’re designed as a light, low bulk ‘bad weather boot’ not as a specific winter boot though so size up and get your thermals socks on if you need extra cosiness.
Design and build
The MT500 Waterproof boots use the same sole and dual tread, dual compound ‘StickyFoot Dura’ toe and heel, ‘StickyFoot Grip’ midsole design as Endura’s MT500 Burner trail shoes. The clipless cleat slots extend back towards the instep and they’re hidden behind a removable/replaceable rubber section for flat pedal versatility too. There’s a generous toe bumper for kick protection and the lower ‘shoe’ is made from a tough, multi-panel synthetic. It’s lined with a waterproof and breathable ExoshellFW™ membrane. There’s a ‘Sharkskin’ panel in the heel cup and the insole uses a studded ‘ErgoMinistry’ footbed designed by “renowned cycling ergonomist Phil Burt”.
The upper section and internal tongue are a neoprene wrap with velcro closure, front and rear pull loops, and an ‘armour’ pad on the front of the ankle.
Fit is controlled with a crisscross cord lock over the forefoot, with an additional velcro tensioning strap over the external tongue.
Performance
A lot of brands seem to struggle with the concept of a well-sealed boot that you can still get into before your feet freeze or get out of with frozen fingers. Endura score straight away here with a good wide opening helped by front and rear pull loops. Easy to release Speed Lace and simple straps are much more forgiving on frigid digits too and haven’t got jammed by ice / frozen mud / or general gunk in the way dial systems can. The generous length neoprene collar has kept water and snow out - or at least slowed it down while it warms up - really well. The ExoshellFW membrane has worked perfectly so far too. Teamed with a pair of overtrousers the combination is pretty much unbreachable presuming you don’t go wading through super deep and wide streams.
Fit is accurate but not generous in width, which is compounded by the unyieldingly stiff upper construction. That means I’d suggest going up a size if you like fat socks for extra cosiness and comfort as the uppers aren’t obviously insulated. I couldn’t feel any obvious circulation or stimulation advantages from the braille-dotted ‘Ergoministry’ insoles either, but then my feet are calloused old hooves rather than pampered and perceptive paws. The stiff feel and relatively low weight make them efficient pedallers compared to big floppy winter boots. Lack of insulation means they’re not super bulky so you can run a conventional cleat offset rather than being forced outwards too.
There’s little compliance to help grip if you’re unclipped though and the stiffness can make it hard to locate your pedals if you’re used to a floppier sole. The StickyFoot rubber compound isn’t actually that sticky either so the grip is adequate rather than amazing on or off the bike.
The Burner shoes our test crew have been long terming are still showing very little wear after over a year and it’s the same story with these boots so far. Add year-round rather than winter-only usability and that makes their already good value price an even better investment.
Verdict
Endura’s MT500 Burner Clipless Waterproof boots are a great choice if you want a really waterproof, stiff, efficient pedaling, and lightweight boot for year-round use. They’re easy to get into and out of and a good price for what I expect will be a durable construction too. Obvious stiffness won’t work for everyone though and sock up for colder rides as Endura has called them waterproof boots not winter boots for a reason.
Tech specs: Endura MT500 Burner Clipless Waterproof boots
- Price: $199.99 / £169.99 / €189.99
- Sizes: 6 - 13 US, 38 - 47 EU
- Options: Harvest (tested), or black
- Weight: 1,164g Size 44 complete with Hope cleats
