Are Northwave shoes any good???

dizzyblonde82
dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
edited December 2011 in Road buying advice
Hi,

Currently looking to buy a pair of road shoes to use with a set of speedplay zero pedals, have been looking at Northwave shoes and would appreciate any comments/views on them.

Are they good quality, will they last long?

Thanks
Sarah

Comments

  • copper585
    copper585 Posts: 141
    Hi, i wnet from sidi to northwave at beginning of this year due to having wide feet, as northwave are a wider fitting, i also got a carbon sole and wow what a difference! far better fitting than the sidi and feel better quality, and the carbon sole certainly made a difference with it being stiffer. i got mine cheap from probikekit in the jan sales so maybe worth waiting, but overall well recommended.
  • flasher
    flasher Posts: 1,734
    I have a 3 year old pair, still in great condition, they are however worn in rotation with other shoes......
  • dizzyblonde82
    dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
    Thank you for the responses, I don't expect them to last forever but had read a couple of reviews about the soles disintegrating and falling apart.

    Will have to find a local stockist to try a few pairs on :)
  • jonbristol
    jonbristol Posts: 83
    will you buy from your local stockist?
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    I have pair of NW Vertigo SBS'. Brilliant shoes. Comfortable, nice fit (I have wide feet) and well made. I'll probably replace with another pair of NW's when I need to. Although, Mavic do some nice shoes.......
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • dizzyblonde82
    dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
    jonbristol wrote:
    will you buy from your local stockist?

    Depends on the price, if they are reasonable then yes. There aren't that many good stockists local to me so tend to go to Evans cycles as get to try them on and they will price match internet prices :)

    The Northwave ones I liked the look of are not available yet, they were advertised on Evans Cycles but are now not pictured on the site any more.
  • dizzyblonde82
    dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
    jordan_217 wrote:
    I have pair of NW Vertigo SBS'. Brilliant shoes. Comfortable, nice fit (I have wide feet) and well made. I'll probably replace with another pair of NW's when I need to. Although, Mavic do some nice shoes.......

    The thing that puts me of Mavic shoes is the yellow M logo, looks a bit too much like Morrison's logo
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    dizzyblonde82 wrote:
    jordan_217 wrote:
    I have pair of NW Vertigo SBS'. Brilliant shoes. Comfortable, nice fit (I have wide feet) and well made. I'll probably replace with another pair of NW's when I need to. Although, Mavic do some nice shoes.......

    The thing that puts me of Mavic shoes is the yellow M logo, looks a bit too much like Morrison's logo

    True! :D
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • rbirkett
    rbirkett Posts: 65
    As already mentioned, they are very wide fitting and mine (Aerator) were quite heavy considering they were top end.

    Since got Spesh S-Works & they are the business!
  • Chrissz
    Chrissz Posts: 727
    I got a set three years ago - since done around 12k miles and the only sign of wear is a grease mark on one and a scuff mark on the buckle from an off. Been used in all weathers and never had a single complaint about them. When I replace them I'll be looking for something very similar!
    http://coastalcommando.wordpress.com/
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    I have their winter Gore-tex boots and have been impressed. I use Speedplays with them with no issues, but then any 3 hole cleat shoes will do that anyway. Not tried the shoes as I use Specialized .
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • JustinLeeAtkinson
    JustinLeeAtkinson Posts: 335
    Leopard Trek use them, certainly seen Cancellara wearing them. Boonen used to wear them too a few years back. I think the Leopard Trek model is available to buy, although I've no idea what they are called.
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    I bought a pair of Northwave Typhoon Evo SBS in March and I have been very pleased with them. I've got wide feet and tried plenty of others before I bought, SpecialiZed and Northwave are the best fit for me.

    For what it's worth, my ordinary non-cycling shoes are size 42, and a Northwave 42 fits me perfectly. With Sidi I have to go up at least one size.
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,657
    The top end ones are as good as SIDI I reckon - Italian and all that....
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • jordan_217
    jordan_217 Posts: 2,580
    ddraver wrote:
    The top end ones are as good as SIDI I reckon - Italian and all that....

    IIRC correctly the label in mine says 'made in Vietnam' :D Don't care though, they're still bloody good shoes!

    Slightly off topic but I noticed a few months back that all the DHB clothing I own is made in Italy. How many of the so called 'Italian' brands can still stick that on their labels ?!?!
    “Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don’t stop when you’re tired. You stop when the gorilla is tired.”
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    lovely shoes, poss. on the small side and the cleat drillings may be a bit forward which doesn't suit everyone. I had a pair of Northwaves for a couple of years and they were excellent especially the sole (5 layer carbon apparently). Re Speedplay, there is an adaptor available that allows further adjustment fore/aft for shoes drilled too far forward eg Mavic
    M.Rushton
  • dizzyblonde82
    dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
    Thanks for all the replies, I have bought a pair of Northwave Venus SBS women's shoes and they have a nice wide fit but seem to hold the foot and heel well.

    Have ordered speedplay zero pedals but won't be able to test them out properly for a while as had an MRI scan on Sunday and am on crutches until I see a surgeon on 30th Dec, hoping that this will not be knee op number 7 :(
  • rozzer32
    rozzer32 Posts: 3,919
    I'll be in the market for new shoes in the new year after the insurance for my accidents has paid out. Already settled on the new Sidi Ergo 3 and going for the speedplay specific version.
    ***** Pro Tour Pundit Champion 2020, 2018, 2017 & 2011 *****
  • satanas
    satanas Posts: 1,303
    mrushton wrote:
    Re Speedplay, there is an adaptor available that allows further adjustment fore/aft for shoes drilled too far forward eg Mavic
    ...and Northwave, at least for me. Shoes are otherwise excellent though, provided of course that the last fits you.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    I also went from Sidi genius to NW Vertigo because of wider feet and swapped from look to speedplays, i've worn the NW once and they hurt like hell, along my arches. My Sidi's alway hurt because they were too narrow and stiff.

    Truth is the best fit i've found for shoes are Specialized BG

    Didn't stop me buying another pair of Sidi's - what can i say i'm a shameless tart :roll:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
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  • dizzyblonde82
    dizzyblonde82 Posts: 100
    After trying to get the cleats in the right place on the Northwave shoes I have now sent them back, felt like I was pedaling with my toes as the holes were so far forward.

    Decided to go with a pair of Specialized BG comp road shoes :)

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