Shimano Clothing GF8 (GF800) GORE-TEX
"After many years of riding in just plain old Vans and simply putting up with water ingress, these are a major improvement. Over the last few weeks of riding, conditions have been pretty wet, with flooded trails, high-level streams, and the occasional ford crossing. With my old shoes, my feet would quickly end up soaked and, in winter, cold, which made longer rides uncomfortable. The GF8s have made a noticeable difference. The tight lining does its job of keeping water out, even with the occasional brief full submersion when crossing flooded sections. My feet have stayed warm and comfortable throughout rides that would normally have left them cold and wet. Grip and stability on flat pedals are excellent, and the shoes feel sturdy without being overly heavy. They also offer much better weather protection than typical skate-style shoes. The only minor downside I’ve noticed is that socks can sometimes act as a slight capillary path for water if they get wet higher up the leg, which can slowly draw a little moisture into the shoe. In practice, though, it’s barely noticeable when riding and hasn’t really affected comfort. Fit-wise, I went a size up and would recommend doing the same if you have wider feet. Mine are right on the limit, so I’ve had to back the BOA off fully to keep them comfortable. Overall, after years of just accepting wet feet with Vans, these feel like a real upgrade. For riding in wet conditions, flooded trails, or winter weather, they’ve made recent rides far more comfortable, especially for a MTB veteran 🤣"