Test: Mavic Ksyrium Pro Thermo – winter shoes instead of wheelsets: The cheap Ksyriums in Mavic's range don't roll well, but they keep you pretty warm.
Another year in which February doesn't want to end, even exceeds the four-week deadline set for it and brings spring-hungry cyclists to despair. Helmet cover, hat, winter gloves - despite everything, you have to be prepared to come home after a morning training ride with a red nose and icy fingers. And then the feet... But wait, there was something: We saved a pair of winter shoes for the most uncomfortable time of the year. The sun is shining, a thin layer of ice covers the puddles and the cars are covered with hoarfrost - ideal conditions for the Mavic Ksyrium Pro Thermo. Not a wheel set, but a shoe that, as its manufacturer promises, should keep out the cold "even in the most extreme winter conditions".
This should be made possible by a construction that differs significantly from conventional cycling shoes. Instead of airy mesh inserts, there is a robust plastic shell with a reinforced toe cap; This is followed by a cuff made of neoprene, under which a softly padded tongue is hidden. The inside of the shoe is equipped with a textile material that feels pleasantly cuddly. A Goretex membrane between the lining and the upper should also make the shoe waterproof. A kind of fleece is sewn under the thin insole, which keeps the cold from coming up from the completely closed sole.
A BOA-like twist lock keeps the shoe on the foot; the cuff has a short zipper and a double Velcro fastener. The whole thing is made in such a way that the twist lock can also be operated when the cuff is closed, which is of course very practical compared to overshoes that cover the closures of normal cycling shoes. Overall this works pretty well; the shoe can be closed firmly, but without pressure points. However, the Mavic dial can be tightened click by click, but not loosened in the same way - if the shoe feels too tight, you first have to loosen the lock completely to then bring it back to the desired tightness. In practice, however, the problem did not arise anyway - since the shoe fit well from the start, we didn't even have to touch the knobs.
However, you have to keep in mind that you should add half a size to a full size to your usual cycling shoe size. We could only wear the Mavic shoe with regular cycling socks; warm winter socks and a little more space in the shoe should improve the function of the thermal kicks.
Which brings us to the basics: How warm is the Ksyrium? Of course, you shouldn't expect miracles at temperatures around zero. After a few miles, pretty much every part of our body was aware of the fresh weather, including our feet – but that was about it. Even after four and a half hours on the bike, there was no sign of the dreaded cooling down, even though the air had only warmed up minimally.
The outsole feels as stiff as can be judged during basic winter training. It is noticeable that the shoe is quite wide in the ankle area and can hit the crank depending on the positioning of the pedal plates. So that the cleats hold up well, the sole is roughened in the area of the three threads, and there are also markings for exact adjustment. At 379 grams per shoe in size 44, the Ksyriums aren't too bulky - it's more important that they keep you warm anyway. The price of 200 euros is also very decent given the good function. We couldn't determine how waterproof the shoes are in practice due to the lack of rain; However, a short test in the washbasin made us optimistic: the Ksyrium floats like a small kayak; The holes on the soles don't draw any water either, and cleats weren't even mounted.
And finally ...
The thing is clear: If you are looking for a solid winter shoe that keeps you warm even when the temperature is around zero degrees, you can trust the Mavic Ksyrium Pro Thermo, the shoe with the impeller name.
Product Highlights:
- Pretty warm despite not being the optimal size
- Fair price
- Should be waterproof (Gore-Tex)
price and web
- 200 €
- www.mavic.com
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