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The Louis Garneau Glacier RD winter road shoes will keep your feet warm and dry but the fit could be improved.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)

This article originally published on BikeRadar

The built-in insulation – augmented by an included heat-reflecting insole – kept our feet warm and cozy down to about the freezing mark even while wearing regular cycling socks. Breathability isn't nearly as good as on a standard vented shoe but that's to be expected, so choose your socks accordingly. The Glacier RD was still pretty reasonable to wear when the mercury climbed over 10°C (50°F), which should increase their appeal for riders who regularly have to tackle wet conditions but only mildly cold temperatures.

The fiber-reinforced nylon sole is impressively rigid for a non-composite plate, too, but Louis Garneau otherwise make a few too many concessions that negatively affect the quality of the fit. It gets the job done but certainly won't generate heaps of praise. First off is the lack of half-sizes – a common theme among dedicated winter shoes but an unfortunate one nonetheless. True, riders who typically wear half-sizes will have a little more room for thicker and warmer socks but given the built-in insulation, that isn't necessary.

Finally, there's the issue of durability. Louis Garneau impart the Glacier RD with lots of tough armoring around the toes and sides, plus the walking tabs (which unfortunately aren't replaceable) are soft enough for decent grip but tough enough to show little wear over two months of regular use. The stitching, however, hasn't held up as well and our test shoes have already blown a seam around the upper edge. It'll be easy enough to fix but we'd prefer to not have to.