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Break the ice with your winter training, with Northwave Celsius XT Arctic GTX
For most cyclists, the romance of winter riding ends at the toes. You can layer merino base layers, zip up the best winter cycling jacket, and pull on thermal bibs lined with fleece, but when your feet turn to blocks of ice, the enjoyment disappears. For decades, riders have tried to solve the problem with chunky socks, knee-length overshoes, and makeshift hacks such as tin foil around the toes. But the story has always ended the same way: frozen feet, frustrated miles, and quite often a quiet retreat indoors.
It’s no coincidence that many cyclists get cold feet about training in winter. Quite literally, it’s the body part furthest from the heart, making it the hardest to keep warm and the most vulnerable to the cold. But that's about to change.
A new chapter in winter cycling
Winter cycling shoes – both road and off-road – have always carried a stigma. They’re big and bulky, and they often look like they belong in a mountaineer’s kit bag rather than paired with lycra on a bike. Function, in most cases, takes precedence over form.
Northwave has long been determined to change that perception, and with the Celsius XT Arctic GTX – the off-road-friendly arm of its Fall-Winter 2025/26 collection – the Italian brand has delivered a shoe that combines refined aesthetics without a loss in performance.
This is a piece of gear designed not to hide under overshoes, but to stand proudly as part of your kit, no matter whether you're adventuring through the wilderness on your gravel bike, ripping laps at the local 'cross race, logging winter training miles, or even riding the XC bike at the bike park.
Offered in light grey, classic black, and bold yellow fluo, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX looks every bit the performance shoe it is. Low-cut, sharp in its lines, and with the kind of Italian design flair you’d expect from a brand born in the Dolomites. It doesn’t just fight the cold; it makes winter look good.
The chemistry of comfort
Style alone won’t keep your toes from going numb on a five-hour ride in sleet and crosswinds. What sets the Celsius XT Arctic GTX apart is its unique blend of Gore-Tex and Primaloft insulation, a combination that no other cycling shoe on the market offers at this level of refinement.
Northwave was the first brand to introduce Gore-Tex membranes in cycling shoes back in 2005. Two decades later, that pioneering spirit has reached a new benchmark with the Celsius XT Arctic GTX. The shoe features Cirrus XT 4L, a PFAS-free Gore-Tex membrane designed specifically for demanding, high-output conditions.
It’s waterproof, windproof, yet highly breathable, meaning rain and snow stay out, while excess heat and moisture can escape. This can be essential when effort levels rise and fall across climbs and descents, training intervals, and, of course, when sprinting to the cafe.
While Gore-Tex works hard to keep the weather out, Primaloft Gold Eco 200g keeps the warmth in. Derived from recycled plastic bottles, Primaloft Gold Eco insulation is ultra-light, hydrophobic, and engineered to trap heat even when damp.
It was originally developed for the US Army as a lightweight alternative to down, but its application in cycling footwear is transformative. Northwave has strategically placed Primaloft in the forefoot area – the part most exposed to the onrushing cold – ensuring consistent comfort even in the harshest conditions.
Together, these technologies create a system, not just a shoe: a symbiotic balance of weather protection, thermal insulation, and breathability, tuned specifically for cyclists.
Built for power and versatility
Warmth is only part of the equation when it comes to high-performance cycling in winter. All cycling shoes – summer or winter, road or gravel – must also transfer power efficiently and remain comfortable over long hours in the saddle. The Celsius XT Arctic GTX does all three.
It combines a low-cut, streamlined design with a neoprene gaiter that keeps out the cold without restricting ankle movement. Its Jaws Evo sole delivers the perfect balance of stiffness for pedalling power and flex for walking, hike-a-biking, or running over barriers in cyclocross – anything winter might throw at you.
With Flexi System Technology, the soles flex naturally for walking while rubber lugs grip slippery surfaces, all without compromising the adjustability of the SPD cleats. The X-Dial SLW3 closure lets you fine-tune your fit on the fly – rotate to tighten, lever to loosen, or lift for a full release – making life easier with cold hands and thick gloves.
Finally, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX introduces a redesigned last with increased internal volume. That means more room for your toes to move, more comfort, and less chance of pressure points developing during long rides.
No more cold feet, no more winter blues
With all this refinement, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX doesn’t just prioritise performance, it promises confidence.
For the first time, winter riders can approach the season without hesitation. No more toes going blue in the cold, no more dread of numbness, no more clumsy overshoes. This is the end of cold feet and winter blues in every sense.
For some riders, that means finally tackling the frozen morning commute without compromise. For others, it’s the freedom to extend training through December and January when winter miles lead to summer smiles. For adventure-seekers, it’s the ability to take on gravel backroads or snow-dusted passes with the reassurance that warmth, grip, and protection are already taken care of.
Whatever your motivation, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX opens the door to a new definition of winter riding, one where conditions don’t dictate your decisions.
It’s fitting, then, that the Celsius XT Arctic GTX doesn’t just perform better; it looks better too. In an industry where most winter shoes resemble each other in their bulky anonymity, Northwave has delivered a product with genuine character.
It's bold, refined, and with inspiration from the brand’s Dolomite roots, while the reflective elements ensure visibility when rides stretch past sunset.
Invest in comfort
Not just blending style and substance, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX successfully melds price into the balance, too. Priced at €269.99 / $309.99 / £239.99, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX offers the DNA of its carbon-soled Flagship models, at a price that is highly competitive, especially with its industry-first combination of Gore-Tex and Primaloft.
And consider the alternative: multiple pairs of overshoes, replacement thermal socks, endless hacks to stave off frostbite, and, ultimately, miles lost to the indoor trainer. Viewed through that lens, the Celsius XT Arctic GTX are an investment in comfort, freedom, in year-round riding, and in the ability to say, without hesitation: there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.
Northwave has long been the reference point for winter cycling footwear, and with the Celsius XT Arctic GTX, it has redefined the benchmark yet again.