Been using the entry level Shimano SPD shoes which are great until it gets wet and the mesh lining soaks up the water.

Any advice on a good shoe that'll suit XC winter riding?

the blue w100 shimano's do it 4 me.
the sole isn't super spiky but they keep the water out real good.

My shimanos were crap in the winter, seal skinz did not help either, so i bought those overshoes that roadies use. My feet have been toasty warm ever since. Even better they only cost 20 quid!!

My shimanos were crap in the winter, seal skinz did not help either, so i bought those overshoes that roadies use. My feet have been toasty warm ever since. Even better they only cost 20 quid!!

I wear the same Shimano shoes all year round (complete with mesh bits) but in winter pop Seal Skinz on my feet. Unlike Ade this suits me fine.

Mike Hall tested the top of the line Sidi Boots. He still uses them now and they are about 2 years old. Still totally water proof and keeps his feet really toasty!

I on the other hand are skint and use some cheap over shoes with shimano shoes, my feet are normally wet and ice laiden. I have found those seal skinz to be useless!

wellies

I use the same w100's as the squirrel. I have heard the Sidi's are good as are the winter shoes from Lake. All you gotta do is find someone who sells 'em.....easier said than done, especially when I try not to buy shoes mail order!

shimano overshoes with big thick ski socks mmm toasty!

Last winter I bought some Northwave Artics after suffering the previous winter with entry level Shim's shoes, weren't cheap but were 40 quid off at time (that's if you've money to spend). These are the poodles plums and found them too warm at first! and are really grippy in the muddy/grassy/ rocky stuff.

I suffer really bad circulation so this year I have got a pair of Shimano winter boots ready that are 2 sizes too big. This should leave room for porelle dry socks and my favourite hiking socks. If its really cold (as our deep winter nightrides often are) then I will use neoprene roadie over shoes as well as they are really good - but remember to get the largest ones possible to go over rugged mtb shoes.

BTW My hands really suffer as well on the icy night rides we do. Im thinking about getting some of those motorbike mittens (!) that fix to the handlebars like you see on honda 90s and other grandad bikes. Has anyone tried this before and does it work?

I think they're called pogies, all the (sensible) riders in the Iditabike and other such winter madness races use them IIRC. I think Brant used them the last time he did the Iditabike, I'm sure he'd give you some feedback if you mailed him. From what I remember of the magazine article he wrote, I think he found them quite good.

On the shoe front, I like the look of the Lake winter boots but they don't have a UK distributor at the moment so it'd be mail order from the USA or their German distributor, which I don't really want to do if I can avoid it in case I buy the wrong size.

If you're looking for full one toastie ness, the Lake (forgotten the model number) are the best.

But they're £120. I bought a pair of Shimano W100's but haven't had a chance to use them this year yet - though I doubt it'll be far off. I bought 'em now as Wiggle were doing them for £79.99

Northwave Arctics are excellent. I've had mine through the last 2 winters and they are still in good shape after many tough snowy rides in the Peaks & Lakes.

Best tip I ever had from a bike shop regarding winter shoes was 'buy some good thick riding/hiking socks (Pearl Izumi do good ones) and then try the shoes on, making sure you've enough room to wiggle your toes'. The slight air gap between sock and shoe helps insulation.

Wellies keep the water out pretty well.

My Spesh rockhoppers, which are more like trainers, are really comfy allowing my to wiggle me toes to keep them warm. They're reasonably waterproof, and combined with Porelle drys can achieve a "wetsuit" type thing if they get soaked, which is fine when you're riding but not when you stop.

They also look good.

Ive just bought some Sidi Action SRS shoes, I already have Sidi Energies for my road bike and they are really comfortable, the actions I have not tried in really wet or muddy conditions yet because they are so nice looking I don't want to get them too dirty.

With my Carnac Sirrius shoes I usually go down the Porrell Dry and Neoprene overshoe route and that seems to work ok, like Paul your feet will still get wet but seem to stay fairly warm.