45NRTH Wolvhammer vs Fasterkatt

Fasterkatt

Wolvhammer

This fall I purchased two pairs of 45NRTH boots from Chain Reaction Cycles in Anchorage AK., my local bike shop: a pair of Wolvhammers for myself and a pair of Fasterkatts for my oldest son.  Our feet are similar enough in size and the fit of the boots, close enough that I’d be able to trade back and forth depending on events

My major consideration in purchasing the Wolvhammers as my primary boot was twofold.  Firstly I needed warmth.  From what I’d read on various forums and from the recommendations of said bike shop the Wolvhammers would be hands down the warmest clipless compatible boot I could buy.  The footbed is made from “NASA-approved aerogel” and I can easily confirm the effectiveness of the material.  I also needed a boot that could clip into my Crankbrother’s eggbeater pedals.  My skills on a bike are adequate at best, and I need all the extra power-transfer and foot-security I can get from a locked-in boot.

My foot is a wide 45, so I normally look for a 46 when shopping cycling shoes.  It was recommended that I go up a size or two to account for thicker wool socks.  When trying on the boots at the shop, I found that I couldn’t get my foot inside a 46. I barely got it into a 47, and I still have difficulty getting it into the 48 I eventually purchased.  Once inside there is room. LOTS of room. So much so that on my first ride with the boots there was so much play that I had a hard time controlling the bike.  I was frustrated.  I was having trouble transferring power through the pedals. Part of the issue I realized that evening was the extra-thick sole of the boots; necessitating raising the seat a centimeter.

That evening I took a pair of old footbeds from my Altra running shoes and fit them under the “NASA Aerogel” -- this effectively decreased the interior space in the booties making for a much snugger and more secure fit.  My subsequent rides have been much better.

Wolvhammer scuffs

While inserting the Altra footbeds, I saw a huge amount of wear on the crank-side of the boots: scuff marks caused by the boots rubbing against the cranks.  The upper rubber parts of the sole were also coming apart.  I added a spacer to the cranks, and adjusted the cleats to the extreme inside thus solving the issue.  

Overall these boots have been exceptional.  I’ve ridden in temps ranging from -5 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit with no discomfort.  My biggest concern (weight) has been a non-issue.  Yes, the boots are heavy, but your feet stay warm and I honestly do not notice it at all (as long as I’m on the bike)

45NRTH with Crankbrother's cleat

I tried to use the Fasterkatt on a warmer day, and although the 46 felt fine size-wise, the arch support was extremely uncomfortable on my foot.  Any performance advantage I’d hope to gain from the lighter boot would be quickly offset by the discomfort caused by the boot.  My son, an accomplished athlete and snow-bike racer has had no issues with the fit and has only one complaint about the boot: The outside zipper on the boot has become temperamental.  It will occasionally cross-thread.  We’ve been able to fix it each time and will lubricate it to keep it from happening again.

The marketing folks from 45NRTH claim this boot to be good down to 25 degrees, but my teenaged tester has taken the boots down to -5 degrees for an hour and a half with success, and typically rides our Alaskan trails in the 10-25 degree range without complaint.  This kid is admittedly is “super tough and rides like a boss” :-) so your results may vary...

Happy Rides!