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Shoes for Flats

73 posts & 45 voices | Started 9 months ago by montarius | Latest reply from montarius

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ahwiles - Member

most of the water that gets into ~~am40s~~ biking shoes has got in through the same hole your foot went through.

i really don't think goretex would help very much, but maybe gaitors might...?

anyway, the lace-flap on am40's is ace, i don't care if it looks weird, it keeps all sorts of crap off my laces.

laces are horrible when it's cold wet and muddy, and you're struggling to undo a wet muddy double-knot because your hands are cold and your finger nails have gone soft.

am40's: single knot, not very tight, close the flap, done.

Posted 9 months ago #
bjj.andy.w - Member

[quote]i really don't think goretex would help very much, but maybe gaitors might...?
[quote]
That's what I was thinking of, like the spd winter boots with the neoprene sock which goes just past the ankle. Alright they might look a bit silly in some people's eyes but as long as my feet are warm and dry I wouldn't care. Were mountainbikers, not models on a Milan catwalk.

Posted 9 months ago #
deviant - Member

I wear these:

http://www.sportsdirect.com/airwalk-n-crawler-mens-241188?colcode=24118844

I know a lot of others do too but probably wont admit it on this forum!

Anyway, they're £20 and skate shoes so the sole is flat and grippy, stiff enough to pedal but soft enough to grip the pins (i use flats)....i refuse to spend top money on shoes that just get wet, muddy, stinky etc....they've lasted since April so far with no signs of damage, will likely replace with similar.

Posted 9 months ago #
thomthumb - Member

i'm a firm believer that you don't NEED to blow £85 on a pair of shoes for mountain biking,

+1

Posted 9 months ago #
Munqe-chick - Member

I hated 5-10s. The sole is so stiff there's no feel so your relying in faith that your feet are planted securely. I prefer AM40s and vans waffle soles where there is enough flex to feel the pedal. There is another shimano shoe with same sole as AM40 but looks like a tennis shoe, crc and a few places have em cheap in some sizes. I know I'm in the minority but 5-10s were the most disappointing bit of kit I've tried in nearly 20years of riding, and they seem to get more expensive every month.

Posted 9 months ago #
Van Halen - Member

if you are a push up and razz down person the duffs 4130 will be useless in the wet as the tread is very flat. The sole is very very thin. not much padding anywhere useful. not as comfy as nike6.0's or vans. lots of holes for water. ok for dry weather only. grip wise they are good though - ie i didnt notice not having any. Ive put my shimano insoles in to make them more comfy and fit better.

6.0's i noticed lack of grip in the wet compared to a vans. very comfy though and i used them for ages so they last well and i got used to the grip. thickish sole too. good shoes.

shimano am41 defo good but as i move my feet alot the sole was wrecked before i wore the uppers in much. i kept on using them though and i thought they were pretty good (especially once all the tread had been ripped off where the pis sit. good grip pushing up in the wet. but for me to buy again i'd like to see a better tread pattern. i used them for all weather riding and commuting daily and really liked them apart from the sole thing. i got em cheap but i wouldnt pay list price for them.

not used 510's due to the water absorbtion thing and i need to use them daily. but i might give the freeriders a go if i can find some at a sensible price.

ive gone clipped in now so use a vans clipppy shoe. they weight a tonne but seen to be more like the shimano for water resistance.

i want to try some vans gravels but cant find any in stock. but then i love vans shoes they fit me great.

Posted 9 months ago #
devs - Member

I have had 3 sets of 5.10 impacts. The first set lasted over 3 years and I binned them because the sole had worn through. Given the amount of riding they got I don't think another shoe would have lasted any longer. I'm on the second set now and the 3rd are there just in case. I have never paid more than £65 for any of them. Nothing else compares in terms of grip and feel on the bike. Yes they get wet in very heavy rain. I use disposable nappies or puppy pads to soak up the water and then in front of the radiator or in the drying room they go. Dry for the next day. I have tried Vans and DCs but they just don't cut it for grip and feel. I wear them down the pub nowadays.

Posted 9 months ago #
kenneththecurtain - Member

Kenneth, how do the freeriders hold up in the wet? Are they like the impacts and soak water up like a sponge? I dont want something which is going to take half a week to dry up. Cheers

Yea, they do get pretty wet. If you need them for a wet race weekend you can always use sealskinz the 2nd day to make putting them back on a bit more pleasant...

With newspaper in them in the house they'll dry in a couple of days

Posted 9 months ago #
Northwind - Member

If you could still get AM40s, I'd recommend those... Mine have now outlasted my 5 10s by something like 3:1 and though they're showing it now, they're still working fine. Everything from XC to downhill racing, no bother. The Five Tens did have more grip, but I just found that a disadvantage- the Shimanos have lots more grip than I need even with some pins taken out of my pedals, so the 5 10s end up being too grippy.

That and being really terribly made- like a Tesco trainer, they just fell apart after one winter.

Having said that I think I'll get some Freeriders next as Vans Gravels seem to be out of stock everywhere and AM41s are too ugly to be considered.

CaptainFlashheart - Member

The Freeride sole issue was only on very early versions. All recent ones are tip top

Assuming you mean the sticky layer coming off the inner sole, they still do it.

Posted 9 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

is there some kind of 'it looks like a trek' internet meme/gag that i don't know about?

there are a lot of comments like this:
...AM41s are too ugly...
floating round.

er, they're the same as AM40's, but black.

i don't get it.

?

Posted 9 months ago #
Quirrel - Member

I ride in some really old columbia pull on trainers.

They have lost all their grip, but are still unbelievably grippy on the pedal - bog all use for climbing up muddy hills though

Posted 9 months ago #
steezysix - Member

^^ The old AM40 is actually pretty different to the new AM41 - it was a brown and white nubuck type material with some leaf pattern - Mine are still going strong. The new ones are more like the old white clip shoe that as others have said, have a plasticy finish - this is probably better at shedding water though. On the plus side, if they look worse, you're less likely to wear out the sole going to the pub/cinema/etc!

Posted 9 months ago #
nickhead - Member

I've been using the AM41s for a few months, and I'm not keen... the Vibram sole is nowhere near as grippy, or durable as FiveTen rubber - the pattern has worn away at the pedal contact points already

I'm looking forward to checking out the new Teva Links (One Planet at Llandegla have them in stock, apparently), but not sure how durable the uppers will be - they look a bit lightweight.

Most likely to go for a set of the Five Ten skate style shoes... I have a pair of Impacts, but hate the clod-hopper feeling when wearing them for anything other than DH

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

i have been using heavy canvas nike 6.0 for a bit now.
great shoe. dries quick too. i have wide feet

Posted 9 months ago #
montarius - Member

Jedi, which version of the 6.0's do you have? Seems to be hundreds of variations. Are the soles the same in all of them?

Posted 9 months ago #
ltheisinger - Member

Had Shimano's - never again because of the sole wearing VERY quick. Now I use Fve Ten Impacts and they are FANTASTIC.

I went through a stream/river 7/8" deep this weekend on a ride, so my feet got VERY wet and the shoes had dried by the end of the ride, so I don't agree with the previous statements of taking a long time to dry?

FIVE TENS everytime for me from now on.

Posted 9 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

too MUCH use OF caps-LOCK, YOUR opinion CANNOT be CONSIDERED - sorry I don't MAKE the RULES.

Posted 9 months ago #
montarius - Member

Has anyone tried the Karrimor Summit shoes? Heard some decent things and very cheap. Link

Posted 9 months ago #
duffmiver - Member

5-10s.

Posted 9 months ago #
davidtaylforth - Member

For downhill in the alps on a hardtail - 5:10's

for anything else, they are too big, clumpy, heavy etc. etc. You cant feel the pedals at all.

Get some BMX shoes like Vans.

Posted 9 months ago #
montarius - Member

Im no downhill rider, I typically ride around Surrey Hills and Swinley.

Looking at Van Gravels but all out of stock. Too much to pick and all seem to have some weaknesses. Might have to design my own shoe at this rate, seems like there is a gap in the market.

Posted 9 months ago #
alpin - Member

Nike 6.0: Happy to try these but don't know where to buy them from - too much choice..?? Nike shoes are typically a bit thin for me (Wide feet). Can the same be said for the 6.0's?

i've been using the 6.0s for the best part of two years. have gone through 1.5 pairs of shoes in that time. lots of riding and i tend to wear them when out and about, too.

the sole is plenty grippy, i find.

borowed a paif of 5tens from a friend for a day. would agree with dtf, the shoe is big and clumsy (IMO).

not all 6.0s have the same tread. i found the Mogan series to be the grippiest. the ones with this sole:

or this sole:

last time i was in the UK i picked up three pairs for £30 each. should last me a while.

only gripe is that they aren't massively waterproof, but then what shoe is when you're wearing shorts...?

@ Jedi, what one with heavy canvas?

Posted 9 months ago #
montarius - Member

last time i was in the UK i picked up three pairs for £30 each

Where from?

Posted 9 months ago #
jedi - Member

i get mine form the hatfield galleria nike shop. £30 each. mine have a wave sole and are canvas

Posted 9 months ago #
montarius - Member

Hmm, got a factory store near to me, will have to head down there next week. Cheers

Posted 9 months ago #
davidtaylforth - Member

Try the source bmx, alans bmx, custom riders or extreme direct for cheap bmx shoes.

Posted 9 months ago #
alpin - Member

from nike outlet @ Braintree Freeport, Essex.

Posted 9 months ago #
flow - Member

Five 10's are site, they fall apart and are just overpriced skate shoes.

DC Shoes, £25 TK Maxx.

Lasted so long I wore a hole in the sole, if it wan't for that they would still be going.

Posted 9 months ago #
outthere - Member

I bought some air walk scate shoes. £25 bargain! I have never looked closely but I dont notice a lot of difference between scate shoes and mtb flat shoes apart from the price!

Posted 9 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

i've found sk8 shoes to be too soft and squidgy in the sole - which is also too flexible, and i h8 the MASSIVE padded tongue. Seriously, what the hell is that for?

and they're rubbish when you need to walk any distance on a surface that isn't tarmac.

Posted 9 months ago #
flow - Member

i've found sk8 shoes to be too soft and squidgy in the sole

Nice and grippy and wrap round the pedal?

and i h8 the MASSIVE padded tongue. Seriously, what the hell is that for?

Obviously for protecting the top of your foot from a skateboard, its not exactly rocket science.

and they're rubbish when you need to walk any distance on a surface that isn't tarmac.

No different to 5 10's then.

Posted 9 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

flow - Member

Nice and grippy and wrap round the pedal?

hmm, i meant more of the squidgy-ness of the 'cushioning' within the sole, rather than the bottom surface.

Obviously for protecting the top of your foot from a skateboard, its not exactly rocket science.

yeah, i hate it when a skateboard lands on the top of my foot...

No different to 5 10's then.

true.

Posted 9 months ago #
Hob Nob - Member

Tried various skate shoes, universally grip is fairly crap & the sole is too flexible.

Have ridden and raced in 5-10's for the last 5 years. Wouldn't use anything else. My main pair are 4 years old now & still going strong

Posted 9 months ago #
x3man - Member

I've had same pair of 5-10 impact 2 low's for over 18 months of regular riding now and they still are in good condition. I like them but would probably want to try freeriders next. Plenty of grip and foot protection however all that protection does make it look like you just mugged a teddy boy. As far as getting wet they seem no worse at drying out than any other padded trainer/skate shoe. All in all a good flat pedal shoe if a little pricey.

Posted 9 months ago #
fourbanger - Member

I use some ancient airwalks that seem to be going on forever.
Some keen prices on here mind:
http://www.sportsdirect.com/mens/mens-skate-shoes?mppp=true

Posted 9 months ago #