Review: O’Neal Stinger 2 Shoes

By Dan

First published in Singletrack Magazine issue 97

The Stinger 2 utilises a honeycomb sole, and a weather-resistant upper that shrugs off most of what our British winter can throw at it. In terms of styling, O’Neal has hit the spot dead on, with a skate shoe-inspired look and a subtle mix of colours.

The shoe has padding around the heel cup and tongue, which really helps to lock your foot into place to prevent heel slipping and provides a really comfortable fit, as well as a positive first impression. The toe box was narrower than some shoes, which caused my wide feet to be pinched slightly – but this decreased significantly as the padding packed down after a few rides.

On the trail these shoes performed well. I used them in conjunction with Cromag pedals with 6mm pins, and the grip level was good. They are not quite near the legendary grip of 5.10’s Stealth rubber but I found myself appreciating the ease with which I could readjust my feet on the pedals.

The padding around the heel and along the tongue insulates the feet quite well and in cold weather this can be a blessing. It’s worth mentioning how warm they can get though, especially during the summer months. When wet these shoes did absorb a large quantity of water – but with the use of some newspaper and a radiator they were always dry by the next day; especially beneficial for those who only want to run one pair of shoes when on holiday or away racing.

Overall:

Although not as high in grip as other offerings, the Stinger makes up for it in comfort and style along with great usability in the wet, cold conditions that the UK regularly throws at us.

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