Five Ten Trailcross XT Review – fast drying flat pedal shoes

Combining Five Ten’s super sticky Stealth Phantom rubber sole, and technology from the Terrex trail running range, the Five Ten Trailcross shoes have been designed for what they call ‘adventure riding’. For the sort of rides where you’ll have your bike on your back carrying as much as descending, where walking and hiking performance is as important as pedal grip.

With three models available in the Trailcross range, at £130 the XT are the newest addition and fill a space between the standard shoe Trailcross LT and the Trailcross Mid Pro that features full ankle coverage and D30 padding.

Available in two colours – Core Black and Legend Earth (green) – the Trailcross XT have a high rise neoprene cuff that has been designed to keep dirt and debris out of the shoes when out on the trails, without the additional bulk and protection of the higher rise Mid Pro version.

Construction:

The sole features Five Ten’s Stealth Phantom Dotty, and has a familiar dotted pattern across the majority of the sole, but with additional longer treads on the toe and heel area. These are designed to add additional grip when off the bike and hiking up and down steep or slippy terrain.

Across the toe area and along the side of the shoe are big mesh panels along with minimal padding to aid with airflow and so as not to hold water. The midsole also features drainage ports to allow any water that is in the shoe to escape to aid drying.

The chunky rubber sole extends up the front for added protection and there is additional rubber protection around the side and across the top of the toe box. This is also continued in lines down the side of the show to add further durability and shrug off abrasions from rocks.

The XT Trailcross are constructed in a one piece format with the neoprene cuff connected to the rest of the outers and no separate tongue, with traditional laces being used for fastening. Those laces are held in place by an elasticated loop to keep things tidy and stop them flapping around and getting caught up, and on the back is a tab to help with pulling them on.

Five Ten Trailcross XT Performance

Pulling the XT’s on the for the first time they did initially feel a little narrow in the toe area but after a ride or two they seemed to loosen up. They certainly weren’t too narrow, rather a bit more snug on the front of the foot which, conversely, is the opposite of how my Terrex GTX trainers feel – both size 45.

The initial couple of rides in the XT’s were done in standard riding socks, in fact one of the first was in a short sleeve jersey, and compared to a lot of other shoes out there the minimal padding and big mesh panels do make the XT on the cooler end of the spectrum. Once the temperature dropped I found myself reaching for the waterproof socks to stop the wind chill.

The big mesh panelling across the toe area and down the sides lets a lot of water in. Where some shoes are OK with the puddle splashes and wet grass / undergrowth, the XT’s aren’t really designed to keep it out and from the first puddle splash they get wet. 

Apart from the first couple of rides I’ve worn waterproof socks while using the XT’s which have kept my feet dry and warm in temperatures down to about -4 degrees. The mesh panels let water in, but combined with the drainage ports in the midsole, do a good of removing water from the inside of the shoe, and coupled with the minimal padding help them to dry out really quickly. Put the shoes somewhere warm (mine go on top of an underfloor heating manifold) and by the next morning pretty much every time they are completely dry and ready to go again. 

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As you’d expect from Five Ten, the pedal grip is nothing short of amazing. I’ve used a couple of sets of different pedals during the test (Burgtec Penthouse MK5 and Nukeproof Horizon) and just can’t fault the grip. Once you get your foot on the pedal it’s not moving until you actually lift your foot and move it. 

There’s also a good feel through the bottom of the soles. Not too stiff, not too soft. You can feel the pedals under your feet yet they’ve also been comfortable for long stints pedalling and even on the roughest tracks I’ve not had any aches or pain despite some pretty big impacts.

Off bike performance is similarly good and I’d say that for walking / pushing up these are some of the comfiest shoes I’ve used in a long time.The grip from the Stealth rubber sole is great on pretty much anything apart from sloppy, greasy mud – but then what is – and the sole remains cushioned and comfortable even on long, and rough hikes and pushes/.

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One of the key points to the Trailcross XT – and one that differentiates them from the rest of the range – is the inclusion of the neoprene cuff. This is designed to keep dirt and debris out of the shoe, and while it may help to keep some out, I did find that I still got quite a bit of mud and loam in there, with some actually being held behind the cuff. I think this is predominantly down to the fact that the cuff doesn’t sit tight to the ankles and ‘gapes’ when you move, making space for trail debris to get in, although it doesn’t detract from the comfort of the shoe.

Durability and build quality are both really good. The outers are still looking good with no tears, scuffs or signs of undue wear despite being ridden good a few times a week in all conditions for the past couple of months. Similarly, the soles are still going strong with no pin wear and and as much grip as when they were box fresh.

Overall

If you’re looking for a set of shoes for big adventures, or just a new pair of super grippy shoes then you should have a look at the Trailcross XT. They’re really comfy whether in the saddle spinning for hours on end or pushing up a rocky trail. 

The soles offer amazing grip on a wide variety of pedals and surfaces and so far they’ve lasted well. Coupled with the fact that they dry quicker than only other Five Ten I’ve ever used and with a pair of waterproof socks the XT’s are a great year round option. 

Review Info

Brand:	Five Ten
Product:	Trailcross XT
From:	Five Ten
Price:	£130
Tested:	by Ross for 3 months

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