Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro Clip-In Review

The Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro Clip-In MTB shoes are breathable, lightweight clipless pedal shoe with an impact-resistant toe box and a very secure fit.

• Brand: Adidas Five Ten
• Product: Trailcross Clip-In MTB Shoe
• From: Adidas
• Price: £180.00
• Tested: by Amanda for 5 months

Pros

• Fit and feel is lightweight and low profile
• Really easy to get on/off
• Excellent walking traction

Cons

• Perforations and upper material let everything in
• Neoprene ankle cuff is quite baggy

These shoes have been tested through a wide range of weather conditions. They arrived during Calderdale’s monsoon season, and I have stuck with them until it has dried up outside.

Sizing and Fit

Sizes available: UK5.5 – 14.5. I am wearing EUR 41 ⅓ UK 7.5, my feet are ~26.5cm long and for reference I wear the following sizes:

• Fizik EUR 41, UK 7 ¼
• Ride Concept EUR 40, UK 7
• Specialized EUR 41, UK7
• Bontrager EUR 41.5, UK 7.5
• Salomon EUR 41 ⅓, UK 7.5
• Merrell EUR 41.5, UK 7.5

The Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro are the best fitting MTB shoes I own. The have great arch support, a generous toe box despite not being a bulky shoe, and thanks to the BOA® micro tensioning system there is no part of the upper that isn’t flush with my foot.

BOA technology isn’t just for a quick fit. Tensioning up the cable creates a perfect fit with no unwanted pressure or uneven feel. It’s designed to mould the upper onto your foot. The cost of this convenience is worth it, in my opinion. These shoes are as easy to put on as a pair of slippers, they come off equally as slick, yet when they’re on the fit is close, neat, almost sock-like.

Weather Forecast

The inner arch perforations paired with the mesh upper are very breathable, so you can get away with a very protective shoe on the hottest of days. This does mean they let a lot of water and dust in. I can’t think of any other shoe where I can go for a trail ride in bone dry conditions, and come back with filthy socks.

Pedal Compatibility and Cleat Setup

I have ridden with Shimano XT, Hope Union RC and Hope Union TR, and I haven’t needed cleat spacers for any of them. I can set the cleats quite far back, putting the pedals central on the ball of my feet, which personally I find the most comfortable. There’s enough support in the shoe to run them further forward and not bend the shoe around the pedal, yet they aren’t too stiff to make walking uncomfortable.

Overall

If you want dry feet, the Adidas Five Ten Trailcross Pro Clip-In aren’t for you, however that is the only sacrifice you’d be making in choosing this shoe. They are a great fit on both narrow and wider feet (I’ve asked around!), they have good toe box protection, they’re super easy to get on and off and they’re a low profile shoe that won’t rub on cranks or chainstays. For hike-a-bike, they’re the safest and grippiest SPD option I have tried.

Review Info

Amanda Wishart

Art Director

Amanda is our resident pedaller, who loves the climbs as much as the descents. No genre of biking is turned down, though she is happiest when at the top of a mountain with a wild descent ahead of her. If you ever want a chat about concussion recovery, dealing with a Womb of Doom or how best to fuel an endurance XC race, she's the one to email.

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