The Tallac Clip BOA is a trail-orientated shoe, whereas the Hellion Clip BOA is designed for gravity racing.
- Brand: Ride Concepts
- Product: Tallac Clip BOA & Hellion Clip BOA
- Price: £189.95 Tallac & £219.95 Hellion
- From: Silverfish UK
- Tested by: James Vincent for 6 months
Despite the different intentions of the shoes, the shoes are very similar – both are similarly stiff and have D30 rubber in key places on the uppers and on the insole for impact protection. The cleat box on both pairs is longer than my old favourite shoe (the Shimano ME7), and extends further back. They also share a similar construction, with a mix of mesh fabric for ventilation and Cordura for durability. Both the Tallac and Hellion are very comfortable shoes.
The Tallac comes up slightly larger, especially around the toe box. The Hellion is truer to size, with an overall narrower fit. The Tallac on the other hand, feels just a smidgen too loose. While both shoes offer excellent power transfer, the Hellion is just that little bit more snug and solid. I would suggest this is the narrower fit and more precise closure afforded by the twin BOA dials.
I mentioned to my riding buddies when I first received the shoes, that the ultimate shoe for me would be the fit of the Hellion Elite with the midsole flex and outsole/tread of the Tallac. My several months of testing, flitting between each shoe has borne this out. As it is, I’m in the fortunate position of getting to choose which shoe to ride and I’ve found myself gravitating towards the Tallac, purely for the increased traction provided by the sole.
If Enduro or DH racing was more your thing, then I would 100% grab the Hellion and be more than happy. The fit is nice and snug without being too tight, and power transfer is great, with no hotspots or noticeable flex in the sole. Walking, especially over wet rocks, is less ideal, which is where the Tallac excels. However, I’m not so keen on how much you have to crank the single BOA dial of the Tallac in order to get the midfoot to feel supported. The previous versions of the Tallac had a small Velcro strap at the front, which seemed a much better solution.
RATING
3 / 5 Tallac
4.5 / 5 Hellion Elite