I tried on some at Go Outdoors today and found my size, but I didn't like the model they had - the Element, which I assume is for bad weather because of the nasty fake leather. So I probably want some more 'normal' or summer orientated ones. But there are dozens, so not sure what to go for. I'll be doing lots of pedalling and XC with some modestly gnarly bits. I normally use SPD so stiffness would be appreciated, as long as I can still get some grip on the flats.
Any pointers?
Standard five ten freeriders don't have the bit of " nasty fake leather " that the elements have , they are also slightly cheaper and that's what most people seem to use . The leather ones are IMO better looking than the canvas versions although supposedly the canvas are slightly cooler on a hot day . There are various other models that add an bit more waterproofing or weatherproofing but they don't really make a decent winter boot .
They do make a decent winter boot, it’s called the guide tennie mid GTX. Not mtb specific but grippy enough for most people.
Mine are freeriders my lass got me from Canyon’s website, they were £50 last year. Brilliant shoes! Even great in winter, been out for hours and so long as you don’t soak your shoes in water then they’ll still keep your feet warm
http://www.mbr.co.uk/buyers_guide/five-ten-mountain-bike-shoes-369750
That explains most of the models. I have the standard Freeriders which are great, but do soak up a fair bit of water so next pair will be the EPS version.
After over ten years in Impacts I bought some Freerides. They don't splat on the pedals as well as the Impacts, aren't as warm and don't protects as well in the case of err, impacts. The freerides get used for going shopping but for proper MTBing you can't beat Impacts. If only Impacts dried out a bit quicker and didn't fall to bits after about three years.
I'm with Edukator personally as rate impact hi top editions much more than the stiff slippy freerider vxi that I had.
on a set of Sombrios now that were cheap cheap and fairly alright but they're not hi tops and would like to go back to Five Ten Impact hi tops.
if it's true grip you are looking for, impact in either low or high version.
it was a bloody mudswearfesting sessh wearing freerider vxis as they were flat up mid to front of sole. Who's Stupid design idea was that!!!!!!!!?
Freeriders are £76 on Evans...
I only use the 'nasty fake leather' ones, and 3 years for 80 quid?, delighted with that. Half size too big, bridgedale Merino socks under knee high sealskinz, knee pads slightly overlapping socks - brilliant.
I would look at the freerider pro tbh I think they nailed it with this model for me.
Slightly stiffer sole but still very comfortable, grippy and great for walking in.
The uppers are more like a soft plastic material so they are both pretty warm but also really tough and hard wearing.
Dry out quicker than most of the other models
freerider pros are good, though they're nasty fake leather, and mine seem to be coming apart a bit after a few months though I do wear them every day.
Freerider ELC work the best and look the worst...
For 2018 they have bought out an elc that is a sensible color , black mostly .
Adidas Terrex - Trail Cross
Use the same compound for the soles as FiveTen & they tend to be cheaper & different from what everyone else runs if that appeals
The amount of grip you want is dependent on your pedals...
I have both the standard free riders and the VX with the even grippier sole and waterproofing and extra protection.
Both are really comfortable... the VX though has a LOT of grip (more than I want) on my Superstar pedals .. to the point its really hard to shift your foot at all.
Coming from clipped in this might be too much .. (weird as that may sound) because you are used to your feet being in the same place and being able to wiggle them... so if you place your foot slightly differently it can feel weird until you get used to it.
I stuck some Saint pedals on the DJ bike and the grip with the VX's is pretty much right as these pedals are not very grippy, even with all the pins all the way out.
The bog standard free riders are good with my superstar pedals as I can move my foot a bit if I try... but they take FOREVER to dry.... as such I've stuck with the VX over winter... and got more comfortable with my foot not being EXACTLY where I want it for a few pedals strokes...
The Freeriders I've been wearing for non single track... but also as casual shoes and especially as casual shoes if I have to ride somewhere then walk.
The impacts are ace but a bit warm. For warm, dry weather they do the freeriders in canvas. They may also dry a bit quicker than the normals ones.
I also have the terrex, I like the extra grip at the front and back of the sole. They're well made with tough uppers and look like normal trainers.
I'm not blown away with the grip compared to my old Teva and Sombrio but they don't slip unless covered in mud but then don't all flat shoes slip then? (maybe a different compound to mtb 5 10' as I know 5 10 make a few different ones).
I looked at 5 10' but didn't like the looks, cost and according to reviews poor longevity and sponge like quality.
Why can't somebody can't make a lightweight, well made, grippy mountain bike shoe that isn't £100 is beyond me.
I’m not blown away with the grip compared to my old Teva and Sombrio but they don’t slip unless covered in mud but then don’t all flat shoes slip then?
It depends on the pedal/shoe combo.
My VX with the super grippy sole is too much grip on my Superstar pedals... you can't even just adjust the position without actively lifting them* whereas the standard sole you can unweight them to slightly adjust...
*It's more of a difference than you might think between unweighting and lifting... especially if you stop at the top of something technical. Actively lifting is much harder ... in that if you're riding over tech stuff the difference between just enough and too much is not easy..
One place I really noticed was stopping before a jump (I'm most often with my kid) ... and coming from clipped in it took a long time to get used to my feet not being in exactly the same position... it was more of a feeling, 5mm either way doesn't really make much difference but if you are used to riding clipped in it feels wrong.
Well the Freeriders came, mostly ordered because they had 10.5 where none of the other models did, and they were the cheapest. But they are fantastic. The fit is pretty different to what they were when they first came out. The old ones I tried were very long and narrow, and more like cheap walking shoes in appearance and design. These feel more like skate shoes with a reasonably thin sole - but they are much stiffer than skate shoes. Still a little roomy in the heel for me (very narrow heels) but not too bad and there's plenty of padding which will probably morph.