Finally managed to kill my 5 tens so they need replacing.
I ride flats and spds . The flats get used for a bit of everything but all of the fat biking, all of the winter riding when the spd cleats and pedals ball up in the snow and also the most of the actual mountain days. Sometimes multiple days. They share trail centre and fapping around the woods duties with the old skool sidi xc slippers for I think entirely arbitrary reasons.
As unnaturally planted as the soles on a the 5 tens are on pedals I often look down at them and think how incredibly unsuitable they are for where I am standing. Minimal protection from rough stuff, minimal protection from the elements and maximum sponge action. If I'm walking/running on the same ground a shoes with a 5 ten's traits would never get a look in.
So what's out there that's more mountain and less skater boy? A sort of mountain approach shoe I guess but with a pair of 5 tens superhuman pedal grip too.
I might also be boot or mid height shoe curious too I guess.
My default answer...
Vaude moabs
Trouble with the Moabs is that they fill up with water and it can’t drain away on account of the waterproof membrane, and the grip is nowhere near as good as the fivetens. Good in cold and snow though
Five Ten Trailcoss mid pro ?
I'm on the moab low and it's my all year round jobby.
Grips not as good granted. On my 2nd pair in 5 yrs very robust
Have a look at Shimano shoes, I've found they are good for hike a bikes.
Fiveten Guide Tennies. Think they’re just called Tennies now. Climbing approach shoe with Stealth sole, toe rand, etc. There was a mid/high top version too.
Scarpa and La Sportiva do similar and will probably last longer too. Proper approach shoes, not light hiking boots or trainers are more likely to be built on a last with an appropriate mix of feel vs stiffness.
Those Vaudes look go tho
I loved my Adidas Terrex approach shoes.., until I got some 5 tens.
The stealth rubber on the approach shoes is not as sticky and is only on the front part of the sole, not enough in contact with the pedal, the approach shoes are a couple of years old so the sole may be different now. But be aware that not all stealth soles are made equal
Ion Bike scrub amp
Something from the Five Ten Trailcoss lineup depending on how much ankle padding you want.
I have the basic lt trainer looking version and they have got me up and down multiple munroes in comfort over the last 2 years. Work well when paired with decent seal skinz socks in the wet.
i HAVE SOME DOLOMITE KLARAKORUM SHOES. VIBRAM HIKING BOOT SOLE, 3/4 SHANK. GOOD ON THE BIKE, GOOD FOR WALKING
I use Salomon X Ultras for just about everything. They start their life as hiking/walking boots and then get demoted to mountain biking once they’re well worn: I use the GTX versions and the membrane seems to survive well even after the outer has started falling apart and the soles have worn nearly smooth. Add Sealskinz merino socks for the cold/wet days.
Well, I had a look at the Shimano site to see what their current models are, but I got sidetracked when I spotted that they make a range of E-bike specific shoes.
https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/technologies/apparel-accessories/footwear/e-bike-rated.html
WTAF?
I use Vaude Moabs for all my MTB duties which often involve a fair bit of hike-a-bike and sometimes involve dumping the bike altogether for a hike up some mountain. No real complaints and still going strong after nearly four years of year-round use. For comparison I’ve never had a pair of five tens last more than a year.
Vaude Moabs for me too.
Another Vaude Moab user here, love em! Before getting them I rode in walking boots for years with no problems.
Another Vaude Moab user here, love em! Before getting them I rode in walking boots for years with no problems.
OK - those look like what I should be going for I think (good review from this very rag - https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/vaude-am-moab-mid-stx-waterproof-mtb-shoes-reviewed/)......only snag is getting hold of them in a real person size appears to be a bit of a mission.
Those five ten trailcross mid pro look like a real opportunity missed - or at least in UK conditions; making zero effort to make them water resistant.
Thanks for the responses so far.
And the ebike specific shoes made me chuckle!
I use Salomon XA Pro GTX approach shoes for most general wear - hillwalking, dog walking and riding my fatbike/29er. We did a 4 day tour on Islay in them recently on Shimano M324s without a problem - didn’t want to wear spds while wandering around, on sand dunes etc. On MTB flat pedals, the larger contact area should be better than the M324s.
Adidas did release details of a Goretx version of the Trailcross but it has been delayed partly due to the on going unpleasantness
https://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/products/five-ten-trailcross-gxt-mountain-biking-shoes?variant=32460099256404
Note that the trailcross shoes have a very different fit to the classic 5-10's. Narrower and the heels are higher. Feel more like a running shoe to me.
Tbh maybe e-shoes aren't as daft an idea as they sound?. They really pretty much require no grip, as you really shouldn't be pushing anywhere near as much as non powered bikes.
FiveTen Guide Tennies worked for me on a bike trip to Nepal, they're an approach shoe but have the stealth rubber sole. Tougher construction than most mtb-specific shoes too.
Vaude Moab mid stx user here. I kill shoes due to my duff feet but these have been bombproof so far. Don't find the grip too bad and the soles are wearing much better than anything I've used for a good while.
They do get a bit too hot and I'm thinking a summer set of shoes might be sensible but they're ok.
What about 5Ten approach shoes for mountain days?
I've had 2 pairs of Guide Tennie's, loved both. Bought a new pair and...... they've ruined the fit and materials on the new version, they are/feel massively downgraded. They've been sent straight back & I'm still looking for an alternative
I've always got trail running shoes kicking about that have lost their support for running, I use them. Not as stiff as five tens, but so much better for hike a bike.
I have quite wide feet and found the Vaudes to be quite narrow. Can’t wear them with winter weight sealskinz at all. Worth sizing up I reckon.
I went from Freeriders to the Trailcross mid & love them.
The sole is a lot more durable & they're a lot better for walking up mountains than any other mountain bike shoe since the MT91.