[Closed] MTB trail shoes for flat pedals

I like the freerider. Not the new VXIs, the old ones that look like tennis shoes. Great grip, pretty durable. The Elements one makes more sense for this time of year though it's a bit more expensive.

The five tens are very nearly the only remaining performance option. They certainly aren't faultless.

They could really do with some serious competition IMO.

There's a new winter specific version (not the Elements) that looks interesting - primaloft insulation, seamless upper with water sealing in the tongue etc and a hitop version, with a similar sole to the standard Freerider. Can't remember the model name, sorry.

As Northwind says, the VXi's are a bad idea unless you never plan to get off the bike. The smooth section in the middle makes them lethal off the bike.

Shimano AM7?

Not long had some O'Neil Trigger 2s. For me, better than my old Freeriders and almost as good as my beloved Vans Gravels.

I'm a big fan of the Shimano AM7. They are much lighter than the old AM41 but still have all the features. Armoured toe box so problem toe punting rocks. Good balance of stiffness and flex in the sole. Comfy fit and the lace cover does a really good job of deflecting rain. Its not waterproof but does a pretty good job. Also when sogging wet don't take 2 days to dry out.

Agree with all of the above about AM7s. However, the grip offered is nowhere near as good as Impacts or my old Danny Macs, seems to be a combination of the tread pattern and the rubber

Five Ten Freerider all the way, they're brilliant. They do come up a bit large, I added an extra inner sole for comfort. Just watch the laces, they are very long and caught in the chain rings a few times.

Adidas make a shoe using stealth rubber from FiveTen too.

I've got Specialized and they grip really well. They're the only ones I've had so I can't compare them to other makes.

I'm falling out of love with 5:10 to be honest, they don't seem to last that well anymore, the quality has gone seriously downhill. the wet weather "performance" is a bit of a joke that should have been resolved ages ago.

trouble is, there's **** all competition, and they can get away with producing tat. I'm using clips all the time now as winter's coming, and I want dry and warm feet. 🙄

legend - Member
Agree with all of the above about AM7s. However, the grip offered is nowhere near as good as Impacts or my old Danny Macs, seems to be a combination of the tread pattern and the rubber

Agree with this. Bought them because I wanted a lace flap and my only disappointment is the grip isn't great. No idea what to try next, why are exposed laces such a thing on shoes for flats?

Specilaized 2F0's, dry a lot quicker than a 5.10, not quite as grippy though, but for trail riding, this shouldn't be a problem.

I am thinking about getting some Vaude Moabs as my Impacts have died and I am worried about the durability of the newer 5:10s.
In the mean I have been using some old Fox skate shoes and actually find i enjoy the freedom of being able to adjust my foot position and have not noticed a significant loss in grip. I am using catalyst pedals which I find you don't need such a grippy shoe for.

Good timing. I seem to have been swithering over which set of winter shoes to buy for ages. Even considered switching to clipless pedals to get a decent winter shoe, but I think I've narrowed it down to two flat options: FiveTen Freerider EPS or Vaude Moab STX.

I've been using regular freeriders for the past couple of years. Love the grip when riding. Not so keen on the grip when walking although, to be fair, it's not been that big a deal. Hate the way the laces flap about and they are not even remotely water resistant.

The Moabs look good on paper: stealth-type rubber in the middle with tread on the heal and toe for walking. Properly waterproof (with a membrane) and a flap to keep the damn laces under control.

Things that put me off the Moabs are: don't know if the rubber on the sole is as good as FiveTen, white details and sole on a winter shoe! and suede uppers. These are going to spend plenty of time submerged in peat bogs, so suede doesn't really make sense.

The FiveTen EPS are leather. Not totally waterproof, but I survived quite happily with leather walking boots for years before GoreTex came along. Wipe them down and treat them and they'll be as waterproof as I need. I know the sole works, even if it's a bit of a lottery hiking on muddy grass. But why couldn't they put a flap on to keep the laces under control?

Only ever used AM41, but no complaints about them. Great in wet weather.

I have had Specialized 2FO flat pedal shoes for a while, they were good but deffinitely not quite as grippy as the 5:10 shoes, they did dry much quicker though. The soles were worn out in a year of use though, and probably below average number of rides.

I have recently bought some Adidas Trail Cross shows to replace them, Stealth sole seems grippier (I can't compare to the dotty sole on actual 5:10's though) and they are very comfortable, all be it very slightly more bulky than the Spesh shoe.

The reason I went for these over the actual 5:10 is the fact that have some actual grip at the front and rear of the shoe, which should be much more confidence inspiring during the winter slop!

Adam

Anybody got the giros , my teva links are on their last legs so after something new .

I'll be looking at these when it's time to replace my Teva Links (they have the same stealth sole as the Five Tens):

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/clothing/shoes/product/review-adidas-terrex-trail-cross-50122/

Been using the new 5:10 Sam Hill this year and really rate them. I find the Freeriders a bit thin and flexible for my liking. The SH's are pretty stiff so really good at hike a bike, and they have synthetic uppers plus quicker drying inners so better than other 5:10's for drying - but still not great. They also have a loop to tuck the laces into. I love them, but you don't get any of the pedal feel you get from the Freeriders

I looked at the Moab but ended up with the cheaper - but still insanely expensive - EPS. I like 5:10s they fit my feet although I'm on my second pair of Canvas ones this year. To be fair to CRC they did replace the originals where the eyelet had failed about a month in. Agree with NickC about the quality. My original impact hi's are still doing the business whereas I've gone through about a a pair a year of the later ones.

Bought EPS high. It's not a looker to be fair 😉 But seems to have most of the right stuff for winter riding. Replaced my elements which have just fallen apart. Sole has cracked and uppers have apparently rotted away. And I keep them mostly dry!

Will report back after first mucky ride.

After years of AM40 and AM41s, the AM7s are really disappointing for me, they've changed the sole rubber compound from the slow tacky rubber to some kind of more springy rubber and I find them lethal in the wet. I'm trying to think of a way to make them more gooderer, as apart from that they're the most weatherproof normal flat shoe.

Could always get them re-soled with Stealth rubber *goes off to investigate*

EDIT: Yup, looks like both www.resoles.co.uk/ and http://www.lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk could do it

Resoling would be good but the cost is more than half way to another pair of shoes again. I'm thinking more DIY partial resole with the rubber from the old shimano shoes, what could go wrong? There is this stealth rubber paint stuff too but very expensive for what it is, might try DIY with ground up AM41 sole and vulcanising solution...

It is expensive, but is it not more daft to hold onto shoes you don't really like and are therefore less likely to use as a result?

is it not more daft to hold onto shoes you don't really like

Indeed. I bought my AM7s because I thought they'd be good for winter but I've been wearing them all the time so they wear out first. Kinda got used to their feel or they've broken in or something

I must be odd, as I have really liked my Impact VXIs. On my second pair now. Fairly light, dry well and grip phenomenally.

I used to advocate cheap skate shoes then I bought some 5-10 Free riders when the last pair of airwalks fell apart and I had a bonus to spend.
Like night and day. Stiffer, heaps more grip and comfy. Hydrophilic though and take a bit of drying out.

danbo - Member

I must be odd, as I have really liked my Impact VXIs. On my second pair now. Fairly light, dry well and grip phenomenally.

They've had great reviews, I hated mine though- lots of grip, zero feel. It seemed like eveyone thought I was mad til Sam Hill declared them shit and refused to wear his signature model VXIs, then suddenly lots of people agreed that they have no feel 😆

5:10 Freerider Elements paired up with a set of Sealskinz. No issues over the past year, still holding up very well. Hard to see a better flat shoe set up.

I usually wear size 10 trainers, but found a uk9 fits best.