Hey Chaps
I've found two pairs, out of the ten I've tried on in the last couple of days, that fit me well.
Shimano's AM7 and AM9.
The AM9 is slightly more comfortable, and has zero heel lift for me.
The AM7 is cheaper, and a bit stiffer.
I'm gonna be using the shoes for big hill days in the Scottish Borders, which have a mix of decent climbs, singletrack descents, wee bits of road, and some hike-a-bike - probably no more than 30-40 minutes a ride, although did have an hour last weekend.
Are the AM9s stiff enough to pedal for all day riding?
I've got the GR7 flat shoe, which is pretty decent, although defintiely not as stiff as my Five Ten flat shoes.
Cheers!
Ricks
Never tried the AM9 but have a pair of AM7s.
Out of the box they are a little on the stiff side which can cause a bit of heel lift. However, after a couple of rides they soften up quite a bit. Not at flat pedal shoe supple level, but at the perfect balance of pedaling stiffness and walkability.
Price difference Vs the AM9s can be minimal at some shops but I preferred the simpler look of the AM7 and the ruggedness of the conventional laces
Interestingly I hate laces, because when they get covered in mud then dry, they are horrible!
The AM9 with the speed laces, and the cover are a plus for me.
I do like the wee cuff on the heel on my GR7, as it does keep some debris out of the shoe.