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Had a pair of 5 10 freeriders for 5 years, sole still had loads of life left in them. Swapped them out for the freerider pros and the soles have gone through in multiple places in a year, tearing off bigger chunks of rubber. Not sure what's happened to their longevity but I'm after something a little longer lasting.
Any recommendations for alternatives to 5 10's? I alway fancied some teva links but they don't seem available anymore?
I’ve just got a set of Bontrager Flatlines after my 5 10’s sole delaminated from the show. Grip just as well with no movement, the do feel a little stiff atm though but that’s likely because they’re one ride old.
Nothing will outlast the set of Sombrios I have which I will be shortly wacking up on classifieds
I've got the Giro Jackets and I really like them. I haven't had them 5 years yet but I had the same problem with the soles coming off the last pair of Impacts I bought.
The Jackets don't have the mega grip of the Five Tens but that's not always a bad thing. They're also a much better 'shoe' in that they seem well built and are more comfortable.
I'm generally quite happy to get a year out my five tens, given I get 3 months from a pair of running shoes!.
Current five ten impact vxi are 2 years old, but I don't wear them every ride, generally wear old running shoes that've done their miles if I'm up the local fun park, or just a couple of hours out n about.
Consider Shimano GR9s. Comfy with a nice platform. Really quick and handy lacing system. Flap to keep the muck out. Doddle to clean.
Consider Shimano GR9s. Comfy with a nice platform. Really quick and handy lacing system. Flap to keep the muck out. Doddle to clean.
+1 great shoes, plenty of grip and a tough sole.
Ion scrub amp are the best flat pedal shoe I hVe ever used. Exchanged giro riddance under warranty with my lbs and am amazed how stiff, grippy Nd and hard wesring they are 2000 off road miles and still new looking
I got some NW clans several months ago, I like them so far, very grippy but I can move my feet around more compared to the five 10 dirt bags which I have been using for a while now.
I use cheaply on ones
Get them re-soled - Cheshire Shoe Repairs have done mine with 5-10 rubber. They have been excellent. I always look for approach shoes now, something that can make skimming off the worn tread for re-soling easier.
Solomon waterproof trainers have done a great job for me the last couple of years. Together with a pair of shin pads just in case 😳
Nothing will ever match the grip of five ten stealth rubber but the newer better functioning & lighter models like the freerider pro don’t last as long as the old foot sponges. I’m a big fan of the Adidas / five ten trail cross shoes that use the stealth rubber. The sole has only just started to peel off on my 4 year old trail cross SLs but I just glue it back on with The flexible superglue. It happened after I left them wet in a carrier bag in my boot for 2 weeks.
On Teva links... great casual shoe, comfy but awful on the bike. No grip, might as well have used a standard running shoe.
Recently chose some Northwave Clans as my first flat pedal shoes. They're yet to arrive but here's what I had shortlisted. Unfortunately even if there wasn't a pandemic on there wouldn't be anywhere I could try all these on.
Northwave Clan - bought. Good reviews on this site, PinkBike (see the comments too), and Bikemag.
ION Scrub AMP - it was a toss-up between these and the Clans. They're a bit more padded, and the tread is a recessed style. Reviews on the same sites.
Shimano GR7 - no particular comment. Reviews on this site and MBR.
Ride Concepts Hellion - quite protective but reviews say they're pretty stiff, depends what you like. Gusseted tongue. Reviews on MBR, Bikerumor, mtb-mag.
Five Ten Freerider Pro - some durability concerns, may be too grippy on pedals, doesn't look much grip at all for walking/pushing (most other shoes have a different tread on the toes and heels for this). Reviews on this site and MBR.
Also looked at:
Leatt DBX 3.0
Ride Concepts Powerline
Shimano GR9
Specialized 2FO Flat 2.0
Giro Riddance - slated by reviews in MBR and Outdoorgrearlab
Impact Pros are half RRP on the Adidas site at the moment - 65 quid for a pair
I guess it also depends a lot on what the OP wants from the shoes.
I've had a pair of Shimano GR7s for 2 years (still holding quite well) and a pair of Five Ten Impact Sam Hills for 6 months. The Shimanos are lighter, better built, cooler and dry quicker, the Five Tens offer way more protection, a stiffer sole and more grip. As of now I'm using the Sam Hills for proper DH and enduro days (so when I end up going full on) and the GR7 on longer tamer trail rides and bikepacking. They can switch places, but I really think they're filling the perfect tasks as it is.
So, based on my experience, I'd say that if you're looking for the absolute best grip to really bomb downhill then I guess it's Five Ten. If a little less grip than the absolute best is good enough for trail and AM riding, then I'd say there's plenty of alternatives around there, likely more durable
Five Ten soles are a bit variable in their durability over recent years IME.
I still have multiple pairs but have been riding the Shimano GR7 more in recent months personally, it's grippy enough and a bit better for walking/hike-a-bike - and the sole is holding up very well through some intense lockdown usage.
I should add to my last post that I prefer the GR7s for general walking around but the Five Ten Sam Hills are my pick for really rough trail hiking. The stiff and ultra grippy sole and uppers really feel like proper hard core approach shoes
That's interesting as the freeriders are a bit more flexible than the gr7.
But freerider EPS are about on par.
Vaudes for me.
Though tempted with the RC lineup
Thanks everyone for the replies, there’s some brands I hadn’t even considered so I’ll take a look and see if I can try any on.
Shimano’s seem to get a lot of good feedback, I’ll also look at resoling but the uppers are starting to show their wear as I’ve worn them so much, even for rides into town not just mountain biking!
Vaude Moab STX three years old and still look almost new.
I’d rather just have the 5-10‘s and replace them when needed. I haven’t found that other brands’ soles are as grippy.
Ion scrub amp are the best flat pedal shoe I hVe ever used. Exchanged giro riddance under warranty with my lbs and am amazed how stiff, grippy Nd and hard wesring they are 2000 off road miles and still new looking
How are you finding the recessed tread pattern working? Seems a lot of empty space under there for pins to dig into, more like the pins would be trapped within the little spaces. Also the review on this site says they don't clean up from mud that well.
I'm returning my EU41 (UK 7.5) and EU42 (UK 8.5) Northwave Clans. They're perfect aside from not fitting me. I'm a UK 8 with a wide and high foot, the smaller ones are too tight and the larger ones are too long (heel lift). The review of the Scrump Amp on bikemag says they should be better for my bigger feet than Clans or Freerider Pros.
For all the pros and cons and choosing the best shoe, I'll probably have to take whatever fits.
If anyone's considering the Northwave Clans or the ION Scrub AMPs, I did a comparison here