After 4 years on flats I had to swap back to spuds at the weekend whilst my pedals are off for warranty review. It wasn’t too bad and I’m thinking of getting some new shoes to replace my aging specialised trail boots.

They’ll be used on big days out with hike a bike so I want a devent sole and comfy to walk in. Looking at the mavic alpine xl, spec rime and giro terraduro, am I missing anything and is there any problems with those (giro flaky soles already noted)?

ive got the regular alpines and they are nice, maybe not as tough as shimanos, but a fair bit lighter

Spesh Rimes are worth a look, especially if you know their last fits your feet.

Not 100% sure if they’re bringing this version, Expert, to the UK market or not, though.

Used to get a year out of Speg BG SPD shoes (comps and up) doing weekly hike a bikes in the lakes. Good for the mud, not as good at scrambling.

5-10 SPD options much better on rock and comfort not as good on the wet grass.

On Teva Pivots not but you can’t get them anymore.

Used to use Mavic Alpines (not XL) all the time, a great pair of shoes but have now switched to the ‘so enduro’ Mavic Crossmax’s and they are great if you can carry off the color though there’s apparently a black version on the market now.
Both have good enough traction as I regularly have to do hike a bike sessions, typically carrying bikes up steep rocky steps, I imagine the XL’s are the same as they use similar soles.
Also currently using some Shimano SH-M200’s as well and they have surprisingly good grip despite the sole design not looking ‘grippy’.

Build quality is good on both, living in SE Asia with our hot humid weather soon wears through the toughest gear and both are still in good condition.
Could recommend both for long days with the Crossmax’s shading it as they have a slightly less stiff sole which is easier on the feet after 4-5 hours of riding.

I have alpine XL’s.

Heavy shoes.

Comfortable, but heavy.

id just like to add that the mavics all seem to have very good grips on the sole for trudging through mud, unlike the am45s! and thats essential for uk stuff imho!

giros too have an ok tread pattern but i found them narrow

im still searching for my perfect enduro slipper

Alpine XL’s here too. Very happy with them. Great grip for walking, firm enough sole for power transfer. Work well with XT trail pedals

Love my Specialized Rimes, superbly comfy.

Rime fan here

Alpine Xls here. very good traction in mud, comfy fit, and the sizing is ok – I’m normally a 45 and went for the 46s, and they fit fine with winter socks.
Was a bit dubious about the white colour, but they seem to have stayed looking pretty decent over the winter.

Little bit of a PSA here – I just went to Freeborn’s website as they seemed to be the cheapest place for Rimes at £72. I put a pair of 2014 shoes in my basket, just to see if they were in stock, and they magically became £60. Which is a shame really because I might have to actually buy them at that price and the last thing I should be doing is spending more money on bike kit..

Had a couple of pairs of Northwave hike-a-bike type shoes over the years. Vibram soles, not mega-stiff, robust, lace and velcro simplicity with gore-tex options if you think it’s worth it on a pair of shoes. I’d have another pair.

Except the current line-up appears to have been designed by someone with too many crayons.

https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/specialized_bg_rime_mtb_shoe_2014-ID_53789?gclid=CN_W_5ejncQCFakSwwodqnkAZA

Rimes good price here

Had a pair of 2014 Rimes with the Boa & velcro straps, very comfy, they are slowly falling apart, not surprising given the abuse they have had.
Specialized arn’t bringing in the Rime Experts, as I would have had a pair of those, they are only brining in the Rime elites, not to keen on the velcro only.

Bought a pair of 2F0’s, they need a bit of wearing in. A lot more protection than the Rimes, just as stiff and have a little more room in the toebox.

2FO’s
Shimano M200
Have both and both brilliant.

I need a new pair too, my current Mavic Switchbacks have pretty much died. They covered all the following bases, what to replace them with?

– stiff
– light
– not mesh (live in Scotland so rare it’s not wet somewhere
– not laces, unless they’ve a decent retention system
– fine for walking and driving

I’ve got some the Rime Elite’s which are nice.

Also have a pair of the newer 5-10 Maltese Falcon LT’s which are lovely. Really impressed with them. Only thing I would change is make them all black, although the grey bits are reasonably wipe clean. I managed to find a near new pair on Ebay for cheap, I’d have struggled to take a gamble on them at £100+ new to find out how good they are.

Interested in this thread, I’m in the same boat and swaying towards the Alpine XLs, have been using Shimano AM45s for the last few years but fed up of glueing them back together, they’re cheap and cheerful but mine have all fallen apart.

Anyone got the Crossmax shoes?

Not tied them, but these are on my list when my DX’s die.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-mt54-spd-touring-cycle-shoes/

I’ve only tried a few shoes in recent years (normally wear boots most of the year) but I got some of these MT71s last year and I really like em. Hardly had them off my feet spring-autumn.

Not normally a fan of laces but they seem ok with the strap aswell.

I had a look at the mt44s TINAS, looks like a similar lace system, the guy in the shop couldn’t tell me how to tighten them up and the lace “anchors” pressed into my foot a little. Cheapish tho, was considering them for commuting (but got the 71s and started using my old lakes for the commute)

I’m trying these out just now. Tick the boxes I need. Go up a size though.

Considering a pair of the Mavic Crossmax and have a few questions.
1. Are they any good?
2. Do they wear out in a flash?
3. How are they size wise? Large? Wide?
4. I’ve been using Shimano MT51’s, MT53’s etc… for over 16 years and haven’t tried much else in a ‘boot’ style shoe. Will the Mavics work as well?
Thanks,
J

Bought 2nd hand,i’m a 9 and there pretty tight so go up a half size.
Great shoes,comfy and light,well meshed so no so good in winter.

How are they for hike a biking?

Them Spiuk shoes that notlocal pictured are what Northwaves used to be like. Off to US in a few weeks so will try on some of those Spesh Rime Experts.

there was a shoe released a little while back, had some sort of special flexible sole with cushioning for walking. ST got all excited by the previews but ive never heard anything about them since. Does anyone remember what they were?

Pear Izumi Project X ?

Pear Izumi Project X ?

Thats the ones! I see no one is recommending them then?

I might buy some of those project X ones on sunday when I have won the lottery!

Thats the ones! I see no one is recommending them then?

Developed tested and approved by Brian Lopez

Brian Lopez (whoever he is) seems to

Yeah, the top end ones are spendy but the 3.0 is not much more than the Mavics (which just seem to be a variation on old addidas shoes).

Tried the Pearl Izumis two pairs both faulty / mis shaped money back.

For those that are using the Shimano’s, what are they like for hike a bike and how well vented are they?

My experience is that my Shimanos have been slippery on rocks… Went over on my arse multiple times last summer on one bit of ‘trail’!

^^^^ Good excuse to try riding that bit of trail next time then!

😉

Been dry out on the trails here for a while so cant comment on the Shimano 200’s on slippery surfaces but that looks like it may change soon. To date they have been good but can get a little uncomfortable on long rides dues to the stiff sole, I am currently playing around with Specialized in-soles which may make a difference.

In regards to the Crossmax’s, really like using them (bar the bright color), as with the Mavic Alpines I used to use before I find they have excellent grip, the only thing I would suggest is make sure you get the size spot on as you can get heel rub if not.
Currently using mine with Specialized in-soles for my flatfeet and find no problems on long days or hike a bike sessions.

maxtorque – Member
^^^^ Good excuse to try riding that bit of trail next time then

I did. It turns out that 3 inches of slimy mud on a base of rock on a step slope does not grip make 🙂