Well, seeing as Andybrad has asked so nicely, I’ll make one of my very occasional posts on here 🙂
I have indeed just got a pair of these and I like them a lot. They were great on the ride/push/carry up Snowdon a few weeks ago. Used them the day after on a much more traditional old skool bog trot of a ride and they were certainly a lot less treacherous than my 5:10’s on wet grass/mud. You can still occasionally slide a bit if you don’t think about specifically using the toe or heel area but as long as you make contact with the grippy bit, they’re good. Not Scarpa/Meindl walking boot grippy but much better than any completely flat sole.
As for the pedal/shoe bit, it’s equally good. Obviously not 5:10 Stealth rubber sticky but I’ve yet to slip off using my Hope pedals.
Size wise, they’re seem to run true to size. I’m a 42 or 43 in most shoes and a 43 in these is spot on, with enough room to wear a reasonably thick sock but not too roomy to cause problems with normal socks.
As Andy says, the uppers are made of some suede like material and I don’t know how they’ll hold up to a full winter of Calderdale riding. Past experience of Vaude stuff makes me think they’ll be pretty well made and tough enough to cope though.
