Five Ten are the undisputed kings of flat-pedal footwear, thanks to their super-grippy ‘Stealth S1’ rubber. Now the brand’s owners, Adidas, have brought out their own range of MTB shoes. These use a different Stealth compound, which isn’t as sticky, so grip isn’t exceptional. The flipside is more durability, which makes sense, because these shoes are designed for epic adventure rides.
They offer excellent foot support, thanks to a tall Velcro cuff, padding around the heel and an arch-supporting ‘Ortholite’ insole – although the stiffness of the latter did make us feel a bit disconnected from the pedals. The upper is good at repelling mud and there’s minimal material to dry out if the shoes get wet. Angled tread on the toe and heel offers great traction for hike-a-bikes. The asymmetric cuff with D3O insert helps ward off crank knocks, but it’d be good to see a more substantial toe box and protection along the outside of the foot.
Overall, these shoes are really comfortable and not too heavy (984g, pair 9.5), making them ideal for big rides. But they just don’t offer the grip needed for more extreme riding.
HIGHS
- Excellent foot and ankle support makes these some of the comfiest shoes we’ve tried
- High cut and water-repellent fabric shrug off the worst of the weather, but a sewn-in tongue would be good
LOWS
- ‘Stealth’ sole doesn’t offer the same traction or pedal feel as Five Ten’s ‘S1’ version
- Protection around toe area is a little lacking
- Fit is quite narrow, so try before you buy if you’ve got wide feet
Feature-packed shoes optimised for adventure riding, not all-out downhill performance
Price $180
