Calling a $255 pair of shoes ‘affordable’ would be stretching it for anyone but Australian carbon cobblers Bont. The new Riot MTB+s are $120 cheaper than their other mountain bike shoes, the Vaypors, but still offer premium performance. If they fit.
The headline feature with Bont shoes is the custom-mouldable carbon fibre sole unit. You bake it in an oven to soften it, then shape it around your foot as it cools. Rising up around the heel and sides of the foot, it creates a complete ‘bathtub’ fit. This creates a seriously stiff shoe that big-gear pedal stampers will love, but one that still stays just the right side of forgiving to stop your feet going numb. The distinctive blunt toe shape stops pinky cramping too.
Optional toe studs and a grippy sole (including the instep), which can be replaced when worn, keep the Riots surefooted off the bike. A Z-shaped forefoot strap and Boa dial keep things secure. On most testers, the dial sat on either the padded upper section of the shoe or the top of the tongue when tightened. But on taller-footed riders it missed both, potentially creating a painful pressure point. That makes trying before you buy, not ordering online, essential in our books.
Price $255