All Arround MTB

If you want comfortable shoes with loads of pedal feel and decent weather/ loam protection, O’Neal’s new Sessions are really good. But they’re not so great if you want the serious start snap and power delivery hinted at by the Boa-style dial closure on the side. The fit of the reinforced toe is wide and the whole shoe is relatively loose for a given size. While the tensioning dial and cross strap can be used to tighten things up considerably, we’d suggest you size down for a snug fit. The upper shrugs off puddle splashes and there’s a neoprene ankle collar to stop water and roost getting into your socks. That’s ideal for colder UK riding conditions, but they do get hot on those rare warm days. Down below, the soft, flexible ‘Honey Rubber’ outsole gives excellent trail feedback and foot mobility. The cleat is recessed just the right amount to give easy release and connection with every caged pedal we tried, without protruding obviously when walking. They’re a reasonable weight t...

Giro have overhauled their MTB footwear range for 2018, doing away with their old Jacket flat-pedal shoe and replacing it with the new Riddance (left). The uppers may not look too dissimilar, but underneath is a Vibram‘Megagrip ISR’ sole, which, Giro say, is the stickiest they’ve ever made. There’s good news for clipless riders too, in the form of a second-generation Chamber shoe (right) with a more rearward cleat pocket (10mm further back than on Giro’s other MTB shoes), a revised tread pattern and a new internal shank designed to give a better balance of comfort and stiffness. Hopefully these shoes build on the feel and supportive fit we liked so much on the originals. Price $165 (R)/$192 (CII)

Mavic’s original Gore-Tex trail boots were our go-to shoes for year-round riding for several seasons, and these are even better. The outsole is unchanged and is stiff enough for stamping hard up climbs but flexible enough for a bit of hike-a-bike, with superb grip courtesy of the big V-shaped blocks of the ‘Contagrip Premium’ tread. Elsewhere, there’s a stiff upper, a well-structured heel that stops lift when walking or pedalling, and a toe bumper for protection. They’re sized for wiggle room with fat socks. While the XC Pro H20s aren’t fully-sealed winter boots, the Gore-Tex liner gives excellent weatherproofing and they’re tall enough to survive splashes and paddling. The win over the previous model is that the old four-strap closure has been replaced with laces and a single wrap-over stabilising strap for a much snugger, more secure fit. That leaves the price as the only downside, but if they last like their predecessors, it’s a cracking investment in winter riding comfort. Pr...

Endura say these overshoes are an industry first, because they’re designed to work with flat pedals and not just clips. The ‘sole’ is made of rubber and has been left as open as possible, except for a bridge connecting the two sides. Tough toe and heel sections add durability, and there’s a large Velcro opening at the rear. The body is made from nylon-faced neoprene, which adds warmth but isn’t waterproof. Our size-large samples weighed 396g for the pair. We didn’t notice the extra bulk when wearing weighty shoes, but with lighter footwear their presence was felt. The sole bridge is especially thick and forms a noticeable ridge between your foot and the pedal, but this was something we got used to in time. Fitting the overshoes is hard work – especially if you’re wearing your shoes at the time, as Endura recommend – because the neoprene doesn’t have much give. Even with fairly small shoes (UK8.5 Shimano AM7s), there was no space to spare. The MT500 Pluses do keep your shoes clean a...

Designed to give ultimate XC race performance, Fi’zi:k’s flagship mountain bike shoes are both minimal and super-stiff, for optimum efficiency and power transfer. The 1.4mm thick, laser-perforated ‘Microtex’ upper has two BOA dials that adjust the volume of the toe box and mould the shoe to the wearer’s arch for a glove-like fit.A unidirectional carbon fibre sole helps you put maximum power through to the pedals, and the heels and toes have a deep tread for grip in the slop.A pair of UK size 8.5s weighs 703g, making them comparable with other top-end XC kicks. Price $488

If you’re not a massive fan of the bulky look of Five Tens and can look past the mustard-yellow colour of the Scott FR 10s (they do come in a more subtle blue too) they’re worth checking out, especially if you prefer to play in the woods rather than hammer out the miles. While they’re comfy enough to wear as sturdy everyday trainers, with enough flex to prevent heel slip when wandering around, they work well on the bike too. Traction on the pedals doesn’t come close to that of Five Ten’s benchmark ‘Stealth’ rubber, so if you like to feel glued to the pins you may want to look elsewhere. But if you’re into riding dirt jumps, pump tracks or simply razzing about in the woods and like to be able to readjust your feet on the pedals, the FR 10s should be right up your street, allowing more on-the-pedal movement while still providing just enough grip when it matters. This does make them rather specific shoes, though. They’re not ideal for big days on the trail or tackling particularly bum...

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 sho...

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 n...

With the help of the Coastal Crew and some rather fancy live data-logging equipment, Specialized set about rectifying the problems many of us had with their original 2FO flat pedal shoes. These new 2.0 versions are the result. Changes to the upper are subtle. The toe box is more or less unaltered, save for the removal of venting perforations above the toes, which makes the shoes better at fending off splashes. While the inside ankle is still raised for protection against crank knocks, it’s not as heavily padded. The tongue is thicker, and there’s a rear loop to help you get the shoes on. It’s the sole where there are big differences. Flexibility, comfort and traction on the pedal have all been dramatically improved, and the arch doesn’t feel as prominent. The new sole is made from a revised ‘SlipNot 2.0’ rubber compound that’s far tackier than the original. As before, some of the tread on the toe and heel is more pronounced, to help when off the bike. But the tread blocks on th...

While we like Specialized’s 2FO clipless shoes, the original flat-pedal version definitely wasn’t perfect. It looks like this new model has solved a lot of those problems. There’s a mix of protective sections and breathable mesh panels on the upper, and inside is a Body Geometry insole to hold your foot in the optimum position. The dual-density midsole should give good pedal feel, while Spesh say the ‘SlipNot 2.0’ rubber compound is the stickiest they’ve made. Price $195

This new mid-top version of Giro’s Terraduro trail shoe adds more ankle protection and weatherproofing. Unlike the original shoe, which has three straps to secure your foot in place, the Mid uses laces. These are covered by a tough, water-resistant Velcro flap, which does an admirable job of keeping out puddle splashes and grime. We had to cinch the laces up tight in a bid to minimise heel lift both on and, especially, off of the bike. Because the laces finish a little lower down the foot than some and there’s no strap close to the ankle to anchor your foot in place, there’s more movement than in the regular Terraduro. Aside from that, things feel comfy enough. The sole balances stiffness and pedal feel well. There’s enough room around the cleat pocket to stop mud building up, and the long cleat slots allow a nicely rearward position. Some testers found they needed to use cleat spacers to ensure a smooth entry/exit to/from certain pedals, and, due to the shaping of the sole, if y...

If you’re after clipless shoes that offer protection from the trail and the elements yet don’t sacrifice too much pedalling efficiency, then Giro may have the answer. They’ve taken the reinforced upper and hike-a-bike-friendly Vibram sole of their popular Terraduro shoe and created this taller mid-top version. A neoprene cuff supports your ankle and keeps out the slop, and raised asymmetric padding gives you protection from the cranks. Giro have also swapped the ratchet closure for laces and a Velcro cover, which should stop your feet getting too soggy. Despite the taller cut and chunky build of these kicks, they weigh a fairly reasonable 938g Price $240

The hexagonal-scaled ‘GnarGuard’ toe doesn’t just give these trail shoes a distinctive look, it also shrugs off rocks, accidental kicks and puddle spray. We like the way the inboard upper extends upwards, adding ankle protection for when you’re going gonzo. The Rhythms have a naturally stiff, snug ‘racy’ fit, and putting the Boa dial top and centre reduces the danger of accidental loosening. It does create a pressure point if cranked up tight though, and we’d avoid long rides in new shoes because the cuff and heel can dig in until they soften. While the secure fit and mid-stiffness carbonreinforced nylon sole make pedalling efficient, there’s still readable trail feedback through the pedals. The ‘Tachyon’ sole is surefooted off the bike. Our samples have taken a beating and are still scrubbing up like new, helping to offset the high price. Price 210$

Shimano’s clipless trail shoes are some of the best. For the MW7, they’ve used the same basic template – long cleat slots, lace flap, asymmetric ankle – but added winter weatherproofing.

The Moab AM is the new flat-pedal shoe in Vaude’s eco-friendly range of MTB kit (even the laces are made from recycled plastic). It’s aimed at DH and trail riders who want good traction both on the pedals and on foot.

SHIMANO’S LATEST FLAT pedal shoes look good on paper but seem to be missing a crucial ingredient when used out on the trails.

SHIMANO HAVE UPDATED their much-loved ‘AM’ range with three new shoes for 2016.

THE M5BS may be some of fi’zi:k’s more affordable shoes but at just under 225$ they still aren’t exactly cheap. Still, they’re handmade in Italy and designed to handle everything from trail riding to cyclo-cross racing or your daily commute.

The dependability of Shimano’s clipless shoes is generally only matched by the unimaginativeness of their product naming. These are no exception. Despite the low weight and price, the sole is stiff enough for most applications.

DHB is an in-house brand of mail order giant Wiggle. This allows them to deliver a shoe exceptional value for money that really performs. Like the Herraduro, these employ a no-frills trio of Velcro straps to secure your foot. They can take a few attempts to get the tension spot on, but once done up evenly and tight, they do a sterling job.