All Arround MTB

It’s quite apparent that the AM41 shares a lot of the same DNA as their popular clipless brother, the AM45. This is no bad thing. The shared upper is splash resistant, if poorly ventilated, and allows the laces to be stowed out of harm’s way under the Velcro flap. The inner ankle is nicely protected from rock strikes or hitting against the crank too.

Developed with input from racing legends Jerome Clementz and Fabien Barel, the Crossmax shoe has been designed for the rigours of enduro competition. The Contagrip outsoles are some of the best out there, offering superb grip in all conditions.

O’Neal’s dimpled Honeycomb tread aims to strike a balance between high grip and easy foot repositioning. On the trail, this is born out to some extent. In direct comparison with other shoes on pedals with an intermediate level of grip, we did find them to bounce around and slip slightly more than the extremely grippy Shimano AM41s.

Although pricey, these sit in the middle of the price spectrum when it comes to carbon race shoes. At under 800g a pair (size 45.5) they’re nice and light, but the sole feels more rigid than any of the non-carbon shoes here.

Not to be confused with the more expensive Terraduro, the Herraduro is giro’s entry level XC/Trail shoe. At 755g a pair in size 46, these are the lightest shoes on test - an encouraging start. The simple trio of Velcro straps help drop the weight (and cost), but they work surprisingly well for securing the foot too.

2FO (read: Foot Out Flat Out) is the name given to Specialized’s gravity-focussed shoes available in both clipless and flat-pedal versions. Unsurprisingly for a Californian brand, the upper is well ventilated, with perforated panels on either side. There’s very little padding around the toe-box, which can feel a little chilly on cold UK rides though the raised inner ankle affords some protection without impinging on the airy feel.

Spuik’s budget XC race shoe has a simple securing system with a surprisingly stiff sole and raver-friendly looks. There’s a pair of Velcro straps to secure your foot but the upper strap has to be done up very tight to avoid heel lift, giving a single, uncomfortable pressure point.

These XC race ready shoes feature a superb carbon sole. When hammering on the pedals, they feel very rigid and efficient, even when compared to other carbon shoes.

I had never described shoes (cycling or otherwise) as 'delicious' until I slipped on the Fi'zi:k M1 shoes. The box arrived, I ripped the shoes out, slipped my foot in, fastened up the lower Velcro straps (high-tech sailcloth fed through titanium loops) and cranked up the micro-adjust buckle. I didn't take them off for hours. I didn't even ride my bike, I was just hanging out. I tried to think of other ways to describe the M1 shoes, but could come up with nothing better than 'delicious'.

These are their top shelf mountain bike shoes, so I was very keen to see if the T-Flex's were packing the necessary punch to step up to the table.

The m163s feature Shimano’s new Torbal technology, which allows the back portion of the sole to flex laterally. Considering how stiff and efficient these shoes feel under power, we were surprised by just how surefooted and comfortable they felt when we were really throwing the bike around on the trail.

SO GOOD Efficient, reasonably light (436g) and well vented, these are a good summer option. The carbon-powder reinforced thermoplastic sole feels very stiff, and the Slim Ratchet System (SRS) provides a secure and comfortable fit that helps boost power transfer further, with minimal heel lift. The outsole grips well on soft ground.

SO GOOD They may look like ‘disco slipper’ XC shoes but the MTB Teams are trail ready and easy to live with. Markings on the sole make cleat alignment a snap, the outsole grips well in mud, and they’re just 401g per shoe (size 46). The footbed provides comfy support and the metatarsal button and arch support can be removed to tailor the fit.

Draw up a list of potential new riding shoes and Adidas might not be at the top. But their Terrex Trail Cross shoes, despite their trainer looks, are a serious trail bike proposition from the German brand.

Sporting some new features and Five Ten’s crowd-pleasing Stealth MI6 rubber, the new Freerider Contacts are a bit more refined and comfortable than its predecessor. It seems Five Ten (5.10) has melded comfortable skate style shoes with their trademarked performance even better for 2015.

Performance oriented shoes that are still comfortable to walk in; that’s the concept but is the X-Project design a success?

Boa-secured shoes are often prone to being tight in the wrong places, and the M5 Boa seemed to suffer with this at first. The uppers felt tight around the front of the ankles, digging in when dropping the heels. After a couple of rides this relented as they softened.

Pearl Izumi MTB shoes have got a whole new look and structure for 2015. The heart and sole (no pun intended) of the X-Project range is the sole. It is fl exible in the right places for walking and running, but stiff enough for power transfer.

The new 2FO – it stands for ‘foot out, flat out’ – comes in flat and clipless versions and is aimed squarely at all-mountain and DH riders, with a focus on pedal connection, comfort and protection.

MAVIC’S BRIGHT YELLOW Crossmax is certainly the most recognisable boot available but it’s also seriously aspirational.