Comfortable, breathable, and sticky.
Great shoes! First ride and first impression, the shoe is comfortable, very grippy, and has very good ventilation. I dont like 5tens skate style show as they feel to wide and clown like. So I usually use a different brand. But I need something for the hot weather in the summer where I live. And these were it! Right out of the box they were great and no problems at all. They are a little narrower but I dont have a problem with that, I have medium to wide feet. Stiff soles that help with pedaling, but still bend in the right areas when needed. Sole is sticky and keep my feet planted on my Crank Bros Stamp pedals. We'll see how the durability is over time, but it does have some toe protection, and quality feels good. I find it to be a good deal for a pair of quality mtb shoes. Only real con I can see is that its so well ventilated that your socks might get dirty when its very dusty.
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Great shoes!
I have wide feet with weak arches and regularly use insoles in my shoes for extra support. Unfortunately, that means there's less room in my shoes, and I typically have a hard time finding a good fit.These shoes are perfect, though. Not too narrow (I was worried at first due to a couple other reviews here saying they were) and very comfortable -- even with my insoles! I'm usually between an 11 & 11 1/2, so went with 11 1/2 on these to be safe and that was the right choice. Length is perfect.Grip is also very good. On laminate flooring I can't turn my foot without lifting slightly. The shoes have a little more weight to them than a sneaker, which I like. They look great, seem to be constructed well, and don't make my feet sweaty or too warm, so thumbs up on that too.The inner soles are very flat, so be forewarned if that's an issue for you - but like I said... insoles are a necessity for me and they provide the support I need.Super happy with this purchase.
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great first MTB shoe - gives great support and confidence.
UPDATE August, 2025: This is my third season and I've progressed to double black trails at downhill bike parks and jumping 30 foot tables and gaps. I ride several times a week on the local trails and travel around, so yes, I'd say since the last update, I am now a real, experienced mountain biker!With that said, I have since moved on from these freeriders to the crankbrothers with BOA lacing. Other than much easier lacing (no more traditional laces for me), the biggest difference is in the stiffness of the sole. I pulled out the old freeriders and the sole is much softer. I can feel it bend in the arches of my feet when I'm on the pedals and and they get sore quickly (I have severely flat feet and the OneUp composite pedals.) In my current shoes, I can barely feel the pedals at all because the sole platform is so stiff. I believe the freerider pros are stiffer as well.Also, I banged my pinky toe on a rock in the freeriders and it fell like they were bleeding or possibly broken. Other models have a stiffer protective toe cap to keep this from happening.In conclusion, inasmuch as the freeriders are a night and day difference compared to non-MTB shoes, the pro version and other brands have soles that are that much stiffer with protective toe caps. However, the freerider uppers are softer and more comfy overall, like skate shoes. For a beginner, I still say go for it because you'll love it. As you advance and put on more miles and hit bigger features, you may want stiffer soles.UPDATE: finishing up my first season in these and they were great. everything I said in the review still holds true. the sole doesn't even seem that worn and I am an aggressive rider (jumps, downhill park). sure they aren't the most breathable and my socks are wet on hot days, but I suppose that's normal for this activity and price range. a possible upgrade for me would be a mesh upper for breatheability and some kind of quick-lace system.//if you've never tried MTB shoes, these are a great and very affordable start. I was surprised at how supportive they were - like expanding the platform of your flat pedals. What I mean is that you can quickly place your foot at a position that is not dead center on the pedal but it still feels like it is - this gives you much more confidence when putting the power down or doing jumps.Before I was using soft, minimalist trail shoes because they breathed well and fit my wide feet. The tread gripped great (almost too great), but now I realize that their flexibility is a handicap (quick foot positioning, unless very centered, makes your foot tilt and you lose confidence). The flat and rigid platform of MTB shoes is a night and day difference.PROS:+support is outstanding for MTB. I'll never go back to non-MTB shoes.+comfortable and plush as skate shoes.+lacing works well so far.+fit is wide enough for mild orthotics (I usually wear extra wide shoes)+stiff protective toe cap just in case+affordable at $60.CONS:-can get a bit warm and socks are very sweaty after a ride. (don't breathe as well as running shoes.)
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