I didn’t think I would like them. Turns out I LOVE them.
I bought these from the Amazon warehouse for like 30 bucks with the tags still on. I tried them because I wanted a shoe that would let me move the SPD cleat back a little more for stability over pedaling efficiency. My other shoes are some Shimano MT7’s for clips and FiveTen Trailcrosses for flats. I expected not to like them and to send them back, mainly because:1. I figured they would not be comfy.2. I figured they would not be very grippy for hike-a-bike trail scrambles up rocks and muddy trails.3. I figured the lace closure was subpar to the other more expensive options.4. I figured they would look stupid (I’m not a fan of the skate style shoes).5. I figured I could send them back for free if any of the above happened.And none of the about happened, at least significantly.So what are the positives?1. The sizing is right on. I ordered a 13 equivalent size based on the crankbrothers chart. I wear a 13 in everything, but cycle shoes are always all over the place for some reason for me. These are dead on. I would say they are on the smaller size of the range, so if you are a 10.25, maybe go to a 10.5 in these, but if you are pretty commonly a size in regular shoes, these should fit the same.2. The little lace tuck “pockets” in the tongue are awesome and work well. I worry they may stretch and lose their ability to hold the laces in with a lot of use, but that remains to be seen. Oh yeah, and for this kind of trail/enduro type shoe, lace closures are plenty fine IMO. No need for Boa or velcro or whatever.3. They are decently comfy. The sole is a little thin and I bet an aftermarket one would really make things right, but it’s not too bad. The ankles are well padded.They seem well made and sturdy. So far, so good.And the negatives?Really they are more minor gripes, and not deal killers, but I don’t like:1. Says it is fully SPD compatible, but I don’t feel like they are as easy to clip in as Shimano shoes. You also are definitely gonna have to use a spacer. I have a feeling these really shine if you use CB cleats.2. They are walkable on hard ground, but you are definitely gonna sound and feel like you are wearing tap shoes off the dirt. Again, I’m not sure this isn’t more to do with SPD being an afterthought.3. I wish the cleat could go back even further.4. The “normal” street price for these, which I think is like 110.00, is a bit much. I got them for a great deal, but I would wince at paying full price for these.5. Sole grip works for trail walks, but not like some more aggressive shoes.That said, I wear these almost exclusively because they are stiff, comfortable, and allow me to get my cleats back where I like them for downhill control.If I rode Crankbrothers cleats/pedals, I think they would be a slam dunk. I WOULD give CB’s a try if I hadn’t spend so much on my XT trails.For 30.00 on clearance, I would buy them again in a heartbeat. For full retail, I would probably look for something similarly able to handle a rearward clear setting, but more compatibleWith SPD cleats.