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Submitted by
Alan Rodriguez
a Racer
from Monterrey, N.L. Mexico
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Carrizalejo | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Florencia, Italia | | Strengths: | Very strong sole, great quality materials. Very confortable, and great fitting. | | Weaknesses: | The sole separates after a lot of abuse, but after more than 3 years of great abuse, it´s worth it. With super glue or with a shoe repair shop everithing is solved. | | Similar Products Used: | exxus, six six one | | Bike Setup: | IRC Mibro tires 2.25, Mavic X117 (old fabricated) rims, same as new X717 | | Bottom Line: | A Sidi-like shoe but less expensive. very well handcrafted, just like the Italians work all appearell and shoes, excellent. I fully recommend these shoes. I want a new pair but i just do not have any reason to replace them, they rock. If you do not want to see these shoes with you for years then do not buy them. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stefan Gluske
a Cross Country Rider
from Nuertingen, Germany
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Schwaebische Alp | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | wear and forget | | Weaknesses: | none so far | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano | | Bike Setup: | Steppenwolf Hardtail, Rond Magura Quake Air Front Susp. w/Firmtech Brake, XT/XTR setup | | Bottom Line: | if you have narrow feet like me, this shoe is perfect. Light and stiff. I added rubber studs (as worn on soccer shoes) to have a good grip on hard pack when i have to walk on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mr Mook
a Cross Country Rider
from New Paltz NY
Date Reviewed: April 5, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any and all | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Placid Planet | | Strengths: | excellent ventalation, good fit, durable construction, stylin' looks. | | Weaknesses: | bothered my instep untill i broke them in. insoles keep curling up at the edges. wtf? | | Similar Products Used: | running shoes and clips up untill this point | | Bike Setup: | gary fisher tassajara. mostly stock except for budget pair of scott clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | When i was considering upgrading to clipless pedals, a friend informed me that northwave was the Ferrari of cycling shoes, and i should consider nothing else.
I'm thrilled with the advantages the clipless system has over clips. the price was higher than i would have liked to spend, but these shoes seem to be made exceptionally well. the break in period was frustrating, but i have a foot condition called "mortons neuroma" that tends to tweak my nerves in stiff shoes. when im on the pedals though, these shoes perform and feel fantastic. the only discomfort i feel is when im walking in them. this is due to my feet, and not the shoe.
otherwise, these shoes breath great, i can feel the breeze on my toes as i descend, and they look good (black and red just happens to match my bike). | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
sami
a Cross Country Rider
from USA
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | a lot! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay! | | Strengths: | stiff light nice fit with the X frame | | Weaknesses: | none!!!! | | Similar Products Used: | shoes for platform pedals | | Bike Setup: | custom 6500 shimano pedals | | Bottom Line: | Great looks and very light, very stiff! and for 50$ u can't go wrong! if i could rate these higher, i would! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Retroboy
a Cross Country Rider
from Calgary, Alberta
Date Reviewed: January 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$85.00 | | Strengths: | great fit, good price | | Weaknesses: | toe spikes rip out easily | | Similar Products Used: | Scott, Sidi | | Bottom Line: | A good-fitting shoe that is fairly good at keeping your tootsies dry from water crossings (within reason).
The biggest failing is that the toe spikes thread into a substandard metal plate. On one epic ride requiring a hike on a horse trail over a pass gaining 1700 vertical ft. over 2.5 km, I sheared one toe spike off -- this was a tough slog physically but not extreme, rocky terrain. I replaced the spike and went on a road ride, only to find the new spike missing once I got home. The folks at Northwave haven't been too helpful -- they seem more interested in the how's and when's of the problem then in making this customer happy. Thankfully, my friendly neighbourhood bike shop (Bow Cycle) are fixing/replacing the shoe's metal plate for me. I plan on at least one more season of riding/racing with these shoes, so overall I'm pleased. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reed
a Cross Country Rider
from Copenhagen, Denmark
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Geels Skov | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Strengths: | This is my first pair of clipless shoes and i reccomend the upgrade to anyone who is still using clips. They are way comfortable, but i reccomend removing the laces. Besides that, they look great. After the really muddy rides they clean up pretty good too. | | Weaknesses: | I havn't found any so far, but i've only had them for 6 months. | | Similar Products Used: | Toe clips | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6500, Shimano pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Cheap, comfortable, and stylin'. I reccomend them to anyone who wants a quality product without all the bells and whistles, thus at a lower price. Sure, if I had the money, I would have bought SIDI Actions, but these work just fine for now. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
S.Ganesh
a Cross Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Bukit Timah, Singapore | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Bottom Line: | Since my last review, my soles ripped off during a race and today I had to get myself a new pair of shoes(SIDI Eagle). I'm not sure yet how the eagles will perform but I just hope it does not rip off like my NW. The NW Elite was a cheap, light and great shoe which was great off the bike and on the bike... maybe I did too many small bunnyhops to clear obstacles in the XC trail using the clipless pedal method :-( It's time to learn how to bunnyhop the correct way so that I don't ruin another shoe. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim
a Weekend Warrior
from Laconia, NH
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | The Dark Side | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Fit
Construction
It can use spikes
Velcro | | Weaknesses: | Only 2 straps, needs 1 more
doesn't come with good spikes
graphics scratch off easily(the black fade at the ankle) | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano's low-end performance(racy-looking) model | | Bike Setup: | Cadex Aluminum frame, XT/XTR Icon Pedals, RS Indy XC, Titec stem, Bonty rims | | Bottom Line: | These shoes are the most comfortable shoes (any style, running, dress, etc) I've worn, well, ever. They fit snugly, and the neoprene tongue is sewn in so that it provides a snug feel in the instep. I'd wear them every day, but I know that non-bikers will think they're wierd. The 2 strap w/ laces is a good idea, though I have ditched the laces, they are too hard to tie, and don't even affect fit that much. The toe has a perfect amount of flex, so when I need to get off and walk, it doesn't hurt. I added a set of Sidi Spikes after the first ride, and they are some mean shoes now. I'll review them in a while to say how well they've held up. Oh, the price was excellent, too. At $125, I haven't seen such good shoes at this price level. Great fit, great quality, great function, and great looks.
If You're looking for a great pair of shoes for a reasonable price, these are your choice. They have the same outsole and midsole as the Team MTB, and for a price much lower. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu
a Cross-Country Rider
from Ottawa, Canada
Date Reviewed: December 7, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Ojai | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
price
quality features | | Weaknesses: |
sole flex
fit | | Similar Products Used: |
Lake MX200
Specialized
Shimano M100 | | Bike Setup: |
tweaked Giant XtC DS1 | | Bottom Line: | I picked these up on a year-end deal ($130 Cdn). They fit ok in the store, but hurt my instep. I will have to wait to break them in a little more as I only use them for spinning right now. Sole is not as stiff as my Lakes, definitely flexes on spinning bike. For my feet, the Lakes are a better shoe for about the same MSRP. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron Thomas
a Racer
from Vancouver, B.C.
Date Reviewed: July 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Seymour Mtn / Grouse Mtn. trails | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Light, Comfortable shoe | | Weaknesses: |
The shoe didn't live up to my expectations in a $250 shoe. It began ripping on the insole almost 3 months into use. Velcro strap ripped off. Toe spikes broke off almost immediately. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano 150s | | Bike Setup: |
747s, 636s | | Bottom Line: | Definitely not a decent extreme terrain shoe. Prolly would be a much better shoe for racing only or at least tamer terrain. The racing I have done in this shoe was after the break in period (5 months) and couldn't totally appreciate it cause of the state they were in. Nice shoes but I am giving it one star cause it just didn't hold up, no value for the dollar. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jay Wnuk
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winona, MN
Date Reviewed: June 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
All of them | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Not too gaudy like the spendier Northwaves, stiff sole, wide toebox,stud mounts, laces & straps, light. | | Weaknesses: |
Took about 4 rides for the shoes to break in.(Or maybe my feet to break in?) | | Similar Products Used: |
Answer accelerators, Nike. | | Bike Setup: |
747 pedals, Defeet socks. | | Bottom Line: | After I got used to them they work great and the soles are very good for walking or climbing. The colors are subdued for Italian shoes and they seem to fit snug so my heels don't lift out, but I can still wiggle my toes alot. Cleat engagement seems OK as the sole design leaves alot of space around the mounting. They feel alot like AXO Vipers but I think they're neater. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
S.Ganesh
a Cross-Country Rider
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: May 9, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Bukit Timah, Singapore | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
1. Stiff Sole
2. Nice Colour
3. Easy to walk and run on the trail(grip is ok on the trail) | | Weaknesses: |
1. Water seeps easily into the shoe(Mud does not).
2. Does not dry fast enough.
3. Sometimes I get a sensation on my toes. But nothing serious | | Similar Products Used: |
Before clipless pedals, I was riding with a pair of running shoes. | | Bike Setup: |
TREK 800
ICON clipless | | Bottom Line: | A great shoe! It is well designed. I like it because it looks just like the ANSWER acclerator. Power transfer is so much more efficient. I do worry about pulling my pedal too much until the soles come out but the shoes are quite durable. I have fallen in MUD during a race but the shoe still functions. Clerance to clip on with the pedal is good. Most of the time, it is easy locating the pedal with the shoe but the problem is clipping in as I usually set my tension on my pedals quite high. A wonderfull entry level shoe for cross country use and racing. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Simon
a Weekend Warrior
from Singapore
Date Reviewed: April 2, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Stiff for a mid-level shoe; nice red/black colours instead of usual Euro-disco accents.It has a durable and grippy rubber sole with aggressive treads. Plus point with screw-ins for option to put in soccer studs - that's what I did.Fitting wise is comfortable although my tender feet still hurts from the stiff thermoplastic mid sole. | | Weaknesses: |
Has both velcro straps and laces but rather awkward to tie and slip in the laces underneath the tongue. Stiffness still gives me sore feet. Good if you want a stiff shoe. | | Similar Products Used: |
Shimano | | Bike Setup: |
Santa Cruz Heckler XT with Shimano 535 | | Bottom Line: | Bought it for Singapore dollars $130, equivalent to US$80. Great value for a good performing shoe. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul V
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Manitoba
Date Reviewed: March 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Quality construction | | Weaknesses: |
non yet | | Bike Setup: |
Rocky Mountain Blizzard | | Bottom Line: | This shoe is very well made and light.It's lace's and velcro strap, along with the neoprene tounge, provide a very solid fit .Before buying the Elite's I tried on the Speciallized comp and Answer Accelerator but found the elite's to be the best fit and construction.
| | Overall Rating: |
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