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Submitted by
Been Riding
a
from N. Cal
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Store | | Strengths: | 1. Comfortable and versatile
2. If you have to hike-a-bike this is way better than a normal(read ultra-stiff) shoe.
3. You can wear it anywhere without the clickety clack or a tap dancer. | | Weaknesses: | 1. No ankle strap
2. Could use some metal or plastic speed-lacers | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized normal mtn. bike shoes | | Bike Setup: | Gary Fisher - hard tail, Shimano PD-424 pedals, camelbak, granola bar, bandaids... | | Bottom Line: | I've been happy with these shoes for the past few weeks I've had them. I've used them in town for commuting, on easy singletrack, and technical downhill trails. They are every bit as good as my other shoes but are more comfortable and easier to walk in. These shoes shouldn't be compared with mtn. biking specific shoes, like they are in some other reviews here. This is not the intention of this design (obviously). Although they aren't the best hiking shoes OR the best biking shoes, they represent a happy medium between the two. I give them 5 stars for hitting their mark. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a
from Canada
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | On sale at Nashbar | | Strengths: | -Affordable.
-Stiff sole, mid-cut for ankle protection and stability, good looking design. | | Weaknesses: | -Bad for flat pedals: soles are slippery in wet conditions, thick so you don't have as much tactile feel. | | Bottom Line: | Shimano developed and is marketing these shoes as a freeride shoe, but most freeriders I know use flat pedals; not clipless (since you can't bail out on a mistake as easily).
Therein lies the problem: they suck with flat pedals. The soles are so thick that you can't feel the pedals underneath your feet, and they are stiff and get slippery under wet conditions.
I notice some reviewers complaining about the laces but the point moot if you are used to wearing hiking boots. You may need a shoe horn since the shoe is quite stiff.
Bottom line: good for XC/trail with SPD cleats but not recommended for freeriding/downhill where you might need to bail out on an endo... | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fermín Báez
a Cross Country Rider
from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Susua's Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | More comfortable for walking than any other MTB shoe I had tried before. Some ankle protection as a result of mid-height boot design. Neoprene at the opening prevents rocks and debri to get inside the shoe and cause discomfort. Pedals with efficiency and allows to walk comfortably. Nice tight fit. | | Weaknesses: | Kinda hot when compared with other MTB shoes. A little difficult to put on given laces don't slide easily through the fabric loops. | | Similar Products Used: | First MTB shoe with boot like design. Have had several racing like shoes. | | Bottom Line: | I recently participated in the Puerto Rico Survivor MTB Challenge. This race is made of over 100 kms of extreme terrain. Long climbs include a couple of hours off the saddle and pushing your bike uphill along very rocky, loose and steep terrain. Ordinary MTB racing shoes get shreaded with that kind of abuse. The Shimano FR65 are perfect for this kind of adventure riding. If you enjoy MTB adventures in which you have to carry your bike and walk more than usual over rough terrain, these shoes work perfectly!!! I even found out they have very good grip when crossing rivers walking on wet rocks. After 9 hours of continues abuse at the PRSMTB Challenge and after cleaning all the mud and dust off, my Shimano FR65 are as good as new!!! I'm sure my Sidis would have been destroyed in that race. I will save the Sidis for races that don't require too much walking, but I will surely take my Shimano FR65 to any kind of hardcore MTB adventure since they are as comfortable to walk in as any other walking sport shoe. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Midland
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Got 'em for a good price. Pretty light. Shimano's size 44 lines right up with Etonic's size 44 (the sneaker brand I was using before for riding), so the fit was good even via mail-order. | | Weaknesses: | Lacing system involves fabric loops which makes durability a real issue and prevent the shoe-laces from sliding easily when putting on/taking off. Lack of Velcro straps makes putting on/taking off a chore. Laces on right foot dangle near sproket. Inadequate cushioning under ball of foot makes for some foot discomfort after ~30 miles. Not comfortable to walk in -- SPD cleats contact floor and make an annoying noise and you rock on the ball of your foot while walking. Laces are cheap elastic type. Materials of construction seem "cheap", appear unlikley to hold up, especially the fabric lace loops - why they chose not to use proper rivit eyelets is a mystery. VERY hard (slow) to put on because of the loose but connected to shoe inner sock design with a small opening for your foot. Shoe does not lace up tight enough to pevent a bit of slop you feel on the up-stroke as you pedal. Top of shoe just manages to rub agains shin bone annoyingly (never had this problem with similar height hiking books). | | Similar Products Used: | My first SPD shoes. | | Bottom Line: | Unfortunately, nobody sells much in the way of bike shoes where I live. These looked good based on the 1st review here and the Nashbar write-up and at 55% off seemed a great value. They are servicable, and I'll keep them, but wish I had bought something like the Shimano MO58 (with Velcro straps and eyelets for laces) instead.
Ratings assumes a $45 price. At $100 list, rating would be at least one chile pepper lower. Probably two. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sckotty
a Weekend Warrior
from San Angelo, TX
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$98.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Pro | | Strengths: | High Top design. Confort, Awsome Mid ankle suport and excellent toe protection from catus needles and debre. It has a built in neopream like sock that goes around your ankle that adds great support. Feels great. Rubber tread, NOT plastic | | Weaknesses: | laces, wish they were velcro (thats realy not a weakness) and the only color is black and gray, not real exciting. | | Bike Setup: | Specilized Enduro 2002 | | Bottom Line: | They wear like a light walking boot. Clipless brakets are mounted in the soul so I put them on at the house and take them off when I get home. I have wood floors and they do not mark the floor. No need to wear two pairs of shoes. Very comfortable | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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