No fancy stuff, just the features you need to enjoy a bike ride with secure, efficient SPD pedaling. Block rubber soles with nylon-reinforced plates allow a steady pedaling platform on the bike and comfortable walking and traction off the bike. Nylon mesh and split leather uppers offer breathable, cool comfort for your feet. Heel reflectors improve visibility. Lace closures.
Strengths: cheap, durable, simple nice design wearable off the bike
Weaknesses: laces, although if you take a couple more seconds each time you put them on and pack them neatly under the crossing sections of the lace they stay there...also cut them to a reasonable length to reduce the chances of them being eaten by the chainring or bottom bracket
Bottom Line:
I have used this shoes for almost 4 years now. I use them practically everyday since i use them to commute also, theyre pretty comfortable.A well built shoe.
Similar Products Used: nike spd circa 93, ugly specialized gray spds circa 94, airwalk circa 95, rockhoppers 00,
Bike Setup: kona hoss 06
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Alamos, NM
Date Reviewed: May 22, 2007
Strengths: Well made, solid sole, comfortable to walk in but still stiff enough
Weaknesses: Laces suck on cycling shoes. Period.
Bottom Line:
I've used these for road biking and aggressive XC for over a year now. They've held up for both quite well. I've done double centuries in them, I've done MTB marathons in them, and I've ridden triathlons in them and they supported me very well and felt great for all of them.
That said, I do hate the laces. I'm on my 4th or 5th pair of laces now because I keep cutting them on my chainrings. I've managed to make the current pair last by double-knotting them 5 or 6 times so that they have no slack. This is annoying, and also adds significant time to transitions in triathlons. I suspect these will last a good long time yet and I will keep them until they die, but when I replace them I will be something with straps.
Five chilis for value because they're cheap and a great shoe for the money, four chilis because although they're a good shoe, laces just don't belong here.
Strengths: Extremely comfortable and easy to walk in. Appear to be well made, and I am happy with how they look.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
I am tired of klomping around in road shoes. Most of us are recreational riders, and I am surprised most of us don't use a comfortable, recreational shoe, affordably priced and well made, such as these. Even for road riding, these shoes are perfect both on and off the bike. I feel no unnecessary flex, and more than adequate support. My peers trip all over themselves at the club ride rest stop in their $200+ carbon racing shoes. These were $54, and couldn't be more comfotable. Wake up everybody.
Submitted by
Sam Ramji
a Cross Country Rider
from Marin County, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2004
Strengths: Low cost, comfort when walking
Weaknesses: Soft/flexible sole, lack of support
Bottom Line:
Don't bother with these.
Bargain shoes but not worth it - you're better off paying the extra $20-30 for the better shoe. After a month I switched to the Specialized Sport Mountain '04 for $70 and started riding better immediately.
If you're going clipless, get a great pedal and decent (not bargain basement) shoes, or you will miss out on much of the benefit.
Strengths: Light, strong, look and feel great, come in nice forest type colours. Reflective strips at the rear.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
Great shoes for people who want a bit of flex in an MTB shoe. Others have said these are a tight narrow fitting shoe however I take size 47 and have wide feet too and these seem comfy enough to me as a baggy shoe wouldn't be a cycling shoe.
Bike Setup: 2003 diamond back apex, oem rockshock susp post wtb speed seat
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Matt Fulks
a Cross Country Rider
from Oklahoma City, OK
Date Reviewed: October 19, 2002
Strengths: Very comfortable, look great, easy to get on and off the pedals with. Didn't have to cut the sole up like I've heard about with other shoes.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Great shoes for the money. Very comfortable, they look good and are easy to walk in too. I don't know what the other reviewers are complaining about. The laces seem short enough that they don't ever get caught up in my chainring.
Submitted by
Kevin
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2002
Strengths: Price, ok looks, no problems
Weaknesses: After an hour or so they pinch
Bottom Line:
good shoes for the price, I had to buy bike socks to go with them otherwise to hot in Arizona, VERY tight fit especially width-wise. If there is a crease in your sock, it will translate to a crease in your foot after an hour or so riding. good value for the price
My first bike shoes and pedals so I can only compare them to cages. They are comfortable and are easy to walk in off the bike. Well made and show no sighs of defects so far. Entry level shoe at a nice price. Maybe my next pair will be a higher end shoe if these ever ware out.
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Altamont, Illinois usa
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2002
Strengths: These Shoes are what they say they are...no frills, but very nicely made. They are a good entry level shoe and will pass for a street shoe if you need them to. They are comfortable.
Weaknesses: Only that they are an entry level product and will not meet the needs of those who need higher end equipment
Bottom Line:
They are an excellent shoe for the money, especially for those who want to give clipless pedals a try without spending a fortune. The rating of 5 is for the product they are advertised to be, not compared to a $200 pair of shoes.
Submitted by
Matt Sklar
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2002
Strengths: Does not look like a Biking Shoe, Comfortable to wear. The look allows me to wear to work (Definately a positave)
Weaknesses: Not a very stiff sole. No velcro on the laces to prevent the laces from getting caught in chain by the pedal. (Cannot think of term)
Bottom Line:
These are my first pair of Cliped Pedals and Shoes. The design allows me to wear them to work so I do not need to bring extra shoes with me. They do not hurt my feet and feel the same as pretty much any pair of regular shoes I own.
For someone who rides like I do, commuting to and from work on a daily basis as well as some weekend Train riding I would definately suggest these shoes.
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2001
Strengths: Price, comfortable to walk in
Weaknesses: Don't really look like bike shoes (can be a strength for some) Sole not very stiff.
Bottom Line:
They work, they're cheap. They are perfect for what i use them for right now. Can only give 4 chilis though because they will not do at all for the competition level rider.
