Submitted by
spirov92
a Weekend Warrior
from Sofia, Bulgaria
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2011
Strengths: Cool looks, plenty of space for the toes, comfortable
Weaknesses: Laces too long, velcro strap is useless, fall apart after a few months of use
Bottom Line:
After the first few rides the fabric on the toe cap started tearing up. No big deal, but it looked ugly. After a few months, the sole started pealing off. I found them really comfortable, but they're just not reliable.
Submitted by
StefanB
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2010
Strengths: Cheap.
Weaknesses: As mentioned below, not comfortable, soles crack, velcro straps are uselesss.
Bottom Line:
Would not buy these shoes again.
However, SixSixOne is awesome to deal with. After cracking the sole in one of the shoes, contacted SixSixOne and they sent out a new pair at no charge.
Weaknesses: Soles come away, Stay wet for ages, Rubber tabs fall out
Bottom Line:
I bought them to use in Scotland for a week on the 7 stanes as it happens all the time Scotlands sunshine is rain, Within 20 mins riding your feet are pi$$ wet through and the shoes take a long time to dry i was riding them damp as i had no choice, They look good and were comfortable to walk around in go to the pub etc and you look smart.
But within a month the tabs fell out the bottom which didnt particularly bother me but the soles alo started to fall off. Within a month they looked about 6 months old and they were only worn on weekends!
Submitted by
aweewawah
a Weekend Warrior
from bellingham, WA ,USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008
Strengths: Stylish, comftorable, reccessed cleat, rugged, long lasting
Weaknesses: sole wears a little faster than i had hoped, they dont make them anymore
Bottom Line:
The only SPD shoe i have ever seen that i would even wear. i Wear them to work and bartend for 11 hours and my feet dont even hurt, then get back on my bike and ride home. i would buy another pair but i cant find any, even on Ebay. i have not had any of the problems other reviewers have, maybe some years models are better than others? but I love these shoes. the perfect mix of pedaling power and walking comfort. hopefully someone out there will make a fully reccessed cleat shoe soon, because i dont know how much longer mine will last.
Strengths: I bought the lauch taki shoes (not ones shown in picture). they are very comfortable and very functional shoe, with lots of pedal grip. i would recomend unless you have clip in pedalds, get the launch taki shoes instead of the launch spd shoe, because you pay 40 more dollars for the clip setup on the SPD shoes which would be pointless. very good price.
Weaknesses: the 661 logo is red, wish it was blue, but thats not much of a weakness
Bottom Line:
for the money, these shoes are the best you can get for 40 dollars and will actually stay on your feet. and very commfortable. for racers without clipin pedals they are to me nessesary.
Similar Products Used: old destroyeed vans which kept falling off these are a lot better
Bike Setup: suped up 04 a-line
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Gravel Rash
a Weekend Warrior
from Bangkok
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2007
Strengths: great padding, styling, functionality
Weaknesses: although they ave a great look, it is one that doesn't last. All you need to do is get a little water on the toe felt and it just starts to rub off leaving exposed backing. I am guessing 661 are not aware of this as their products tend to be bomb proof
Bottom Line:
if you are looking for something to protect your feet then these are great, but not if you're anal about wear. Personally, scuff gives them a little character.
Bike Setup: SC Heckler, Recon Fork, Juicy 5, X-7 drivetrain. Hutchison Python up front and Piranha in the back
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Romano Verlengia
a Cross Country Rider
from Parker, Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007
Strengths: Comfortable
Weaknesses: The strap is way too long, and the velcro is too short.
Bottom Line:
In over 2 years of heavy use the shoes are still hanging together and comfortable. The strap is not designed well but it does work. I want to purchase a new pair but 661 no longer makes them in black.
Bike Setup: MTB: Titus Racer X, Specialized Epic & Kona Caldera Road: Specilaized S-Works
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bryce Shaw
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007
Strengths: skate style, worked good when they worked
Weaknesses: at my last race, the screws started to fall out of the holes, not because i didnt tighten them enough. one screw came out and then when i tried to unclip, the cleat would just twist on the shoe and i couldnt get clipped out, it sucked. now the screws wont stay tight for half a ride. the laces are too long, and they arent the most comfortable shoe on the market
Weaknesses: Useless strap, sizing, laces too long.
Bottom Line:
I feel there is a hole in the market for a spd compatible shoe with skate styling. There really isnt a lot out there. If there was I probably would not have bought these shoes. What is with the strap? It is way too long. Its only purpose is keeping laces tucked away - not for cranking the shoe tighter, which it needs. Hike-a-bike in these shoes sees my heels nearly slipping out. I normally wear a 10.5 which they dont make so I went down to a 10 which still feels too big !
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2007
Strengths: Looks ok
Weaknesses: Cleats ripped out, uncomfortable
Bottom Line:
I regret buying these shoes. On the first ride the hard plastic sole cracked on both shoes in front of the spd cleat. No biggy, it just made it more comfortable to wear. Then, after maybe four or five rides the cleat on one of them ripped out and the other one cracked on two of the sides. It is about to rip off too. The shoe isn't comfortable either. There was something on the left shoe that pushed into my foot. I would not recommend this shoe for anybody.
Similar Products Used: Specialized and Cannondale shoes
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz heckler, Diabolus stuff, XO stuff, specialized stuff, etc.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Seattle WA USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007
Strengths: looks cool, mostly rainproof
Weaknesses: the sides are starting to peel off the body of the shoe. shoe goo might help that, but the stitches arent there for any purpose cept to make it look better
Bottom Line:
meh. dont get em. unless they improve these shoes for next year or something. get some five.ten impacts. i hear thoes are the best for platform pedals. but im stuck with these untill they are completely dead...sadness
Bike Setup: ironhorse sohon bucho. boxxer team, saint cranks
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Swotch Dotkom
a Weekend Warrior
from Tenerife
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2006
Strengths: Look, comfort riding and walking, clip-in,velcro strap,
Weaknesses: Sole wears fast
Bottom Line:
(2005 model)Well, those days they are my only shoes, I wear them on the street and on the bike. Perfect comfort. These are no xc racing shoes though. I find rather hard to ride unclipped (the cleat will always slip on the pedal body), you find yourself always clipped in at the end. A good combination with the CB Mallets. More style than the most fashion shoes I saw. Good price.
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from aliso viejo, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2006
Strengths: none, zero, worst shoe ever created, only slighty superior to riding barefoot...strike that, barefoot would probably be more reliable than this shoe
Weaknesses: laces are long enough to create the noose you will surely be looking for afte the frustraction this shoe will cause. everything about this shoe is awful. the metal plate that the spd cleats are affixed to is too soft and will instantly strip bols and threads. the rubber sole has cracked the entire length of the shoe. no i didn't use this shoe for anything besides riding and the occasional hike a bike. the velco strap is useless for obtaining a better fit.
Similar Products Used: shimanos, answer, flip flops ( far superior performance), barefeet...
Bike Setup: transition preston, zocchi, outlaws, sram drivetrain, juicy 7's
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Amz
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006
Strengths: Tough, great looking, can walk in them.
Weaknesses: Laces way to long. Laces strap to long as well. Size 39 was way bigger than size 39 Diadora so have ended up with too bigger shoe.
Bottom Line:
Great looking shoe, nice sticky sole, tough. Cutout was just right for shimano cleats but I had to carve way more out for my Atomlab Quickstep pedals which have wide cleats and the rubber still gets in the way.
Bike Setup: Giant Reign 2, manitou nixon fork, race face components, Atomlab Quickstep pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
thomas german
a Weekend Warrior
from doylestown, pa
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006
Strengths: These are th 2006 models. Looks Great.
Weaknesses: Insoles suck. Laces too long. Strap too long. They make my feet numb when laced only tight enough to keep them securely on my feet.
Bottom Line:
They are not comfortable at all. I bought them based on the reviews here. I am very dissapointed. Aside from the looks I can't think of another positive thing. I only give it 2 chilis on the value because they are cheap, but I guess you do get what you pay for
Quick question. Do the 661 launch shoes have a solid(hard) sole, or is it compliant? Would it be alright for everyday use?
I gotta know quick b4 I buy other shoes.
Thx Read More »
Hello,
I am interested in ordering a pair of 661Launch shoes online and was curious about their sizing. I recently purchased a pair of size 46 Sidis that fit well. I normally we Read More »
