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Submitted by
brock
a Cross Country Rider
from seattle
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Strengths: | Over 7000 miles in all conditions, commuting to work, mt bike touring, weekend road rides.... these shoes have been everywhere. | | Weaknesses: | The cleats are crap, replace them. Also take out the shoelaces, these shoes are much comfortable without the laces. | | Similar Products Used: | Sidi, Cannondale, | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper Mt Bike XTR
Biachi Veloce Road Bike (use the pedals for both.) | | Bottom Line: | Great shoe for a cheap price. I put over 7000 miles on mine and they are still working great. No real problems here, except for the cheap aluminum cleats, which you should replace. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kevin
a Cross Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | stiff, anchor onto the foot well, extremely breathable (you can actually feel the wind on your feet) | | Weaknesses: | traction on smooth/wet surfaces, but i guess that's inherent with a shoe that doesn't bend. stock toe studs | | Similar Products Used: | I've had no major problems with these shoes so far. There were problems with the threading on the toe studs, and i lost one somewhere on a PA trail, but it's no biggie. These shoes do not offer great traction on surfaces other than dirt, but what can you expect? The shoe is built to be stiff, and with that come some disadvantages. The rubber compund on the outsole already is rather soft. Making it softer wouldn't accomplish much traction-wise, and would wear down faster. | | Bottom Line: | I've had no major problems with these shoes so far. There were problems with the threading on the toe studs, and i lost one somewhere on a PA trail, but it's no biggie. These shoes do not offer great traction on surfaces other than dirt, but what can you expect? The shoe is built to be stiff, and with that come some disadvantages. The rubber compund on the outsole already is rather soft. Making it softer wouldn't accomplish much traction-wise, and would wear down faster. I don't think our friend Art, the aeronautical engineer, down there would want that happening. If you're just getting into clipless pedals or don't want to blow your savings on a pair of cycling shoes, these should do just fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Webb
a Cross Country Rider
from Stanford, CA
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Good fit (narrow, with a wide toe). More durable than softer-soled competitors, such as Shimano. I've rarely seen a shimano shoe last over a year. | | Weaknesses: | Crappy-ass toe studs. | | Similar Products Used: | El Gato Sport
Shimano's brown BMX shoe lookalike
A friends Sidis (better) | | Bike Setup: | A Bontrager (= steel hardtail). | | Bottom Line: | These shoes are great for the price, but throw away the aluminum toe studs and buy some steel ones, the best value being Performance Bicycle toe studs. Tighten the toe studs just until it starts to become harder to tighten, or else you will strip the socket and be forced to replace the entire shoe. This is what happened to my first pair of these. Also, make sure you screw the toe stud in straight. They fit well, though, and my feet don't pop out of them, and they cost me about 1/4 of a pair of Sidis, and neither pair had major durability problems except for the toes studs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT ROCK
a Cross-Country Rider
from Drumheller, AB
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Price
Looks
Fit
Stiff sole | | Weaknesses: |
Slippery sole
Lousy toe studs | | Similar Products Used: |
El Gato Sport, Answer Accelerator('97), Diadora Jalapeno II | | Bottom Line: | Got these shoes at the super low price of $49. I like them a lot - they fit well and are quite stiff. However, an attempt to install the toe studs resulted in three successes and one cross-threaded disaster - insert threads were f*%&ed up. Major piss off for shoes right out of the box. Guess quality control in China ain't job 1. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Billy
a Weekend Warrior
from Enforcee
Date Reviewed: June 17, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
The one that's a trail | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Good if they're put together right | | Weaknesses: |
AHHGGG! The plate comes off! | | Similar Products Used: |
None | | Bike Setup: |
DBR X2 stock | | Bottom Line: | Well, I got these shoes and put em in the pedals with the plate that was put in at the factory. Problem is, the one that comes in it will only allow the screw to go in 2 threads. I went to pop the shoe out--it didn't! The plate broke free of the shoe, so it was still sttached, just not solid. I almost wrecked. The whole thing then just ripped off the shoe leaving the plate attached. I took the one out that came with it and put in the different set that was in the box. Now it works fine. I'll give it two flaming craps for trying to kill me. | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Walt Wehner
a Cross-Country Rider
from Los Alamos, NM
Date Reviewed: May 4, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Any | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Super cheap, fit pretty well. Good stiffness. | | Weaknesses: |
Poor durability. No heel retention. | | Similar Products Used: |
Sidi Dominator | | Bike Setup: |
hardtail that cost too much. | | Bottom Line: | These are great beginner shoes. However, I completely destroyed them in less than 6 months. Both sides have numerous holes in them, I had to replace the cleat retention plates, and the velcro gave up all of it's holding power. But for $80 or whatever they cost, it's not a bad deal. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brad
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 25, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Good fit for riders with narrow feet
Ventilation through mesh on upper sole keeps toes cool. | | Weaknesses: |
None | | Similar Products Used: |
These are the first clipless shoes that I've ever used. | | Bike Setup: |
Scott Sawtooth with new specialized pedals | | Bottom Line: | I bough these with a discount becuase they are last years model and I'm very happy with them. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a
from LA
Date Reviewed: January 28, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Seth, your analysis was good with one exception -- Specialized could have softened up the BOTTOM of the sole without sacrificing sole stiffness. If you look at the sole, it's composed of two parts: a hard, stiff black part and a softer, red part which was intended to promote traction. Softening up the red part WOULD NOT have decreased the stiffness, nor would it have compromised the cleat anchoring. Take it from a clown with an MS in aeronautical engineering (structures). | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Seth
a cross-country rider
from RSM, CA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1999 | | Bottom Line: |
Specialized El Gato Comps - Great shoes, especially for the money. I've had mine for just over a year now and they have worked out great. The leather has held up well, the sole has not come unglued, and I haven't torn anything apart. Considering the amount of air time I have logged and some of the horrendous crashes that I have been through, they have held up really well. Especially scraping the shoes and pedals through some of the rock gardens here in Southern California.Positives
(1) can't beat the price - $90
(2) good fit(two straps plus lacing and a neoprene tongue). Sure they run narrow; so what? Keep trying on shoes until you find the size that fits you and buy 'em; who gives a rat's ass what the number on the outside of the shoebox says?
(3) excellent ventilation
(4) stiff sole: good power transfer
(5) good traction, even on rocks in streams (don't listen to those clowns below; use your brain and watch where you walk; any sole that is soft enough to be really grippy won't have the power transfer you need and the lugs will rip off.)
Negatives
(1) heel cup isn't molded
(2) not too much in the way of color choicesI would buy 'em again.
For just twice as much, you can get something Italiano with a molded heel cup and fancy shmancy buckles. For the money, they are great shoes.Now turn off your computer, geek boy, and go for a ride. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bontrager Man (Keith IS a god)
a cross-country rider
from Central Mass
Date Reviewed: December 17, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I picked up my comps at LBS. I work for a comfortable shoe company, and am pretty particular about the fit/comfort of my shoes. I've only been riding a year or so, so when I tried on the comps tI figured the fact that the fit a bit tight was...normal... I ended up two sizes higher than my normal to find a width that was OK. After many miles and much cleat tweaking...I've found them to be just to damn narrow for my feet, a comon probalem looking at some of the other postings. If you have wide feet I would NOT recomend these shoes (though I've heard the '99 models is a bit more grasious).
On the up side they wear (durability) and dry real well... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Art
a weekend warrior
from Louisiana
Date Reviewed: December 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Good shoes. I've been using them for a year and they've held up pretty well. The fit is just about perfect for me. The material used for the uppers and sole is incredible because there's hardly any damage anywhere. However, I think the bottom of the sole needs to be softened up a bit because as many other reviewers noted, the shoe is not good for slippery conditons on hard surfaces. It's no the lightest shoe either (770g/pair, size 43), but it's comparble in weight to other shoes on the market costing twice as much. The sole is starting to separate from the uppers, so once my shoes are trashed, I think I'll try the new Specialized Comps; I only hope they've transferred the good qualities of the old design to the new one. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alan Funk
a cross-country rider
from Clearfield, PA
Date Reviewed: October 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using these shoes for a little over 4 months now. At first I found that they didn't really have a good fit but after wearing them for a few weeks they got broken in and had a good feel. I have had trouble with the soccer cleats that go on in the front. I lost some of them on a ride so I just ended up removing them and not usuing them at all. When I was installing the cleats one of the bolts stripped out on me way too easily. Fortunately I had some extra bolts laying around and fixed it with out a problem. I also found that these shoes aren't very easy to walk on trails. Especially on rocks in through streams. Very poor traction. On the positive side the soles are nice and stiff which helps transfer more power to the pedals. If you don't plan on letting your feet touch the ground these could be pretty great shoes. Other wise they are only so so. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
TrailRipper
a cross-country rider
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: September 20, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoes are great. I have had only three problems (one of which is my own fault) and they were minor. The most problematic of them all was the neoprene tongue didn't hold up to the demands. The stitching came out, and I had to put it on carefully each time. It never disconnected completely, which was all right. The second problem was the plastic cleats didn't match the metal teeth that screw it in. The plastic gave and I wasn't able to take the cleats out anymore. And the third problem was that I simply grew out of them. I'm very happy with Specialized, and I have the '97 Ultimates in the mail (on sale at Nashbar for $120). Wow. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rafael A. Torrens III
a weekend warrior
from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: September 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I like the this shoe very much. It is well built and the materials are good, in fact, I think that it compares with shoes costing twice as much. However, I think it is for people with narrow feet only. Sizing is extremely tight. In fact, too tight. I think these shoes were one of the reasons I aquired Morton's Neuroma. I was used to Vittorias, which I thought were extremely good. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eugene Hsieh
a weekend warrior
from Toronto
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Tried on these shoes ('97 and '98) and they were very narrow up front. For the '97 I could only fit into a 41 despite the fact that I wear 39 Shimano M150's. ie. The Specialized are very narrow, and to get something wide enough I had to go two sizes bigger, meaning it was too big and I got heel lift.
They look quite lame too - like kid's Wal-Mart runners of yesteryear.For my wide feet the (more expensive) Shimano's fit much better, but we'll have to see if they last. I've read many horror stories of their less than stellar durability.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mango
a
from cross-country rider
Date Reviewed: August 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are great shoes that hold up very well. I've had them for a year and a half done over 200 rides with them and they are still going strong with their second set of cleats. Ther are three things that could be improved. 1. The heal cup tends to be a little loose. 2. the plastic soles are slippery on rocks and 3. It is a bit of a pain to lace up they laces that hide under the velcro straps | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a cross-country rider
from Alabama
Date Reviewed: August 1, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are terrific shoes when I'm clipped in and pedaling. They are light, stiff, durable and have a good fit. The problem I've found with these shoes comes during hike-a-bike sections where my heel slips almost completely out of the shoe. Also the hard plastic sole is slippery when walking across slabs of rock and makes pedal reengagement somewhat more difficult than with my Shimano shoes. The cleat pocket itself isn't as good as some other shoes and requires more coaxing to get clipped in. I've had these shoes for almost a year and a half and their durability seems to be very good. The material seems to hold up to abrasion especially well and the soccer studs are still in place. These shoes are terrific for someone who rides nontechnical trails and never has to unclip and walk. Although the sole sheds mud very well the heel slippage caused this shoe to be a source of aggravation. If you ever have to hike on your rides go for something else. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kwun
a cross-country rider
from PA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
As opposed to previous reviewers, I bought these because i have wide feet. I used shimano shoes previously and my toes often go numb during the ride. the problem totally disappeared after i bought the specialized. the strap and lace system works flawlessly and the shoes does look great!the plate that holds the cleat bolt stripped on me once, luckily, it has two pairs of holes so i just flipped it over.it runs around 1 1/2 sizes small so beware if you mail order.all in all, a great pair of shoes and highly recommend it if you have wide feet. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a cross-country rider
from Athens, GA
Date Reviewed: June 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
What a killer pair of shoes. I have had them since December (6 months) and after an initial break in period where the heel messed me up badly, they have flawless. Rigid as all get out and look pretty cool to boot :). The screw in cleats are an especially nice touch for a shoe in this price range. Warning though, I usually wear about a size 10 tennis shoe (Nike), but had to go to an 11 or 11-1/2 on these to get a comfortable fit. Good Luck! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
CJA
a cross-country rider
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Date Reviewed: June 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoes ROCK! The first day out they fit perfect, with the velcro and laces you can make them fit any foot. Plus they have a deeper heel pocket to keep your feet from sliding around while you're clipped in. Extra stiff...equals...more power. Plus with the sole and the soccer lugs makes them great in both wet and dry conditions. I even like the colors. Buy'em if you are starting out clippless or upgrade your cheap performance or nashbars.
I give them 5 Chilles! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jaren
a cross-country rider
from Brookfield, WI
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been riding these shoes for a year now. I love the stiffness, minimizing the loss of energy. The mesh allows heat to dissapate very nicely. The velcro is positioned perfectly for a snug fit, ridding sloppyness. I actually took the soccer studs out and like it better. They slipped to much on rocks. The rest of the sole is adequate for traction. They don't absorb much water, keeping the weight down at all times. At this price, nothing but five chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bernie L.
a weekend warrior
from Miami, Fl
Date Reviewed: May 5, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the perfect pair of shoes for any beginner. The price is just right and so is the fit of the shoe. The mesh provides plenty of cooling area for the hot summers encountered down in Miami, and helps the shoe dry very quickly when wet. The cleats have also come in handy when I needed good tration on the trail. Just the ideal shoe for an entry level rider. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John C.
a cross-country rider
from St. Louis, MO
Date Reviewed: April 23, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I finally settled on the El Gato Comps after trying on a bunch of different shoes. The main problem was fit and these definitely fit well if you have narrower feet. They are tough to get on at first because of the laces and neoprene sock under the straps but break in quite nicely. The sole has a good stiffness and they are well-ventilated and lightweight. Haven't tried the spikes yet but overall this is a great shoe for the money. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a cross-country rider
from SLC, UT
Date Reviewed: April 14, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is a great shoe! I almost got the new Shimano Rokasaki ($130) and I sure am glad I went with this shoe instead. It was more comfortable because it was a little wider especially in the toes. The sole is stiff and grips well in just about any surfaces except it sucked on slickrock. Still 5 chilies though!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a racer
from Croton, NY
Date Reviewed: April 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've been using these shoes for about two years and they are still good. They are extremely stiff, and have very good venting, but the threads have stripped. I have lost four of the soccer studs, but the bike shop replaced them for free. The cleats on the left shoe have also stripped, but they can be replaced with stronger clip things. Other than weak threads, the shoes are awesome. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a cross-country rider
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: March 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These are very nice shoes! They look good enough to walk through stores
and their tough enough to last. They have just the right amount of ventilation,
the shoes cool down when it's hot and keep in heat when it's cold. They're
pretty light compared to other shoes like Nike. I ride them hard day in and day
out and they are still going! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a cross-country rider
from Montreal, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
Great shoes for the money. Super comfy and durable. Some people have mentioned that the cleat mounts strip out easily, but if you replace the cleat mounts with the ones that come with the pedals & cleats, they're fine.
5 chilis, but minus one because one of the soccer studs stripped out. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeff
a cross-country rider
from austin, tx
Date Reviewed: January 16, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
While shoe preference and fit are as personal as saddles, here goes. I bought them b/c they are cheap, stiff, and had a narrow heel cup so my foot wouldn't slip out. The problem? There is an inside neopreme-type liner that is sewn under the midsole. It has a bulge in the footbead that makes the outside of the foot opposite the arch go numb. Fixed it by cutting half-moon notches out of the insole and adding the hard plastic insole base of a Peterson's orthotic for cycling. They fit even better after getting wet and molding to my feet. This was not an easy fix. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe S.
a racer
from Westfield NJ
Date Reviewed: January 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have used the El Comps for nearly a year now. They fabric is very durable and holds up to incredible abuse. However there are several shortcoming that were stated by earlier reviewers: 1.) The cleats strip out of the cleat plates 2.) The shoes are way too tight and narrow at the toe box causing numbness at temperatures below 60 deg. 3.) The velcro straps are not long enough. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barron
a racer
from Wisconsin
Date Reviewed: January 13, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
These shoe worked great.....until one of my cleat bolts stripped out. There's not enough threads on the cleat mounts to hold the cleat bolts. After much use the bolt simply stripped the threads. Oh you might say I over-tightened it, but I'm one-step ahead of you. I tightened the bolts to the exact specifications using a torque wrench! Also 3 of my 4 soccer cleats broke off!I should've known I'd have problems since my sole tore out of my last pair of Specialized shoes....but I was in a bind and needed shoes immediately so this is what I got. It wouldn't be half-bad if Specialized owned-up to the problem and replaced my shoes, but that has not happened. So much for a warranty.So here's my advice, spend the extra money and buy the Sidi's. I should have.
| Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
r.c
a cross-country rider
from ca
Date Reviewed: January 10, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
i have the el gato comps. really good shoes for the price, although not a sidi, but then again your not paying as much as a sidi. really stiff sole, but that makes walking hard if you have have to hike up hills. the only thing that sucks is that the cleats don't stay put. especially in mud. used loctite, but it still slipped ocasionally. and the tread might get in the way of pedals. If it hadn't been for the cleats loosening, it would have been perfect. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sacha
a weekend warrior
from Ottawa CANADA
Date Reviewed: December 3, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
My el Gato Comp were used in every condition possible.
Hell, I even melted the strap off in an oven trying to dry them!!
Overall awesome shoes, make sure to get perfect fitting ones or else you
will get numb feet! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian o.
a racer
from MN
Date Reviewed: September 1, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
El Gato Comp.
I really like the shoe...but i do have narrow feet. The shoe is way under sized so I recommend trying a pair on first if you intend to mail order.
The threaded plate is terrible. I've striped mine twice. I have yet to get it replaced...again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
louis
a cross-country rider
from GA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The best $80-$90 dollar shoe you'll ever find. I like these better than my Sidi Techno Fires. The best thing about the El Gato Comp is the stiff sole. I can easily flex the Sidi sole, but the Specialized sole doesn't bend. The sole design looks very similar, but the Specialized seems to be slightly harder, and perhaps a little more slippery. The Specialized uppers have formed to my fett very well, but they still fit snugly where they're supposed to. They're cool, and comfortable, and they dry out quickly.This is the first pair of clipless shoes I've owned that cost less than $150 (sidi, adidas). I think they are my favorite riding shoes, so far. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jukka-Pekka Toiva
a racer
from Tampere,Finland,Europe
Date Reviewed: July 14, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Specialized El Gato Comp shoes:I read some reviews and I noticed similar problems that I have had so far.Sizing is xtremely snug,tight in fact.The velcros seem quite short also to tighten your shoe in the future.The studs wear out immediately, but you can replace them with soccer studs so no problem.today noticed that the cleat on the right shoe had come loose.The threads of sole are partially stripped out so we'll wait and see.Warranty work I hope so.As i'm not racing national series this year I guess I'm forced to buy new shoes and definetely Sidi's are my first choice.My last sidis lasted for 4 years! Racing and cruising for 20000 kilometres=nearly 15000 miles. They are expensive indeed but in Europe the shoes cost Spec.El Gato Comp 110$, Sidi Fire 150$. If the Spec shoes come apart just after 500 miles so 40bucks is silly money for extra durability.Two for grade=one for colours and the second for nice try. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a
from Los Gatos, CA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
97 El Gato Comp's:After a few rides with this shoe I am disappointed. On steep, hike-a-bike sections, my heel comes completedly out of the shoe. It works great while clipped-in and riding. However, my rides have several steep-unridable climbs. Who needs a shoe that is coming off all the time. It's way too distracting, I'm thinking about the shoes, not the climb. I believe the fault of this problem is an inadequate internal lacing system.I have also had some foot numbing problems. This is my first experience with a clipless system. I have used clips & straps with cyclecross shoes (Rivat's) since '91. This shoes are still in great shape; just a little dirty and the sole chewed a bit by the peddles. I like my new clipless peddles, but not my shoes. I'll give three stars because they work ok while on the bike. However, the shoes are going to the return counter. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a weekend warrior
from Richmond, VA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Just got a pair of the '97 El Gato Comps. Make sure you get them one shoe size larger than what you normally wear. I normally wear a 10 1/2 shoe which relates to a size 45 in the Specialized sizing chart. The size 45 was too tight and too short, so now I'm ordering the 46 which relates to an 11 1/2. The sole is ultra stiff with deep tread. The soccer style cleats are a nice addition (which you don't get on the Sport model). I think these shoes will be easier to clean up than the Sport model also. As stated below, the plate that comes in the shoe is too short to attach your cleats to. I had to use the attachment plate that came with my pedals also. I'll probably try to pick up some longer screws because I'd rather use the plate that came with the shoes. It covers more area on the sole which would help keep the mud and water from coming through the bottom of the shoes. All in all, I'm expecting to get some great wear out of these shoes. I'll let you know later. | | Overall Rating: |
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