Submitted by
Mark Lyndon
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand, Auckland Date Reviewed: March 12, 2008
Favorite Trail:
hot x buns
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
RR Sport
Strengths:
Comfortable, long lasting, has laces and straps
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
Lakes
Bike Setup:
Yeti 575 06
Bottom Line:
Great shoe, I love to upgrade stuff but shoes have never entered my head to upgrade. I ride allyear round, mud, rain, sand etc and they good as new. Stiff sole is great fro ridn but not for climbing up long clay tracks, but thats not what they designed for .
Great shoe still going strong.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
casey mccarthy
a Weekend Warrior
from clemson, sc Date Reviewed: January 10, 2008
Favorite Trail:
isaqueena
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$50.00
Strengths:
fit really well on my foot,great value, plenty of grip off the bike, and for some reason i like the look.
Weaknesses:
laces too long and can be difficult to tie but easily fixed(work fine w/o laces), slight pain after long ride but this is my first clipless shoe it may just be my feet gettin use to it.
Similar Products Used:
n/a
Bike Setup:
marin shoreline trail
Bottom Line:
great shoe for the price. would like to try a higher end shoe but would deffiently buy another set. buy these.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Andy
a Weekend Warrior
from Horsetooth Mountain Colorado Date Reviewed: July 18, 2007
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$79.00
Purchased At:
online somewhere - greenfish?
Strengths:
Great fit with SPD pedals, lots of protection on side of foot, comfy hiker, gripy tread, super adjustable, accurate sizing, and they look good too!
Weaknesses:
Can't think of any... excellent "all mountain" shoe - not a racer boy shoe.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Nike, Cannondale
Bike Setup:
Running these on Shimano 959's on a Nomad XO AM
Bottom Line:
I have been using these shoes since they were introduced. I wear 'em out annually. I must be on my 6th or 7th pair. This year's model (black and silver w/ reverse strap) is, by far, the best yet. The reversed middle strap and tighter fit thru the midsection work perfectly for me. I rate these superior to the higher end Shimano shoes which offer very little outside edge protection and cost at least twice as much. I will continue to buy these as long as they are made.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris Lee
a Cross Country Rider
from Winnipeg, Mb, Canada Date Reviewed: June 13, 2006
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$60.00
Purchased At:
LBS
Strengths:
Price
Weaknesses:
Combo lace and velcro closure...who uses both ??
Similar Products Used:
Shimano, Specialized
Bike Setup:
Gary Fisher Big Sur, XT,LX,Manitou Black fork,WTB saddle
Bottom Line:
My second pair of shoes after my shimano's blew up after a couple of yrs. Bought these in the spring and they never quite fit me properly...my quest continues
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from San Jose, CA, USA Date Reviewed: January 4, 2006
Favorite Trail:
last one i was on
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Bike Nashbar
Strengths:
price, fit, grippy sole
Weaknesses:
toe stitching, soft sole, complicated lace/flap/strap combination
Similar Products Used:
carnac, specialized
Bike Setup:
dean scout hardtail, white brothers 72UL fork, sram grip shift, etc.
Bottom Line:
This is a review for the newer, grey, 3 strap version. I bought them just over a year ago for the upcoming cross racing season and daily commuting use. I got them with Crank Bothers Egg Beater S pedals from bikenashbar.com for a steal.
Bottom Line: good value if they don't fall apart on you like mine did. grippy and comfortable sole wears pretty quickly.
They fit well, had a grippy and soft sole which was great for wet rocks/sidewalks/etc. The combination of laces, a velcro flap and 3 velcro straps is not the quickest, simplest, most effecient or most adjustable fastening setup. My other shoes with 3 straps stayed on just as well. My shoes with two straps and one ratched strap stayed on great and allowed a quick, on-bike adjustment to the ratcheded strap.
About 9 months into their use, the stitching connecting the mesh on the top of my toes to the leather like material that is also attached to the front of the sole started to come out. It has gotten worse over the past few months, to the point where my big toe was visible, and I just replaced them with some Specialized shoes.
For the price I wasn't too surprised as it seems I got what I paid for - but still - a bit disappointing as they worked well enough otherwise. When I went to swap out my cleats I realized the sole on the heels had almost worn out completely - so there was very little life left in them.
I didn't walk a lot in them - just through the train station and the office during my daily commute. I did race about 2/3 of a cross season on them but honestly that's not much abuse.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay Ho
a Weekend Warrior
from NYC Date Reviewed: September 29, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Graham Hills
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$90.00
Strengths:
Solid construction. Good walking platform.
Weaknesses:
Not the best for wide feet
Similar Products Used:
Gaerne Vertical Diadora Gecko
Bike Setup:
SC Heckler, DEAN Ace
Bottom Line:
Good shoes. These are the newer model unlike the ones in the pic above. There are black and grey. I ordered a pair for my friend and was really impressed with the quality so I ordred one for myself. Comparable to shoes costing a good bit more. Really snug fit with the laces and velcro closure but fits well enough w/o the laces. Solid sole for good power transfer but comfy enough to walk in. I actually use them for my road bike as well during tours b/c of the walking stability. Sole stands up really well to asphalt as well as the rocks on the trail. The only problem is I have wide feet and there are wider shoes out there. I tried a pair of wides and they are the only thing really comfy. My friend doesn't have the same problem and heis in love with his shoes. So much he is ordering another pair. We have no problem with the sole as some previous posters mentioned.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix Date Reviewed: June 8, 2005
Favorite Trail:
Tsail NC
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$44.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Fits well, laces and velco straps i like, works well with all the SPD pedals I have had.
Weaknesses:
They are Ugly looking, Not the best if you need to dismount and climb a rocky Mountain.
Similar Products Used:
Shimano Something another
Bike Setup:
Klein Adept Comp
Bottom Line:
Best shoe I have found, got a great deal on them, and they have worn extremely well. Would look for another pair of answers whenever I may need another pair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
adam trammell
a Weekend Warrior
from killeen, tx Date Reviewed: September 1, 2004
Favorite Trail:
devil's racetrack
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint.com
Strengths:
good grip stiff sole keeps foot snug last forever
Weaknesses:
laces are a bit long
Similar Products Used:
speeders, axo crap
Bike Setup:
04 stumpy fsr
Bottom Line:
these shoes have done so much more than expected i rarely walk in them any more but the rubber's there when i need it i have no issues with these and after maybe this season i will get some new shoes and guess what they will be impacts also
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt miller
a Racer
from nazareth, PA Date Reviewed: January 12, 2004
Favorite Trail:
this one place in jersey with a wierd name
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$55.00
Purchased At:
Curt's Cyclery
Strengths:
look cool, inexpensive,
Weaknesses:
i dont really like the lace/flap/strap combo
Similar Products Used:
im kinda cheap when it comes to apparel and shoes so it was all cheaper stuff than these
not once did i have a gripe about my shoes. ive had them for a year and i've used them just about every day and they're just starting to self-destruct. if these were lighter, i'd get a pair for next season. hey, they carried me through the sport class..
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Randy
a Weekend Warrior
from Wisconsin Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003
Favorite Trail:
Elroy/Sparta Trail
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
I don't recall which web site it was
Strengths:
Looks, Price, Versatility (will work well with all types of pedals), and Rigidity
Weaknesses:
These shoes were designed for someone with a very narrow foot. My feet Are an EE width and these shoes were uncomfortably tight from day one. After about 9 weeks of use the sole began to separate from the upper. I have had the same problem (initial tightness) with other shoes, but they all stretched enough to accomodate my feet. As others have said, the laces on these things are waaaaay too long.
Similar Products Used:
Northwave Fuel, Pearl Izumi Vagabond
Bike Setup:
Trek 6700 Factory Setup
Bottom Line:
These would be a nice low end shoe if they were a bit wider. The width is the only real problem that I've had with them but it was severe enough to prevent me from ever buying another pair.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Annandale Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
performance
Strengths:
Good grip in wet and muddy hills off the bike. I haven't had the problems others have reported with the cleats.
Weaknesses:
Lacing is a pain. Laces get caught on velcro and are too long. Shoes show a lot of wear after just a few months of light usage. They also seem to have shrunk a lot after getting wet. Started out a perfect fit, but now are uncomfortably tight (hasn't happened with other shoes, so I don't think it's my feet).
Similar Products Used:
Even cheaper pair of generic mtb shoes. Time now for Sidi!
Bike Setup:
Proflex 856
Bottom Line:
Wouldn't buy again.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jim.
a Cross Country Rider
from Cranberry Twp. PA Date Reviewed: February 15, 2003
Favorite Trail:
any
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$49.00
Purchased At:
Nashbar
Strengths:
The rubber grips well and the fit is surprisingly comfortable. The velcro/lace combo works.
Weaknesses:
The laces are way too long, and the shoes feel heavy when you first start using them.
Similar Products Used:
Gaerne unknown model - dismantled in less than a year, Sidi Dominator - lasted 3 years,
Bike Setup:
irrelevant in this discussion.
Bottom Line:
Great deal for the bucks but these take forever to lace. The laces catch on the Velcro strips. The Sidi ratcheting system spoiled me with it's quickness and ease of use. These shoes grip on wet rocks and logs is way better than the Sidis I had before. Cover the Impact with booties and they make excellent winter riding shoes. So far they are untested in summer heat. The bottom line is that I couldn't imagine a better shoe for the dollar.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Chris H
a Cross Country Rider
from Greer, SC, 29650 Date Reviewed: February 11, 2003
Favorite Trail:
pisga
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
i forgot the web site....sorry
Strengths:
stiffness, traction, looks
Weaknesses:
the two front cleats tend to come out, sometimes its a pain to get the shoe laced up and stuff.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
motobecame fly w/panaracer firc XC's and wtb laser v stealth seat
Bottom Line:
If you dont really care about the two front cleats coming out, i havent found much to be wrong with these shoes. I dont really have anything to compare these shoes too, so take what you will from this review.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
George
a Weekend Warrior
from Lufkin Date Reviewed: January 7, 2003
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$65.00
Purchased At:
The Bike Shop - Nacogdoches, TX
Strengths:
Affordability, I only paid $65.00 for these puppies. Not a bad shoe for the price overall. Decent looking shoe for the money, and they have held up pretty well. I am retiring from adventure racing, and my Sidi Dominators were history after 2 good years of hard riding in very tough conditions. I was low on cash so I bought these Answers, and I have not been disappointed but still they are no comparison to the Sidi's which are the gold standard of bike shoes, by which all other bike shoes are compared.
Weaknesses:
Lacing system is sort of contrived and not very easy to manage. Even though the laces are covered by a 2-strap velcro system, this tends to loosen up after a number of dismounts to hike-a-bike until you can ride again. It's frustrating to have to stop and retie your bike shoes. After a couple of months, the shoe began to feel sloppy on my feet, like they were stretching or something. I ride through lots of creeks and muddy slop, and these shoes may not be designed with that sort of condition in mind. Also, the screw-in cleats at the toe are handy for diggin in as you climb up the really steep stuff, but the cleats will back out of the threads unless you re-tighten them every ride. I've lost 4 cleats in a year just from riding what I would call moderately hard, certainly not at a race pace, but on pretty technical stuff.
Similar Products Used:
Sidi; Shimano
Bike Setup:
TREK hardtail with Time Atac pedals.
Bottom Line:
Pretty good shoe for the money. If you don't have the money to buy a top-tier shoe like a Sidi, the Answer's will do you fine. But remember that you are only paying $70 or so, and this shoe is not designed to hold up to rough conditions for more than a year or so. I rated the value at 4 steamin' turds because these shoes are a good buy. I gave the overall rating 3 steamin' turds cause the shoe tends to get sloppy on your feet after some amount of wear.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, CA, USA Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Cannell Plunge
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$40.00
Purchased At:
Supergo
Strengths:
Got them on closeout, so I have got say the "the price". Replaceable cleats
Pretty decent for the $40 I spent on them. I had to retire my old Sidi's, and was short on cash at the time, so i didn't really have much of a choice. So far, they are working out pretty good, although I sure do miss the cam-lock buckle of my old sidi's!!!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Matt
a Cross Country Rider
from CT Date Reviewed: July 11, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
REI
Strengths:
Nice initial fit (purely subjective).
Weaknesses:
Lacing system fails at actually making the shoe snug. The two velcro straps take up some of the slack initially, but after a month I could pull my foot out at will. This is unusual because I have a D-E width foot. Shoes began to show severe signs of wear after 3 months.
Similar Products Used:
Nike Yuha, Shimano
Bike Setup:
Litespeed Hardtail
Bottom Line:
I usually get about three seasons out of a pair of MTB shoes. These shoes are utterly destroyed after only 8 months. Very disappointing! To be fair, I'm giving them 2 flamin' Chilis because they did make it past three months.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Alex Jefferson
a Weekend Warrior
from Baltimore, Maryland Date Reviewed: May 24, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Avalon, Loch Raven
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
Performance store
Strengths:
Durability, comfort
Weaknesses:
Velcro strap tore early, need to get a replacement pair of shoes. One toe spikes won't stay secure
Bottom Line:
The first clipless shoes I've ever had, and they are still going strong. Except for one toe spike missing and one velcro strap ripping about a week after purchase, I've been very satisfied with these shoes
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Mike M.
a Cross Country Rider
from Telluride,co Date Reviewed: March 30, 2002
Duration Product Used:
More than 3 years
Price Paid:
$75.00
Purchased At:
t sports
Strengths:
inepensive Stiff sole
Weaknesses:
Rubber falls of of sole. It might last a year if your lucky
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
Rocky Mountain Instint
Bottom Line:
Ok shoe. Fine for a first bike shoe but After riding for two years with it they are trashed. Almost all the rubber has fallen off.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
chris miami
a Cross Country Rider
from hialeah,fl,usa Date Reviewed: February 10, 2002
Favorite Trail:
oleta river
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$70.00
Purchased At:
jensonusa
Strengths:
looks real tough/matches my red hutch trick-star
Weaknesses:
don't know yet
Similar Products Used:
none, 1st shoe
Bike Setup:
hutch trick star/skyway mags
Bottom Line:
please*** reply, i just received the 2001 answer "impact" shoe (red and blue model), and i think this 2001 year model was supposed to "fix" the (falling off sole) problem. please specify if anyone has trouble w/the 2001 red/blue model, and please (for those who lost their sole, state what year/color model they had) thanks..fellow bikers.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from Virginia Date Reviewed: January 31, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$120.00
Weaknesses:
uncomfortable and not durable
Similar Products Used:
Lake, specialized, shimano
Bottom Line:
destroyed in one season. The sole came away from the top.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ross Andersen
a Downhiller
from Delta B.C. Canada Date Reviewed: July 31, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Air Supply
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$200.00
Purchased At:
Rocky Cycle
Strengths:
Colors Fit tough had answer acellerator before and still using it after 4 years
Weaknesses:
none but skinny laces
Similar Products Used:
Answer Acellerators
Bike Setup:
2001 Mountaincycle shockwave
Bottom Line:
THEY ROCK
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Carlisle. PA USA Date Reviewed: July 30, 2001
Favorite Trail:
Stony Creek Valley, north of Harrisburg, PA
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$85.00
Purchased At:
Price Point
Strengths:
Comfort. Toughness
Weaknesses:
Laces
Bike Setup:
Klein Attitude Comp with Times.
Bottom Line:
I'm a roadie who does MTB as a once a week change of pace, so I guess I ride like a roadie--relatively long distances at a relatively fast pace on double track rather than technical single track. The Answers--once I returned the originals which were a half size small--have been just what the doctor ordered. I've had recurring foot pain with road shoes that cost much more, but not a bit with the Answers. They're comfortable and tough. The look right too. Definitely recommended in the sub-$100 price range.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Jay
a Weekend Warrior
from Tempe, AZ Date Reviewed: April 27, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$100.00
Purchased At:
Tempe Bike
Strengths:
Fits well for my high arch foot.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano M210
Bike Setup:
97 FSR-Z1BAM, etc.
Bottom Line:
After owning the M210's for several years & needing a new pair, I checked the full Shimano line but only found the new M320's to fit me, but for a higher price (Sidi's are great - but more expensive). I've had these Impact's for about a year & they are in excellent shape & fit very well-even with an arch support inside. I removed the laces - I felt they were not needed & were a hassle. Not a hint of sole delamination after riding about 2-3x/wk in the rock infested Southwest. I'd buy these again in a heartbeat.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Bill
a Cross Country Rider
from McLean, Va, USA Date Reviewed: March 15, 2001
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
$129 at Performance
Strengths:
Good fit, does not stretch when it gets wet, Good Looks.
Weaknesses:
durability
Similar Products Used:
Shiman, Nashbar, performance, specialized
Bike Setup:
1. Freeride FS bike 2. XC hardtail
Bottom Line:
I am pleased with the shoe but the sole has not only come away from the shoe but peices of the sole have broken off. I ride 3 to 4 times a week but this is unacceptable. A shoe that costs this much should last more than a season.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Adrian
a Cross Country Rider
from Devizes Date Reviewed: October 12, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Strengths:
Great fit Velcro straps and laces Good sole traction Studs included
Weaknesses:
Sole delaminated from toebox on both shoes
Similar Products Used:
Lake MX200 Nike Super Poobah
Bike Setup:
Wolf Ridge + Hope Brakes Pine Mountain + RC36 Evo
Bottom Line:
Great fitting shoes (I've got fairly wide feet) with good ventilation for general summer riding. Cool looks and what looks to be very hard wearing leather reinforcement on the uppers. Good traction when off the bike.
However, I'm on my second pair after the toe-box on each shoe delaminated from the outsole. I'm trying this pair without the studs fitted to see if the forces on the front of the shoes from using these helped the fault occur. Rating would be 5 if soles hadn't come off.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keivn
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs Date Reviewed: September 14, 2000
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$119.00
Strengths:
fit, durability, stiffness
Weaknesses:
none so far
Similar Products Used:
Specialized, AXO
Bike Setup:
99 Klein Mantra Race, XT, SID XC
Bottom Line:
Great shoe for the money. Just used this shoe for a self-supported 450 mile trip on the Colorado Trail and spent 12 hours a day for 8 days in these shoes. Excellent fit, good traction in any terrain. Walked a lot of miles. Great durability, especially the soles. They have definately fixed the problem they had with the soles falling off their shoes.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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