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Submitted by
rich-6
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Dalby | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | CRC | | Strengths: | Comfortable, Grippy soles, Look good | | Weaknesses: | Soles come away, Stay wet for ages, Rubber tabs fall out | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper FSR with a few upgrades | | 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! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
aweewawah
a Weekend Warrior
from bellingham, WA ,USA
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Evolution | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | Fanatic Bike CO. | | Strengths: | Stylish, comftorable, reccessed cleat, rugged, long lasting | | Weaknesses: | sole wears a little faster than i had hoped, they dont make them anymore | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Fetish Position Cyclocross, SPD pedals, hollowtech cranks, ultegra drivetrain | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant
a Racer
from Bham ,WA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | white knuckle | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | sixsixone.com | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | old destroyeed vans which kept falling off these are a lot better | | Bike Setup: | suped up 04 a-line | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gravel Rash
a Weekend Warrior
from Bangkok
Date Reviewed: July 14, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | tam pratoon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | Max Rider | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | 661 Sessions | | Bike Setup: | SC Heckler, Recon Fork, Juicy 5, X-7 drivetrain. Hutchison Python up front and Piranha in the back | | 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. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Romano Verlengia
a Cross Country Rider
from Parker, Arizona
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Rancho Fransquito, San Diego | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Comfortable | | Weaknesses: | The strap is way too long, and the velcro is too short. | | Similar Products Used: | Sidi | | Bike Setup: | MTB: Titus Racer X, Specialized Epic & Kona Caldera
Road: Specilaized S-Works | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryce Shaw
a Downhiller
from Santa Cruz, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | vampire pig | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | six six one | | 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 | | Bike Setup: | 7point | | Bottom Line: | I wouldn't buy this shoe again | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam
a Downhiller
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Post Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Looks. Flat sole when not clipped in. | | Weaknesses: | Useless strap, sizing, laces too long. | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano, Nike. | | Bike Setup: | All mountain. | | 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 ! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Gilbert, AZ
Date Reviewed: February 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | Blue Sky Cycling | | Strengths: | Looks ok | | Weaknesses: | Cleats ripped out, uncomfortable | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized and Cannondale shoes | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz heckler, Diabolus stuff, XO stuff, specialized stuff, etc. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Downhiller
from Seattle WA USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | jenson | | 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 | | Similar Products Used: | Dog Crap | | Bike Setup: | ironhorse sohon bucho. boxxer team, saint cranks | | 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Swotch Dotkom
a Weekend Warrior
from Tenerife
Date Reviewed: December 17, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Tenerife Trails | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$80.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Look, comfort riding and walking, clip-in,velcro strap, | | Weaknesses: | Sole wears fast | | Similar Products Used: | Shimano shoes | | Bike Setup: | Prophet 600 with Mallet pedals | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris
a Weekend Warrior
from aliso viejo, ca, usa
Date Reviewed: December 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$65.00 | | Purchased At: | the bike co. | | 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 | | Bottom Line: | these shoes suck! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Amz
a Weekend Warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Diadora | | Bike Setup: | Giant Reign 2, manitou nixon fork, race face components, Atomlab Quickstep pedals. | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thomas german
a Weekend Warrior
from doylestown, pa
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$50.00 | | Purchased At: | blue sky cycling | | 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 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Condro
a Downhiller
from California
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | The full sized sole (vs. a XC shoe) provides a natual feel due to its contact on the pedals. I run Time Z controls and they seem to work pretty good together.
The rubber over the cleat section of the mid sole is already cut out making cleat installation easy.
Overall the shoes are pretty stiff, lace up well, and look half way normal besides the strap ( which is removable). | | Weaknesses: | The stock foot beds aren't the best, so I replaced my with some $11 Doctor Scholl's and now they are great.
The closure strap is a little to long to really tighten. | | Bike Setup: | Time Z Control | | Bottom Line: | If you are a Downhiller who likes to get a feel for your pedal while being clipped in, or you just like the capability to ride your pedal un-clipped, this is the shoe for you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Racer
from Philly
Date Reviewed: December 12, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Wissahickon | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Comfortable, look good, stick to pedals well, tough shoe, not bad when walking, warm in cold weather. | | Weaknesses: | Not too good for use with clipless pedals because the cleat gets cloged very easily. Great on flat pedals though. | | Bike Setup: | I race xc in clipless, and downhill on flats. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great flat pedal shoe. I am currently running all flats because we have some snow around here right now. This shoe is very wind and water resistant making it a good winter shoe as well. This is my second pair and when these wear out I will buy them again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Erik Solymar
a Downhiller
from Ottawa
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | anything fast (I'd like 2 try a-line) | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | bluesky cycling | | Strengths: | look great, comfortable, can wear them off the bike and not look like a phreak, strong, can suit clip or platform pedals, easy to clean, very good price | | Weaknesses: | a bit heavy, but thats not a concern, starting to fray, but they'v bin wet a few times, when caked with mud they dont stick as well on platforms(then again my studs are wearing out) | | Similar Products Used: | Adio bmx shoes | | Bike Setup: | 04 Specialized Hardrock pro, stock except tire, tubes hanger and a few cables | | Bottom Line: | GR8 SHOES!! they work well no matter what ur riding because they can convert. I'd buy'em again when they wear out. They look great and feel great too. Props to 661. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Blackwell
a Weekend Warrior
from UK
Date Reviewed: June 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | wiggle.co.uk | | Strengths: | comfort, styling, off bike usability | | Weaknesses: | only available in black | | Similar Products Used: | first clipless shoe used | | Bike Setup: | Kinesis Maxlight XCpro, Pace forks, XT, Shimano M324 Combination Pedal | | Bottom Line: | Just built a new bike and having come from clips & strap setup I wanted to retain that freedom of using them as flatties for trails n jumping and what have you but efficient pedaling for covering distance. Also didn't want to look like a t*at whan off the bike. These shoes are just ace. Comfortable to walk in, even with the cleats screwed in. I have pedal with cleat one side and flat the other - just excellent with this show. I can unclip and flip the pedal over and get good grip with the sole of the show for messing around doing trial and taking air off speed humps.
Would recommend to anyone not too sure about making the jump to clipless, which as it turns out are dead easy to use anyway! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guy
a Weekend Warrior
from Hamden, CT
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the one with a lot of jumps | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$55.00 | | Purchased At: | AEbikes | | Strengths: | These are some of the most comfortable shoes around. They feel more like street shoes than biking shoes. | | Weaknesses: | Ah, along with comfort comes a sacrifice in performance. They are a little sloppy. | | Bike Setup: | Ancient Rocky Mt. Equipe, XT and 737 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | These things are great if you want to go out and futz around or ride them down the block (or maybe to work, if you work in a video store?). But they are not so great for anything approaching technical riding. I use them on nice, easy trails and have had little trouble. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chuck
a Cross Country Rider
from Beverly, MA
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Loft | | Strengths: | Looks cool, durable outsole, I could walk for hours in them | | Weaknesses: | Understandably not water resistant:-) | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Comp Mountain Shoes | | Bike Setup: | 01 Specialized Rockhopper FSR with Shimano 646 pedals | | Bottom Line: | I do a lot of hike-and-bike at Lynn Woods, where there's a lot of boulders, cliffs, big rocks, etc. After one season, my Specialized shoes outsoles were worn out. The next season, I got these Launch shoes and the outsoles are still intact after one full season. These shoes are comfortable, I can walk around in them for a long time. If you happen to step in deep puddles (common sight during Spring at Lynn Woods), shoes will be soggy for an hour, then remain damp until the next day. That's understandable since these shoes are made of suede. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from philly
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | got dirt | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | uhhh i forgot | | Strengths: | comfortable, good looks | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | flip flops | | Bike Setup: | wich one | | Bottom Line: | great shoe. i own flats and clipless on different bikes, and these shoes work great on both. plus they look cool, wich is rare for a cycling shoe. 6 chilis | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wils
a Weekend Warrior
from Bromley, Kent, UK
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$60.00 | | Purchased At: | Wiggle (www.wiggle.co.uk) | | Strengths: | Exceptionally comfortable, stiff soles, strong laces and velcro flap thing, understated styling, bombproof outers. | | Weaknesses: | Laces are a bit too long. | | Similar Products Used: | Vans Exacerbate II SPD | | Bike Setup: | Shimano 646 pedals on a 2003 Specialized Enduro. | | Bottom Line: | Firstly, the price is in pounds sterling, not dollars. I'd guess the retail price for these is around $60, however, because we seem to pay through the nose for decent bike kit in the UK.
I bought these after not being entirely happy with my previous SPD shoes (pair of Vans Exacerbate IIs), and I'm glad I did - they're so much better that I can't understand how the Vans get comparable reviews in the mags I've read.
They fit really well. The inside of the shoe is generously padded but doesn't feel spongy, and the insole fits my wide, size 12 (US 13) feet perfectly. No pinching at the sides or strange lumps that don't fit under the arch of my foot properly.
When riding, the sole is stiff and doesn't flex, but isn't deep or heavy (I felt like I was walking on two planks of wood wearing my Vans, by comparison).
I find them incredibly easy to walk in when I'm off my bike, to the point where I just wear them all day at work - probably because the very front of the sole is cut away slightly like a ski boot. It works so well you can just walk in them like you would in ordinary shoes, with no hinderance.
The black outers are tough and hardwearing, with double stitching to keep everything together. The styling is fairly subtle too, so you can wear them off your bike in public without feeling like an idiot if that sort of thing bothers you.
The SPD cleats are located slightly inward compared to the Exacerbates, which suits me because I ride with my feet pointing a couple of degrees out rather than straight, and it still leaves me with room to twist out to release the cleats from the pedal. It's central enough that the majority of your foot is on the pedal body, in any case.
The only downside I can really think of is that the laces are so long that you have to double them up a couple of times when securing them under the velcro flap, but this is a really minor thing and you could always just get some replacement laces if it annoys you (that said, I haven't bothered yet).
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Downhiller
from alb, nm
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | price point | | Strengths: | solid platform, great feel on pedals and off. dope look, I wear them all the time. comfy for clip shoes. nice fit. | | Weaknesses: | the screw in holes are set too deep into the sole therfore the clips must be screwed with spacers. my clips are completely tucked inside the sole, so when I walk I dont really get any static. that's cool for walking, but can get sketchy if you don't know how to ride them | | Similar Products Used: | axo, attack | | Bike Setup: | 02 m1 with shiver. | | Bottom Line: | great product period. recommended for the downhiller who doesn't have crazy dough to drop on two pairs of shoes(downhill and freeride) like a woman(party shoes and school shoes). anyway, highly recommended for price and great product!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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