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Women's flat pedal shoes, Five Ten alternatives

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#21 ·
slimat99 said:
Unless you care about compounds that is. There's only two super sticky compounds on the market. 5.10 and spec. All the others might be sticky enough but anyone coming off 5.10 will find a downgrade in grip unless they go with spec.
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5.10 are not what they used to be… nowadays they're falling apart quickly. After trying different shoes, I found CrankBrothers to be the best (for me).
 
#25 ·
Octopuss said:
I had the Pros for one season and they were just as stiff when I sold them.
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I can't get more than a month out of them before the midsole loses most of its rigidity. I stopped buying them because they are so cheap the midsole becomes like a pair of vans and the sole often separates from the uppers. I weigh 150 so it's not like I'm stressing the midsole. Other shoes I've run have much better midsole integrity through the life of the shoes.
 
#26 ·
Vans and DC have an array of skate shoes. They work great for flat pedal shoes. They have casual fit and then the 'skate rated' stiffer platform. This is what two of my kids use (one wears WM Size 11, the other WM Size 6). Styles and colors are essentially endless. Cost is good too.

I've been using generic 'barefoot' hiking/trekking shoes the last year, they work excellent, though the toe protection could be better. Although the sole is 'flexible', I don't think they are any less comfortable for pedaling around. I have several different pedals, all fully spiked, grip is very good. Push a bike traction is important to me (we have steep, sloppy conditions for many months of the year). The better tread on these shoes helps a lot. Also you can just wear them around - they breathe excellent and are very comfortable.

If you must have a 'bike' shoe, the Stamp line are built on the Nike last, so if she likes Nike fit, those will be a solid option. They work on any pedal, but do align some grooves in the sole with the Stamp pedal pin layout, which is pretty cool and adds some extra 'grip' if you get them lined up.
 
#27 ·
It's interesting you don't like the Pros. After using a ton of different options as of late, I keep coming back to them as the best allrounder that offer the best traction on the pedals (not great for hike-a-bikes however). They are lacking in some areas but they're a solid choice in my opinion, especially because they're often on sale (in the US anyways).

I also found them to soften up after a dozen rides or so. I've probably got ~150 rides on mine and they're still in pretty good shape, none of the premature wear that plagued 5.10 freeriders in the past. But since you don't like them I'd recommend looking at:
  • Five Ten Trailcross XT. Grippy, comfortable, really nice to walk in, and a somewhat narrow fit. Certainly softer than the Freerider Pros. I think this might be your best option.
  • Ride Concepts Livewire. Fairly soft, comfy and descent grip on the pedals. Slightly lower volume fit than the Freerider Pros but not as grippy. Not as comfortable to walk in as the Trailcross XT above. I'd put this shoe in between the Trailcross XT and Freerider Pro.
  • Crankbrothers Stamp Speedlace. Lower volume fit, more padding throughout, great foothold compared to the freerider pros. Not quite as much traction on the pedals. Might be too DH oriented though.
 
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Discussion starter · #28 ·
The primary reason why I sold the Pros was the extremely narrow fit. I don't understand how 5.10 came to this shape, but these shoes cannot comfortably fit anyone but women and people with really "slim" feet.
The ventilation was also horrible (=nonexistant), so I figured those really were bikepark-grade shoes, and not something you would want to pedal around in. That's also the reason why I'm looking for something different for my wife even if fit wouldn't be a problem.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Yesterday's ride to run some errands reminded me I forgot about this and it's just about time I get my wife something.
It got pretty cold and rainy, and even though it's not really cold cold, I started losing feeling in my toes in the regular canvas FiveTens.

Let's upgrade the original question!
Flat pedal shoes with good grip and water resistance for autumn riding that also insulate decently, but are not hard as a rock like Freerider Pro is (wife is more like a pedaller slash recreational XC rider than a sender).
Basically not straight up winter shoes, but such that let you comfortably ride even in lower temperatures.
 
#33 ·
I love the Crankbrother Mallet shoes! One of my favorites. I have both the clip in and flat version. They run a fair bit warmer than Freeriders and shed light moisture. That said, they might be a bit stiffer than you're looking for. They're positioned as DH shoe.

I also have the Stamp Trails and I don't think I can recommend them. Super thin insoles. Which are great for walking and flexible, but they feel super harsh on the pedals. They also feel quite cheap. They see little to no action.

Highly recommend you look at the Trailcross GTX, I love mine for shoulder season rides. Here's a blurb I wrote about the Five Ten Freerider GTX shoes.
 
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Discussion starter · #34 ·
The Trailcross GTS is definitely on my list, but they don't inspire great confidence when it comes to warmth, quite the opposite actually. Not that me or my wife would ride in temperatures around the freezing point or even under, but I can get completely numb toes even when it's 10°C in regular Freeriders.
These do look like ideal shoes for rainy weather though.
If they run wide enough (like non-Pro Freeriders), I might grab them for myself regardless.
 
#35 ·
Yeah, no insulation but they do a good job of trapping heat, blocking wind (a big culprit of cold feet in my opinion), and keep feet dry. The high neoprene cuff also helps. All those features, when paired with a thick pair of wool socks, will keep my feet plenty warm down to about 25 degrees F.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
And the regular Freeriders? Or you don't have any experience with those?
The Pros have horribly narrow toe box (or more like the entire front 1/4 of the shoe or something and I just cannot wear them. The regular model is way wider, but perhaps it's also due to the material.

I'll certainly look where they sell the GTX and go try them on, both of us.
 
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Octopuss
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