Less chunky flat shoes?

the trailcross lt's are pretty minimalist. seem to be holding up well so far.

current Five Tens

which are?

I've always thought thier biggest marketing fail has been calling two separate models the Freerider and the Freerider Pro.

The Pro is superior in every way. Less chunky, lighter, quicker drying, and [opinion] more comfy, stiffer, better looking. None of which you can really ascertain from a side on view on CRC.

Of course if you already have them, ignore me.

I have, and really like, the Trailcross LT. Very grippy and nice and light. Recommended.

I have both Freeride and Giro Jackets.
The Fivetens are much stickier but the Giros feel stiffer. I tend to wear Giros for longer distance gravelly/traily rides and the Freeriders for trail centres. Giros definitely less clunky and slightly more comfortable

As above, Freerider Pro is an absolutely superb shoe and not very chunky.

Don't get the Primeblue one, the rubber's not so sticky and the eco stuff is potentially a swizz anyway.

Don’t get the Primeblue one, the rubber’s not so sticky and the eco stuff is potentially a swizz anyway.

*Looks at feet*

*Is disappointed *

I love my freerider pros! Been using Northwave Clans for the last year or so, due to a bargain deal on them. They don't come close to the pros, though they are good. But a bit more chunky than the fivetens.

What about the Sleuths? Or Ride Concept Vice? They are both pretty sleek.

*Looks at feet*

*Is disappointed *

Hey, at least the soles should last longer.

I got some of the Pinnacle ones fairly recently from Evans and am impressed. Certainly like them more than my old Planet X ones (the old ones that aren't sold any more).

Comfy & grippy.

Can't comment vs 510's!

I've got the trailcross and like them a lot. Not chunky at all but nice and grippy.

Son has the Slueth DLX and they're also not a chunky shoe.

Likely wouldn't go for sleuths personally. I have the DLXs and they're not very grippy compared to my impacts. Mrs has the regular sleuths and rates them worse than her freeriders (and the pro's too).

These are similar to the Trailcross and reasonably priced
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Rime-Flat-MTB-Shoe_237742.htm?sku=791251&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shoes&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlemWBhDUARIsAFp1rLV9SFZas44Lxs25cut-2SupUd-RaZgdImjWw2_UYIYV3uW8Av_QK_IaApC8EALw_wcB
Extra £5.00 off if you haven't bought from Tredz before

mrs_oab is sporting a pair of Pearl Izumi Flow's that are less chunky.

https://theloamwolf.com/2020/05/15/review-pearl-izumi-x-alp-flow-shoes/

https://road.cc/content/review/269791-pearl-izumi-x-alp-flow-shoes

i can recommend the trailcross Goretex and the mid pro, but i really dont get on with the LT version, my ankles feels likes it going to snap on landing, the heal cup has so little support.

i tend to wear my five tennies (boulder shoe) in summer, prefer them, if its warm.

Ion scrub amp [if remember the name ] are awesome

I really like my Giro Jackets. They look and feel like regular trainers. As mentioned above, not as much outright grip as a Five Ten but perfectly useable and much more comfortable. For my feet anyway.

but i really dont get on with the LT version, my ankles feels likes it going to snap on landing, the heal cup has so little support.

Yeah the heel cup on these is pretty poor IMO - feels like it needs to come up a bit higher. I also dislike the toe area as any mud or moisture just soaks straight through. The gore tex ones are fantastic though.

My favourite shoes are a knackered pair of Five Ten Access - which I wear most days, on and off the bike. Super comfortable and only cost me 35 quid.

I've a set of the boa laced crank brothers. They are not chunky. Happy with grip and comfort as well.

My Ride Concepts aren’t bulky. Not quite up with 510 levels of grip but I actually like being able to move my foot around a bit.

I'm still looking for something to replace a pair of FiveTen Access. Not even cycling g shoes but approach shoes for walking/hiking.

Love them for cycling in. Stealth sole is great with flat pedals.

Don’t get the Primeblue one, the rubber’s not so sticky and the eco stuff is potentially a swizz anyway.

Unless you get the primeblue ones for £40 like I have. Yes the soles slightly less sticky but not massively so and it saves me spending £100-£120 on the "proper" freerider pros which only last me a season anyway.

As a response to the OP, I also tried the freerider trail LT and they are very breathable but I find them a little too light for trail/enduro duties, rock strikes etc were quite painful due to the lack of protection!

Those pinnacle ones look nice in Evans!

Cheers all, some good ideas to check out.

My current ones are Impact Pro something or others, which are  great for the mountain bike.

I’m actually looking for something for the gravel bike, so lighter a more normal trainer like is what I’m after.

Trailcross would fit the bill. I have the mids and GTX.
The mids are nice and airy but the cuff is a little loose.
The cuff on the GTX has Velcro to keep it tight and has kept my feet warmer this winter. Not sure if they’ll be too warm for summer.

I’ve got some Trailcross on the way and a couple of pairs of different Giros to try.

Stopped in at Evans, they didn’t have much choice but I did try the Pinnacle’s which looked good but didn’t fit.

I’ll update when I settle on something.

No mention of Specialized 2FO Roosts yet? That’s where my money currently goes, only shoe I’ve tried that I’ve preferred to the FiveTen Impacts I’ve been buying since they first came out

Got to be the FreeRider Pro great shoe and really light.

https://www.biketart.com/products/freerider-pro-core-black-red?variant=40809145041075

OK, you can probably get away with the less sticky rubber for gravel riding OP.

Are you actually Sam Hill though?

my old trailcross are not that grippy compared to freeriders - check the rubber is sticky version on the newer models.

My favourite shoes are a knackered pair of Five Ten Access – which I wear most days, on and off the bike. Super comfortable and only cost me 35 quid.

this. the access shoes were great - proper sticky rubber and really comfy. its a shame they no longer make them.

I've got these.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q=leatt+1.0+flat+pedal+shoes&cat=product

I actually find them too light for riding in, but are really nice as normal trainers, like for jumping on the bike and nipping to the shops etc.

Can't believe I'm recommendign two different Crank Bros products on two different threads, but the Stamp Lace are a great shoe

but the Stamp Lace are a great shoe

I would disagree, and in direct contrast to the STW review

https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/review-crankbrothers-stamp-lace-flat-shoe/

I'm very disappointed with the grip levels. On two different pedals(Unite Instinct V2 & One Up Alu) the lack of grip compared to 5/10 is glaring so im not sure where this STW review(and a few others) are coming from. They are unbelievably comfortable and have nice features but if you want your feet to stay on the pedals....stick with 5/10 and put up with the minimal downsides.

the lack of grip compared to 5/10 is glaring so im not sure where this STW review(and a few others) are coming from.

Completely agree, the grip level is awful. Even pedalling my feet slip around on the pedals. I've gone back to my old adidas trailcross and it's night and day.

I found it worst when pedalling across rolling XC terrain with roots, rock and technical climbs. If you are descending and actively driving your feet into the pedals the grip isn't totally horrible but the second you try to unweight your feet over obstacles or pedalling they just float and bounce off...

Give me 5/10's everyday of the week, i'm struggling to see how anyone could rate these other than walking to the shops.

Freerider Pro here and the pedal pins have cut up the sole very quickly. The bit of rubber between the raised knobs is actually very thin, as I'm looking at the red insole where the holes are.

Finding them a great fit, light, grippy but they have worn dissapointingly quickly. Possibly 6 months old.

And that is 5/10's downsides,(that along with their magical water absorption properties).. the accelerated wear rate. Hence why I was looking at other brands.

Despite my the soles of my 5/10 being cut to hell and a year old they still grip substantially better than the crappy crankbrothers.

I guess if the cost of grip is a new pair of 5/10s every year then so be it, or I learn to ride clips.

I guess if the cost of grip is a new pair of 5/10s every year then so be it, or I learn to ride clips.

I would for the most part agree. I cannot believe so many companies fail, so hard, on the one thing they really get compared to 5-10 over. Grip. I will accept they wear quicker for the grip, because I want as much as possible.

However, that being said, I have been running the new Spesh shoes with their latest rubber & I’ve been very surprised - they are as grippy as a 5-10 & the sole seems to be holding up better.

If I compare a 12 month old 2FO to a 12 month old Freerider Pro, the Freerider is significantly more worn.

The Specialized 2FO Roosts are a good shoe. But they're more on the well-built end of the spectrum. More like impacts than freerider Pro.

The Rime has the same sole & is a lot lighter 👍

the00
Free Member

The Specialized 2FO Roosts are a good shoe. But they’re more on the well-built end of the spectrum. More like impacts than freerider Pro.

I had Impacts, 2FO Roosts and Freerider Pros at the same time. They are far more like the Freeriders than the massively bulky Impacts