6 flat pedal shoes in the BIKE test

Stefan Frey

· 01.06.2016

Photo: Georg Grieshaber

6 flat pedal shoes in the BIKE test

Ideally, flat pedals and shoes should form a single unit. We have tested six mountain bike shoes that are suitable for platform pedals.

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On technical MTB trails and steep terrain, platform pedals provide more safety than clipless pedals. The large footprint supports the foot, while sharp pins wedge themselves into the shoe. And yet you can ground yourself in a flash in tricky situations. We have tested the right mountain bike shoes on wild downhills and extensive tours.

Five Ten Freerider Contact

www.fiveten.com

Price: 125 euros - Weight*: 872 grams

Did the resourceful inventor Q from the James Bond films develop the Mi6 rubber for Five Ten? Top secret! What everyone knows: Five Ten shoes offer plenty of grip. This also applies to the revised Freerider, which now sits even better on the foot with its narrow fit and better protects the toes thanks to the stable cap. The advantage of the treadless sole is that it can be easily repositioned on the pedal during the ride. On wet surfaces, the Mi6 rubber compound offers the grip of a banana skin.

Conclusion: plenty of grip and easy repositioning. Not just for double-zero agents.

Protection 4 out of 6 points

Grip 6 out of 6 points

O'Neal Stinger II

www.oneal.eu

Price: 109 Euro - Weight*: 1035 grammes

O'Neal calls its sole construction Honey Rubber. The

honeycomb structure doesn't exactly stick to the pedal like honey, but at least the foot can be well aligned with the pedal. The grip of the Stinger II is certainly sufficient for descents that are not too rough. There is criticism for the fit: the shoe is cut extremely wide, the thick padding wraps the foot as if in cotton wool. And because the Stinger is barely ventilated, it also gets quite damp on hot days. For more protection, go for the ankle-high Trigger.

Conclusion: good grip. However, the Stinger is more suitable for wide feet. Quite warm.

Protection 4 out of 6 points

Grip 4 out of 6 points

Shimano SH-AM41

www.paul-lange.de

Price: 119.95 euros - Weight*: 920 grams

David Bowie might have jetted across space dressed as Ziggy Stardust with these futuristic Shimanos. The grippy Vibram treads with the Velcro cap teleported us safely across freeride slopes. The SH-AM41 provides good protection on the toes and ankles, especially in muddy weather. The Vibram rubber does not ultimately stick to the pedal and soon wears out, especially with long, sharp pins. Typical Shimano: The shoe is very comfortable to wear, but runs quite small.

Conclusion: no maximum grip, but good protection on the ankle and in bad weather.

Protection 6 out of 6 points

Grip 4 out of 6 points

6 Images

Photo: Georg Grieshaber

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Stefan Frey

Editor

Stefan Frey is from Lower Bavaria and loves the mossy, loamy trails of the Bavarian Forest as much as the rugged rock of the Dolomites. For technical descents, he is prepared to tackle almost any ascent - under his own steam. As an accessories specialist, he is the first port of call for questions about equipment and add-on parts, while as head of copywriting he sweeps the language crumbs from the pages of the BIKE print editions.

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6 flat pedal shoes in the BIKE test

Stefan Frey

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