Back on flats, which shoes

gregwari

After 4 years clipped in, I'm back on flats. Any advice on which shoes you'd buy if you were predominantly riding trail centre's with the odd uplift day (riding a 140mm trail bike, not full on DH)

Cheers

rockmonkeysc

Shimano AM41 are great in British weather and have 95% of the grip of 5.10 shoes.
5.10 are more grippy but extremely absorbant. Their new shoe is supposed to be more waterproof but after riding with someone who has just got a pair on Sunday his constant swearing would suggest they are still quite absorbant.

sofaboy73

depends on your budget. i've just bought a pair of gthe new slimmed down 5 10 impacts as my AM41s had finally given up the ghost after a hard 3 years.

the new 5.10's are a big improvement on the old ones in terms of weight, construction and not acting like a sponge. they are pricey though and still don't have a lace flap on them

holiver

I don't have experience of them, but Teva look like they may be a good option.

ej2320

holiver wrote:

I don't have experience of them, but Teva look like they may be a good option.

I have some teva links and they can be had for a bargain because teva have stopped making mtb shoes
Very comfy and have decent splash proofing
Perhaps not as grippy as I'd like and I'd imagine 5.10 or AM41 are more grippy, but they ain't bad especially as you get em cheap (£30 mine cost)

CRC also have 10% off all shoes at the moment with code 'FW10'
So the AM41 is about £50 with free delivery

Long_Time_Lurker

Another vote for the AM41

stubs

AM41 as long as you can get them to fit I always struggle with Shimano sizing they are too narrow for my flippers unless I go up a size then they are like clown shoes.

Angus Young

stubs wrote:

AM41 as long as you can get them to fit I always struggle with Shimano sizing they are too narrow for my flippers unless I go up a size then they are like clown shoes.

With the badly shaved gorilla physique and the clown shoes, you're starting to sound like quite a catch!

jairaj

Another vote for Shimano AM41. As said they have almost as mush grip as 5.10 shoes but are far more practical for UK climate.

Long_Time_Lurker

stubs wrote:

AM41 as long as you can get them to fit I always struggle with Shimano sizing they are too narrow for my flippers unless I go up a size then they are like clown shoes.

Good point. I always go up a size with Shimano footwear.
I don't worry about them looking like clown shoes - they aren't the prettiest looking shoes anyway.
(My kid refers to them as 'baby Killer Whales')

stubs

Angus Young wrote:

stubs wrote:

AM41 as long as you can get them to fit I always struggle with Shimano sizing they are too narrow for my flippers unless I go up a size then they are like clown shoes.

With the badly shaved gorilla physique and the clown shoes, you're starting to sound like quite a catch!

You know what they say about guys with big feet....

Angus Young

stubs wrote:

Angus Young wrote:

stubs wrote:

AM41 as long as you can get them to fit I always struggle with Shimano sizing they are too narrow for my flippers unless I go up a size then they are like clown shoes.

With the badly shaved gorilla physique and the clown shoes, you're starting to sound like quite a catch!

You know what they say about guys with big feet....

Big feet, small winkie?

stubs

Men with Big feet have to buy big socks

sundaytrucker

I picked up a pair of Giro Jacket which have a similar look to regular skate type shoes (remind me of an old pair of Emerica shoes I used to skate in. They're not great to look at but at £40 the grip and sole rigidity is much better than my knackered Vans Rowley.

I was going to get AM41 but couldn't get my size when I needed new shoes.


Edit: the Giro shoes have proven themselves pretty decent on the puddle/splash test too. I don't think I have had wet feet when I have used them, although I am a bit more conservative now I have had my bike a few months and don't ride through the local brook and generally avoid any water that will go over the top of my shoes.

gregwari

Cool, thanks guys. I'll take a look at the AM's and some 5.10 Freeriders this weekend

Cheers

holiver

I've also noticed the Fox Scrub which looks pretty cool:

http://uk.foxhead.com/en_GB/motion-scru ... ml#start=1

I think I am trying to decide between those and the Teva Crank:

http://www.teva.co.uk/mens-crank-vulc-b ... shoes-bike

swod1

Are the shimano am41s made of leather, so you can just wipe them clean?

Most skate type shoes that are ideal for flat pedals are made of suede type materials which will soak up water more than a breathable leather type footwear.

I am also after some to wear on a morning riding into work as i cant be bothered with clip on shoes because its not a long journey to benfit from them.

lostboysaint

swod1 wrote:

Are the shimano am41s made of leather, so you can just wipe them clean?

Most skate type shoes that are ideal for flat pedals are made of suede type materials which will soak up water more than a breathable leather type footwear.

I am also after some to wear on a morning riding into work as i cant be bothered with clip on shoes because its not a long journey to benfit from them.

It's not leather (I don't think) but it's certainly wipe clean. I use the 45's (the cleated version) and they're brilliant. Mine have now done over 2 years and although some of the white trim is now scuffed off they are still as rigid, comfortable and effective as they've always been. Certainly didn't need to go up a size in those either and the width was good, all of which was unusual for a Shimano shoe.

The Northern Monkey

RockmonkeySC wrote:

Shimano AM41 are great in British weather and have 95% of the grip of 5.10 shoes.
5.10 are more grippy but extremely absorbant. Their new shoe is supposed to be more waterproof but after riding with someone who has just got a pair on Sunday his constant swearing would suggest they are still quite absorbant.

Pretty much all of this.

Love my AM41's.