Bont Vaypor & insoles

richiegwy

I bought a pair of Bont Vaypors over Christmas and just getting round to trying them. What I'm wondering from users is do you use the light insole that came with the shoes or an aftermarket one? If aftermarket which one do you use.

Also how many attempts did it take you to get the moulding right?

cswitch

I would look at the bontrager mouldable ones if you don't want to spend too much. I have G8s which are fantastic for high arches but unless you have problem feet maybe not worth the expense.

jasonbrim

I like the insoles, they fit perfectly in the shoe, which makes riding in them nice.

I do have different insoles in one of my pairs of Vaypors though - a slightly softer insole. This is because I find if I cycle more slowly or on bumpy roads it makes it more comfortable (the soles of the shoes are so stiff you really feel everything). But I am thinking about using the original insoles again, because they fit better and there isn't really much difference in comfort - I have worn my Vaypors (with original insoles) on a few long rides, including one 260 km ride without any discomfort.

Try different insoles if you have any - some people do need more arch support, so maybe different insoles are good then.

I have moulded each of my pairs once, and they fit perfectly. I have considered moulding them again, but after I moulded my new pair I compared the fit and didn't notice any real difference. But moulding them again might make it slightly more tailored. I have lots of ice hockey boots that can be moulded, and I only ever moulded them once each as well. If you leave them long enough and know where your problem areas are (I poke extra space around one of my little toes), you will be fine moulding them once.

okgo

The insoles they supply are apparently not meant to be used and you should use your own preference. I moulded mine and then used red s works insoles. I have a fairly flat right foot and a more normal left arch so it's hard work getting it right for me, I moulded a fair few times till I was happy with my latest pair.

richiegwy

That's interesting. They are very light and with the stiffness of the shoe you feel every vibration. Wonder why they ship that rather than a more fuller one given the technology they put into the shoe itself. I might look at swapping so s-works insoles I have into it and try moulding again.

brettjmcc

I have been using Spesh blue since I got my Vaypors (on my 3rd pair). I tried the innersoles that came with them and I just could not get it to work for me. I agree that the choice of inner sole they supply seems strange, especially as this topic has come up many times and my perception of the general consensus is to use different ones.

I have wide feet for my size and it normally takes a few goes for me to get it 'right'. That is not saying that it is not nearly there on the first go, but I personally make sure it is quite pliable checking regularly and then mould one foot at a time. I know some people will disagree with this, but I have found that it works for me, as my feet 'spread' quite a lot when weight is put on them.

richiegwy

Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a go.

marcusjb

I am still using the supplied insoles in my Vaypors, though I have used Superfeet Black in other cycling shoes.

I have only done a max of around 250km in the Vaypors and didn't have any troubles, so I will see how I go as the distances get bigger again. One go at moulding, I may give it another go as my right big toe might need a bit more room.

Bloody good shoes, can not wait until better weather comes and I can get out of my northwave boots and into the Vaypors!

il_principe

I use SOLE https://secure.yoursole.com/uk/mens/footbeds/thin-sport/ in both my BONTS. They are heat mouldable and very comfy.

greasedscotsman

okgo wrote:

The insoles they supply are apparently not meant to be used and you should use your own preference.

Where have you heard this? From Bont themselves?

il_principe

greasedscotsman wrote:

okgo wrote:

The insoles they supply are apparently not meant to be used and you should use your own preference.

Where have you heard this? From Bont themselves?

Bont's first gen soles weren't much good. The newer ones are better.

brettjmcc

Il Principe wrote:

Bont's first gen soles weren't much good. The newer ones are better.

when you say first gen, can you clarify. All of my Bonts have had the same inner soles in them, though I haven't got some recently, so they may have changed in the last 18 months or so (holding out for some Vaypor S for XMAS this year...)

Thanks those footbeds look interesting, my Spesh ones are getting a bit old, so was looking for some new ones

il_principe

brettjmcc wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

Bont's first gen soles weren't much good. The newer ones are better.

when you say first gen, can you clarify. All of my Bonts have had the same inner soles in them, though I haven't got some recently, so they may have changed in the last 18 months or so (holding out for some Vaypor S for XMAS this year...)

Thanks those footbeds look interesting, my Spesh ones are getting a bit old, so was looking for some new ones

The Vaypor Plus have different soles to the Vaypor.

brettjmcc

Il Principe wrote:

The Vaypor Plus have different soles to the Vaypor.

Queue me going off to find some Vaypor+ in 42 wide.... damn you :P

okgo

greasedscotsman wrote:

okgo wrote:

The insoles they supply are apparently not meant to be used and you should use your own preference.

Where have you heard this? From Bont themselves?

Can't remember now, might have been Sigma. Either way they're total shit and should be binned straight away regardless.

greasedscotsman

okgo wrote:

Can't remember now, might have been Sigma. Either way they're total shoot and should be binned straight away regardless.

Ahh, so that will be the sales assistant who is hoping to sell you some aftermarket insoles.

greasedscotsman

Il Principe wrote:

The Vaypor Plus have different soles to the Vaypor.

How are they different?

cswitch

They're not different. I used to own Vaypors and only in the last couple of weeks tried on Vaypor +. Maybe the poster is referring to Riots or the other new model (the names escapes me) either way the stock inners are crap...unless you have completely flat feet then maybe they meet requirements.

cswitch

...carbon in the outer sole is different.

il_principe

Well they are different in mine. 1st gen Vaypors were very thin, nothing to them. Vaypor + thicker and more refined looking. My first Vaypors (still going strong) did look a little homemade.

cswitch

...I may have missed them being slightly thicker but they still felt pretty similar - certainly no arch support

okgo

greasedscotsman wrote:

okgo wrote:

Can't remember now, might have been Sigma. Either way they're total shoot and should be binned straight away regardless.

Ahh, so that will be the sales assistant who is hoping to sell you some aftermarket insoles.

Nope, I already had some and was buying something else, I don't know if they're correct of not, but the inner sole is so poor that I would be inclined to believe they're not worth using.

greasedscotsman

okgo wrote:

Nope, I already had some and was buying something else, I don't know if they're correct of not, but the inner sole is so poor that I would be inclined to believe they're not worth using.

Think you have missed the point there.

Anyway, to answer the OP. I use the insoles they came with and moulded them a couple of times. I would suggest trying the Bont insoles, if they are no good, then get some aftermarket ones. Oh and I have a pair of A-threes and Zero Plus, both insoles being exactly the same.

okgo

I haven't missed the point at all, the carbon never gets so flexible than you don't need any arch support, and also in the interests of comfort the bont inner sole provides none as its too thin, so I would say its worth buying some thicker ones from somewhere else.

Of course if you're near an S works dealer then they have a foot chart which you stand on and it tells you how collapsed your arches are and which colour of insole would suit best, that is what I did and they're far better than with the bont thing they come with

crossed

Has anyone tried the Sidas foot beds with Bont shoes?

greasedscotsman

okgo wrote:

I haven't missed the point at all, the carbon never gets so flexible than you don't need any arch support, and also in the interests of comfort the bont inner sole provides none as its too thin, so I would say its worth buying some thicker ones from somewhere else.

Of course if you're near an S works dealer then they have a foot chart which you stand on and it tells you how collapsed your arches are and which colour of insole would suit best, that is what I did and they're far better than with the bont thing they come with

You don't get why a sales assistant in a bike shop would say that the Bont insoles were rubbish? It doesn't matter that you already had some Specialized ones, he/she doesn't know that.

So the Bont insoles didn't work for you. OK, fair enough. But that doesn't mean they won't for others. There are several people who have posted on this thread that they use them. What's wrong with that? Why not at least try them first rather than just bin them. Unless you're going to buy some for us all to have a go with. I'll have some medium Specialized BG footbeds please.

okgo

They're so cheaply made and awful I can't believe they're meant to be used. It might not have been sigma but it was someone and I tend to agree based on how little thought was out into them considering the rest of the shoe.

styxd

the stock insoles in most shoes are just thin bits of foam. You're meant to bin them, and then fit some decent orthotics. There's not much point in having decent road shoes if your foot is wobbling about all over the place in them.

brettjmcc

styxd wrote:

the stock insoles in most shoes are just thin bits of foam. You're meant to bin them, and then fit some decent orthotics. There's not much point in having decent road shoes if your foot is wobbling about all over the place in them.

I slightly agree, as I have chucked the insoles that have come with my Bonts and previously with Sidis. However, Spesh comes with their insoles; they come with the Red variety for flatter feet which apparently makes only 5-10% of the population, so it's about business models...

greasedscotsman

styxd wrote:

the stock insoles in most shoes are just thin bits of foam. You're meant to bin them, and then fit some decent orthotics. There's not much point in having decent road shoes if your foot is wobbling about all over the place in them.

So after nearly two years of use, I should just bin them and get something else? Even though I find them comfortable. Really?

okgo

Yep, do it as soon as you can.