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The Hellcat Pros are designed with enduro and downhill riding in mind. This pair are emblazoned with Troy Lee Designs graphics, which add a tenner to the usual, already quite steep, price. The sizing is on the large side, so we dropped down a size from our usual EU43 for a comfortable fit. On the trail, they feel solid, with plenty of toe protection too, which adds peace of mind, but contributes to their 1,082g weight (pair, size 42 with cleats). They’re not the fastest-drying either, so can feel quite hefty once soaked. Alongside the lace-up closure, they have a Velcro strap to keep them secure on your feet, although this is quite short and fiddly. They feel efficiently stiff. The sole doesn’t offer the same level of flex or feedback as our go-to Specialized 2FO Clip 2.0s, but you can still feel the pedal enough to locate the cleat for clipping in. Cleats can’t be positioned back towards the midfoot as far as we’d have liked. Paired with Crankbrothers Mallet DH pedals, we also found that the sticky rubber sole made clipping in and out more effort than usual, and had to wind the traction pins in. The plus side is that the tacky sole helps when walking off the bike or when perched on the pedal should you struggle to clip in. While the Hellcat Pros offer a decent level of protection and feel comfy enough on long rides, they’re still some ways off a perfect score. Rob www.adidas.co.uk

Comfy and protective shoes, but quite heavy, not exactly cheap and we’d check the sizing before buying