Northwave Revolution 2
£174.99 High-performance road shoes
Northwave’s Revolution 2 is available in black and a plum/ black fade. However, as the days shorten, we’re more interested in the silver reflective version here. The entire surface of the PU leather upper is coated in a matt grey finish which, under direct light, reflects with phosphorescent brightness – ideal for adding a good yet subtle dollop of highvis to your riding wardrobe.
It’s not all about shiny reflectivity, though. Underneath the clever finish is a very wellconsidered shoe. The footbeds are perfectly shaped and blend nicely with the sculpted anatomical shape. The rigid arch support is bonded to the sole and upper and provides superb stability for your foot when sprinting out of the saddle; even so, the Revolution 2 isn’t a super-stiff sprinter’s shoe. The outsole is a mix of what Northwave calls “morph carbon”, which is a carbonrein forced nylon paired with a stiff carbon insert at the midfoot cleat area. The carbon cleat plate adds plenty of stiffness where it’s needed but the rest of the sole is allowed a little flex, making these a great option for long endurance endeavours.
The standard three-bolt mount on the sole is complemented by slots cut into the sole to take Northwave’s Speedplay adaptors. It also has the cleat locator slot as used with Look cleats. The sole has a substantial heel bumper and a bonded rubber protector at the toe.
Retention is handled by Northwave’s own SLW2 (Speed Lace Winch) dials. These offer micro-adjustments and the alloy trigger on the dial allows for small adjustments on the tension-releasing side. The SLW2 isn’t quite as user friendly as a Boa but it’s just as secure, and once you’re familiar with the way it works it’s simple and very effective.
The padding inside is generous around the cuff and heel cup and the free-floating tongue is well padded too. Heel retention is aided by a cat’s tongue-textured material that grips well. The great shape of the shoe’s upper holds this tester’s feet perfectly, so the grippy heel is just an extra layer of security. The Revolutions weigh a reasonable 663.2g for a pair of size 46s.
The Revolution is a very decent shoe that is well made, supremely comfortable and offers the added bonus of high visibility in low light.