Three Shoes for Hitting the Trails

Three great options for putting power to the pedals

Scott MTB Team Boa $210

Scott has done a wonderful job creating a shoe that delivers maximum performance while ensuring precise fit and comfort at a reasonable price. The upper is made from synthetic micro-fibre leather that nicely conforms to your foot over time to create a secure and comfortable fit with no hot spots. The Boa lacing system allows for micro adjustments to fine tune the shoe’s fit. The closure’s dials make it quick and easy to release tension. The X-traction outsole is made from nylon, fibreglass and polyurethane, which provides excellent grip and traction when walking. This shoe has excellent value and would be equally as good for cyclocross racing as mountain biking. ( scott-sports.com)

Shimano SH-XC60 $245

Shimano’s sh-xc60 shoes are ready to race. You strap each shoe on with a micro-adjustable buckle and two off-set hook-and- loop straps. The leather upper rounds out the support at the top of the foot. The upper provides excellent protection and durability, and a good amount of style with the black, white and red colours. On the bottom, a reinforced carbon-fibre sole offers plenty of stiffness for solid power transfer. There’s also spike mounts for hoofing it in nasty conditions or up a steep incline on the cyclocross course. While the sole performs well on the trail, it’s also amenable for short bouts of walking. ( bike.shimano.com)

Performance on the bike starts with your fit and comfort. One of the best ways to ensure you’re comfortable and getting maximum pedal performance is with the right pair of shoes.

Specialized S-Works Evo MTB $410

Specialized has always been a big proponent of fit with its Body Geometry (BG) program. I’ve always been a fan of the Specialized road shoes; and it seems much of the technology has migrated over to the mountain line. The S-Works Evo is great for all- day comfort and support. One of the great features on the shoe, certainly not exclusive to Specialized, is the Boa closure system. The new S2 Boa cartridge makes dialling the perfect fit simple. It also allows for easy adjustments on the fly. The system uses a braided stainless-steel cable to snug the shoe, making it quite durable and easy to replace. The shoe uses a full-length Fact carbon midsole making it both light and stiff. An injection composite outsole provides both grip and traction when you’re forced off the bike to negotiate those technical or sloppy sections of the trail too difficult to ride. The upper is made of a Micromatrix material that is both light and breathable, along with its wellvented tongue. The shoe also has a reinforced toe for more durability and protection should your foot come into contact with debris on the trail. ( specialized.com)