I was in need of some new kicks for commuting and mountain biking so I ran across these new shoes from Bontrager.

Yes…….I said Bontrager!

If you haven’t heard, Nike, who used to supply Trek with its own designs for cycling shoes, amongst other wearables, isn’t doing work in the cycling industry any longer. So, that left a huge hole in Trek and Fisher shops that used to carry Trek’s exclusive Nike cycling gear. Trek decided to forge on with its own designs under the Bontrager nameplate. Besides these shoes, Bontrager branded apparel can now be found at any local Trek or Fisher dealer.

But enough of that, what about the shoes?

Bontrager’s Mountain bike shoe line up consists of the range topping “RXL”, the mid-level “RL”, and these “Race” level shoes. I was introduced to these three models at Trek’s annual dealer show back in August. I ended up buying the Race model based on my criteria which included the following…

#1: The shoe must fit my extremely narrow feet
#2: The shoe must be comfortable to walk in with excellent traction for off the bike scrambling.
#3: The shoe must feature durable construction and be able to withstand daily abuse.
#4: The shoe must look good!

Price wasn’t all that important, so that’s why I didn’t list it. I practically live in cycling shoes, so price isn’t a big dea as long as the rest of my criteria is met.

Let’s take a look at each point and see how the Race model measures up.

#1: The Shoe Must Fit!: As I mentioned, my feet are really narrow. I have to be very careful which shoes I get, because a shoe that is too wide is not a good thing for my feet. I was rather skeptical of Bontrager’s claim that their shoes could fit a wide range of feet types. Well, I am here to say that they pulled it off, and the “e-sole” removeable footbed is the reason why.

The e-sole essentially “wedges” your foot against the side of the shoe upper to cradle your foot in a very comfortable way. Using the three velcro straps on the Race shoe, I am able to securely snug my feet into the shoe without any discomforts. Nice! And a bonus is that the Bontrager Race shoe has a nice, roomy toe box. No squished toes here! Finally, if the stock e-sole is not for you, or if you have custom orthotics, the Race shoe can accept those as well. Just remove the e-sole, which is simple as pie to do by lifting it out of the shoe’s footbed.

One nit here though that anyone interested in these needs to consider. They run small. I ended up with a size 47/U.S. 13 and I normally wear size 11’s or European 46’s in Lake shoes. Be careful if you order these. It’s best to try before you buy here, because the sizing is a bit too far off to be much use with these. In all likelyhood, you will end up with great fitting shoes, they will just be marked with a size that sounds rediculously huge for your feet!

Comfort And Traction: The Race shoe has a sole that is broader and better lugged than any other cycling shoe I have yet used. Plus, the outer sole is constructed of rubber, which gives the lugs a nice, grippy purchase on whatever terrain you are tackling. I like this, but if you use clips and straps be aware that these kicks are not recommended for those types of pedal set ups. Clipless or flats only here!

In the comfort department, the Race shoe doesn’t fatigue my feet while walking or standing in them for hours at a crack, so I am a happy camper there. I’ll have to hold off on my take on their “On bike” comfort until I have had a chance to put in a long ride or two on them. Look for an update on that coming in a few weeks!

Is It Tough Enough?: Here is another area that needs to be looked into further, but I will comment on the construction of these shoes. Bontrager uses a “stiff nylon plate” in the sole that allows for better “walkability” than a carbon sole might. They use a “premium synthetic leather upper for comfort and durability”. There is also a massive external heel cup which should prevent the back end of the shoe from getting torn up. Nicely done! The straps feel stout, but not stiff. There is a slight stretch to them as you snug your feet in. The anchors to the straps look well executed and look to be long lasting. The stitching and welded seams all look cleanly done and durable. Time will tell how all of this pans out, so stay tuned for an update down the road.

How Do I Look, Darling?: My take on he Bontrager Race shoes looks is that the black with highlights of silver and orange is understated and classy. It should wear well and will look boss with any cycling kit. The Race also comes in brown and “WSD Gray” for the ladies. The toe box has that rounded look that a lot of popular shoes have today, so commuters can slip into these and not look geeky at all. (Especially the black ones) I give the black Race shoes high marks in the looks department. I will say I am not fond of the brown at all!

Bontrager “Race” shoes weigh about 960 grams per pair and MSRP is $89.99. You can find these and other Bontrager kicks at any Trek or Fisher Bikes dealer.

I will be riding these shoes extensively in the months to come. Stay tuned for updates along the way!