The Best Gravel Cycling Shoes in 2014
The meteoric rise of gravel cycling has provided us with an entire new category of kit to fawn over; bikes, clothing, helmets and shoes have all received the gravel treatment which continues to blur the line between on and off road. In the early days, gravel shoes consisted of repurposed XC shoes but as nowadays a gravel shoe is essentially a road biased upper and a mountain bike sole, complete with lugs for grip when the gravel turns to mud.
We’ve taken a closer look at the cream of the crop to see if a gravel specific pair of shoes is a worthy investment or just another fad from those trying to sell more kit.
S Works Recon
£385 | Buy from Specialized
For:
Ultra stiff
Adjustable but snug fit
All day comfort
Huge size range
Against:
There’s no ignoring the price
We’re big fans of most things that leave the hallowed doors of Specialzied HQ in California and the new S Works Recon shoe is no different. Claiming to deliver pavement bred performance to the gravel and XC scenes, the Recon is positively brimming with ergonomic features. Specialized have referenced over 100 000 foot scans gleaned from their Retul fit data to inform their designs; the Recon features an ultra stiff carbon baseplate with an internal I-Beam to create a fit that is supremely comfortable yet bristling with performance.
A pair of BOA dials allow for accurate and precise tensioning and the lugs surrounding the cleat are height adjustable to allow riders to tune the shoe/pedal interface.
The S Works Recon could be considered to be the ultimate gravel shoe, but goodness do they come at a cost.
Bont Vaypor G
£325 | Available from Saddleback
For:
Race focussed
Ultra Stiff
Heat mouldable
Against:
Might be too stiff for non-racers
Tricky to walk in
Once the shoe brand of choice for Tour De France Champion Bradley Wiggins, Bont have been producing shoes based around a carbon tub for many years and whilst they may look different from the competition, there’s still plenty going on. A carbon tub extends up the wides of the shoes a little way so you feet sit in the tub rather than on top; it also means that the Vapor G’s are heat mouldable to achieve the ultimate fit.
First thing that jumps out when looking at the Vaypor G’s is the roomy toe box which allows your toes to actually spread out rather than be crammed in like in other shoes; Bont claim this allows the pedalling load to be distributed over a wider area, reducing the pressure on your feet. Elsehwrre, dual BOA dials take care of locking your feet in and allow for on the fly adjutsments.
Out on the bike, they’re spectacularly stiff, not an ounce of flex which isn’t surprising given that a good proportion of the shoe is carbon; ultimate stiffness does make off bike manoeuvres tricky, the Vapor G’s are akin to walking in a Dutch clog if you need to dismount and more vibrations will be transmitted to your feet which will induce more fatigue on long days in the saddle.
If you’re looking for a race focussed shoe or just like riding flat out everywhere then the Vaypor G’s could be an option but they’re the equivalent of daily driving a racing car; you’ll get places very quickly but might become a nuisance after a while.
Sidi MTB Gravel
£195 | Buy from Sidi
For:
Sidi’s famous fit heads off road
Ankle and heel protection
Against:
Too flexy for those looking to extract every last drop of performance
Price vs performance ratio is off kilter
It doesn’t take an enormous amount of investigation to determine what the intended use for the Italian marques latest offer is. Sidi have positioned the MTB Gravel at the entry point of their gravel range, however the £195 price tag might raise a few eyebrows and qualify as mid-range in many other brand’s catalogues.
It’s surprising to see a carbon reinforced nylon sole at this price point as it’s very achievable to get a pair of kicks with a full carbon sole for similar money but if you’re a die hard Sidi fan and find the brands shoes just work for you it might be a compromise you’d be willing to make.
Featuring a reinforced heel cup that stabilises and supports the heal and also provides extra heel protection in the event of a crash, as well as ‘Shock Absorber Protection’ around the ankles to provide additional support and protection there too. Sidi have used their years of ergonomic experience to design a shoe that will be comfortable for all day epics.
Using propriety wire closure similar to BOA, the Tecno-3 system dials in the fit across the entire length of the shoe to reduce hotspots and ensure a secure fit.
It’s disappointing to see a nylon sole at this price point but if you’re after all day comfort then a more forgiving shoe could be a better bet than a super stiff race orientated option.
Pearl Izumi Expedition Pro
£229 | Buy from Pearl Izumi
Pearl Izumi have been busy at the drawing board designing the Expedition Pro shoe which they say blends the lightweight nature of a road shoe with the durability of a mountain bike shoe, which is the ideal combo when looking for a performance focussed gravel shoe.
A synthetic leather upper utilises a bonded construction to reduce weight and perforations allow for ventilation on those swelting days; Pearl Izumi have aimed for a slipper like fit for all day comfort in a performance orientated package.
A pair of BOA L6C dials allow riders to get the perfect fit across the mid and forefoot zones and lock the foot down onto the EX PRO Carbon sole which claims to deliver uncompromising pedalling performance. When the trail ends, the sole has a wide spread tread pattern to provide as much grip as possible.
We think the Expedition Pro is a great shoe for those looking to do a bit of everything, from gravel to xc mountain biking and even some road riding too thanks to the impressively stiff sole and lightweight uppers.
DMT GK1
£189 | Buy from Chicken Cycle Kit
For:
Woven upper provides excellent support
Old school laces allow the tension to be perfect
Against:
No on the move adjustments,
Tricky to keep clean
The DMT Gk1 is the brands first foray into the gravel shoe market and the fruits of DMT’s labours are impressive. Featuring a full knit construction which helps to cut weight down to an impressive 614g per pair (size 42) whilst maintaining excellent breathability. The knitted upper has a slight degree of stretch to provide a supportive yet supple fit and match the shape of the riders feet.
There’s no high tech BOA system to see here, instead DMT have opted for gasp…laces! Providing almost infinite adjustability over the length of the upper to further the locked in feeling.
On the bottom is a beefy tread with tech borrowed from Michelin to provide grip on even the most treacherous of surfaces.