TESTED: Ion Scrub and Scrub Select
Ion's Scrub and Scrub Select flat pedal shoes are two impressive offerings that will suit plenty of riders.
Photos: Will Shaw/Gerard Lagana
Words: Will Shaw
Ion’s motto of ‘surfing trails’ gives a hint into their background as a watersports brand. Founded in 2004, Ion initially focussed on wetsuits and neoprene products for surfing, kiting, and wakeboarding. It was 2013 when Ion stepped into the mountain biking arena, and their current range is impressive considering they’ve only been in the industry for 8 years.
Ion’s mountain bike offerings have continued to grow since their introduction to brand’s line up, and I’ve been seeing more and more of their products out on the trails. For this review I was sent a set of their Scrub flat pedal shoes, which retail for $199, and a set of their Scrub Select shoes (RRP: $285).
There are an additional 5 shoes in the Australian range, with prices ranging from $154.95 to $309.95. This range consists of five flat pedal shoes, and two clipless shoes. There are multiple colourways in most of the shoes, and sizing ranges from EU 36 – 47 in full sizes.
The difference between the regular Scrubs and the Scrub Selects is the leather upper used in the Scrub Selects, as well as a Velcro strap for adjustment, and a different insole. Do those changes make a difference on the trail? Let’s find out!
Ion Scrub Shoes First Impressions:
Ion’s Scrub Shoes are a low-cut flat pedal shoe with a lace retention system. The grip is provided by ION’s ‘Pin Tonic sole concept 2.0’. There’s also grip designed specifically for scrambling with your bike at the toe and heel areas of the shoe. I received the Scrubs in the Root Brown colour, but they’re also available in two other colours. It’s interesting they’re called Root Brown, because it’s only really a trim above the sole that’s brown, while the upper of the shoe is grey.
In terms of comfort, the Scrubs come with a cushiony EVA midsole and comfy insole. There’s a pre-shaped heel to assist with the fit also. There’s a Scrub AMP model that retails for $239.95, which features more ankle protection than the Scrub.
Another interesting feature of the Scrub is the stack height of the of the toe area, which is lowered to increase pedal contact, and in theory power transfer through the pedals. Also at the toe end of the shoe is some protection against the ever-ominous toe stub or rock strike in the form of their ToeTal Protection (get it?). The Scrubs also feature an ankle pad to protect against crank rub.
I tested the Scrubs in an EU 45, which is my usual size and they fitted just fine. I normally run the wide sizing from Shimano and these shoes are maybe a touch narrower, but unless you have quite narrow feet the Scrubs should fit just fine.
On the Trail:
The Scrubs feel like a trail-oriented shoe. They’re very comfortable, and there’s plenty of breathability also. Whilst they feature toe protection, the uppers and heel areas are quite soft, which is great for comfort and walking, but perhaps not so great for pure downhill usage.
I used the Scrubs with two sets of pedals. The first was TAG’s T3 pedals, with a narrower platform and taller pins. The second was a set of basic XON pedals with a wider platform and lower pins.
The Scrubs had good levels of grip on both sets of pedals in both the wet and dry. Flat pedal riders who appreciate being able to adjust their positioning on the pedal slightly will appreciate the Scrubs over a shoe like the Unparalleled Dust Ups, which are like superglue between pedal and shoe.
In terms of wet weather performance, grip levels remained the same on the Scrubs. They did take on more moisture than both the Unparalleled Dust Ups and the Shimano GR9’s, but I’d wager they also run a touch cooler in the warmer months, so it’s a case of priorities here.
I’ve ridden the Scrubs for around 10 hours so far and noticed minimal wear on the tread. I’ve also done some rock scrambling, and the walking specific tread at the toe and heel of the shoe do provide good traction when climbing up rock faces with your bike.
Overall:
Priced at $200, the Ion Scrubs offer great trail riding performance and are best suited to a flat pedal rider who likes a little bit of float in their connection, rather than feeling glued to the pedal.
You can purchase a set of Scrubs online from Drift Bikes, MTB Direct, or Bicycles Online. If you’re wanting to see a set in the flesh before committing head into your local bike shop. Despite the impact of the pandemic on global supply lines, Ion Australia have plenty of stock of all shoe models.
Hits:
- Comfortable
- Lots of flat pedal riders will enjoy the float on offer
- Reasonably priced
Misses:
- Not enough protection for pure downhill use
- They take on more water than other flat pedal shoes out there
Price: $199
From: Ion Bike Australia
Ion Scrub Select Shoes:
The Ion Scrub Select shoes feature the same basic outline as the Scrubs, but with a 95 percent leather upper. They’re Ion’s top of the line flat pedal shoe. I received the Scrub Selects in black, but they’re also available in ‘Loam Brown’. The Scrub Selects also come with an upgraded insole, dubbed the ‘Ortholite Eco Plush insole’. This insole is noticeably denser than the insole in the regular Scrubs. There’s also an added Velcro strap at the base of the laces to fine tune your fit.
Once again, I tested the Scrub Selects in an EU 45. The Scrub Selects are a slightly larger shoe than the regular Scrubs, and they’re also a bit heavier at 516 grams per shoe in the EU 45 size versus 435 grams for the Scrubs. The sizing was fine once again, and the slightly larger size gives the Scrub Selects a sturdier feel that’s more appropriate for gravity usage compared to the Scrubs.
On the trail:
So, are the Scrub Selects worth the $85 price increase? There’s certainly benefits to the leather upper, which in theory should be more durable than a synthetic upper. It’s definitely more water resistant, which if you’re a wet weather rider is a worthy consideration. They breathe well; however, I didn’t have any overly hot conditions during the test period to compare the two shoes unfortunately.
As the Scrub Selects use the same sole as the regular Scrubs, my opinion remains the same that either of these shoes are a good option for a rider who appreciates some float in their shoe/pedal combination. That’s not to say there isn’t enough grip on offer, just that there are shoes out there with more grip such as the Unparalleled Dust Ups. In a perfect world I’d take a flat pedal shoe with grip levels somewhere in the middle of the two.
The additional weight of the Scrub Selects gave the shoes a sturdier overall feel and less flex through the sole, and I felt comfortable riding more gravity-oriented terrain in them. They don’t feel quite as secure as something like Shimano’s GR9s.
I’ve ridden in the Scrub Selects for around 20 hours so far and the sole is starting to develop some grooves that feel nice underfoot. This is about on par for other flat pedal shoes I’ve ridden in recent years. It’s always hard to predict the wear rate after the initial break in period, but I’d imagine as the compound isn’t the hardest or softest out there premature wearing won’t be an issue.
Overall:
Overall, the Ion Scrub Select shoes would be a great choice for a gravity-oriented rider who wants a durable and comfortable shoe. The Scrub Selects are a touch more expensive than something like Shimano’s GR-901 flat pedal shoes ($239.95), or the Unparalleled Dust Ups I recently tested ($239.95).
If you’re a trail rider who doesn’t need a bulkier shoe, I really enjoyed the regular Scrubs’ comfort and minimalist feel. Having the two distinct options means there should be an Ion flat pedal shoe that’ll suit your riding style. If you’re a clipless rider, Ion have just brought in two new clipless models, the Rascal Select BOA and the Rascal AMP, which we’re hoping to get our hands on at some stage soon!
Hits:
- Comfortable
- Middle of the range traction and sole flex will appeal to a broad range of riders
- Leather upper will appeal to many
- Suitable for trail through to gravity usage
Misses:
- There are better options for riders wanting maximum grip or sole stiffness
- Fairly pricey
RRP: $285
From: Ion Bike Australia
