TESTED: Bontrager XXX MTB shoe

Before Bontrager were under the Trek umbrella, they were their own brand, producing some fine products, including exceptional steel and titanium hardtail frames. The man behind the brand, Keith Bontrager, coined the oft-mentioned phrase “Light, cheap, strong. Choose any two.” The XXX range of parts and accessories is certainly light and strong, but not particularly cheap. That said, if you demand exceptional performance from your XC focused parts, then XXX components are typically exceptional value.

Having tested the Bontrager RXL shoes almost two years ago, I was really impressed with the fit, stability and overall durability of the shoes. The XXX is a no-compromise cross country shoe that Bontrager claim is “Simply our fastest, most advanced mountain shoe ever”. Those are big claims, but looking through the specs of the shoe it’s easy to see why they are happy to make them.

The fit of the Bontrager XXX

Based on the inForm Pro last, Bontrager have tuned the ergonomics of their shoes for a high performance fit – that means minimal toe wiggle and no need to tighten them up ridiculously to get them to stay put. Having owned shoes that feel like you’re just strapped to two solid planks, the shape of the last and upper, along with the closure, has created a very secure and comfortable feeling shoe.

The sole is rated to a stiffness index of 14 – which I don’t understand, except that it must be better than anything rated 1-13. It is a very stiff thing. Tachyon rubber is used on the lugs around the cleat, and all the way forward to the toe, which should protect the carbon sole from the inevitable hike-a-bike sections. The rear lug is minimalist, but it should suffice for anything so steep and sketchy you need to run down with your heels dug in. There’s a tiny bit of file tread on the instep, but it’s unlikely to save you on really slippery logs and rocks. As a point of difference, the lugs around the cleat on the RXL are replaceable – not so on the XXX.

The two BOA closures and velcro strap allow a really precise fit. I’ve had numerous shoes with the BOA system, and while the cords do wear out, they are replaceable, unlike velcro straps and unlike some basic buckles. The BOA system does allow an exact fit that’s easy to adjust while on the bike, and the padded tongue helps to make them supremely comfortable.

The upper is crafted from Clarino microfibre, with some mesh near the toe and along each side for much needed ventilation in an Australian summer. It’s also got plenty of rubberised protection built in with a large toe bumper that extends a fair way inside the foot, and along much of the outside. The heel is left free from external protection, but if you’re not using your XC shoes for all-mountain adventures that should be ok.

The uppers were really nice and supple, and in my first outing I rode to and from a cyclocross race with no problem with pressure points or anything that you might expect while waiting for a shoe to ‘soften up’. The inside of the heel is lined with a non-slip material. A very stiff sole can equal heel slip when walking, but this addition along with a great fit and the BOA closures prevented that for my feet. The cleat pockets are pretty long, and it was easy enough to get the cleats into my preferred position. The pocket is a little narrow though, so they might jam up a little in gritty clay-based mud. It’s really not much different to other leading XC shoes though, and that sort of mud is likely to be causing plenty of other problems on your bike anyway.

With a pretty wide foot, sometimes I need to compromise on shoe size to get thr right fit, taking a European 43-45, depending on the shoe and the brand. I wore a 44 for the test and they were a little longer than my regular shoes. Slight size variations is nothing new, but it does reinforce how important it is to buy shoes from a reputable store where you can try them on to make sure you get the best fit. The footbed is pretty basic, and quite different to what Specialized or Shimano offer. But if you know you need extra support, take it along with you when you try some on.

In use, I haven’t been able to fault the XXX MTB shoes. Even with a super stiff sole they didn’t slip on my heel if off and running (thanks to the grippy material in the heel), and they have worn quite well for normal XC use. The uppers don’t have as much protection underneath from sharp rocks like an all-mountain shoe might, nor as much grip. But that’s to be expected. If you’re after a high-performance race shoe that’s also lighter than much of the competition, it’s worth getting into your local Trek dealer to try a pair on.

Hits: Exceptional stiffness

Clean design

Brilliant fit with BOA closures

Misses:

Fire engine red might not suit everyone

A basic footbed

RRP: $429

From: bontrager.com