TESTED: Bontrager Cambion MTB Shoes

Words and Photos: Tim Bardsley-Smith

The Cambion is a shoe that crosses boundaries, stiff enough for CX and XC racing yet with thoughtful inclusions like the rubberized and reinforced uppers see it applicable to trail riders too. Subtle graphics offered with 2 colour schemes both look super cool in their own right; the electric blue model tested turned a few heads to say the least.

The heart of the shoe is the carbon/fibreglass hybrid sole that rates a 12 on the 14 point Bontrager stiffness scale. The upper is based on Bontrager’s top-flight XXX shoes, and it is supple straight from the box. Setup was fast and painless with a generously long cleat pocket that is positioned much like the other leading brands on the market. 

Slipping into them for the first time and cranking up on the BOA closure and adjusting the velcro strap allowed for a precise and secure fit. The single BOA configuration did make the material on the top of the shoe crease a little when ratcheted down to secure my narrow foot in place. No rubbing or pressure points were experienced from this, but having ample room in the toe box I may have been able to go down a size to alleviate this aesthetic problem. Slight size variations between manufacturers 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.

Hitting the trail
Out on the trails the Cambions performed well over a wide variety of terrain and scenarios. The power transfer is excellent; the combination of the stiff sole and snug fit allowing all energy to be pushed efficiently into the pedals. The initial impressions of comfort extended throughout the whole test with the inForm Pro last ergonomics matching my feet perfectly and although sparse, the ventilation worked well keeping my tootsies freezing cold on the early morning jaunts in winter! Hiking in the Cambion showed that the rubber lugs on both the forefoot and heel were greatly were well placed, allowing you to walk without having to feel like you on an ice covered slope that is smeared in Vaseline, the non-slip material in the heel kept heel rubbing at bay. It is a simple and practical inclusion that made the world of difference.

Full marks for the durability of the Cambions, they look as good as the day I got them and after a month of hard abuse that’s no small feat. The reinforced “GnarGuard” areas of toe and honeycombed heel cup provided great protection from the rogue rocks and sticks and the rubberised lugs kept the carbon sole from nasty carbon on rock action. 

Final Thoughts
The Cambion is an impressive and sleek shoe with many cool features that would make it appealing option to many searching for a new trail/CX/XC shoe. The creasing in the upper under tension is the only blemish in an otherwise outstanding piece of kit – but this won’t be apparent for every foot shape. If you are in the market, drop by your nearest Trek dealer and check them out.