Bontrager RXL MTB Shoes

Finding the right shoe for your foot, and the riding you do, can be a challenge. Having worked in different bike shops for too many years, the pained faces of riders trying shoes on are etched into my memory. With the shoes on, they would jump up and down, stride around the shop, look in the mirror – and generally wonder how the shoe would actually feel on the bike.

A cycling shoe is like any other shoe – it needs to fit securely over the top of your foot, allow some toe wiggle room, and keep your heel in place.

Marketed as a high performance shoe, the Bontrager RXL MTB shoe has a stiff sole, deep and replaceable lugs and should be perfect for any aggressive XC or Trail rider who wants a shoe they can put on and just hammer. More race inspired than pub style, they are built for function.

The Bontrager RXL MTB shoe fits my high arched, wide foot very well. How they fit your feet will come down to trying a pair. However the two velcro straps and Micro-Fit II buckle provided ample support through my midfoot and kept my heel locked in place, helped by the anti-slip lining inside the heel of the shoe, and the pronounced heel cup. The Inform custom footbed can be modified to suit your foot shape.

If I were to walk around a bike shop, they would probably slip a little. The Carbon/Fibreglass mid sole is very stiff, and walking levers off the toe. So there is about 28cm of leverage trying to make your heel slip. Of course, when you’re attached just behind the ball of your foot and pedalling this isn’t apparent. Just be aware that your heel will lift in just about any performance based shoe when you walk around in them.

In use the shoes are brilliantly stiff, but even on longer rides I’m yet to have hot spots. While I’ve had them in use for a few months, the only real wear is on the tread under the toe from walking on rock. There are ports for studs, and the sole around the cleat pocket is replaceable. As this assists with pedal stability, this should increase the life of your shoe.

With smart touches like a reflective strip on the back, and a black colour scheme for grubby mountain bikers, and a replaceable main strap and buckle and a reinforced toe and upper, this is a well thought out shoe. It fits me well and I’ll happily use it for a gentle pedal or to slip on for a long day on the bike or marathon race. If you’re after a performance MTB shoe then it’s worth trying these on at your local Bontrager dealer.

Price: $329

From: www.bontrager.com

By: Mike Blewitt