Looking for the best flat pedal shoes on the market? The conversation can end after someone mentions Five Ten. There is no real competition for them in terms of traction currently. Yes there are other shoes on the market that come close and maybe even edge them out slightly when it comes to overall comfort. However, if we specifically talk about traction from a flat pedal shoe and your foot staying on the pedal, in my opinion it is not even up for a discussion, Five Ten’s have the best rubber profile here. Clipless can be debated but I am putting my foot down (pun intended) in regards to flats!
The Trailcross takes the traction benefits of the Five Ten lineup and adds it to a shoe designed to be worn for all adventures. They feature a more flexible shoe body designed to be both comfortable while hiking, as well as breathable through its use of many vents. I have been testing out the Trailcross on a variety of rides, from XC pedal sessions to all mountain rides with lots of hike-a-bikes. Here is what I have found:
Things I love:
The first thing that wasn’t much of a surprise was traction. Given how lightweight and flexible the Trailcross is, that was one of my initial concerns upon receiving the shoes. I was worried they would have changed the traction profile to adapt to more of a hybrid shoe approach, but this fear quickly dissipated after the first few rides. The traction of the Trailcross remains the exceptional standard we have grown to expect from Five Ten and there is plenty of it.
I also love the comfort of these shoes when it comes time to hike. The Trailcross flexes in the right spots when it comes time for hike-a-bikes and I was thoroughly impressed by the climbing profile of the shoe. Whereas some other shoes in their lineup have a stiffer sole, making certain long off the bike hikes slightly uncomfortable, the Trailcross is their most comfortable shoe when it comes time to start pushing.
However this flexibility isn’t too extreme leading into the next thing I love, the combination of being flexible enough to hike in but stiff enough to ride. Another shoe in this category I have tested is the Crank Brother Stamp Trails, and while both of these shoes share similar hiking comfort, the Crank Brothers lacked the stiffness I wanted when it came time to ride. The Trailcross still has the stiffness needed to make riding your bike feel good as opposed to being flexible to the point that you feel the pedals in your foot.
The Trailcross also has amazing ventilation, giving you plenty of air on hot days and this was a big plus for me especially on long days in the saddle.
Things I don’t Love:
In terms of what can be improved, the shoes tongue (top part under shoelace) is a bit on the thinner side, and there were a few times I noticed that I could feel the shoe laces digging into me slightly if I over tightened them, something I became more mindful of the longer I had them.
Another thing I noticed was the ventilation I loved on hotter days in the saddle did become a bit too much on colder days. You can definitely feel the air going into the shoe, which with this winter's colder temps might not be the greatest if you live somewhere with a harsher winter. Summer is fast approaching so I don’t think this will be too much more of an issue there, and if anything will become more appreciated.
Lastly, I do feel like these shoes are a bit more on the adventure side than a dedicated bike shoe. However this is also what they are advertised as so no surprise there. But if you want to maximize on the bike performance that is something to keep in mind there.
Conclusion:
The Five Ten Trailcross are the best adventure bike shoes on the market currently in my opinion. As someone who gravitates towards flat pedals, I do think Five Ten is in a league of their own here. The Trailcross climbs well, are well vented, and very comfortable on and off the bike. Are they the best bike shoes? No, there are other shoes in their lineup for that and also other shoes that are more suited for colder climates. However if you are looking for a do everything adventure shoe that is ready to hit the backcountry, these are the shoes for you!
-Mo Awesome
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