Five Ten’s iconic Freerider shoe debuted in 2009, quickly propelling the brand to become market leaders in MTB-specific footwear. In 2011, Adidas became the parent company of Five Ten, but until now they kept their name and logo off Five Ten’s shoes. For 2027, we’ll see a whole new line of Freerider shoes, which now feature Adidas’ three stripes on every model.
This definitely begs the question: Will the Five Ten name be dropped in coming years? (Editor’s note – Just after publication, I’ve just been asked to remove the name Five Ten from the new shoe models, and refer to them only as Adidas shoes. I guess the iconic brand has been absorbed.) The 2027 Freerider models all still have Five Ten logos, but it seems Adidas is much keener to grow the brand identity of ‘Adidas Bike’.
Developed with input from World Cup and freeride athletes like Vali Holl, Greg Minnaar, Brendan Fairclough and Danny MacAskill, all models in the new Freerider family have been redesigned and re-engineered with Adidas’ expertise in athletic footwear. Offering something for every rider, the new Freerider line now includes a clipless model that replaces the Five Ten Hellcat.
2027 Adidas Freeriders – Construction Features:
One new feature common to all Freerider models is some re-shaping. First, the new shoes all get redesigned and reinforced Slingshot heel cups. This area was revised to fit more snugly and reduce potential movement of the heel. All the new Freeriders also feature asymmetrical construction, which helps deflect impacts at the toe box.
Another thing I noticed was that on all the new models, the three Adidas stripes on both sides of the shoes are actually abrasion-resistant. The base Freerider shoe features perforated fabric stripes, but the other models all get tough-looking stripes (which differ per model) that should help fend off wear and tear. I thought this was a clever way to make the stripes a functional element of the shoes.
Like the previous Freerider shoe line, the 2027 base model Freerider does not have weather-resistant uppers, but the Pro models all do. None of the Freeriders are fully waterproof, but the Pro models are built to resist rain, mud, and splashes.
As for midsoles, the Freerider offers a single-density EVA midsole, while the Pro models all get something a little fancier: Their insoles are dual-density, plus they feature a D30 pad in the heel for extra protection against nasty heel impacts.
All non-clipless Freerider models get the same classic Five Ten Stealth Dotty rubber soles that made the brand popular.
2027 Freerider Lineup:
Freerider – $120
The Freerider carries on as the most basic model in the line. It sticks with traditional laces and non-weatherproof, casual-looking suede uppers.
At their World Cup display booth, I was told the new Freerider shoe was made to be stiffer than the original. Adidas’ designers knew the older models would eventually flex and blow out at the sides where your toes bend, and this new version is made to resist that wear and tear much better.
Freerider Pro – $160
The Freerider Pro still uses laces, but has some upgrades over the base model. This shoe gets weather-resistant synthetic uppers and a more protective five-layer toe box featuring PORON impact resistance. The Pro model also includes a lace enclosure with an elastic lace tuck so you can neatly hide those loose ends.
Freerider Pro BOA – $180
The Freerider Pro BOA was developed with input from Brendan Fairclough, Vero Sandler and Danny MacAskill. The Pro BOA boasts water-resistant PU leather uppers and a five-layer toe box with PORON impact resistance.
This shoe gets a single BOA Li2 dial, with an asymmetrical PERFORMFIT WRAP (what they call the lacing pattern) for a precise fit. It also includes an integrated debris shield.
Freerider Pro BOA Clipless – $250
The race-friendly Freerider Pro BOA Clipless shoe was designed with the Norco Adidas Race Division riders, plus Vali Holl and Dakotah Norton. This model features a longer-lasting STEALTH Marathon sole and a redesigned cleat slot with 5 mm of additional rearward adjustment.
The Pro BOA Clipless uses two BOA Li2 dials with PERFORMFIT WRAP lacing to ensure a precise, dual-zone fit across the entire foot. This model also includes a five-layer PORON toe box and a debris shield to keep your feet clean and protected.
The Norco Adidas Race Division athletes started racing in the Freerider Pro Boa Clipless shoes at the Whistler UCI World Cup DH last weekend.
All models of the new Adidas Freerider shoes will be available to consumers in March 2027. Men’s sizes range from 5.5-14.5 US, and women’s sizes 5.5-10.5 US are available.
