The new Northwave MTB Extreme Tech Plus comes in as the lightest full-featured mountain bike shoe we’ve seen.
Claimed weight is just 280g, lighter than many road shoes, but doesn’t skimp on anything. It gets double SLW2 ratchets with a new micro release button to help you make fine fit adjustments while on the bike. Push click it to release a tiny bit of cable, pull it to open completely. The ratchets themselves are thinner and lighter than before.
The real weight savings is underneath…
The full UD carbon outsole is super stiff -it’s a race shoe- and uses Vibram rubber treads. They say it’s an industry exclusive, and it lets them provide enough grip while minimizing tread block weight.
TPU sections protect the toe and inside forefoot. Internally, the heel area has grippy sections on the sides and their “cat tongue”-like heel cup with fibers pointing downward to resist heel lift. We’ve tested this on the Extreme Tech road shoes and it works.
€319 retail, available in team green and matte black.
The Road Extreme Tech Plus uses the same sole as the Extreme Tech we reviewed but upgrades to the new SLW2 ratchets and a revised upper fitment.
The result is a 20g weight savings to come in at a claimed 235g.