While it had been a bit tricky to keep up with the different technologies and the naming conventions in Suplest’s current road and trail shoes, it looks like that is getting straightened out for 2016. With the introduction of the new Edge3 series that we showed in the middle of the summer, Suplest has both overhauled and simplified the line-up. Now going forward with just three levels – Pro, Performance, and Sport – in three segments – Road, XC, and Offroad – the breakdown into 9 total styles is a lot more straightforward. Hop past the break to have a look at how the shoes work out…
Simplifying the offering means 3 categories that can be easily identified from a glance. All of the Edge3 shoes get Boa dials for fine control of the fit. The top level Pro shoes which sell for 350€ in either Road or XC versions get two Boas, a carbon sole, and completely heat welded construction, plus German-made Solestar insoles. The Performance shoes sell for 250€ and drop to one Boa, a carbon composite sole, heat welded construction, and the Solestar insoles. The 190€ Sport shoes get a single cheaper Boa dial, a reinforced nylon sole, and traditional stitched seams.
Color options look like they will be a bit more streamlined as well for 2016, with a strong dose of Suplest’s signature blazing red and reflective gray accents. On the left we have the Pro, Performance, and Sport (from front to back) looking from the outside of the shoe. On the right are the same shoes looking from the inside (bike side) with the Pro in front and Sport in back. The colors from the outside are relatively calm, with bright accents to the inside. On the Pro Road, there is also the more staid white Reflect model at the top of this post.
The fit of all of the shoes rely on the movement of a large asymmetric tongue with a thin carbon shield that helps spread the pressure from the Boa wires. We went into more depth on the construction and features of the shoes before, and nothing new to report there, but we were glad to the replaceable heel tread wasn’t only on the top-end road shoe.
The Egde3 XC shoes follow the same 3 level Pro, Performance, and Sport pattern. This gray shoe is the Performance and gets the same, soft thermo-welded upper as the road shoes with a bit of a rubber toe bumper. The mountain soles are the same category-specific construction as on the road, and are then completely coated in a rubber tread that both protects the sole and offers good traction. The mountain tread blocks are not replaceable, but we were happy with the minimal wear on the previous generation of the shoes that we tested. We’ve been riding them for almost a year now, and from the looks of things, the tread should last for at least 3 or more seasons of regular wear.
The Trail shoes that Suplest had on hand at Eurobike looked to be carry over models, although we were given some product data that suggests that they should get Edge3 updates as well. The new 2016 version are said to sell for 160€ for a Performance model and 130€ for a Sport model both with Boa dials. There is no Pro level Offroad trail shoe.
The new information on the updated shoes is not up on their website yet, but we’ve been told that the complete new range will be available in stores from February 2016.
