Keeping your feet cool during the heat of summer is a challenge, and Crankbrothers is providing riders with a new solution in the Trail Speed Lace Vent shoes. The brand-new Trail Vent shoes share the same general design and silhouette as their existing Stamp Trail and Mallet Trail counterparts, but are made with a highly breathable mesh upper to maximize airflow when temps rise. Available with a Speed Lace closure in the Bone colorway only, the Trail Vent shoes are a compelling new highly-ventilated option launching just in time for summer..
I got my hands on a pair of the new Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent shoes last week and have taken a couple of rides in them so far. The temperatures have been climbing up into the low 90s F, where I live, creating perfect conditions for testing the ventilation of Crankbrothers’ latest shoes. So far, I’ve been really impressed. If you’re interested in my initial impressions, you can find them at the end of this article.
Trail Speed Lace Vent Details
It was a bit more than two years ago that Crankbrothers expanded its mountain bike shoe lineup with the Trail versions of its Stamp and Mallet shoes. With a respectable weight, balanced sole stiffness, streamlined design, and multiple closure options Crankbrothers’ Trail shoes have proven to be a popular choice. In fact, the Mallet Trail BOA is my current favorite clip-in shoe for trail and all-mountain riding.
Today, Crankbrothers is expanding its Trail family of shoes with the brand-new Speed Lace Vent versions. These shoes share the same overall design, soles, and fit as their non-Vent counterparts, but are built with a highly-ventilated mesh upper to maximize airflow. The open mesh on both sides of the midfoot and wrapping over the toes allows for virtually unrestricted airflow. The flip side is that the mesh provides zero weather resistance, but it dries very quickly.
Made from a non-absorbent, perforated EVA foam that dries quickly if it gets wet, the tongue is lightly padded and breathable. The Speed Lace closure makes lace tension adjustments quick and easy, and the integrated lace pocket keeps the laces tucked away and tidy.
Despite the breezy mesh upper, the Trail Vent shoes still have quite a bit of structure, with a TPU-reinforced toe box for protection from rock strikes and a rigid heel pocket for support. The EVA cushioned midsole is also intended to provide a bit of shock absorption and vibration damping.
The Trail Vent shoes come with the Speed Lace closure in the Bone colorway only. Given the intended hot weather use case, the light color seems like a logical choice. Crankbrothers says it “hides dust while staying cooler in the sun.”
Trail Vent: Stamp and Mallet Versions
Similar to the rest of the Crankbrothers mountain bike shoe lineup, the new Trail Vent models come in both Stamp and Mallet versions. If you are unfamiliar, the Stamp shoes share their name with the brand’s Stamp flat pedals, while the Mallet shoes share theirs with the brand’s clip-in pedals. Both are designed with Crankbrothers’ proprietary Match Technology “that helps to provide the best shoe-to-pedal interface and offer superior control and confidence on the trails.”
Stamp Trail Speed Lace Vent: $169.99 USD / €169.99 / £169.99
The Stamp Trail Vent is designed for use with flat pedals and features a full-coverage outsole made from Crankbrothers’ proprietary high-friction MC2 rubber compound. According to Crankbrothers, the MC2 rubber compound “is optimized for grip and durability and, when combined with its low rebound properties, allows the shoe to stick to the pedal body.” That’s combined with a moderately flexible midsole to reduce vibration and enhance pedal feel.
- Claimed weight: 309g per shoe (US 9 / EU 42)
- Available Sizes:
- US: 5-15
- US WMNS: 6.5-16.5
- EU: 37-49
Mallet Trail Speed Lace Vent
The Mallet Trail Vent shoes are designed for use with clipless/clip/clip-in pedals. That includes a 2-bolt Match Box cleat pocket and a fiber-reinforced shank, which adds stiffness and support underfoot for efficiency on the pedals. The Mallet Trail uses Crankbrothers’ mid-friction MC1 rubber compound, which allows for easy pedal entry and exit with enhanced durability. While the rubber is slightly firmer, Crankbrothers says off-the-bike traction is consistent and predictable thanks to deep lugs at the toe and heel.
- Claimed weight: 408g per shoe (US 9 / EU 42)
- Available Sizes:
- US: 5-15
- US WMNS: 6.5-16.5
- EU: 37-49
First Impressions
I’m already a huge fan of the regular Mallet Trail BOA shoes. They fit my feet well and offer what I feel is the most balanced performance of any trail/all-mountain shoes on the market. That said, they aren’t the most breathable shoes around, and I’m already prone to sweaty feet.
As mentioned, I’ve only had the chance to take a couple of rides in the Mallet Trail Vent shoes thus far. We’ve just started regularly breaking the 90° F mark in the past couple of weeks, so the timing for trying out these new ventilated shoes couldn’t have been better. My first order of business was to weigh the, and they clocked in at 427g per shoe in size 43.5 EU (10 US).
The Mallet Trail Vent shoes appear to be built on the same last as the standard Mallet Trail, and they fit my foot well right out of the box. The Speed Lace closure is simple to use, making it quick and easy to get the shoes on and off, or make mid-ride tension adjustments. The integrated lace pocket at the top of the tongue swallows up the laces for a super-tidy look, with the added benefit of keeping them from snagging on anything while you ride.
From the very first pedal stroke, the ventilation of the mesh uppers was immediately apparent. Air flows directly to the foot through the open mesh, and I can absolutely feel the difference. It is night and day compared to the upper on the standard Mallet Trail BOA, and pretty much every other shoe I own, for that matter. During my two hot test rides, my feet were notably cooler, more comfortable, and far less sweaty than they would have been in any other of my riding shoes.
One thing that immediately stood out to me about the Mallet Trail Vent was that it felt just as supportive as the standard version. Other highly ventilated shoes I’ve tried, like the Five Ten TrailCross XT, sacrificed support for breathability. Not so with the Mallet Trail Vent. The uppers provide a familiar level of support for the foot, allowing me to ride with the same confidence and control as the standard version.
Likewise, the sole has the same balance of stiffness and forgiveness that I’ve already come to appreciate about the standard Mallet Trail. Which is to say, they’re stiff enough to feel efficient while climbing or on long, pedal-heavy rides, yet damp and forgiving enough to never feel like they’re punishing your feet.
In my brief experience, I’ve been very impressed by the Mallet Trail Vent shoes. The ventilation is top-notch, and the shoes don’t sacrifice support or compromise performance for it. They’re a bit of a quiver shoe for hot weather, but could definitely be a worthwhile investment for those who live and ride in the heat. Alternatively, they seem like they could be a great option for those who ride in super wet and warm conditions with any frequency.
Either way, I think they’re a great new addition to the Crankbrothers shoe lineup, and my feet are looking forward to staying cooler during the hottest rides of summer.
