Shown here as a prototype, Five Ten’s upcoming “Kestrel” will have a full length carbon shank and lightweight bonded construction so there are no seams to come undone. The heel cup comes up higher to really wrap around the top of your heel. This is the first shoe they’ve ever done with a ratchet mech and the stiffest, too. Based on my own little twist and bend test, it’s quite stiff both laterally (rotationally) and horizontally. Aimed at the XC/Enduro crowd. No timeline, still in development. Before production, the strap and ratchet will move down and back to have better retention.
Their new Danny MacAskill Pro model has a TPU toe cap and a TPR (basically a hard plastic) external heel cup keeps it from collapsing in the back under a hard, gravity-induced load.
Sole has a firmer wrap around the outer edge with a gel section directly under the heel. The forefoot will have a memory foam panel where the foot typically rests on the pedal. Combined, the features should help keep the shoes on better than what you see on the X-Games and prevent heel bruising. MSRP is TBD. Available early next year.
