Five Ten, the mountain bike and climbing arm of Adidas, have today released the first ever flat pedal mountain bike shoe to feature a Gore-Tex liner. That makes the Five Ten TrailCross GTX a ridiculously attractive option as we head toward the wet and sloppy conditions the shoulder season will reliably bring. A proper waterproof shoe paired with Five Ten’s benchmark Stealth Phantom rubber, plus bonus cuffs to keep grit out… what more do you want?
Five Ten TrailCross GTX Waterproof MTB Shoes
In answer to that question: a decent bit of toe protection, good durability, a bit of flex in the shank, and not too much water retention. I’m describing what would be my ideal set of flat pedal mountain bike shoes, right there. We’ll let you know whether the Five Ten TrailCross GTX shoes meet those requirements in our coming review. For now, here’s what Adidas have to say about them.
“We built the TrailCross GTX from the ground up, starting with Five Ten’s iconic dotted outsole for flat pedal performance on the bike,” said Luke Hontz, senior product manager, Five Ten. “We refined the design with hiking in mind, with the addition of a more traditional hiking-specific tread on the toe and heel, and sufficient toe lift to accommodate a walking gait. All the shoes in the TrailCross family are designed to take you from the bike to trail to home with pedal power and hiking performance. We listened to the riders need for a waterproof flat pedal shoe and the GTX was our answer.”
The TrailCross GTX shoes are said to have the lightweight, cushioned feel of a trail runner, paired with the sticky Stealth Phantom rubber compound for gripping pedal pins. This could be the ideal winter riding shoe for flat pedal riders, those who love to session sections of track, and mountain bike coaches who do a lot of off-bike stuff when running a session.
In addition to the waterproof Gore-Tex membrane, the Five Ten TrailCross GTX gets a textile upper with a neoprene collar that extends up the ankle, helping to keep mud and grit from falling down into the shoe and causing irritation. The shoes have a lace-up closure with a wee elasticated tab on the tongue to keep spare lace from flailing about.
Pricing & Availability
The Five Ten TrailCross GTX waterproof mountain bike shoes are available in UK sizes 6-13.5, priced at £150.
