At Eurobike, we saw the high end of Northwave’s 2014 road and mountain bike shoes, including what they’re claiming as the lightest mountain bike shoe on the market, plus a slick new Hammer CX cyclocross shoe. But they saved some of the mid/upper level stuff for Interbike.
The new Galaxy (white) and Torpedo Plus (black) road shoes slot into the lineup just under the top-of-the-line Extreme Tech Plus. Both get the same new low profile dials that use a dual function release lever. Push it in and it’ll open all the way, or pull it slightly to release one notch at a time for micro adjustments.
The Torpedo Plus is a fully thermowelded upper like the Extreme Tech Plus model but downgrades to a single dial with a toe strap. In fact, it’s very similar overall to the top dog. The Galaxy, however, gets a fairly unique build…
The Galaxy uses a very well vented sock-like tongue and lots of mesh to help keep your feet cool. It’s a totally different construction than their other shoes. The inner sock completely covers the top of the foot with a wide upper strap that’s closed down via their SLW2 dial.
The Galaxy’s sole has a three layer carbon construction, but just ignore that “Wood Midsole” graphic…these were preproduction and will not have that feature. Retail is $259.
The Torpedo Plus also keeps the ventilated all-carbon sole. A small intake at the front of the toe tread directs air into the shoe. Retail is $219.
Over on the mountain bike side, the Nirvana uses a thermowelded upper with rubber toe cover and structured rubber heel support. Mesh panels throughout keep it both light and airy.
The protective rubber heel cup exterior builds in mesh vents all the way ’round. There’s a lot of influence from road to mountain in the Northwave lineup.
Tread lugs are natural rubber with a sleek design in between them to help mud shed quickly. It’s a bit wider than the race shoe, but it’s still wicked light. Even though it doesn’t look as sleek as the Hammer below, it outranks it. Retail is $219
The Hammer takes a very similar upper as the race shoe but switches to a nylon sole and adds a few closure options.
It can be had with the buckle on the top (adjustable) strap. The other MTB option is just with three straps, and the third is the Hammer CX with a taller neoprene cuff that we covered at Eurobike. Overall quality looks really good, with plenty of small details like thermowelding even on the straps.
Retail is $159 with the buckle and $139 with just straps.
