It seems like just yesterday that Ride Concepts jumped into the mountain bike shoe market, but the brand has actually been around since 2018. The upstart quickly made a name for itself and was particularly newsworthy in my area, as it initially started in my hometown of Truckee, CA, before moving just a little ways down the road to Reno, NV, where I currently live. Over the years, I’ve known or met most of the people who’ve worked for the brand and watched as it navigated the ups and downs of the cycling industry.
In 2023, Ride Concepts was acquired by Fox Factory — yes, the suspension brand — and added to its portfolio alongside brands like Race Face, Easton, and others. Since then, it seems like new life has been breathed into Ride Concepts, and virtually the entire shoe lineup has undergone a major overhaul, with fresh designs, new materials, and more. Recently, the brand even announced its first foray into protective gear with the Deploy and Dissent helmets.
This spring, the whole Hellion range of shoes received major updates, including Cordura uppers, refreshed aesthetics, and new closure systems. With versions for flats and clips and options for laces or BOA closures, Ride Concepts makes a Hellion to suit most people’s preferences. Having owned and ridden in the previous version of the Hellion Clip for a couple of years, I decided to try out the new Hellion Clip BOA to see how it compared.
- MSRP: $210
- Weight: 524 g/per shoe (size 10), 1048 g/pair
- Closure: PerformFit Wrap with BOA Li2 dial and TX4 lace
- Upper: Cordura w/ bonded TPU toe and heel guard
- Midsole: RC Powerdrive nylon shank
- Outsole: ClipGrip rubber with hexagon pattern
- Sizes: Full and half sizes 7 to 13 US
Pros
- Updated style – a step up for RC
- Grippy outsoles, good traction off the bike
- Great pedaling efficiency and lateral stability
- Good foot protection
- Seem durable so far
Cons
- Kinda heavy
- BOA lace gets hung up on itself when tightening
- Tongue could open wider
- Cordura isn't the easiest to keep clean
The new Hellion Clip BOA resembles its predecessor in name only. Sure, the shoes still share the same target user, but the new version looks very different from the original. The old Hellion Clip looked almost like a flat pedal shoe with smooth synthetic uppers and skate-shoe-esque styling, and it only came in a lace version with a velcro strap. Ride Concepts still makes the new Hellion Clip in a lace version that will save you $30, but I opted for the BOA setup because I’m fancy like that.
Ride Concepts Hellion Clip BOA Details
I’ll dig into my ride impressions of the new Hellion Clip BOA shoes in a moment, but first, here’s a quick rundown of the materials, features, and specs.
- Lightweight bonded upper featuring Cordura mesh w/ TPU mud guard to protect against dirt, debris, and rubbing
- PerformFit Wrap from the BOA Fit System with Li2 dial, TX4 lace, and dial shield
- Integrated D3O pads for top-of-foot protection
- Fully gusseted tongue provides a snug fit and prevents shifting
- RC PowerDrive nylon shank for power and lateral stiffness – rated “stiff” on RC’s scale
- EVA midsole for support and shock absorption
- ClipGrip rubber outsole w/ 40 mm long cleat box
- Hexagon outsole featuring reverse hex relief pattern on toe and heel for hike-a-bike grip
- D3O High Impact Zone Technology insole
- Anti-bacterial mesh lining controls odor
- Claimed weight: 489 g per shoe/size 9
Hellion Clip BOA Review
My test shoes arrived in early May, and I’ve been riding in them on and off ever since. I’ve been switching them out with two pairs of similar shoes: the new Giro Chamber 3 and the Crankbrothers Mallet Trail BOA (my current favorite). By now, I’ve got at least 30 days of riding in them, on everything from fast-paced XC rips to battery-burner e-bike rides.
Fit and Comfort
The fit of the new Hellion Clip BOA hasn’t changed too much compared to its predecessor. I have a size 10 test pair, and I believe they are true to size for length. Overall, I’d say they are right about average for volume and width. I have what I consider to be roughly average-width feet, but they are on the lower volume side of the spectrum, and they have been working well for me.
That said, I’ve found the toe box of every pair of Ride Concepts shoes that I’ve worn to be a bit tight vertically right out of the box. The same was true here, but they broke in quickly and haven’t caused any discomfort. The Cordura isn’t stretchy or anything, but it is more supple than the synthetic leather of the previous version, and it conforms to the feet a little more easily. When tightened down properly (more on that in a bit), the foot hold is secure, and these shoes are super comfortable. My only real complaint is that I wish the tongue opened slightly further for shoving my foot in there. It’s a bit of a squeeze for me.
BOA Closure
The closure plays a large role in the fit, comfort, and snugness of any shoe, and that’s absolutely true for the Hellion Clip BOA. Ride Concepts went with the PerformFit Wrap, a BOA design that aims to wrap around the foot as opposed to simply pulling two sides together. In this case, it is a single dial system using the adjustable-both-ways Li2 dial with the TX4 low-friction textile lace. That lace loops through a series of fabric eyelets, connecting the four flaps of the PerformFit Wrap and pulling them over the gussetted tongue to the lateral side of the upper.
The idea behind the PerformFit Wrap is solid. It avoids having BOA wires pressing down on the foot bones and spreads tension more evenly over the foot while simultaneously securing it in the shoe with a hug-like squeeze. A snug and secure hold of the foot helps keep it locked in place for pedaling efficiency and lateral stability, which may help to enhance your control and performance on the bike.
In practice, I found the closure system on the Hellion Clip BOA to work very well for the first week or so. The TX4 lace slid easily through the eyelets, and I was able to tighten the shoes quickly and easily. Over time, I began to notice the lace getting hung up on itself while tightening, resulting in uneven tension over the top of the foot. The top of the wrap would tighten, but it was pinching down on the lace and preventing it from tightening down the line. I’ve experienced similar issues a number of times before with BOA laces that criss-cross.
It’s not a deal-breaker issue for me by any means. If I stand up and flex through the toes of the shoes a number of times, it evens out the laces a bit. I’ve also figured out that it’s pretty easy to pull up on the different flaps of the PerformFit Wrap to even them out as well. So, I’ve got a system, and it isn’t a big problem, but I’d prefer not to need to do that at all. Dual BOAs would certainly help to alleviate this issue, and I guess that’s why Ride Concepts makes the Hellion Elite Clip BOA ($250) with two BOA dials.
Efficiency and Stability
Ride Concepts bills the Hellion Clip BOA as a trail and all-mountain shoe. As such, it has an EVA midsole that’s stiffened up with the “RC Powerdrive nylon shank”, and it rates at the top of the brand’s scale for its sole stiffness. In my experience, it feels plenty efficient on the pedals, with ample sole stiffness and secure hold of my foot. It is obviously not an XC race shoe, but it performs well for a shoe of its type. The 40 mm long cleat box offers ample room to position your cleats where you want them.
I’ve done all kinds of rides with these shoes, including a few gonna-get-a-new-PR sufferfests on long climbs and XC bikes. At no point have I been disappointed by the pedaling efficiency, nor have I noticed any sole flex, or felt the pedal through the sole. They aren’t light shoes, of course, but they aren’t throwing away your watts through sole flex if that’s something you care about. At the same time, the EVA midsole helps mute trail feedback, and I’ve found them to be comfy for super long and rough descents. At no point have my feet felt beat up.
In terms of lateral stability, I have zero complaints. When the PerformFit Wrap is tensioned properly, the shoes have a glove-like fit with almost zero unwanted foot movement. The uppers aren’t stiff, per se, but they feel quite supportive. On top of that, the sole is pretty dang stiff laterally, and the shoes have a responsive feel control-wise. My Shimano and OneUp cleats sit almost exactly flush with the outsole, so the pedal interface is good without being overbearing.
Foot Protection
RC might bill these as trail and all-mountain shoes, but they have what I consider to be a gravity level of foot protection. The toe is protected with a thick, welded rubber toe bumper, and the heel is also wrapped in rubber and reinforced around the heel pocket. By the ankle bones, the medial side is raised slightly to provide a touch of extra protection from crank strikes and the like. Over the top of the foot, the flaps of the PerformFit Wrap also have thin D30 pads inside them. Even the insole has impact absorbing D30 panels under the ball of the foot and heel. My feet certainly don’t feel exposed in these shoes.
Breathability, Weather Resistance
With an upper that consists largely of Cordura fabric, it seems like the Hellion Clip BOA shoes would be relatively breathable. And, they do a commendable job of not overheating the feet, but I wouldn’t call them airy, by any means. Above the toes and on the lateral side of the foot, where the uppers are the thinnest, a little airflow happens. Elsewhere on the shoes — top of the foot, medial midfoot, and heel — there’s quite a bit of material, and air is not freely passing through to the feet. I wouldn’t exactly call them well-ventilated, but they are a bit more breathable than their predecessor and similarly burly shoes.
I live in the high desert, and when I’m not riding from the house, I’m typically traveling a short distance to Tahoe, where it rarely rains in the summer. If it does, I’m doing my best not to get caught in it. We really don’t experience much in the way of weather. But I did trudge through some late May snow drifts while wearing these shoes, and it seemed like the Cordura was prone to getting wet and eventually allowing moisture to pass through. Not really a surprise given that it’s a knit fabric without any sort of membrane behind it. That said, I think there are better choices for super wet weather.
Walkability
I’ve pushed some bikes through the aforementioned snow drifts and up some too-steep-to-pedal sections of trail while wearing the Hellion Clip BOA shoes. While the sole is on the stiffer side, there’s a tiny bit of rocker and just enough flex through the toe to maintain a relatively natural gait, and to conform to rock slabs and steep trails. The full coverage Clip Grip rubber outsole has been plenty grippy for my needs, with taller hexagonal treads at the toe and heel to dig into the loose soils typical in my area. I’d say that given their intended purpose of aggressive mountain biking, they perform well enough off the bike, too.
Weight
Ride Concepts shoes have never been known for being light, and that trend continues here. At 524 grams per shoe in a size 10, these puppies are definitely on the heavier side of the scale. Fortunately, they haven’t felt like anchors on my feet, but it would obviously be nice if they weighed a bit less. Other brands are making similarly performing shoes that weigh ~100 grams less per shoe. For comparison, the Crankbrothers Mallet Trail BOA weighs in at 422 grams per shoe in a size 43.5.
Still, with hefty full coverage rubber soles, aggressive tread, and toe, heel, and tongue protection, it adds up. I’m not about to stop riding in them because of their weight, but I might use it as an excuse if I get dropped on any climbs.
Durability
So far, so good on the durability front. I recognize that three months of on/off riding in them isn’t a true test of anything’s longevity, but weak points can often be revealed in a short period of time. As of right now, I’ve got absolutely nothing to report, and I haven’t gone easy on them. The soles are well-bonded, and there are no chunks of rubber missing, and all of the stitching on the uppers is intact. The cut edges of the fabric panels on the PerformFit Wrap had some minor frays, but I’ve since trimmed those off and it doesn’t appear to be an issue. There are no rips or major abrasions to the Cordura uppers, and the material feels relatively bomb-proof. All of the high-wear and scuff-prone areas are coated with protective rubber overlays that take the brunt of the abuse.
My biggest concern with these shoes isn’t really even durability-related, but the texture of the Cordura material really hangs onto dust and dirt. These shoes look dirty pretty much all of the time. Cleaning them isn’t that difficult, but it isn’t quite as easy as just wiping off a smooth synthetic upper. The Cordura does come clean, but I found it requires a proper spray down with a hose or in the sink, followed by a wipe down. I know, bike shoes get dirty, but these get a little dirtier than most.
Hellion Clip BOA: My Takeaway
Since the brand debuted seven years ago, Ride Concepts’ shoes have gotten progressively better. The latest crop of shoes, including the new Hellion Clip BOA, looks great and has been well-received by testers and consumers alike. I’ve certainly been impressed by these new shoes, and I think they are a great option for the right rider.
Who is that rider? Well, certainly not the rider who prioritizes low weight or shoe cleanliness. But if a good combination of pedaling efficiency, stability, support, and foot protection is what you’re after, the Hellion Clip BOA delivers. I think they’re a solid option for the aggressive trail and all-mountain riders they’re aimed at, but they could easily handle enduro racing or bike park duty, too. At $210, they aren’t cheap, but they definitely seem like they’re durable enough to stand up to a couple of seasons of heavy use and abuse. If you’re not into BOA, the lace-up version goes for $180 and comes in white, too.
You can learn more about the Hellion Clip BOA and the rest of the Ride Concepts shoe lineup on the brand’s website.
