Five Ten Freerider Pro Mountain Bike Shoes Review
About Five Ten:
Founded in 1985, Five Ten launched a sticky rubber (Stealth Rubber) shoe called the Five Tennie, which became a favorite amongst rock climbers. In 2000, Five Ten started producing mountain bike footwear. Five Ten mountain bike shoes became a favorite of mountain bikers using flat pedals. Today Five Ten is known for its tacky and dependable flat pedal shoes, but also for a range of cleat compatible shoes.
Five Ten was acquired by Adidas in 2011. Utilizing Five Ten’s grippy stealth rubber sole, the brand is now able to push performance and innovation further with the backing of Adidas, creating the ultimate product in climbing and mountain bike shoes.
Shoe reviewed: Five Ten Freerider Pro Cycling Shoe (men’s) Black/Orange
Bike: Evil Wreckoning
Pedals: RaceFace Atlas Pedals – Black
MSRP: $150
Tech Specs from Five Ten/Adidas
- Regular fit
- Lace closure
- Fast-drying synthetic upper
- Textile lining; Stealth® S1 rubber outsole for unbeatable grip
- Medium-flex molded EVA midsole; Enjoy the comfort and performance of OrthoLite® sockliner
- Impact-resistant Poron® toe box
- Weight: approximately 12.2 oz (345 gm)
Recommended for: Lightweight and durable, this flat pedal casual shoe is for aggressive trail riding and provides additional impact protection in the toe box.
Review:
For my trail riding shoes I’ve been wearing the Freerider Pro from Five Ten for almost 5 months, after retiring my Adidas Outdoor Terrex Trail Cross shoe. The Freerider Pro has a slightly narrower fit than other mountain bike shoes I’ve used. I don’t mind the snug feel as I’m still able to wiggle my toes easily in the toebox for comfort. I have a wider foot so this is a benefit for me to have a shoe that feels supportive and comfortable for rides over a few hours and also at the bike park too.
On the trail you’ll notice right away that the Stealth S1 dotty rubber outsole is very grippy and will stick to your flat/platform pedals with ease. I’m still working on the most comfortable foot placement on my pedals. The stiffer sole provides great support during rides. You’ll feel comfortable and confident that you will stay locked in during rides with the grippy Stealth outsole on almost any type of terrain. The Ortholite footbed/liner is also supportive and comfortable while riding and is fairly standard issue for most shoes in this category.
This shoe is packed with some great protective features like a reinforced toebox to protect you from those pesky impacts that happen when you least expect it. I found this feature to be a must have in the bike park or on tight single tracks. The synthetic upper is weather resistant and dries quickly which will also keep your feet drier for rides during or after those Spring and Fall rain storms. I put this to the test on several missions this Fall and was pleasantly surprised by how water resistant these shoes are! These shoes are meant to be durable, so therefore there isn’t a ton of ventilation. I didn’t have an issue with this during the summer and am appreciative of the extra warmth during my Fall rides this season.
Overall Impressions:
Overall this shoe does what it intends to, a lightweight mountain bike shoe that provides good protection in the toebox, has good weather resistant properties and provides superb grip on your pedals, which is worth the extra expense. This is a great all around trail, park and freeride shoe for any mountain bike rider that can afford the extra cost for a shoe that will last several seasons. The Freerider Pro will handle most riding conditions with ease and keep you comfortable on an off the bike.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable
- True to size
- Superior Grip on pedals (Stealth Rubber)
- Weather resistant
- Dries Fast
- Medium Stiff sole
- Impact resistant toe
Cons
- Breathability
- High Cost for shoes in this category
| Price: |  (4.3 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (4.8 / 5) |
| Design: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Overall: | (4.5 / 5) |
Check out Dave’s review of the Impact Pro from Five Ten too, another great option!