The new Impact VXi Clipless shoes from Five Ten have been a long time coming, but they were worth the wait.
The long cleat-bolt slots let you slam the cleat right back towards the mid foot – roughly 5mm further back than on our go-to Giro Chambers, and a similar position to Specialized’s new 2FO shoes – which is a real asset for downhill riding, and the wide recess makes it easy to get things positioned just right. The cleats stand slightly proud of the sole but that’s something you’ll only notice when walking on hard surfaces.
At just 450g per shoe (with cleats), they’re nearly 100g lighter than the Chambers in the same size. The synthetic upper gets a touch warm on hotter days but does a great job of shrugging off water when the weather turns. The combination of laces and a wide Velcro strap ensures a close, comfortable and secure fit when stomping on the pedals.
The Stealth Mi6 rubber sole offers next-level traction off the bike, and boosts grip when using platform-style clipless pedals. Comfort, pedal feel and stiffness are all balanced well too. Long trail rides have proven that they’re stiff enough for efficient cranking but not so rigid that they cause discomfort, and you still maintain some of that feedback through the sole that’s essential for DH use.
