The Northwave Hammer Plus shoe is designed for XC mountain bike and gravel riders.
Available in a wide range of size and fit options, the Hammer Plus is about seizing the best from your weekend riding, incorporating advanced features to aid comfort both on and off the bike.
Northwave’s history goes back as far as 1971. The company pioneered boots for the emerging sport of snowboarding, before branching out into MTB cycling shoes in 1993.
The brand is still based in the foothills of the Italian Dolomites and its products are developed and tested by its team and sponsored athletes out on the local trails.
Here are six key features of the Northwave Hammer Plus that help it stand out.
1. Micro-adjustable dial closure
The Northwave Hammer Plus shoe incorporates a replaceable, lightweight, micro-adjustable SLW3 dial upper closure with two lace guides for precise fit tuning.
Turn the large dial closure to tighten the shoe and press down on the top lever to loosen it by precise increments.
Lifting the lever frees the mechanism to make opening the shoe super-fast, so it’s easy to get on and off.
The SLW3 dial is paired with a lower Velcro strap, so you can be sure to get a comfortable fit.
The same SLW3 dial is used on Northwave’s top-tier grave ridingl, road cycling and XC mountain biking shoes.
2. Comfortable upper
The Hammer Plus shoe has a one-piece synthetic leather upper. This is designed to avoid pressure points and rubbing from seams.
It’s perforated on the top of the toe box and down the side. The tongue is also perforated.
The Hammer Plus is designed to offer excellent breathability and cooling in warm to hot riding conditions, making it a great option for spring, summer and autumn use.
3. Grippy, walkable sole
The Hammer Plus shoe has Northwave’s super-grippy Jaws Evo sole unit, which features a thermoplastic rubber sole unit with deep lugs for great grip when off the bike.
At the same time, it provides SPD pedal compatibility, with a wide clip-in area and plenty of fore-aft adjustability to set up your perfect cleat position.
The sole is stiff enough for efficient pedalling and plenty of arch support for foot comfort while riding, but also enough flex in the toe box for comfortable walking.
4. Welded TPU reinforcement
Extra robustness and reinforcement of the junction between the upper and the sole is provided by a TPU rand welded around the entire shoe.
This helps increase resistance to wear and prevent water and debris ingress, keeping your feet more comfortable.
5. Dozens of size, width and colour options
Whatever your foot size and colour preference, you’ll find it in the Northwave Hammer Plus.
To start, the standard-width shoes are available in sizes from 36 to 48, with half sizes between 39.5 and 45.5. Then you can choose between four colours: black, white, silver and green.
If you need a wider fit, the Hammer Plus Wide shoe is available in the same sizes, although in black only.
Then there’s the women’s fit Hammer Plus Wmn, also in black with an iridescent logo, with sizes from 36 to 43 and half sizes from 39.5 to 42.5.
6. Affordability
While you can pay a fortune for an XC or gravel cycling shoe, the Northwave Hammer Plus hits a sweet spot between performance and affordability, with a UK SRP of £134.99.
You can buy direct from Northwave and its shoes are also widely available through retailers worldwide.
