Five Ten Impact VXi shoes review

Longstanding flat-pedal kicks continue to rule the roost

Our rating

4.5

160.00
115.00
250.00

Russell Burton

Published: December 16, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Our review
More grip than any other shoe out there, comfy enough to pedal in all day and impressively light too Buy if, You want the best flat-pedal kicks out there

Pros:

Awesome grip delivers an unimpeachable riding platform, good fit, stiffness and protection, hardwearing

Cons:

Slightly roomy if your feet are at the narrow end of the spectrum

Five Ten revolutionised the flat pedal world when its first clumpy moon boots arrived, but the brand's latest efforts are still leading the pack.

Most of that is thanks to the super sticky Stealth Mi6 rubber sole, which offers unrivalled levels of grip. In combination with the small, dotted pattern, it hooks up superbly with pedal pins to give an almost clipped-in feel – admittedly, something not everyone will appreciate. It’s impressive off the bike too, but deep mud can overpower the shallow tread.

The profile, which is narrower than the original Impacts, delivers decent crank clearance when pedalling and makes foot placement less critical when you’re scrabbling to get back onto the pedals after dabbing too.

The sole is still reasonably broad though, so there’s plenty of space to find your own sweet spot when pedalling. Inside, they’re also pretty spacious, so if you have very narrow feet they can feel a little roomy, especially at the toe, though arch support is decent and they hold you nicely at the ankle too.

They’re relatively stiff too, which, combined with the impressive comfort and low weight, makes them great for long trail rides. The lightness is achieved via minimal padding, which also has the good side effect of holding onto less water when sodden.

The lack of vents on the upper also helps fend off splashes too and the reinforced toe box does a decent job of seeing off strikes. Durability has been good on the numerous sets we have too.

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