Bontrager Foray MTB shoe review

Good looking XC shoes for a good looking price

Our rating

3.5

160.00
130.00
215.00

What Mountain Bike

Published: June 18, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Our review
A good looker with a well-proven retention system, marred by dissappointing pedalling Buy if, You want a reasonably priced XC shoe with an added bling factor

Pros:

Premium looks and features that can take a beating

Cons:

The relatively high stack height compromises pedalling feel

Coming in a bright red, the Bontrager Forays certainly look striking and have a quality finish that suggests a much pricier shoe than their RRP.

The sole is made from a nylon composite, which Bontrager rates as 6/10 on its stiffness index. It’s not as stiff as carbon, but still offers a firm pedaling platform when you’re putting the power down.

The nylon composite sole has a 6/10 on Bontrager's stiffness index
The nylon composite sole has a 6/10 on Bontrager's stiffness index - What Mountain Bike

The shoe has one IP1 BOA dial, which is a proven design, helping to keep things clean and simple. Having only one dial means there’s lots of wiggle room around your toes, making it feel slightly less secure. Ideally I’d like to see another BOA dial further down the shoe to clamp your toes in tight.

Once out on the trail, the Foray left me slightly disappointed with its pedaling manners, which I reckon is down to the slightly higher stack height on the shoe.

Compared to the Scott MTB Pros, which were tested head-to-head, this led to a more disconnected feel when getting the power down. It’s not a deal breaker and there are plenty of shoes with a similar stack height, but it was definitely noticeable.

On the whole, the shoe performed well, being very lightweight, and with the tread giving plenty of grip, while the upper is easy to clean and feels robust.

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