With a semi-carbon sole and dial fastener, FLR's F-75 shoes look tempting for the price. But we found their performance on the trail less than entirely positive.
The mainly nylon sole gets a small section of carbon under the cleat area to give a solidly powerful feel underfoot without being too harsh on long days or rocky trails. As long as your feet are relatively long and narrow, the microfibre upper, Velcro strap and dial system give reasonable support while you're putting the power down.
There’s not much mesh for water to get in through, so they shrug off puddle splashes pretty well. The single-click dial release is useful if you’re taking them off with frozen or filthy hands too. The tread lugs are made from a hard, slippery rubber compound though, so you’ll need to fit toe studs for grip in wet conditions.
Unfortunately the dial system’s locking mechanism isn’t strong enough to stop it loosening click by click if you’re walking up steep slopes on your toes. While re-tightening after any rambling isn’t such a big deal for trail use, it’s a pain for racers tempted by the otherwise cost-effective performance.
