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Ride Concepts' Tallac BOA shoes' super-tacky outsole makes them incredibly grippy, while the voluptuous padding gives them a soft and plush feel.
Riders looking for a pair of the best MTB shoes to tackle the gnarliest trails will love them.
Like other popular flat-pedal shoes, the Tallac’s Max Grip rubber outsole has a hexagonal lug pattern with increased spacing at the heel and toe for extra off-the-bike grip.
This is the brand’s softest rubber compound, designed for maximum traction on the pedals.
There’s an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) midsole to increase rigidity and absorb shocks, boosted by a D3O insole to further soften impacts.
Made from a highly durable mesh Cordura, the upper’s sections are bonded rather than sewn to increase toughness and improve breathability.
The toe and heel have a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) section, further reinforced with an anti-abrasion coating. A TPU ‘mud guard’ runs around the upper’s edge to protect against dirt and water ingress.
A single Boa ratchet system tightens TX4 low-friction laces to tune fit. This is accompanied by a single hook-and-loop strap.
Ride Concepts rates the shoes' flexibility at level four out of five, its second stiffest. They’ve got a medium internal volume.
They’re available in sizes EU39.5 to EU46 and my size-42.5 pair weighed 799g. The Tallac BOAs will set you back £180 / $200 / €210.
Ride Concepts Tallac BOA '24 performance
Size and fit
With a roomy and comfortable toe box, there’s plenty of space in the Tallac for your toes to spread rather than feel squashed.
The volume decreases across the middle of the foot before getting wider again at the heel. That balance helps create the feeling of support and security without being too compressive and restrictive. Yes, there’s space at the heel for your foot to move, but it’s not detrimental to overall performance.
The Boa and hook-and-loop strap system can be used to tune fit accurately as they work together to increase pressure evenly across the tongue rather than focusing it on one spot.
Ratcheting lace tightness in small increments is very handy for fine-tuning fit, and it’s quick and easy to do.
Overall, the Tallac BOAs are true to size, but as with all shoes, it’s important to try before you buy to ensure they fit your feet.
Feel and grip
The inner and outer ankle cuff’s chunky padding and raised design caused a small amount of rubbing below my lateral malleolus (the circular bony bump on the outside of your ankle), but this hot spot subsided once they’d bedded in.
All that padding gives the upper a plush and soft feel that’s reminiscent of Five Ten’s older Impact 2. This is no bad thing; they’re chunky enough to provide plenty of protection and padding in gnarly toe-stubbing, rock-strewn trails.
Multiple construction layers culminate in a good balance between stiffness and feel through the pedals.
Feeling where the bike is and what inputs you’re riding over isn't overly deadened by the shoes, which remain relatively soft through the soles of your feet.
However, this doesn’t come at the expense of your feet clawing over the pedals as they can with flexier models. Neither do you cramp up because your muscles are having to work hard to provide much-needed stability.
The Grip offered by the Tallacs is class-leading.
Akin to FiveTen’s Stealth S1 rubber in feel and grip, your foot stays totally planted wherever you place it on the pedals.
There’s no creep forward or back once the trails become rough and choppy, and neither can they twist or slide over the pedal’s pins.
They’ve got a damped, squishy and rubberised feel on the pedals; the pins are enveloped by the shoe’s sole.
There’s some controlled twisting, where the pins deform the shoe’s sole, enabling your foot to pivot – but crucially not move – on the pedal’s surface. This has an elasticity; your feet rebound back to their original position.
The only downside to this steadfast connection is that to move your feet on the pedals, they need to be lifted off and replaced – once they're in your preferred position they’re locked in and unable to move.
This boosts confidence and control; your attention is diluted away from riding your bike into trying to re-position your feet on the pedals or stopping them from moving in the first place.
How we tested | MTB shoes
Alex tested these three pairs of shoes back-to-back on the same trails in the same conditions, using the same pedals; Deity's TMac, Crankbrothers’ Stamp 7 and Renthal’s Revo-F. Alex was looking for durability, comfort and, most importantly, grip.
Also tested
- Fox Union BOA Flat
- Ride Concepts Tallac BOA ' 24
- Shimano GF8 Gore-Tex
Ride Concepts Tallac BOA '24 bottom line
Immensely grippy and very comfortable, the Ride Concepts Tallac BOAs are a great pair of shoes for the gnarliest trails out there.
The upper is hard-wearing and has plenty of protection without feeling too clumpy nor being too weighty. The Boa system is great for dialling in your perfect fit, too.
They are costly, but the grippy outsole is one of the best on the market.
SQUIRREL_13207821
Product
| Brand | Rideconcepts |
| Price | A$349.00, €210.00, £180.00, $200.00 |
| Weight | 799g |
Features
| Shoe closure | dial |
| Features | Sizes: 6-12 UK Closure: BOA Colours: Black/Charcoal; Earth/Black Outsole: MAX GRIP rubber |
