Bont Vaypor S Hologram shoes review

Bont offers its flagship lightweight shoe in numerous versions, from the original Vaypor to a sportive-orientated, kangaroo-leather Vaypor+ and more in-between.

Now we have the lightest model to date, the Vaypor S, with one of the options featuring this extrovert hologram PU upper.

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What stays consistent throughout the range is Bont’s standout bathtub-shaped sole. This provides incredible foot support from not only the shape, but also its ultra-thin, uni-directional carbon construction. It gives you a very low stack height, meaning a great feeling of connection between rider and pedals.

To preserve the sole, there’s a large replaceable heel bumper and a large TPU toe protector (with mesh vents built in). To aid cleat fitting, Bont employs a user-friendly grid design printed on the cleat plate, so aligning your cleats is now a much easier process.

The bathtub shaping is nicely complemented by Bont’s major trick – the heat-mouldable upper. To shape, place the shoes in a pre-heated oven at 70°C/160°F for 20 mins. Leave them to cool until they’re comfortable to the touch, then place your feet in the shoes (with cycling socks on) and tighten the Boas.

As they cool, they’ll set around your foot, creating a close, comfortable fit. If you have any lumps or bunions, you can use the round end of a screwdriver handle or similar to press out any rub points. Don’t worry, it’s not a one-time deal; if you don’t get it right, you can reheat and remould as many times as you like. All of this isn’t required if they fit perfectly out of the box but, in my experience, comfort is maximised via the oven.

On the bike, there’s nothing to touch the Vaypor S for foot retention and stability. Every pedal stroke feels like you’ve secured the perfect bond with your bike; the stiffness of the shoe and connection with the pedal elicits a beautiful feeling of power transfer.

Sprinkle in a weight of just 484.6g for the pair (size 45) and this shoe is pretty much the perfect combination of stiffness and low weight.

The hologram upper certainly makes a statement and isn’t one for introverts. But it’s more than just looks because its reflective qualities help you to be seen in low-light conditions.

Comfort is fine, too, with the bathtub shape encompassing the sole and a good chunk of the upper. It rises from an inch at the midfoot to almost the full height of the shoe at the heel. The upper then flows into a wide forefoot that’s also fairly shallow compared to the likes of Shimano, Sidi and Specialized. The rear of the shoe tapers and the arch is fairly tall.

For me, they were a good, natural fit and I’d highly recommend them. But at just shy of £325, that’s quite a gamble, so I’d suggest you try a pair before you buy.

Yes, you won’t be able to mould them perfectly via the oven, but you’ll have enough of an idea as whether to splash your cash or not.