Crankbrothers Mallet Lace MTB Shoes

I bought these from the Amazon warehouse for like 30 bucks with the tags still on. I tried them because I wanted a shoe that would let me move the SPD cleat back a little more for stability over pedaling efficiency. My other shoes are some Shimano MT7’s for clips and FiveTen Trailcrosses for flats. I expected not to like them and to send them back, mainly because: 1. I figured they would not be comfy. 2. I figured they would not be very grippy for hike-a-bike trail scrambles up rocks and muddy trails. 3. I figured the lace closure was subpar to the other more expensive options. 4. I figured they would look stupid (I’m not a fan of the skate style shoes). 5. I figured I could send them back for free if any of the above happened. And none of the about happened, at least significantly. So what are the positives? 1. The sizing is right on. I ordered a 13 equivalent size based on the crankbrothers chart. I wear a 13 in everything, but cycle shoes are always all over the place for some reason for me. These are dead on. I would say they are on the smaller size of the range, so if you are a 10.25, maybe go to a 10.5 in these, but if you are pretty commonly a size in regular shoes, these should fit the same. 2. The little lace tuck “pockets” in the tongue are awesome and work well. I worry they may stretch and lose their ability to hold the laces in with a lot of use, but that remains to be seen. Oh yeah, and for this kind of trail/enduro type shoe, lace closures are plenty fine IMO. No need for Boa or velcro or whatever. 3. They are decently comfy. The sole is a little thin and I bet an aftermarket one would really make things right, but it’s not too bad. The ankles are well padded. They seem well made and sturdy. So far, so good. And the negatives? Really they are more minor gripes, and not deal killers, but I don’t like: 1. Says it is fully SPD compatible, but I don’t feel like they are as easy to clip in as Shimano shoes. You also are definitely gonna have to use a spacer. I have a feeling these really shine if you use CB cleats. 2. They are walkable on hard ground, but you are definitely gonna sound and feel like you are wearing tap shoes off the dirt. Again, I’m not sure this isn’t more to do with SPD being an afterthought. 3. I wish the cleat could go back even further. 4. The “normal” street price for these, which I think is like 110.00, is a bit much. I got them for a great deal, but I would wince at paying full price for these. 5. Sole grip works for trail walks, but not like some more aggressive shoes. That said, I wear these almost exclusively because they are stiff, comfortable, and allow me to get my cleats back where I like them for downhill control. If I rode Crankbrothers cleats/pedals, I think they would be a slam dunk. I WOULD give CB’s a try if I hadn’t spend so much on my XT trails. For 30.00 on clearance, I would buy them again in a heartbeat. For full retail, I would probably look for something similarly able to handle a rearward clear setting, but more compatible With SPD cleats.

Amazing product but a very snug fit. Other than that, they are the most comfortable and well made Cross Country MTB shoes that I have ever try in 20 years. Love them.

Amazing shoe! The shoe is super sleek and I love that the laces can be tucked easily. They are not the most comfortable shoe, but really good for enduro and hitting jumps.

Muy cómodos y resistentes, vienen con las Calas !

Lace up shoes can fit well since laces adapt to all areas of the foot. My feet are narrow and these fit pretty well and are comfortable riding with Crank Brothers pedals. I wear them when doing a more casual ride, especially if it will involve walking around or driving. I've had them 2 year now and they are holding up well.

Excelentes, muy cómodos y prácticos para pedalear.

The shoes arrived USED, seals broken, packaging incomplete. I should receive a partial credit for receiving used goods.

Resistentes, sobrios y bonitos. Calidad conforme al precio. Talla coincidente con el standard. Buenos zapatos para MTB

Hallo ich haben die Schuhe als Weihnachtsgeschenk für meinen Freund gekauft. Ich habe mich erstmal gefreut das dass Paket so schnell und pünktlich vor Weihnachten angekommen ist, allerdings ist das Paket von außen beschädigt gewesen und wirkte wie schon 100x benutzt. Gottseidank sehen die Schuhe gut und neu aus. Find es traurig das Schuhe für diesen Preis nicht besser verpackt werden. Peinlich

Han salido muy buenos y duraderos.

Me gustó su estilo, se me hacen cool. Generalmente calzo del 27cm (9 USA), estos los pedí en 27 (9) pero si tienes pie griego con el dedo que sigue del pulgar más largo que este, notarás que se aprieta ligeramente el dedo, pero no se me han hecho incómodos en general y de momento sólo los he utilizado para andar en bici. Hacen clip y se desenganchan sin mucho esfuerzo utilizando pedales con clips de la misma marca. No los he probado para uso casual. En lo negativo aparte que ya tuve mi primera caída por no desengancharme a tiempo, es su alto precio. Recomendados para los que utilizan trikes. Gracias Amazon.

Perfect for purpose

Der Schuh passt. Ist anders als üblich bei Radschuhe in einer vernünftigen (tatsächlichen) Größe angegeben die übereinstimmt. Der SPD Cleat verschindet in der Sohle und man kann normal mit laufen. Die Sohle ist wie man es von einem Radschuhen erwartet angenehm steif. 5-10km hält der Schuh im Regen trocken. Die Belüftung ist in Ordnung. Nähte halten der Schuh ist vernünftig verarbeitet und sein Geld wert.