When Mattie came up with the idea to do a group post on the gear we use, everything clicked. Of course, that makes sense! We are used to writing about new gear, but rarely do we take a look at the gear we use daily. So, a new type of post on BGDB is born, which we will call Team Tested.
To kick it all off, we are taking a hard look at the shoes we wear hard. Partially because we thought it was funny to start with some photos of dingy, beat-up shoes, but also because shoes, in many ways, are the unsung heroes of our daily rides. Outside of our tires, shoes are probably the gear that takes the hardest bashing on any given day of riding. As important as they are, we rarely consider my shoes for more than a second. They only ever enter our mind when we put them on, which is a funny idea considering how crucial they are.
Putting this post together was fun for the BGDB team, and we hope you dig it, as we plan on doing more similar-style posts in the future. Let's get to it... in reverse alphabetical order...
Tyler's Giro Privateers
Typically I have some pretty wimpy feet so shoe selection off the bike is ultra critical. I find it to be a different story when it comes to bike shoes. I don't, or at least I try to not do a lot of walking while riding. When I picked up the Giro Privateers it was in haste and out of necessity, as I was away from home and had just also purchased my first gravel bike. So with the bike purchase I figured it was also time for some proper mountain shoes. They felt right so I pulled the trigger. What I can say is that I consciously went with laces over BOA. My thoughts here were that I have had a boa fail on me in the past on road shoes. So, I wanted a fastener that was reliable when I was far from home. To me there's nothing more reliable than the old tried and true laces!
I've ridden these shoes for two summers now and they are great, they fit well for a guy with pretty average feet, not wide or skinny. I find the fit true to other shoes I have bought so if ordering online don't be afraid to go with a size that's common for you. These shoes have endured most conditions including a smattering of mud and river crossings and I honestly don't mind riding them soaking wet. I believe they are leather so to me they feel like over time they have formed to my feet. With them being leather I do not dry them in the direct sun or overheat as in the past I have had leather shrink when doing so.
All in all I enjoy these shoes and would recommend them to anyone that wants a good all round shoe. They hold up well over time and ride and feel good even when being utterly abused on grueling ,ultimate day bikepacking trips. The only thing I might say is that they do seem slightly narrow for those who might have a wide foot. Other than that I'd say they are awesome shoes!
Read more from Tyler here and search for Giro Privateers at:
Stuart's Quoc Gran Tourer Lace
I've been riding shimano SPD pedals for around 30 years and generally feel much more at home when clipped-in on the bike and, while I love the look of a classic road shoe on the skinny tyred bike, I prefer the ability to walk comfortably when I get off it. Having wider than average feet, I've often found most cycling shoes to feel a little narrow for me and usually go a size bigger and accept that it'll never be perfect, until now.
I was first drawn to the Quoc brand by their classy looks, though I was also intrigued by their apparent commitment to comfort so when in need of a fresh pair of kicks in 2021, I ordered a set of their timeless Gran Tourer lace. The Quoc team were super helpful in guiding me toward the right size over email and the shoes fit true to their advertised sizing. The toe box is pleasantly roomy and the double lock lace configuration allows for easy micro adjustment and then it all stays put without you needing to fasten them like you're tying down a stubborn tent in a gale. The feel was good out the box but these shoes really come into their own after a few big rides, as the splashproof microfibre outer softens up and conforms to your foot shape.
The tacky rubber outsole delivers reassuring grip when off the bike and the cleats are recessed enough to not clip clop too much at the cafe. There's also a degree of flex in the toe to make walking relatively natural, while the nylon composite mid-sole provides enough stiffness to make for efficient all day pedaling. I've put 2 and half good years, a few thousand kms and a few spills on these and they certainly show their use but they've stood up well. Though I have recently tried Quoc's top of the line, carbon soled, performance GT-XC shoe, I can't see past the classic lace up for all around comfort and longevity. So much so, I've just ordered a new set.
Connect with Stuart here and search for Quoc Gran Tourer at:
Sarah's Shimano SH-XC100 Women's
For as long as I can remember I've been wearing clipless pedals with cleats. After completing the BC Epic route; my favorite pair of shoes died. The right shoe's base completely came off after doing the Gray Creek over pass. With 300 km remaining of the route to Fernie, I was forced to gorilla tape the shoe together. I was sad to toss the Giro Women's mtb shoe; knowing they discontinued producing that model. Needless to say, thanks to the over purchase of everything Shimano during COVID; Bicicletta had a blow out sale on various items.
First time breaking in the Shimano SH-XC100 was my trek in the South Chilcotins. It wasn't long before they were immersed into water; never smelling great from that day onward. Still rocking these shoes from summer 2022 they haven't disappointed me necessarily; however, once the Velcro is wet or muddy they lose hold. It's not ideal for those faster paced or technical riding situations. I get by with them and am starting to see degradation from regular use.
Read more from Sarah here and search for Shimano SH-XC100 at:
Mattie's Vans Skate Slip-On
It's not that I dislike so-called ‘cycling shoes', but I've just always been happiest riding with a pair of flat pedals and casual shoes and for the last few years I've been favouring the skate slip-on from Vans. I ride in them 99% of the time, be it gravel, mtb, touring, bikepacking or commuting. That lowly 1% of the time I'll go clipped in is usually if it's raining when I set out (which doesn't happen very often where I live in Australia) or it's when I get dressed up in my road cycling costume for a dedicated road ride.
If you're thinking that Vans seem like a terrible choice for gravel cycling, you're partly correct. They're not very efficient in the power transfer stakes, they get very heavy and soggy when it rains, and they're not particularly supportive when bouncing around on rough stuff. However, there are some benefits to the classic slip-on. Firstly, they have excellent grip. Secondly, there's no laces, boas or straps to break. Thirdly there's no clipping-in hardwear to break, clog up or fall off. And finally, they are great for cafe stops, hike a bikes, lunch breaks and a post ride brewski.
While a slip-on won't be for everyone, I'm hoping that this might be a reminder that there's no rules in gravel cycling and you're free to ride your own way. I've completed many 100km plus days in these shoes, plenty of multi-dayers and completed the Hunt1000 in a pair, so really the sky's the limit.
Read more from Mattie here and search for Vans Skate Slip-Ons at:
Jeff's Bontrager Foray
In my day-to-day life, I wear wide shoes that typically have a natural shape. Think Altra Lone Peaks or VivoBarefoot. When faced with buying new bikes shoes last year, I had to choose between ordering something online that I couldn't try on - both Lake and Bont make wide SPD compatible shoes - or checking out what my local stores had to offer.
I found a pair of Bontrager Foray Mountain Bike Shoe on sale at my local bike shop and, much to my surprise, I found them surprisingly comfortable. They aren't particularly wide, but they have a pretty big volume that didn't feel cramped. I'd consider them a mid-tier shoe, but they met my performance demands. The sole is reasonably stiff, the single BOA tightens them nicely and the lone velcro strap can be set nice and loose for that forefoot flexibility. They're lightweight and tend to dry quickly, which has proven incredibly important when riding on Vancouver Island in the Fall, Winter, Spring, or generally anytime outside of the 8-week long summer drought.
But they do have two big flaws. They're tight to slide on and off. The BOA just doesn't loosen far enough, so it's always a tight squeeze. I found myself crushing the heel of the shoe so badly the shoes were becoming deformed, so I ended up buying a shoehorn. Yes, you read that right. To avoid crushing the heels of these shoes, I have to use a shoehorn. My second complaint is that the tongue of the shoe has a plastic insert that distributes the BOA tightness evenly across my entire foot. This is essential, yet it's about 5mm too short, so the upper strand of BOA cord sits on the leather tongue and cinches down to practically circulation-blocking tightness. Basically, I am not in love with these shoes. They're just good enough that I won't replace them before they're worn out, but that's not much of an endorsement.
Read more from Jeff here and search for Bontrager Forays at:
Jeff's Bedrock Cairn Pro II Sandals
I once wrote an entire article titled Tacos in Chacos, but I've since swapped the longtime standard for the lightweight Bedrock Cairn Pro II Adventure Sandals. To understand this choice, you first have to understand that I typically value performance over anything else. I tweak my bikes constantly, upgrade to carbon wheels, and geek out over geometry changes whenever updated bikes are released. Yet I own two bikes that represent the antithesis of performance: A Burly Gravel Tandem and a Surly Krampus, currently equipped with an 11.5 lbs cargo fork. Everytime I ride either of these bikes, they spark joy. They bring out my biggest smile. I typically ride them in a floral printed ‘party' shirt and I always pedal them in my sandals.
As an adventure sandal, the Bedrock Cairn II is a solid choice. They're wildly overpriced; they cost more than most Vibram-soled shoes, yet they're missing almost the entire shore. It's little more than a piece of webbing and a Vibram sole. And yet, they're wonderfully comfortable. I've run, walked, and biked in mine all summer and can't fault them in any way. If you're into barefoot, natural shaped shoes, it's hard to find anything better. The webbing holds my food securely, so I am not sliding around when moving about. They are incredibly breathable, dry quickly, and make it difficult to pull off the fashion faux-pas of socks in sandals. I highly recommend them, especially when paired with a 2014 Surly Krampus, and the endless beaches of Baja California.
Read more from Jeff here and search for Bedrock Cairn Pro IIs at:
Gerald's Quoc Weekend
When Quoc launched their Kickstarter campaign back in 2020, I first came across the Weekend shoes, and something about their design grabbed me right from the start. However, since I had just bought a new pair of cycling shoes a few weeks earlier, it took me a few years to rediscover and finally purchase them. By then, several other shoes had emerged in the commuter-adventure-casual category, so I ordered them all for comparison. The decision was easy: the Weekend was simply the most comfortable and best-looking shoe out of the bunch.
They are incredibly comfortable from the first step - or rather, the first pedal stroke - which makes them perfect for touring with some sightseeing, commuting, and casual, non-racy cycling in general. Thanks to a reinforced insole, they can still put the pedal to the metal, when needed. The upper is easy to clean, and the overall build quality appears flawless - time will tell. The double lock-lace system is also worth mentioning, as it allows you to fine-tune the fit - for example, a snug fit at the forefoot and a more relaxed fit at the upper part. Plus, it securely locks the laces in place. So far, I haven't found any drawbacks. Okay, they aren't cheap, but the street price is usually lower than the recommended retail price. All in all, these are my favorite SPD cycling shoes so far.
Read more from Gerald here and search for Quoc Weekends at:
Barry's Bontrager Evoke
I bought the Bontrager Evoke shoes not because I wanted to, but because I had to. My beloved Giro Rumbles were dying a slow death, and the duct tape holding them together just wasn't cutting it anymore. On my way to a trip at the Tutti Gravel Inn, my buddy and I made a pit stop at a shop in Vancouver. The Evokes were the only shoes they had in my size.
I'll admit, I didn't love them at first, but they got me through that trip. Not only that, but the Evokes have stood the test of time. I've worn these shoes riding hard over the past three years, tackling pretty much every type of off-road bike trip imaginable: bikepacking, mountain biking, and tons and tons of gravel riding. Only now do they seem to be falling apart, and that is impressive. They don't look amazing, but they have done a great job. Sometimes, that matters more.
Read more from Barry here and search for Bontrager Evokes at:
