Chrome Kursk Pro SPD shoe

Don't want to turn up down the pub sounding like you've come from a tap-dancing lesson but don't have the time to swap your pedals over? You need casual cleats, and Chrome's Kursk Pro is more casual than most. They're pretty good on the bike too, but watch out for the sizing.

Round these parts we'd call the Kursk Pro a dap. It's got a rubber sole and flexible Cordura upper like your gym shoes from school, the same as the regular Kursk which has been Chrome's best selling shoe for ever. To handle the cleat the sole has been thickened and stiffened and a slight curve introduced to make the shoes easier to walk in. The cleats are recessed as far as they can be and still work with all styles of pedal, but as with most trainer-style SPD shoes they still catch on the ground every now and then.

Kursk say on their website that the shoes run half a size big; whether they've added that in response to the user reviews on the site or they knew all along I'm not sure. They're right though, they're a bit on the large size. I've been wearing thick socks in mine. Aim small and you'll probably be okay, but try them on if you can.

On the bike they're pretty well behaved. You wouldn't want to ride a sportive in them but they're fine for trips into town or down the pub, and if hopping on and off a bike is part of your daily routine and you want the pedalling efficiency of clipless pedals but without the look of the shoes, these will do just fine for all day wear. Off the bike they're easy to walk in once you've worn them in a bit. The reflective touches and elasticated lace holders are nice touches. They're a bit stiff to begin with but they ease up after a few weeks. The cleat plates allow plenty of movement fore and aft (although one plate in my test pair had picked up some glue and needed persuading to move) and I had no trouble with hot spots during testing. The flat sole isn't the grippiest but I've managed to stay on my feet. They look just the ticket with jeans or riding trousers; trainers and lycra has never been a good look, so don't.

Verdict

If you're looking for a pair of shoes for everyday wear with SPDs or Candys then the Kursk Pros are certainly worth a look. Be aware of the sizing though.