Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes

The Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes are designed as a mountain biking shoe for flat pedal riders – but work just as well for any type of flat pedal riding. I tried them when I was riding urban bikes, e-bikes and even a hardtail. Their overall comfort is great and if you like laces they’re a very good choice. However, I’m not sure the MC2 rubber sole is quite soft enough to deliver great grip and the price might also be off-putting.

> Buy now: Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes for £149.99 from Crankbrothers

Crankbrothers is very well known in the off-road world. A lot of UCI Downhill World Cup riders are sponsored by Crankbrothers for their shoes, pedals or both, and they run them in the trickiest terrain.

So, what is the brand doing making shoes for city riders? Well, the Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes aren’t exactly aimed at urban riders. In fact, Crankbrothers lists them as suitable for ‘enduro’ or ‘trail’ mountain bike riding. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less suited if you’re a casual rider.

Crankbrothers says the MC2 rubber sole is ‘designed for optimal grip to stick to the pedal body and features low-rebound properties to damp vibrations and smooth out the trail, while still retaining good durability’. While I would agree that the sole is pretty durable, I’d argue that the pin holes in my shins would contradict the claim about it offering ‘optimal grip’.

In this review we’re not talking about using the shoes for mountain biking, but you still want reliable grip from your shoes when you’re riding. And I’m not suggesting you’ll slip whenever you try to stand on the pedals, but to get more durability from the sole, I do feel that some grip has been compromised.

Grip also depends on what pedals you use, of course. And while Crankbrothers’ own Match System allows you to match it up to its pedals, I doubt many urban, commuter or casual riders are likely to be using the company’s off-road pedals. That said, they are generally very good pedals and will supposedly offer the best fit with its shoes.

But besides my gripe about the grip of the rubber, the overall performance of these was excellent – and I found them very comfortable.

The shoes aren’t designed to be waterproof, but they did take a fair amount of splashing through puddles before any water got through to my socks.

The synthetic upper has a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)-enhanced toebox for greater protection. This upper has very neat perforations for added breathability, though this was not exactly an issue for me considering the time of year I was testing them..

As for laces, well, as a roadie it might feel like you’re stepping back to the 1980s, but they’re tried and tested technology, they offer good (if not instant) adjustability – and these come with a little lace pocket you can stash them in once you’ve tied them. No snagging them in the chain, which I’m sure a lot of us can all-too-easily remember…

It’s also great to see that Crankbrothers makes these shoes in half sizes (unlike the cleated version that’s only available in full sizes). I usually wear a 6.5 where I have the choice, or a 7 when that’s not possible.

There’s a very wide size range too – from 2-14, with half sizes from 4-12.

The Crankbrothers website suggests these run true to size, but I think it might be worth sizing up a half, especially if you have wider feet. And looking at reviews, I see I’m not the only one who feels that way.

I thought the toebox was slightly narrow on my test pair, though not enough to cause much discomfort even after a few hours of riding.

I tested these shoes on various different bikes, including an electric gravel-capable folder, urban e-bikes – and a hardtail to see how they stacked up for off-road riding. I’d happily use these as my go-to shoes when I’m testing flat-pedal bikes, though I do tend to run quite grippy mountain bike pedals.

There were a few instances when my feet came off in the wet but that was on manufacturer-supplied pedals. And I’m confident that with suitable pedals you’re much less likely to get pins in your shins.

I found them quite comfortable off the bike too. I wouldn’t wear them for walking the dog in the woods, but for catching the train or walking into town they’re perfectly fine.

The sole isn’t the softest, but it’s not so tough that the sole doesn’t bend with your movement and lead to premature wear on the ‘fold’ on the sides of the shoe.

I tested the black but you can also choose from swan/purple and navy/gum. I think the black or navy are probably the most practical riding in the UK, though I must admit that they do remind me a little bit of school shoes…

Value

The £149.99 price isn’t cheap for shoes for casual riding – or even for mountain biking shoes.

The most similar competitor we’ve reviewed is probably the £89.99 Endura Hummvee Flat Pedal Shoe, which offers a slightly softer sole but still works well as an off-the-bike shoe.

Although CHPT3 is now defunct, its eye-catching Transit Cycling Shoes that cost £195 when we reviewed them, are still available and for a good deal less.

The Chrome Storm 415 Traction shoes have a more punk look. The waterproof leather shoes work a treat on or off the bike, though at their full £158 price they’re a little dearer than the Crankbrothers shoes.

For more options, check out our best flat pedal shoes buyer’s guide.

Overall

The Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes are niche – they don’t quite fit the downhill mountain bike category and are a bit overdone for the casual urban rider. And the soles aren’t that grippy, which along with the price may put some people off. But if you’re looking for a comfortable pair of lace-up shoes for leisure, urban or day-to-day riding with good quality flat pedals, these are very much worth a look.

> Buy now: Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Lace Flat Shoes for £149.99 from Crankbrothers

Verdict

Flat-pedal footwear with off-road riding pedigree – but with comfort and durability for casual riders

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