I’ve been using Bont cycling shoes for many years now and the Vaypor S is possibly my all-time favourite for combining stiffness, comfort and a big scoop of durability. Here are five reasons why it has stood the test of time.
Google says that I was writing about Bont shoes as far back as 2011 – when Bradley Wiggins and Thor Hushovd were helping to up their profile – and I wrote a review of the Bont Vaypor road shoes in 2012.
Quoting yourself isn’t a good look but it’s relevant here so please let me off. I summed them up as: “Lightweight and very stiff racing shoes that you can heat-mould for the perfect fit”.
I reviewed the Bont Vaypor S Li2 in 2022 (pictured above) and said: “Bont’s Vaypor S shoes are super-stiff yet they provide an excellent level of comfort, and they now come with Boa’s top-level Li2 dial closure… but you do have to stump up a whopping great wad of cash if you want to enjoy them.”
Four years later, I think that’s a fair summary and I still use Bont Vaypor S shoes. Not all the time – I ride in insulated boots through the winter and I review plenty of other makes/models – but I keep coming back to these. Here’s why…
The foot-shaped last
I don’t want to sound like the brand’s PR department but Bont shoes are built to foot-shaped lasts and that makes a lot of sense to me.
What do I mean by that? Some cycling shoes just aren’t particularly foot shaped at the front end. Look at your bare (or socked) foot from above and then look at your shoe from the same angle and you might see what I mean.
Whereas some shoes aim can push your toes and metatarsals into a slightly squeezed position, Bont’s anatomically shaped forefoot allows them to sit naturally. That accounts for the distinctive shape of the Vaypor S – which divides opinion in terms of aesthetics, admittedly.
The anatomically shaped forefoot is so important because Bont uses a ‘bathtub’ sole – where the carbon fibre wraps up around the sides of the foot – to maximise power transfer and improve structural support. If you do feel pressure anywhere, most Bont soles are heat mouldable although I didn’t need to do that with these.
The Vaypor S comes in standard, wide, and double-wide fits and the shape of the sole means it’s extremely important to get a width that works for you. If your feet are too broad for the sole, there’s only so much heat moulding you can do. If there’s not enough space, your foot can’t spill out over the edges like it can with a more traditional design. But assuming your foot does sit within the bathtub, these are a treat.
Loads of comfort
The Bont Vaypor S shoes have little padding and they’re very rigid so you might assume they’d be uncomfortable but that’s far from the case.
I’ve already mentioned the anatomical forefoot and the heat-mouldability. The bathtub sole also provides support upfront and around the heel, and you get arch support thrown in.
Two Boa Li2 dials on each shoe allow you to micro-adjust the tension in both directions to get them feeling just right. They’re simple to adjust from the saddle.
Perforations in the upper (including the wrapped tongue) help keep your feet cool, although there are certainly more breathable shoes out there if that’s important for you. I don’t tend to get hot feet while riding so it’s not a priority for me.
As well as the width options, the Bont Vaypor S is available in 19 sizes from 36 to 50.
Plenty of stiffness
The Bont Vaypor S soles that I keep talking about are made from Toray carbon fibre and they’re mega-stiff despite being just 3.6mm thick. If they flex at all, I’ve never felt it.
They also fit securely around your heel (the heat-mouldable soles reach almost to the top of the shoe back there, well above the join with the upper) to prevent lifting.
They hold your feet firmly and securely and there’s no noticeable sole flex, even during high-power efforts.
Do they last?
The Bont Vaypor S shoes last well. You might think that with all that unprotected carbon fibre on show, longevity would be limited, but that’s not really the case. You’ll want to keep walking to a minimum, of course – these are race shoes not hiking boots – but I’ve not caused real damage to the soles of any Bont shoes and they’ve been my go-to for about 15 years.
There’s no protective layer over the carbon so it gets scratched and scraped when walking to and from your bike – especially across gravel – but that’s pretty much cosmetic. The Bont Cycling logos that were originally there disappeared long ago.
I’ve taken the cleats off to show you how the soles stand up to prolonged use. You can clearly see that they’ve seen a lot of action, but structurally they’re sound. A toe bumper up front and a replaceable guard at the heel (I’ve never replaced one) provide a small amount of protection and grip, although not nearly as much as you get from a shoe with a full rubber or nylon outsole.
The Durolite synthetic upper is highly durable too while an anti-stretch fabric embedded in there does its job well. You just wipe the upper clean from time to time, and that’s about all you ever need to do. I gave these a really good spit and polish before photographing them here and although you can see a degree of wear, they’re pretty tidy considering their vintage.
That upper is simply glued to the outside of the bathtub sole and it has never struck me as the most confidence-inspiring build. Looks can be deceiving, though. Whatever bonding agent Bont uses works incredibly well. There’s no peeling or separation whatsoever.
The Boa Li2 dials and laces are guaranteed for the life of the shoes. Even if you did destroy a dial – in a crash, say – replacement is simple enough.
Yes, they’re expensive, but…
Bont Vaypor S shoes are currently priced at £359.95, and yes, you’re absolutely right, that is a big chunk of cash. I know. I agree.
In the Vaypor SL’s defence, I would say that the performance and comfort are fabulous, and these will probably last you a long, long time if you treat them with a reasonable degree of care (no need to be paranoid about it). There’s no getting away from it, though: these cost serious money.
If you’re not persuaded, Bont’s Riot shoes are £179.95, and they come with anatomical shaping, carbon composite construction, heat-mouldable, dual Boa closure (L6 in this case), two width fittings… In other words, you’re getting many of the same features at half the price. Got to be worth checking out.
1 thought on “Test of Time: Bont Vaypor S shoes”
Shoes that are foot shaped, what was the design team thinking?