Known for its well-priced bikes, Boardman has also produced a wallet friendly flat-pedal-specific MTB shoe with casual styling that looks good. Reinforced areas at the toe and heel offer added protection, and the level of comfort is pretty good, considering the price. The grip on offer is pretty impressive, but off the bike, I could feel every root and rock through the sole, and some foot fatigue crept in on longer rides.
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Boardman MTB Shoes – Technical details
Keeping the aesthetic clean and classic, these lace closure shoes are constructed from faux suede material for the upper, which looks just like the real thing. A perforated area at the toe is designed to help with ventilation in warm weather, and the toe and heel box are reinforced for some added protection. The well-padded tongue and heel collar add a good level of cushioning for comfort, and the Areolite foam insole looks the business, especially at this price point. It features a shock-absorbing heel pad and deep heel cup, arch support, and perforation throughout the sole to regulate foot temperature.
The one-piece gum-rubber mid and outsole feature extra reinforcement around the toe area with a multi-patterned tread pattern on the outsole, which looks like it should provide a good level of grip. There’s no swanky name for the compound like some of the big hitters out there, but it feels reasonably tacky.
The shoes are finished off with small reflective logo tabs sewn into the side for some nighttime visibility. The shoes pictured here in UK7/EU41 sizing weighed 822g. They are only available in black/tan with sizes ranging from EU 40-47 and UK 6-12.
Boardman MTB Shoes – Performance
My UK7 fitted true to size. I quite often size up by a half as I have wide feet, but there was no need here, as the toe of the shoe provided ample room. Looking down on the shoes, the upper bulges out over the silhouette of the outsole, creating a rather unrefined shape. I had to tighten the laces almost as tightly as they’d go to get them to feel secure, but they felt pretty comfortable with some adjustment.
I like the simple aesthetic, and whilst they don’t shout premium, the casual styling and gum sole look pretty good off the bike, too.
Riding a pair of DMR Vault flat pedals that I know provide a great platform and grip, I could easily compare the Boardman’s to my Five Ten Freerider Pros. I’ll admit I was more than impressed by the grip they provided. While they don’t feel tacky like the Five Ten Stealth rubber compound, they provide a good level of grip.
The tread pattern uses small hexagons at the toe and heel area, which have a low profile pattern and a deeper, more open pattern at the critical contact point from the ball of the foot through the centre. I found it easy to reposition my foot on the pedals, and they stayed pretty much in place through the roughest trails and climbing felt efficient, too. In short, I felt connected to the bike and could easily focus on the trail ahead and not my shoes bumping off the pedals.
Off the bike, I could feel every stone, root, and lump through the sole. It made any hike-a-bike or push-ups in these shoes a slightly uncomfortable experience, meaning I needed to tread carefully. Support through the soles was fine for shorter rides, but when hitting longer loops or repeated rough runs, I started to get a bit of foot fatigue. It certainly wasn’t bad, but even on a long gravel grind home, repeated vibration through the pedals took its toll on my feet with a little numbness creeping in, which was disappointing as the insole looked the business.
You only get what you pay for and the Boardman MTB Cycle Shoes are never going to bother the likes of Five Ten’s Freerider Pro in terms of comfort and performance. But, for £50, they offer a surprisingly good level of grip and are let down a bit by a sole that could do with more support for more aggressive riding.
Boardman MTB Shoes – Verdict
With a market saturated with flat-pedal models, you’re spoilt for choice, but not necessarily in the budget category.
An obvious contender is the Five Ten Freerider Pro, and although they pretty much set the benchmark for grip, style, and support, they are over double the price at £130. However, there are quite a few deals about that could make them a more viable option.
If you have deep pockets, the Crankbrothers Stamp Trail Boa £200, is a top performer with a Boa lace closure system and can certainly handle anything you throw at them on or off the bike.
At £99, the Northwave Tailwhip Eco Evo shoe is a great-looking shoe that scored well, with Michelin soles offering high levels of grip and eco credentials in their build and has a casual look to them.
The Boardman MTB Cycle Shoes are perfectly fine for shorter trail rides, mucking about in the woods, and hitting the pump track. They also fit the bill perfectly for urban riding and commuting with casual styling. But if you are a serious flat-pedal rider, you may want to invest in a more supportive and higher-performing shoe.
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