The Canyon Scampr trail cycling shoe was launched in October 2024, a few months after its racy siblings, the Tempr CFR shoes, which were the German bike brand’s first venture into the highly competitive world of shoe production. The Canyon Scampr is billed as an adventure shoe for MTB trail riding and bike packing adventures. Has Canyon nailed it with this first edition trail shoe?
- Best mountain bike shoes 2025 – top-rated flat and clipless kicks
- Fizik Gravita Versor Flat shoe review
- Best gravel bike shoes 2025
Canyon Scampr shoes – Technical details
The Canyon Scampr is available in two colours – the black topped and tan-soled version on test, and a grey and black version. Sizes run from EU36-48 (no half sizes), and they weigh in at 390g per shoe in size 42. The upper of the shoe is a mix of breathable mesh with a three-strap single Boa Li2 bracing and fastening system, which Canyon/Boa calls PerformFit Wrap. The Canyon Scampr is designed with a wider toe box than their Tempr and many other performance-based shoes, which is designed to allow for more comfort and to allow your toes to spread out more, and is termed PureFit360 when all combined.
Entry and anchoring of the heel is through an “adaptable stretch tongue,” an elasticated half-sock-like approach which is designed to anchor your foot in place.
Under the hood is an “adaptable” Solestar insole, which was produced in conjunction with the leading German insole maker of the same name. This is a shoe-specific insole and is intended to mould to your feet and offer more arch and overall foot support to allow for better overall power-pedal transfer. The foot bed is made from around 10% glass fibre mixed with nylon to add rigidity around the cleat plate, which is also recessed to give a lower stack height to increase the walkability off the bike.
The sole is made from Vibram Megagrip rubber compound, which has a low profile and wide covering diamond pattern tread. This is designed to make off-bike walking grippy and comfortable while also clearing mud and not interfering with clipping in and out of the pedals. The cleat plate and fixing are by a familiar two-bolt setup, which works with any two-bolt pedals (I have used Shimano SPDs and Hope Union RCs with them).
Most cycling shoes, especially performance shoes, tend to run a bit tight and narrow, and I usually go a size up as I have fairly big and wide feet. I’ve needed riding Santic MTB shoes in 46, and also Ekoi XC R4’s in 47 recently (which do run tighter and narrower than the Santics). Following the Canyon measurements online, I went for 46 in the Scampr. They do run about “true to size,” and are fairly wide compared to many out there. They are comfortable for me, though I would go up a size if you’ve had issues with sizes in the past (note to self, too, to do the same).
Although they feel very tight to get in to, because of the “adaptable tongue,” once on they feel very plush, and although there is a nylon/plastic heal plate, I find zero issues around the ankle (which I often do), and the combination of the fixing system means they do hold firm, and yet allow a fair amount of toe movement too. When walking, my feet/toes spread out and forward some, hence a bigger size would be better for me. On the bike, comfort is pretty good; there is room to breathe and let the blood flow in my feet, and I’ve had no real chaffing or side foot pain, which I do in often get with narrow and rigid shoes.
Canyon Scampr shoes – Performance
The first thing I noticed was just how grippy the Vibram Megagrip soles are off the bike, both in the wet and dry, and how deep the tread is around the cleat slot. Having had knee and hip issues, I’ve become very precise and finicky with my position, particularly when it comes to feet and pedals, and after all, the whole biomechanical system of pedalling is determined by your foot stance. Starting with Shimano SPD cleats, unless you use shims to raise them, they sit beneath the tread line.
This is how Canyon’s experienced shoe engineers designed them, and it was great to walk around without that metal clanking, though this does also mean that your shoes sit on and rub the pedals a fair bit. I’ve had the same with countless shoes before, and never worried about it, though with the Hope pedals you do need the cleat shims/spacers so that the cleat is raised above the tread in order to engage properly, which is how I’ve been riding them mostly (along with the old metal clinks). Though for a shoe of this intended purpose, unshimmed cleats for walking clearance reasons are not a bad idea.
What stood out during setup was that the cleat plate slots are closer in towards the crank sides when compared to most shoes I have. I’ve always run my feet close to the cranks, with heals pointing in a bit, to the extent that most of my shoes have crank and heal scuffs. With the Canyon Scampr I cannot set cleats far enough to the outside to get that close, making for a wider Q-Factor (the width between your cranks/feet).
It is weird to see that gap between my feet and cranks, and I can feel the difference, though maybe I’ve been running too narrow for years? I don’t know, but so far, I’ve not had any issues after having ridden most days on and off-road, in rain, sun, mud and water. Plus, it has eliminated my eternal-frame bag rub.
It’s worth noting that the shoes are not waterproof, but the mesh tops and fabric do dry out pretty fast, and surprisingly (given the tongue system), they don’t get too hot. When climbing out of the saddle I can feel the slight flex around the mid sole, which may not sit so well with those looking for that flatline race feel – but I appreciate it in a shoe that is pinned towards offroad adventure and bike packing, and that flex and sole grip is great the second you get off the bike.
Canyon Scampr trail shoes – Verdict
Canyon has always been bold, brave, innovative, and well informed when it comes to their own designs and production, and the Canyon Scampr ticks many of the right boxes in a subtle, even understated, but appreciated way (by me). The overall build quality is very good, and although I would prefer a dual Boa system, at the price point, and when combined with the other fit implementations, this does the job well.
My main initial concern was the cleat slot placement, which likely won’t bother most riders, and as a “narrow pedaller”, this hasn’t caused me any issues overall (which surprised me). There may well be solid reasoning here (as I’ve found with returning to riding shorter cranks), time will tell, I guess.
These shoes are not for those in search of rigid race performance, but the Canyon Scampr trail shoes are a smart-looking and very capable shoe at a fair price point, and are well suited for their intended purpose. Throw in the Solestar insoles and that sweetens the whole deal & feel too, I’d have no qualms in buying them.
You might also like:
- Cycling shoes: everything you need to know
- Laces, Boa or Velcro? Cycling shoe retention systems explained
- Crankbrothers Mallet Trail Boa clipless shoe review
Product purpose:
Build extra:
The adaptable Solestar® insoles mould to the shape of your foot, support your arch and create a neutral pedalling platform to improve power transfer. The close-fitting, sock-like mesh tongue offers a unique, supportive fit that adapts to a variety of foot shapes. It provides comfortable compression and support that is immediately noticeable when riding.
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product durability
Product durability extra:
Product weight
Product weight extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
