The Fox Union Clip shoes have been built with a huge range of adjusibility in an impressively weatherproof but reasonably breathable build. They’re incredibly well-designed and without a doubt, one of the leading protagonists in the best mountain bike shoes category. They are, however, a smidgeon pricier than the competition.
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Fox Union Clip – Technical details
With the Union range, Fox finally has the capability of offering head-to-toe apparel but the brand hasn’t half-assed it and pushed out any old shoe simply to get the job done. Instead, the Fox has given the shoe’s design some serious thought and has loaded it with very useful features.
Starting off with the one-piece welded upper, it boasts a low-profile Velcro strap and lace system which is common on clipless shoes like these, and there’s reinforcement at the toe to keep those piggies safe from harm. Speaking of reinforcement, the shoe gets a high-density texture print in areas that are prone to wear.
A super-cool feature that’s often found on lighter cross-country going shoes is that the Union Clip comes with two pairs of arch-height inserts that allow for adjustment of the shoe’s arch support. For added security, there’s a moulded internal heel that counter locks the heel.
Something that Fox is awfully quiet about is that the cleat tracks extend pretty far towards the centre of the shoe. Where it’s common to see cleat tracks of 32mm in length, the Union Clips come with tracks that are 36mm long. It doesn’t sound a lot, but it makes a huge difference but we’ll get onto that later
As for the outsole, it uses the same Utratac rubber compound as what’s found on the flat pedal Union shoe. Finishing off the shoe is a glass-filled nylon shank for stiffness and efficiency. There’s then an EVA midsole that’s been tuned to balance comfort with further efficiency.
Coming in sizes EU37 up to 47, Fox recommends these shoes for downhill, enduro, and trail use. As for weight, the pair comes in at 963g, with a smattering of dirt.
Fox Union Clip – Performance
The shoe’s slim silhouette keeps heels from scraping against the bike chainstay and it’s a good-looking pair of shoes at that.
The fit of the shoe isn’t too shabby either, though I believe I could size done for a more snug fit. The EU44 on test leaves a lot of toe room, but in use, I didn’t find this to be an issue.
But for me, where the magic really happens is in those lengthy cleat tracks. First off, Fox has been kind to the clipless newbies by stamping ‘power’ and ‘control’ into the plastic base to tell those new to cleat adjustment exactly what to expect when placing the cleats in either area. There are also ridges that make for an excellent and easy-to-follow reference that’ll help even more advanced riders dial in their perfect cleat positions.
The extra adjustment that the length allows for is the best feature of these shoes. Usually, I like to run my cleats as far back as possible in order to get as close as I can to the position my feet would be in if I were riding with flat pedals. Thanks to the extended tracks, that’s more than possible which is a rare thing on most clipless shoes.
Elsewhere, Fox’s efforts in designing the Union Clips have proven fruitful as they carry all of the hallmarks that a great mountain bike shoe should. They’re surprisingly weather-proof, all credit to that one-piece upper. My pair of Union Clips have seen all kinds of weather and in all but the wettest, or after smashing through the deepest of puddles, my feet have kept dry. That in itself is super valuable.
The excellent weather protection hasn’t compromised breathability either. Through warmer days, kitted complete with thin socks my feet have remained comfortable and cool.
As for padding, they aren’t the cushiest around, especially when compared to shoes from Crankbrothers but during long stints in the saddle, comfort wasn’t an issue. The adjustable arch support helps here, offering another area of adjustment. I tested using both the high and low supports that are held in simply with velcro, so they’re easy to swap and I settled for the low inserts.
When pedaling, the Union Clips offered an average level of efficiency, or at least what’s expected of a shoe like this. Flex-wise, there’s just enough to stave off harsh fatigue during extended descents. The Velcro strap serves two purposes, one to keep the laces in place but they also aid efficiency and shoe stability by locking the shoes in place. It’s a common addition to a range of clipless shoes and one that works very well.
Fox Union Clip – Verdict
At £160, the Fox Union Clip is edging towards the mid- to high end of shoe prices but considering the all-out performance and adjustability on offer, it’s worth paying for the clipless pedal enthusiast. However, there is a range of shoes that come close in terms of performance for less money.
Crankbrothers’ Mallet E Speed Lace is a serious contender, getting many of the features found on Fox’s offering for £10 less. It doesn’t get adjustable arch support and its cleat tracks aren’t as long but it does get the easy-to-use speed lace closure.
ION’s Rascal Select Boa is a shoe that comes with a little more in terms of tech with its Boa dial, but it’s not as good a shoe due to its less-than-ideal comfort and its comparatively lacking cleat adjustment. This shoe comes in at £170, so there are pricier shoes around, which makes the Union Clip’s value hold up.
While at the pricier end of trail shoe spectrum, the Fox Union Clips are a fantastic. In fact, they’re close best clipless shoes for trail and gravity-fed riding on the market. They’re everything most riders require, featuring above-par weather protection, adjustability and great comfort. It would just be great to see a lower price tag just to make them more accessible.
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Product purpose:
Build extra:
Low-profile Velcro strap and lace system
Ultratac™ outsole balances grip and durability
Low-profile Velcro strap and lace system
Reinforced toe for protection against rock strikes
Recommended Use
Mountain bike
Downhill
Enduro
Trail
Product construction
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Product performance extra:
Product durability
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Product weight
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Product comfort
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product value
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