Five Ten has released the Trailcross Clip-In, a new SPD-compatible shoe aimed at the adventure and gravel shoe market.
The brand’s Trailcross range has until now catered exclusively for mountain bikers, with the Five Ten Trailcross Gore-Tex proving a popular winter cycling shoe.
Five Ten’s parent company, Adidas, has recently expanded its cycling range with The Gravel Shoe, citing the popularity of gravel bikes.
In this light, it makes sense to see Five Ten also capitalising on the popularity of gravel riding and bikepacking, especially with the pedigree the brand has for off-road footwear.
The Trailcross Clip-In shoe is available to purchase now and retails for £140 / $160.
Flexible and grippy sole
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Five Ten says the Trailcross Clip-In is suitable for riding, hiking and exploring.
In line with what many brands have done with their adventure shoes to make them more suitable for walking, Five Ten has made the sole of the Trailcross Clip-In more flexible than its other Trailcross mountain bike shoes.
The proprietary EVA mid-sole is said to have the necessary toe flex for walking, but without sacrificing the stiffness needed for effective power transfer in the rest of the shoe.
Five Ten says the shoe’s midsole is cushioned to further aid flexibility and off-bike comfort.
Dubbed the Stealth Marathon, the sole is said to be non-marking and provide grip on “ever-changing terrain”.
The sole features Five Ten’s characteristic ‘dotty tread’ pattern, said to “put more rubber on the rock when you’re off the bike”.
There are ridges on the toe and heel, which Five Ten says improve hiking performance.
As a clip-in shoe, this new design from Five Ten also has a recess in the sole to fit a two-bolt SPD cleat.
Is that a trainer?
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Part of the appeal of Five Ten’s shoes – which no doubt has something to do with its parent company – is their trainer-like appearance.
The Trailcross Clip-In is no exception, with a low-cut top and a lace-up design.
Like Five Ten’s lace-up mountain bike shoes, the Trailcross Clip-In has a Velcro strap over the top of the shoe to hold laces in place and stop them from getting caught up in any bike parts.
This strap is also said to help prevent heel lift.
The upper of the shoe uses a breathable material and there are abrasion-resistant overlays to improve durability, as well as an impact-resistant toe box.
The Trailcross Clip-In is said to use recycled materials from production waste, reducing the amount of virgin material used in the production of the shoe.
Five Ten says 25 per cent of the shoe’s components use at least 50 per cent recycled material.