Interbike 2013: Five Ten Shoes
Five Ten have several new additions to their lineup for mountain biking, including the Impact XVi, Maltese Falcon LT and Freerider Kid’s shoes. One of their most significant new features is the Stealth Mi6 rubber compound, which they’re using in some models of their biking and rock climbing shoes. This top of the line Impact is lighter, has more toe and water protection, is quicker drying and uses the Mi6 rubber, while the Maltese is lighter, gets a waterproof toe cap and dual Velcro straps.
Stealth Mi6 Rubber
Five Ten were approached by the Mission Impossible 4 film makers who wanted a shoe which would grip well on glass, so that Tom Cruise could appear to be a rock climbing on the glass on the outside of the building in the movie. The result of this collaboration is the new super sticky Stealth Mi6 rubber. The Mi6 rubber is sticky and soft and provides a good deal of damping, which provides cushioning, comfort and shocks absorption. These qualities of the rubber allowed them to create thinner soles, which helps decrease weight.
Impact VXi
Five Ten’s premier downhill shoe is the Impact XVi (means Five Ten Innovations), and weighs 25% less than its predecessor. It will come in a $180 clipless version and a $150 flat pedal model, and should be available in March 2014. Both shoes utilize the Mi6 rubber, a downhill specific last, increased toe protection, an EVA midsole, and are made with a closed-cell foam hydrophobic material to prevent water absorption. The shoe can be washed and hosed off, and will quickly dry overnight. The use of the Mi6 rubber helps you stick to the pedals, and absorb impacts and hits, and decreases vibrations from the trail.
The Impact VXi Flat Pedal comes two color schemes, a special-edition Sam Hill model in blue highlights, and a simpler black/red. The Impact XVi Clipless has a Velcro strap over the top of the shoe for adjustability and to protect the laces, has more lateral cleat adjustment and comes in three colors, a black/red, black/gray/red and special-edition Greg Minnaar model with South African team color highlights. This clipless version sounds very intriguing, and the hydrophobic material, quick-drying abilities, and sticky and shock absorbing Mi6 should make this an excellent shoe.
Maltese Falcon LT
The new Maltese Falcon LT carries on the previous incarnation’s traditions, and it gets some new features along with the always sticky Stealth S1 rubber, and retails for $150. It’s lighter, has a waterproof toe cap, and two Velcro straps to cover the laces to prevent errant water from creeping into the shoe. This looks like a nice shoe, and the toe cap and dual Velcro straps should improve an already great shoe.
Freerider Kids
With the number of kids downhilling and dirt jumping on bikes, Five Ten thought it was about time they added a kid specific shoe flat pedal shoe to their lineup. The new kids shoe will utilize the same Stealth rubber compound found on the big boys Freerider, and will come in three colors, and kids’ sizes 10-3, and will retail for $70.
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