CATEGORIES
CATEGORIESThe gurus of grip at Five Ten know their way around singletrack. As a matter of fact, they know their way around big wall climbs, knife-edge ridge traverses and all manner of sketchy situations that require a fierce amount of friction. Beloved by climbers, hikers and bikers for their dedication to all soles sticky and secure, Five Ten’s new mountain biking shoes don’t change up the formula—they merely improve on it. Grippy and ready to rip, this trio of Five Ten MTB shoes has been in the Active Junky rotation for the past six months.
These are, hands down, feet down, our favorite shoes in the Five Ten lineup. Which is saying something.
Stealth Rubber Soles: The highlight of these shoes is definitely the Stealth Mi6 rubber. When locked in, you forget you’re not riding clipless—except you can kick a foot for balance around a bank without a second thought. A generous flat section allows you to easily shift your feet or catch the pedals if you get bucked off. The one bummer: this rubber won’t last forever. If you’re biking more days than not, you might be running through multiple pairs in a year. However, when compared to skate shoes or even other MTB shoe brands, this damping, grippy sole has reasonable longevity and the grip can’t be beat.
Design: The design of the chassis is updated from the VXi, a staple in the Five Ten line, but the Freerider’s toe box is armored and can take a beating. In the middle of the Kokopelli Trail, a bikepacking tester jammed his downhill foot into a shark fin of a rock on a fast, tight section. In many other shoes, this would’ve resulted in a lost toenail or at the very least, significant subsequent pain. The Freerider got scuffed, but thanks to the armored toe box, it kept on rolling.
Bottom Line: From bikepacking adventures to mountain bike races, these shoes have proved their worth over and over again. Purchase confidently—then ride even more so.
While looking like a cross between futuristic soccer cleats and Italian loafers, the fresh Kestrel is a sleek all-mountain shoe with the stiffest build of the Five Ten line.
Stealth Rubber Soles: Once again, Five Ten’s soles are cause for celebration. The Kestrel incorporates two types of rubber: stiffer C4 around the pedal contact zone for quick and easy clipping and impressive power transfer, plus softer Mi6 in the toe and heel for comfort and traction. The sole is lug free: testers noted that Kestrels crushed dry, rocky conditions but toe lugs would have been appreciated in mud and muck.
Design: The Kestrel is void of the beefy build that many Five Ten fans have come know and love. It’s sleek, trimmed down; aptly named after a precisely evolved bird of prey. This on-trail predator has an ultra-stiff vertebra – a carbon-infused shank –supported up front by the armor of a synthetic toe box and a noticeably tough heel cup around the back. Heel hold is ironclad (carbonclad?), especially when synched down with the BOA tightening system.
Bottom Line: A stiff yet comfortable, sleek yet armored, burly yet agile paradox to be favored by those who enjoy the up as much as the down.
The style here is obvious while the functionality hidden—making these kicks a favorite for casual riders and those who don’t want to be embarrassed walking around town.
Stealth Rubber Soles: Yup, more Stealth in the mix, though this time it’s a less sticky variety to enable more freedom of movement and less adhesion. Off the pedals, the dotted Stealth Marathon soles react much like comfortable skate shoes (Vans being the obvious comparison) with much more scrambling prowess. Designed for the bike, of course, the sole catches pedal spikes with ease and will last longer than some of the softer rubber compounds in the Stealth lineup.
Design: Simple and to the point. An affordable price tag confirms that this model isn’t about some crazy technological breakthrough – though some would argue otherwise regarding any rubber with Stealth stamped into it. Instead, the Sleuth has improved upon the skate shoe design that many riders have pledged allegiance to for decades. While not the most breathable (suede leather outers), these shoes are comfortable for all day rides. Plus, if they’re not coated in mud, they look good in the office, too. But really, they should be coated in mud.
Bottom Line: Testers loved this shoe for a variety of reasons, namely its simplicity, style and surprising amount of grip
