Accounting for 2 of your contact factors if you journey, a very good pair of sneakers is a key piece of your using equipment. This spring, Crankbrothers introduced their Stamp Path BOA, a light-weight MTB shoe designed for adventurous path or enduro riders.
I’ve been using the Stamp Path BOAs for over three months now, they usually shortly turned my go-to path using shoe. The BOA system makes it quick and straightforward to get them on and off, the soles provide ample assist and nice grip on completely different flat pedals, and I like how light-weight they really feel on my toes. They’ve additionally confirmed their sturdiness and provide a good bit of climate resistance.
Crankbrothers Stamp Path BOA Footwear- Development Options:
For full particulars on the Stamp Path BOA sneakers, take a look at my launch article. However because you’re right here, let’s briefly run by their key specs and options.
The Stamp Path BOA options an uneven BOA closure system with their Li2 dual-direction dial. The dial pops as much as launch the cable and pops downwards and twists to tighten it up. On the cuff is a fast and straightforward hook-and-loop strap.
There may be some air flow within the Stamp Path BOAs; The toe is perforated and there are hidden vent zones on each side of your foot. The padded tongue can also be perforated to permit airflow.
These sneakers function Crankbrothers’ new MATCH outsole, which was designed for strong grip on and off the bike. The only real gives deep, multidirectional lugs and is created from high-friction MATCH MC2 rubber. The tread sample is optimized to pair nicely with Crankbrothers’ flat pedals, however ought to discover ample traction on any pedal. The only real additionally options an prolonged heel for good grip and stability if you’re strolling round on the trailside. Contained in the shoe is a vibration-damping EVA midsole.
The Stamp Path BOA’s light-weight uppers are created from a ripstop materials, and a TPU panel up entrance offers some toe safety. The sneakers are additionally weather-resistant, and embrace elastic collars to maintain filth and dust from getting in. The heel space has additional padding contained in the cuff to assist your toes keep planted within the sneakers.
Crankbrothers claims 320g for a measurement 9 shoe, and my measurement 9.5 hit the dimensions at precisely 320g!
Experience Impressions:
I’ve been using the Stamp Path BOAs since mid-February. On the primary journey, they have been completely comfy. I didn’t take into consideration them in any respect through the journey, which tells you the way good they felt proper out of the field. The Stamp Path BOA sneakers really feel very light-weight in your toes, and have a lean profile.
Recent out of the field the Stamp Path BOAs soles felt fairly stiff, solely giving up a little bit of flex underneath onerous pedaling. After a couple of weeks, I seen that they had misplaced a little bit of that preliminary stiffness. Happily, the sneakers simply broke in a tad and remained pretty stiff, providing a supportive really feel on the pedals however sufficient flex for good off-bike traction.
I’m very happy with how grippy the MATCH MC2 soles are. They’re not so grippy that adjusting your foot place is troublesome, however as soon as planted your toes wish to keep in place. I did journey these sneakers with Crankbrothers’ Stamp 1 pedals, but additionally with my Chromag Scarabs and FUNN Python pedals. The sneakers gripped all three equally nicely.
After greater than three months of using my Stamp Path BOAs aren’t exhibiting any indicators of injury, early put on and tear, or misplaced stiffness (past the preliminary break-in).
BOA System:
The BOA system and hook-and-loop cuff strap each make it fast and easy to get these sneakers on and off. The BOA dial’s launch perform makes it tremendous simple to kick off the sneakers after a journey. Simply pull the cuff strap, pop the dial up and the sneakers slide off simply.
I did discover some slight additional strain from the BOA system underneath the dial across the high stretch of the cable. This additional strain may be very minor and doesn’t create any consolation points, however on my toes, that space is oh so barely tighter than the remainder of the uppers. I’ve had no purposeful issues with the BOA dial or cable.
Match/Consolation:
The Stamp Path BOA sneakers have a properly padded tongue, which retains your foot comfy underneath the BOA retention system. My toes stayed firmly in place contained in the sneakers, with no heel raise. I by no means had any issues with friction or extra room permitting my toes to shift round.
When strolling round off the bike, I did discover the sneakers’ skinny uppers may be felt buckling in on the sides when you’re placing a very good bend on the toe. That is by no means a problem whereas using, it’s only a minor factor I seen when off the bike.
With their skinny uppers, the Stamp Path BOA sneakers are usually not tremendous protecting. On one journey I kicked a flying rock and the skinny TPU toe cap lessened the blow, however I nonetheless had a sore toe afterward!
I can’t say I discover a lot impact from the sneakers’ air flow as I journey, however these lean sneakers are positively not excessively heat to put on.
Climate Resistance:
I received one likelihood to journey these sneakers in gentle to regular rain for simply over an hour. By the tip, my gloves and pants have been soaking by, however my toes stayed utterly dry. The Stamp Path BOAs elastic cuffs preserve 95% of particles out. I might get the odd piece of grass in them, so I nonetheless checked and shook them out earlier than every journey. Puddle splashes and dust splatter are simply fended off by the Stamp Path BOAs.
The Stamp Path BOA sneakers can be found in Black/Gold solely, they usually promote for $199.99. Sizes vary from males’s 5-15 and girls’s 6.5-16.5 (USA), or euro sizes 37-49 and UK sizes 4-14.
