OutdoorGearLab

The Ride Concepts Powerline is a burly shoe that is designed for fast riding, hard-charging, enduro and downhill riders, but it's not just a one-hit-wonder. Although a little heavier than other options, these shoes proved themselves to be capable all-day climbers that didn't let us down on long days in the saddle. Aside from their great pedal gripping performance, the DST rubber soles have been around for a couple of seasons now and have proven their grip and durability. The uppers are a burly synthetic material that sheds moisture and abrasion, with a fully welded construction. In the spirit of its downhill-oriented nature, these shoes feature extra padding throughout, including a reinforced toe cap as well as padding in the asymmetrical medial ankle and tongue. A medium flexing sole keeps you comfortable on or off the bike, and the high-quality D30 insole cradles your foot and provides an additional layer of padding and shock absorption underfoot. 
While they didn't feel egregiously heavy on the feet, the Powerline is among the heaviest shoes in the test. If you're riding lifts or shuttling, this extra weight won't be an issue and is the result of their robust and protective feel. If you're an all-mountain or trail rider who spends a significant amount of time climbing, that weight may be quite noticeable. The mesh panel above the toe box also allows for some breathability, but due to the burly, padded nature of these shoes, they can be a bit warm on the feet. That said, we feel these are the best shoes we tested for gravity pursuits or super aggressive trail riders.
Read more: Ride Concepts Powerline review

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Combining legendary grip and a comfortable interior, Five Ten’s Freerider is a long-time favorite. The shoe’s main calling card is its sticky Stealth S1 rubber and dotty tread pattern, which provide a reliable and secure connection to your pedals for everything from long uphill grinds to popping off jumps and navigating technical features. In addition, the shoe’s midsole strikes a nice balance of stiffness to avoid hotspots while retaining enough flexibility and traction on rock for the occasional hike-a-bike (the dotty tread doesn’t grip as well in mud, however). Finally, the reinforced toe box and thick upper material offer decent protection and give the shoe its signature look.

Like all platform shoes, one of the downsides of the Five Ten Freerider is that you lose some efficiency and power by not being connected to the pedals. Additionally, the Freerider’s soft rubber has a reputation for breaking down fairly quickly, and high-mileage users will find they need to replace their shoes annually (we consistently need a new pair after about 1,000 trail miles). But the shorter lifespan is a fair tradeoff for the fantastic grip the shoe offers, and there’s simply nothing else on the market that can match the Freerider’s all-around abilities for the price. And for a lighter and more protective variation of the shoe, check out the Freerider Pro below.See the Men's Five Ten Freerider  See the Women's Five Ten Freerider

As the name indicates, Five Ten’s Freerider Pro is an upgraded variation of the popular Freerider shoe. For another $50, you get a lighter and more water-resistant synthetic upper, stiffer midsole for better shock absorption, and sleeker look that forgoes the standard model’s skate shoe-like styling. In addition, the toe box has been reinforced and includes some foam padding to provide an additional layer of protection from impacts (although we’ve found the standard Freerider’s toe box to be pretty tough). Importantly, you still get Five Ten’s class leading Stealth S1 rubber, which is simply unmatched in terms of grip and reliable hold to your pedals.

Who should opt for the Pro model over the cheaper Freerider? If your local terrain is particularly tough or you get out in wet conditions, the synthetic upper material is a nice upgrade over the heavier and more absorbent leather/mesh combination that comes on the standard model. On the other hand, you’re not getting significant improvements in on- and off-bike traction or fit with the simple lacing systems, and both models will have fairly short lifespans due to the soft rubber compound. In the end, the Pro has its merits for committed cyclists and those that will value the weight savings, but many trail riders will be better off with the standard model.See the Men's Five Ten Freerider Pro  See the Women's Freerider Pro

Five Ten is recognized as the leader in the flat pedal shoe market, and they have developed a bit of a cult following over the years. The versatile Freerider Pro has become somewhat of a benchmark and is one of the shoes by which all others are judged. When it comes to riding flat pedals, grip is key, and Five Ten's Stealth rubber is widely recognized as the best in the business. With their Stealth Rubber and full-dot outsole, the Freerider Pros have the best pedal grip of all the models we tested, the next closest thing to clipping in. The stiff midsole provides excellent transfer of power to the pedals and helps keep foot fatigue to a minimum, while a little flex through the toe allows for relatively normal off-the-bike walking. We found the medium volume fit to be comfortable, and it should suit a huge range of foot shapes. The shoes offer just enough foot protection without feeling overly bulky and heavy on the feet. The tough synthetic uppers also impressed us with their durability and abrasion resistance. 
While we loved the tenacious grip of the Stealth rubber on the Freerider Pro, it may be a little too much for riders who like to adjust their feet regularly. Also, while the synthetic uppers are impressively durable, we found them to offer just average breathability as the mercury rose. That said, we feel this is an outstanding, versatile flat pedal shoe that can work for just about any application.
Read more: Five Ten Freerider Pro review

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Five Ten Freerider Pro Primeblue Review | Blister

The Ride Concepts Livewire is a fantastic shoe that blends excellent grip, high levels of comfort, and plenty of protection at a reasonable price. This shoe checks all the boxes for riders seeking a quality all-mountain shoe. The foundation of the shoe is the grippy Rubber Kinetics outsole that clings to the pedals with authority. The Livewire has a well-balanced sole stiffness that provides good power transfer, pedal feel, and walkability. They have a comfortable medium-volume fit that should work for the majority of riders. Ride Concepts also incorporated molded toe and heel protection, along with D30 impact-absorbing inserts in the insole to take the edge trail feedback and impacts. There is a lot to like about this versatile and affordable model, and we are excited to see what the future brings for this relatively young brand. 
While we feel the Livewire is adequately stiff underfoot, it's not the stiffest shoe out there. Those looking for the absolute best pedaling efficiency and power transfer might be better off looking elsewhere. The Livewire is also a little heavy at 458 grams per shoe &#40;size 11&#41;, which may be a deterrent for weight-conscious riders. Beyond that, we found little not to like about this well-rounded and reasonably-priced shoe.
Read more: Ride Concepts Livewire review

Mountain Bike Shoe Comparison