Pearl iZUMi X-ALP Elevate Shoe
The X-Alp Elevate is Pearl iZUMi’s premier mountain bike shoe, and they offer an ideal combination of pedaling power transfer and walkability. They provide optimal comfort and efficiency on epic and everyday rides. The shoe has been updated with features that make it lighter, more comfortable, grippier, and more adjustable with its dual BOA® Closure. It features a seamless synthetic upper for comfort and durability, toe and heel guards, sticky soles, and clipless compatibility.
It comes in a Phantom/Berm Brown color scheme, sizes 39-46 (with halves), 47-49 (fulls), and retails for $200. See a full review at Pearl iZUMi X-ALP Elevate Shoe Review.
Thoughts => The shoes are comfortable, decently protective, have an optimal blend of power transfer and walkability and have dual BOA® dials for ideal fit tuning and foot entry and egress. Its uppers are water-resistant and breathable for any weather condition, while the midsole dampens terrain chatter and provides pedaling comfort. The Vibram outsole’s sticky compound provided plenty of grip on any terrain and has been very durable, and the tread pattern offers plenty of bite with excellent shedding.
- BOA® Fit System with dual L6 dials to fine-tune fit
- Seamless synthetic upper for comfort and durability
- Perforated tongue for improved breathability
- Reinforced toe box provides impact protection
- Grippy Vibram ECOSTEP rubber outsole Midsole made with 20% renewable algae-based Bloom material
- EVA heel cushioning increases comfort and walkability
- 2-bolt SPD cleat compatible
Glerups Slip-on Slipper
Danish footwear brand glerups makes stylish slippers, shoes, and boots made from 100% felted wool. Wool naturally wicks moisture, thermoregulates to keep your feet warm or cool, has good wear resistance, and offers excellent odor control. They make their shoes in three styles: The Shoe, The Slip-On, and The Boot. Each of those styles is available with a leather sole or a natural rubber sole. Depending on the style and sole, they come in several color combinations. You could wear these with socks if you wanted, but these are meant to be worn barefooted. Wearing them barefooted offers the full pleasures, comfort, and features of wools’ natural properties.
The Leather Sole version retails for $76-$95, while the Natural Rubber Sole (Black or Honey) is $135. Read a full review at Glerups Slip-on Slipper Review.
Thoughts => The glerups Slip-on Slipper is very flexible, extremely comfortable, and soft, and the felted wool upper and footbed became custom-molded to my feet. The natural properties of wool provided exceptional temperature regulation, breathability, odor resistance, durability, and moisture-wicking. I liked the rubber soles since they offered more versatility for indoor and outdoor usage, though I wish they had a bit less rocker along the sides.
XERO Alpine
The XERO Alpine is a waterproof winter lace-up snow boot, which I didn’t get to do much testing on since it’s the brunt of summer. The Huarache-inspired design heel cinch strap is highly functional, providing a secure and stable fit, and the “inverted V” adjustable instep straps allow you to lock down your instep while still letting your toes move freely.
The Alpine features a fully seam-sealed inner bootie and a water-resistant membrane in the boot’s upper to keep your feet dry. It has a fleece cuff and tongue and is fully insulated with a heat-reflective insole, all of which offer improved winter comfort and warmth. And it’s 100% vegan friendly!
Each boot weighed in at 15.5 ounces each. They have a flexible non-elevated (zero-drop) grippy sole, with a chevron lugged tread that gives you sure-footed traction.
First Impressions => The polyester fleece lining around the cuff and tongue is soft and comfortable, and the insulated padding provides even more comfort. The insulation around the ankle is articulated, which provides some flex and give, allowing your foot to move with the ground and stay firmly planted. The sole is somewhat stiff compared to most of their minimalistic shoe lineup, but it’s still flexible and offers excellent walking and movement characteristics. The wraparound sole is grippy, but the compound is a bit stiffer for improved durability and winter compliance, and the deep chevron tread pattern grabs the terrain and ground with aplomb. It has rugged wraparound bumpers above the sole for durability, and the sole has rounded edges. The Alpine is a comfortable waterproof winter lace-up snow boot with a barefoot inspired design, and I am looking forward to tossing this into the crud this winter and seeing how it functions.
- MSRP $149.99
- 5.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole
- Luggy tread for extra traction
- Removable 2mm heat-reflective insole
- 200g insulation, rated to -25°/-32°C
- Fully seam-sealed inner bootie and a water-resistant membrane
- 100% vegan-friendly materials.
- Weighs 14.9oz each for a men’s size 9
- Naturally wide toe-box
- Designed for winter use, hiking, snowshoeing, after skiing, etc.
XERO Oswego
The XERO Oswego is a minimalistic casual knit sneaker with a grippy rubber sole and a sure-footed tread pattern. The lightweight Oswego is ultra-comfy, and its barefoot-inspired design lets your feet and body feel connected to the world. They have an ultra-wide toe box that allows your toes spread, and your foot relaxes along with their “XERO-drop” sole, which has a non-elevated heel and a low-to-the-ground design that provides improved posture, balance, and stability. The shoe is highly flexible, so your foot can bend, move, and flex like it’s barefooted.
It features a water-repellent knit poly upper, a knit cuff, their standard 2mm EVA insole, and a 4.5mm FeelTrue rubber outsole. The lightweight shoe weighs a hair under seven ounces, has a smooth lining that is perfect for that barefoot feel, and it’s highly breathable. And it’s 100% vegan friendly!
First Impressions => The Oswego is an extremely comfortable shoe, and the soft lining, breathable upper, and the flexible grippy sole are just ideal. They feature a snug knit cup and a secure and snug heel cup, which can make them tough to slip your foot into, but once they’re on your feet, the magic happens. The heel cinch and adjustable mid-foot webbing give you a secure and stable fit, while the wide toe box lets your toes splay and flex to invigorate your stride and provide comfort and relaxation. Sock or sockless, the Oswego is just darn comfortable.
- MSRP $89.99
- 4.5mm FeelTrue® rubber sole (same as the Speed Force)
- Removable 2mm insole
- Weighs 6.8oz each for a men’s size 9
- Water-resistant, polyester knit upper
- Elastic ankle section for slip-on ability
- Completely Vegan-friendly
- Naturally wide toe-box
- Designed for casual, day-to-day use
HOKA ONE ONE Ora Recovery Shoe
Whether you’re recovering from a run, competition, workout, or a long day on your feet, these breathable, super-cushioned slip-ons will change your day. They’re the perfect travel companions as they fold down, pack into a carry-on, and have signature HOKA ONE ONE cushioning. You’ll soon find yourself making excuses never to take them off.
The ORA Recovery Shoe featured a symmetrical bed of cushion without additional prescriptive technologies and was designed to provide the support you want and nothing you don’t. They feature a higher bed of soft cushion, designed to provide a forgiving impact and ride.
- MSRP $80
- Flexible and supportive light mesh upper to optimize breathability and comfort with easy entry
- TPU overlay provides midfoot support and stability
- Collapsible compression mesh heel provides versatile fit options that offer quick entry as well as a secure and comfortable fit
- Early Stage Meta-Rocker offers a smooth ride
- EVA for support, durability, and stability
- Strategic groove placement for optimal comfort and traction
- 100% Vegan
Thoughts => When I head out for a ride in my truck or need something to relax around the house, I almost always reach for my pair of Ora shoes. Their design offers perfect post-ride recovery attributes, with plenty of flex, breathability, cushioning, and support. The slip-on styling offers easy to take on and off characteristics, and they’re light and foldable for carrying around.
velotoze Neoprene Shoe Cover
The veloToze Neoprene Shoe Cover with Waterproof Cuff keeps your feet warm and dry in inclement, wet, and cold winter weather. It uses a performance neoprene material that is waterproof and windproof, which protects your feet and shoes from the elements and debris that would be encountered on a trail or road.
The pull-on design of the cover doesn’t use any zippers and fastens with one large Velcro strap underneath the middle of the shoe. The front bottom toepad utilizes a Kevlar section to help protect the cover from the wear and tear of walking and standing in the shoes. It includes a separate short Latex Waterproof Cuff to prevent water from ingressing into the top of the cover, sealing everything tight from rain and snow. The veloToze Neoprene Shoe Cover system offers a broad range of temperature usage, from 25 °F in dry, sunny weather to 60 °F in wet, rainy weather. It features reflective stripes and logos for safety in low light and night conditions.
They come in small, medium, and large sizes and retail for $48.
Thoughts => The veloToze Neoprene Shoe Cover with Waterproof Cuff kept my feet and shoes warm and dry in inclement, wet, and cold winter weather, offering coverage for temperatures from 10 °F to 60 °F. The easy pull-on design with the Velcro strap attachment and Kevlar toepad made for a functional and durable shoe cover.
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