adidas unveils its new FREERIDER range of mountain bike shoes – redesigned to meet the needs of the modern-day rider
- Re-engineered through adidas’ performance expertise and developed collaboratively with athletes such as Vali Höll, Danny MacAskill and Greg Minnaar, the FREERIDER family will span flat and clipless pedal options.
- Championing the newly refined FREERIDER portfolio are the FREERIDER PRO BOA® and FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless, with four models in total making up the full line-up, designed to serve every type of rider and every ability.
- The FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless debuted at the Whistler World Cup on the feet of adidas athletes including all riders competing for the Norco adidas Race Division and will be available to consumers in March 2027.
Today, adidas unveils its next generation of FREERIDER mountain bike shoes with FREERIDER PRO BOA® and FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless leading the new range. The new footwear has been developed with insight and feedback from elite Freeride and World Cup racing athletes to meet the evolving needs of the modern rider, while maintaining the leading grip and stability credentials the model is renowned for.
Since FREERIDER’S debut in 2009, the unrivalled grip provided by its STEALTH rubber construction has made it the shoe of choice for many of the world’s leading flat pedal mountain bike riders. The arrival of the Five Ten HELLCAT clipless model soon followed, and by 2010 the shoe had already begun securing World Cup victories. In 2011, Five Ten and adidas joined forces, with subsequent innovations helping to redefine mountain bike footwear performance while building on the proven foundations of the FREERIDER and HELLCAT.
Now, the next wave of adidas mountain bike shoes brings together these defining franchises, uniting FREERIDER’s grip, fit and off-the-bike style with HELLCAT’s clip-in performance and winning credentials. Re-engineered with adidas performance expertise, the new models retain the tried-and-tested STEALTH rubber compounds these shoes are known for.
The latest models are the first to feature both the adidas 3-Stripes logo and the iconic Five Ten logo, as adidas reinforces its commitment and dedication to the Bike category and brings the Five Ten label closer to the heart of the brand.
The range is designed to serve every rider and every ability, from the start gate on the biggest stage to the local trails. Leading the FREERIDER line-up are the FREERIDER PRO BOA® and FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless:
- The FREERIDER PRO BOA® was developed with elite riders including Rampage fan-favorites Brendan Fairclough and Vero Sandler and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Danny MacAskill. The shoes have STEALTH rubber throughout, providing maximum grip for flat pedal riders.
- The FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless, developed in partnership with Norco adidas Race Division alongside four-time World Championship winner Greg Minnaar, five-time World Champion Vali Höll and USA Cycling Elite Downhill National Championship winner Dakotah Norton, continues with STEALTH Marathon, a harder-wearing compound suited to the demands of clip-in riding. A redesigned cleat slot with 5mm of additional adjustability allows riders to position their cleats further back for a more customized placement.
Across the Pro models, a five-layer toe box with PORON impact resistance increases protection, while asymmetric construction improves defense against side impacts. A double Li2 BOA® on the FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless and a single Li2 BOA® on the FREERIDER PRO BOA® deliver a secure, micro-adjustable fit, paired with an integrated debris shield for added protection and an asymmetric PERFORMFIT™ WRAP for a more precise fit.
Luke Hontz, Senior Product Manager for Bike at adidas, said: “For more than 15 years, FREERIDER and STEALTH rubber have set the standard for flat pedal performance. But rather than making incremental updates, we took a step back and reimagined what FREERIDER could be. Building on invaluable feedback from our world-class athletes and backed by adidas’ expertise in performance footwear, we redesigned the FREERIDER to meet the needs of modern riders. The result is a new range of products, including the first-ever clipless FREERIDER, giving riders at every skill level a shoe tailored to how and where they ride.”
The new FREERIDER range starts at €120 / $120, with the FREERIDER PRO BOA® and the FREERIDER PRO BOA® Clipless priced at €180/$180 and €250/$250 respectively. Available to buy at adidas.com and via the adidas app from March 2027, FREERIDER will be available in sizes UK 3–9 for women and UK 5–14 for men.
For further information, please visit adidas.com or follow @adidasBike on Instagram to join the conversation.