Pedal and accessory specialist Crankbrothers is making a new entry into the shoe category to solve common inconsistencies in the cleat box that have caused frustration for riders. The debut range focuses on the downhill, enduro, all-mountain and trail segments of mountain biking. The Stamp and Mallet are reminiscent of a skate shoe-inspired look and the Mallet E of a sporty adventure shoe. The outsoles are optimized for Crankbrothers pedals, although they are designed to work flawlessly with any mountain bike pedal system.

"We spent many years finding innovative ways to optimize the shoe-pedal interface, focusing on the pedal system. But we lacked control over the shoe, which led to interference issues with the pedals. We saw riders cutting open the cleat box, and we saw riders cutting the cleat box to allow the pedal to engage properly and extending the cleat rail to allow more cleat placement options. We worked obsessively to develop the right cleat depth of less than 1 mm to improve clip-in and clip-out," says Gaspare Licata, CEO of Crankbrothers.

Three years of development

Crankbrothers has spent the last three years developing the shoe range and testing the shoes in the lab and on the trail. Feedback from everyday riders and professional riders such as Fabio Wibmer on the Stamp shoe and Luca Shaw on the Mallet shoe was of course essential. A large part of these tests focused on the development of our own rubber compounds, especially for the flat shoe, where it is crucial for the pedal connection.

"Fabio has brought great value to the Stamp shoe thanks to his cross-disciplinary experience. He helped us improve some details on the fit and the interface between the outsole and pedal. He also worked with us on the last mile changes: the toe ramp and outsole flexibility, two points that allowed us to significantly improve the final performance of the shoe," says Vanni Scapin, shoe designer and developer at Crankbrothers.

The outsole of the Stamp Flat shoe has a highly adhesive rubber compound to adhere to the pedal body and low rebound properties to dampen vibrations. In addition, the cleat depth is matched to the pin dimensions to absorb the pin body. The Mallet and Mallet E shoe soles have a medium-friction rubber compound (MC1) that allows easy entry and exit from the pedal. The MC1 rubber compound also offers more stiffness for optimum power transmission.

Cleats are already fitted

The Match System optimizes engagement for any mountain bike clip-in system, whether Crankbrothers or SPD. The Mallet and Mallet E-Clip-in shoes come with a Match shim and a Crankbrothers cleat pre-installed in a neutral position, so they are ready to ride with Crankbrothers pedals. A rider who prefers SPD can simply remove the shim and replace the cleat to achieve the correct cleat height. If the outsole rubber around the match box is worn, the rider can remove the shim and ride with just the cleat to maintain the effective cleat height. The Mallet shoe has a race zone on the cleat box that allows the cleat to be positioned further towards the heel for added stability when descending.

What materials are used

Crankbrothers shoes feature a synthetic upper with premium materials that provide breathability, protection and comfort. Features such as perforated materials and mesh windows provide ventilation to keep feet cool in hot conditions and dry quickly in wet conditions. Reinforced TPU around the toes offers protection against stone chips and impacts. Thoughtful details such as silicone dots on the heel provide heel hold and a padded tongue ensures all-day comfort on long rides.

The closure systems

Each shoe model is available in three closure systems: BOA and strap, Speed Lace and strap and strap only. The top-of-the-range Crankbrothers shoe models, including the Stamp Flat shoe, feature the BOA-Fit system. Using a micro-adjustment dial, it ensures a quick, effortless and precise fit. The Speed Lace option offers a quick adjustment, while the Classic Lace System provides a smooth closure with round laces. Both the Speed Lace and Lace options are equipped with a lace pocket where the laces can be securely stowed away.

crankbrothers.com