Accounting for 2 of your contact factors whenever you trip, a very good pair of footwear 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, and so they shortly grew to become my go-to path using shoe. The BOA system makes it quick and simple 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- Building Options:
For full particulars on the Stamp Path BOA footwear, try 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 simple hook-and-loop strap.
There’s 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 be perforated to permit airflow.
These footwear function Crankbrothers’ new MATCH outsole, which was designed for strong grip on and off the bike. The only affords deep, multidirectional lugs and is constructed from high-friction MATCH MC2 rubber. The tread sample is optimized to pair properly with Crankbrothers’ flat pedals, however ought to discover ample traction on any pedal. The only additionally options an prolonged heel for good grip and stability whenever 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 constructed from a ripstop materials, and a TPU panel up entrance supplies some toe safety. The footwear are additionally weather-resistant, and embrace elastic collars to maintain filth and dust from getting in. The heel space has further padding contained in the cuff to assist your toes keep planted within the footwear.
Crankbrothers claims 320g for a dimension 9 shoe, and my dimension 9.5 hit the size at precisely 320g!
Trip Impressions:
I’ve been using the Stamp Path BOAs since mid-February. On the primary trip, they had been completely snug. I didn’t take into consideration them in any respect throughout the trip, which tells you ways good they felt proper out of the field. The Stamp Path BOA footwear 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 below arduous pedaling. After a number of weeks, I seen they’d misplaced a little bit of that preliminary stiffness. Fortuitously, the footwear 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 trip these footwear with Crankbrothers’ Stamp 1 pedals, but in addition with my Chromag Scarabs and FUNN Python pedals. The footwear gripped all three equally properly.
After greater than three months of using my Stamp Path BOAs aren’t exhibiting any indicators of harm, 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 footwear on and off. The BOA dial’s launch operate makes it tremendous simple to kick off the footwear after a trip. Simply pull the cuff strap, pop the dial up and the footwear slide off simply.
I did discover some slight further stress from the BOA system below the dial across the high stretch of the cable. This further stress could 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 useful issues with the BOA dial or cable.
Match/Consolation:
The Stamp Path BOA footwear have a properly padded tongue, which retains your foot snug below the BOA retention system. My toes stayed firmly in place contained in the footwear, with no heel elevate. 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 footwear’ skinny uppers might be felt buckling in on the sides whilst you’re placing a very good bend on the toe. That is by no means a difficulty whereas using, it’s only a minor factor I seen when off the bike.
With their skinny uppers, the Stamp Path BOA footwear are usually not tremendous protecting. On one trip 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 footwear’ air flow as I trip, however these lean footwear are undoubtedly not excessively heat to put on.
Climate Resistance:
I received one likelihood to trip these footwear in gentle to regular rain for simply over an hour. By the top, my gloves and pants had been soaking by, however my toes stayed utterly dry. The Stamp Path BOAs elastic cuffs hold 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 trip. Puddle splashes and dust splatter are simply fended off by the Stamp Path BOAs.
The Stamp Path BOA footwear can be found in Black/Gold solely, and so they promote for $199.99. Sizes vary from males’s 5-15 and ladies’s 6.5-16.5 (USA), or euro sizes 37-49 and UK sizes 4-14.
