Here’s my first impressions…
I’m a Raynaud’s syndrome sufferer, which means I suffer from cold extremities (fingers / toes), so getting a decent pair of warm dry shoes is essential.
I used to have a pair of Northwave GTX boots when I rode SPDs… but I’ve been using flat pedals for the last 18 months.
Last year, I sent a pair of Shimano SW7 boots to LSR to have a 5:10 dotty sole fitted to them in order to have a waterproof warm pair of boots with good grip. They work ok, but the water would get in through the ‘flap’ and I’d still end up with wet feet.
Last week someone shared a 30% coupon for Adidas, and mentioned the Trailcross GTX boots. For £105, it seemed rude not to try them out.
I’ve got 2 pairs of 5:10’s already (pre Adidas), and they’re both a full size bigger than my regular shoe size (8.5). I ordered the Trailcross GTX in a 1/2 and a full size bigger - as Adidas offer free returns.
Quick delivery - they arrived just 3 days after ordering. A size 9 was fine if I was just wearing normal socks, but felt really tight in my Sealskinz… and the 9.5 was fine in the Sealskinz, but feels a bit loose in my regular socks. I figured I wanted these for winter, so I’d mainly be wearing them with thicker socks… so stuck with the 9.5’s.
The opening to get your feet in is through a neoprene cuff - which is really tight. Time will tell whether this lasts or eventually rips.
Although it’s nowhere near winter today, it’d been raining most of yesterday. I thought the trails might be a bit soggy, so a good time to test out the Trailcross GTX. It was about 18degC, so I went out in shorts / T-shirt / and a regular pair of bike socks - which sat just above the top of the boots.
First impressions were the Trailcross were really grippy. Much grippier than my Shimano / 5:10 sole hybrid boots. I think this is because my Shimano boots have a really hard sole, but the Trailcross are a bit softer. They felt pretty comfy too. If anything, they were too grippy with my HT ME03T pedals, as I was struggling to ‘adjust’ my foot on the pedal without having to lift it fully off and re-position. As the ride went on and the soles got wet, this became a bit easier.
I rode about a mile of roads to get to the trails, and then about 15 miles of trails. They were mainly damp, with some puddles and sludgy bits. As I cycled, I was getting splashes off the front wheel, and by the end of the ride - I was pretty dirty.
Not clarted in thick dirt like I’ve been in the past, but a film of dirty spots.
Compared to my legs, the boots looked pretty clean! Perhaps the water coming off the front wheel was cleaning the boots?!
By the end of the ride, I felt like my feet were soaked. When removing the boots, one foot was soaked and the other was pretty damp. The insides of the boots were visibly wet, and they felt like someone had poured water in them.
Now…
Did the boots leak, or did the tops of my socks get wet and soak right the way down?
After the ride, I washed the bike, and the hosed the boots down. I was concerned that the ‘grid’ type pattern on the toes would hold onto the dirt… but they cleaned up well.
They’re now on my boot drier getting dried before they stink of damp!!
Once the shoes are dry, I’ll have to experiment with them to see if they’re letting in water. I saw a guy doing a review of these boots who had his feet in a basin of water and his didn’t leak… so I’ll give that a try.
If that’s ok, then my next ride will be with socks lower than the neoprene ankle gator!!
If they leak during the basin test, then I’ll be getting in contact with Adidas to see about getting them swapped over.
, defo up for getting out for some action!
