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      • Five Ten Kestrel Lace and Freerider Elements Bike Shoes

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace and Freerider Elements Bike Shoes

      Five Ten shoes have been a staple for those who ride bikes, climb rocks, or just enjoy a quality adventure shoe. We have reviewed a few of their shoes like the Anasazi Arrowhead climbing shoe and the Guide Tennie shoe, Freerider Pro Danny MacAskill biking shoe and have always been impressed. This time around, we will take a look at two styles of mountain biking shoe, the Freerider Element and the Kestrel Lace. 

       Five Ten Kestrel Lace and Freerider Elements Bike Shoes

      Black on black for the Five Ten Kestrel Lace and Freerider Elements Bike Shoes.

       Five Ten Kestrel Lace Bike Shoes
       Five Ten Freerider Elements Bike Shoes
      SHOW THE REST OF THE REVIEW / PHOTOS / VIDEOS

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace

      The Five Ten Kestrel Lace mountain bike shoe is an all-weather clipless shoe. As the name implies, the Kestrel Lace features lace closures but is also available with the Boa System should laces be too old school for your tastes. At the top of the tongue, a hook-and-loop top strap locks the heel. 

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace

      The perforated tongue material is EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) and features a mesh overlay. EVA has low-temperature toughness, stress-crack resistance, waterproof properties, and is UV resistant. The midsole is also made with a durable, lightweight EVA, and the uppers are synthetic and weather resistant with micro-perforations.

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace

      A carbon-infused nylon shank creates a stiff build for maximum power transfer to the pedals. Five Ten’s Stealth C4 rubber outsole needs no introduction and provides next level grip both on and off the bike.

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace

      The Five Ten Kestrel Lace has a clipless design so they remain low profile but still offer the cleat system. Below you can see them working with the Magped Magnetic Pedals, hence the magnetic plate on the bottom of the shoe.

      Five Ten Kestrel Lace
      Five Ten Kestrel Lace

      Five Ten Freerider Elements 

      The Freerider Element mountain bike shoe is meant for any conditions and to be worn anytime. Less stiff than the Kestrel Lace, the Freerider Element offers a more comfortable wear both on and off the bike. 

      These shoes also feature a classic lace closure but do not need the added hook-and-loop closure due to their more flexible nature.

       Five Ten Freerider Elements
      The weather-resistant uppers consist of polyurethane-coated leather and synthetics, with a textile liner. The shoe has a one-piece molded cupsole and medium-flex molded EVA midsole.
       Five Ten Freerider Elements
       Five Ten Freerider Elements
      The flat outsole is Stealth S1, a softer rubber than boasts “unbeatable grip” with the Classic Dotty tread.
       Five Ten Freerider Elements

      Features:

      Five Ten Kestral Lace
      • Regular fit
      • Lace closure with hook-and-loop top strap
      • Synthetic weather-resistant micro-perforated upper
      • Perforated EVA tongue with mesh overlay
      • EVA midsole
      • Stealth C4 rubber outsole
      • Carbon-infused nylon shank
      • Textile lining
      • Clipless design
      Five Ten Freeride Element
      • Regular fit
      • Lace closure
      • Polyurethane-coated leather and synthetic upper
      • Textile lining
      • One-piece molded cupsole
      • Stealth® S1 with Classic Dotty™ tread
      • Medium-flex molded EVA midsole

      Materials:

      Five Ten Kestral Lace
      Textile/Synthetics
      Sole: Stealth® C4™ 
      Closure style: Classic lace with a hook-and-loop top closure

      Five Ten Freeride Element
      Textile/Synthetics/Leather
      Sole: Stealth® S1 with Classic Dotty™ tread
      Closure style: Classic lace

      Verdict:

      Five Ten makes great shoes, and these two mountain bike shoes are no exception. Well featured, reasonably priced, and backed by a strong brand known for quality.

      The Kestral Lace is a bomber all mountain and enduro shoe that looks casual while offering performance while pedalling. The weight of the shoe may throw some people off, but this weight packs excellent foot protection and durability.

      The stiffness of the shoe provides maximum power transfer, but does make walking around off the bike a little awkward; they look casual but are definitely a performance shoe. That said, the grippy soles and flex in the toe do help with walkability. The stiffness of the shoe makes the heel want to lift, but the hook-and-loop straps hold it down and in place. These straps sometimes rubbed the top of my ankle which could get annoying, so make sure to test these out before you buy and make sure they are a good fit for your foot. If you like the Kestral but the ankle rub annoys you then maybe try out the Kestral with the Boa System.

      The Freerider Element is the Freerider with added weather-proofing. The Freerider is a tried, tested, and true all mountain shoe that has been popular amongst mountain bikers for years. The weatherproofing is a great addition and not only helps to keep your feet dry, but offers a bit more durability and longevity to the materials. 

      This all-mountain freeride shoe is less stiff than the Kestral and offers a little more versatility. The soles are a bit softer but just as grippy, if not more. 

      Both of these shoes bring a lot to the table. Impact protection, abrasion resistance, double stitching, weather resistance, supportive heel cup, and stiff soles for efficient pedalling. Five Ten shoes tend to fit a little bigger, so keep that in mind when trying them on. Pick the one that best suits your style and you’ll be on your way to having a good time. 

      PROS:

      • Tried, tested, and true design
      • Weather-proofing and durability
      • Versatile and comfortable with a casual look

      CONS:

      • Kestral Lace is super stiff to walk in
      • Fits a little big

      SPECS:

      Five Ten Kestral Lace
      Price: $150US
      Colours: Carbon/Black/Red
      Weight: 450g / 15.9oz

      Five Ten Freeride Element
      Price: $130US
      Colours: Carbon/Black/Grey
      Weight: 425g /
      15oz

      RATING

      Five Ten Kestral Lace 8.5/10
      Innovation           1.5/2
      Function              1.5/2
      Aesthetics / Fit    1.5/2
      Features              2/2
      Quality / Price     2/2

      Five Ten Freeride Element 9/10
      Innovation           1.5/2
      Function              2/2
      Aesthetics / Fit    1.5/2
      Features              2/2
      Quality / Price     2/2

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      Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch? Let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in below and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation. You'll need to login or register before you can comment but it only takes a few seconds, then you're good to go.

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