I’ve always been a cross-country kinda girl and dressed the part. You know: matching lycra kit and carbon-soled Sidi shoes. Thanks to my husband and son, however, that’s slowly changing. They have me doing more downhill days and afternoons at the skills park. I converted to baggy shorts a while ago, but just recently began wearing a pair of skate-style shoes. Still a fan of SPD pedals, I went with the Five Ten Kestrel Lace shoes.
These mountain bike shoes offer a bit of both worlds. The nylon soles are stiff and clipless-compatible, but they won’t have you looking like a weeny slipping around on carbon soles. Since many of my rides nowadays are family rides, I also appreciate that they are comfortable for off-trail geocaching hikes and pitstops at the ice cream parlor. Indeed, if you are looking for clipless-compatible, skate-style shoes, that are comfortable and friendly for hiking, the Kestrel Lace should be high on your list.
Review in a Nutshell
Pros:
* Looks like a normal shoe
* Easy to walk and hike in
* SPD compatible
Cons:
* Tongue may cause awkward pressure point
* Shoelaces can be a hazard
Price & Where to Buy:
- $98 at JensonUSA.com*
- $150 at CompetitiveCyclist.com*
Five Ten Kestrel Lace Detailed Review
Power transfer
I was expecting a noticeable decline in performance when switching from cross-country style mountain bike shoes to the Kestrel. After all, there’s no way a lace-up skate-style shoe could offer transfer power efficiently, right? Wrong. The sole is surprisingly stiff thanks to its molded nylon construction, and it feels more like a road shoe than a tennis shoe. I haven’t had any noticeable decline in power transfer when using the Kestrel even on a long trail ride.
Comfort On and Off the Bike
The best part of the Kestrel is the fact that its comfortable off the bike. This is key if you live in an area with lots of hike-a-bikes, or if you’re spending a lot of time on and off the bike. As I already mentioned, I’ve been using these shoes when biking with my son. We spend a lot of time walking hills, looking for flowers, stopping at playgrounds, and climbing on rocks. The Kestrel is comfortable and far less slippery than my other shoes for these off-the-bike activities. I also feel less dorky when we stop for ice cream or at the park. In fact, even though the Kestrel is marketed as a MTB shoe, I think it is also the ideal urban shoe. If you want clipless-compatible shoes for biking around town, without it being obvious that you are wearing bike shoes, the Kestrel will do the job. They look like cool, if slightly bulky, skate shoes.
One thing I have noticed when walking for long distances is that the sole of the insole of the shoe is very flat and doesn’t offer much, if any, arch support. If you have high arches (I don’t), this might be a real problem. Even I thought they would be better with a shoe insert of some sort.
The other minor issue I had with the shoe is that on my left foot (and not my right) the tongue of the shoe digs into my ankle/top part of my foot. It isn’t enough to hurt, but it does cause a noticeable pressure point. Clearly, my left foot has some sort of shape flaw that you may not have, but I also noticed this same complaint in a review in Bike magazine–so it is worth taking note of.
Clipless compatible
I’ve been using the Five Ten Kestrel’s with SPD pedals, although any two-hole style pedal will work. The sole of the shoe has a fairly large recess for the cleat so that they aren’t noticeable when walking around. No tap-dancing in these shoes!
Lace Design
The laces on the Kestrel do a surprisingly good job of keeping the shoe tight. That said, the laces are long and I’ve had trouble keeping them tidy and tucked away. The velcro strap is supposed to help with this, but in practice, I’ve still had laces escape. If, like me, you tend to struggle with keeping laces tidy, consider the Kestrel (non-lace) version instead.
Sizing
The women’s Kestrel is the same design as the men’s–just in women’s sizes and different colors. The shoes are sized in US shoe sizes unlike many cycling shoes, and in my experience fit true to size.
Comparison Chart
If you are looking for a clipless-compatible skate-style mountain bike shoes (in women’s sizes!), your options are pretty limited. That said, here’s how the Kestrel Lace compares to the other options on the market.
| Shoe | Price (MSRP) | Clipless-compatible? | Closure system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Ten Women's Kestrel Lace * | $150 | Yes | Laces/velcro |
| Five Ten Women's Kestrel | $150 | Yes | Velcro |
| Giro Riddance Women's* | $130 | No | Laces |
| Five Ten Women's Freerider*" rel="noopener" target="_blank"> | $100 | No | Velcro |
| DZR Minna | $119 | Yes | Laces |
| Pearl Izumi X-ALP Launch SPD* | $150 | Yes | Laces |
Bottom-Line
If you are looking for an MTB or urban shoe that doesn’t look like a cycling shoe, consider the Five Ten Kestrel Lace. It is comfortable both on and off the bike, and looks hip enough to pass as a regular shoe when walking around town.