GROUP TEST
112 mbrM AY 2 019
FIVE TEN KESTREL PRO BOA
£159.95
SPECIFICATIONWeight:485g(970gpair) • Sizes:5 to 13 • Colours:black/orange,black/red• Contact:adidas.co.uk
TheKestrelProBoais a stiffershoespecifically
designedforenduroracingandall-mountain
riding.Theslenderouterprofileusesthesame
sturdyuppermaterialastheFreeriderPro,and
thereforedriesequallywellwhensaturated.
FiveTen’sBoasystemhasimproved;thelong
loop(thatoccasionallyusedtogetsnagged
andintroducehotspots)is shorteranda Velcro
strapatthetoefine-tunesfit.
ThesnazzyBoafastenercantightenorrelease
inbothdirections,is comfyandalsoworks
quickerthanSpesh’ssystem.There’smore
stabilisationfroma redesignedheelcupwith
a rough-one-way‘sharkskin’fabricthatgrips
thebackofyoursocktopreventheelliftwhen
crankinghardorwalking.
FiveTenusesitslegendaryStealthsole
rubber,witha similardottedtreadtothe
brand’sflatshoes.There’sgoodtraction
hikingupawkwardtrailsections,andit’sfirm
enougharoundthecleattopreventsquirming
clippingin/outofplatform-styleclippedals.
Thesmallercleatopeningis marginallyharder
toenterandexitpedalsinclaggyconditions
thansomethough.
AsFiveTen’sstiffestshoe,theKestreluses
a carbon-infusedsolethatdrivespedalsfirmly
andisolatesthegroundwithanefficientfeel
that’sjustaboutforgivingenoughforriding
beaten-up, bumpy trails all day. The rigidity
spreadstheloadacrossfeetwellandis
greatforreallydrivingthebikethrough
bermsandtechnicalpassages,butmakes
it prettyuncomfortableunderfootonlong
hike-a-bikesections.
There’sa steeppricetagtoaccompanythe
Kestrel’s racy attitude, somewhat off set bygreataestheticsandtheshoe
feelingveryslimandlight
onyourfoot.Beingultra
directwhencrankingor
musclingthemachineis a
traitaggressiveriders will
really love too.