Troy Lee Designs XC glove
Originally uploaded by collective.dust
Five Ten ‘Impact’ riding shoe
Originally uploaded by collective.dust
2 fantastic products that live up to their reputation!
Starting with the gloves I went for a small size 8. Previously I’ve found that gloves that fit perfect in the shop tend to loosen up considerably only a few months later causing bunching under the palms. That being said the XC’s fit is firm without being restrictive. They are a cool understated design for a bike glove, mono colours with nice detail. There is a distinct lack of heavily rubber padding on the top of the glove which goes against the design trends for most moto/mtb bike gloves these days, that being said it’s rare that you land on your knuckles if you have an off. The padding on the palm is thick enough for some extra protection and comfort and when gripping the bars doesn’t bunch up at all. I tested the gloves on the Stromlo DH course which has a new whoopy section below the bridge. The gloves felt perfect from the first run…comfortable under the palms while allowing unrestricted finger movment and good feel of the brake levers when required.
The Five-Ten ‘Impact’ shoes are something that I’ve had on the wish list for a while. I had heard great things about their performance and when world champion riders like Sam Hill and Nathan Rennie use them, well enough said. I went for a US size 9 which is perhaps half a size too big but once the shoe laces are tied it is fine. The first thing I noticed was the stiffness in the sole, this is a good thing for ensuring more of the energy from your legs are getting to the pedals and cranks and feels more like an extension of the pedal. The second thing is the grip, absolutely phenomenal. Five Ten are a rock climbing shoe company and the stealth rubber that is in the sole is designed to provide maximum grip on any surface. Well for the first run I planted my foot on my stocko flat pedals and I never moved them until I finished. You literally have to lift your foot off the pins to reposition they are that grippy. I went through some rock garden sections a couple of times and my foot was simply stuck to the pedal. Usually I would need to readjust my feet on the pedals after these sections but not with the ‘Impacts’. Styling wise they remind me of pumped up school shoes but there’s no denying they excel at what they were designed to do….stick to flat pedals.
