Five Ten Riding Shoe Reviews:

[Nurse Ben]

Hey Jaco, it's possible Five Ten updated all of their Freerider soles, which would be great!

Enjoy the shoes, I love mine, can't imagine riding without a stick sole

[rob1]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Take a look at the sole of the shoes you bought. Is their a rand (edging) that wraps the edge of the sole, styled kinda like a converse sneaker? If you're not sure, then take a look at the Baron:



Notice how the sole on the Baron is glued edge to edge on the midsole and there is no rand. Now look at the Freerider Burgundy:



Can you see the rand? The problem with the "randed" Freerides is that the pedal cleats will tear the rand loose from the side of the shoe. It happened to me on two pairs, so not an anomally.

Order the Baron, White/Black and maybe Blue Zebra (seb picture shows a new styled sole), these all have the improved sole. Now it's possible the soles have been improved on the Grey and Burgundy, but you'll need to judge it for yourself.

Also, note that there are two styles of uppers: The White/Black and Baron have a back stirrup strap exterior and Impact styled lacing, these uppers appear to be more robust than the Grey, Burgundy, and Blue Zebra which have the side strap upper and eyelit lacing. All of the Freeriders have a skate style "thick" tongue which does pack down after awhile. The Baron has a normal thin tongue.

My wife and daughter are riding in the White/Black, great shoes, nice and stable, same design as the Baron. I'm loving my Barons, super stable and comfy, might have to spring for a smaller size though, they apparently run big...

Jaco, I'd take em back and order one of the others, it's worth the wait and extra $$

hi ben i was fanceing the impacts but your swaying me to the baron iv been using my dc trainers so i tried some walking boots could not tell where my foot was on the pedal the impacts look like they can take a beeting is the baron as tough we dont seem to have them in the shops hear so can only look at the pics

[Nurse Ben]

hi ben i was fanceing the impacts but your swaying me to the baron iv been using my dc trainers so i tried some walking boots could not tell where my foot was on the pedal the impacts look like they can take a beeting is the baron as tough we dont seem to have them in the shops hear so can only look at the pics

The Impacts are more like boots, lacking in feel, clunky, which is why I like the Freeriders. The Baron is much more robust that the grey/blck Freeriders, which is my old shoe. I have been riding the Baron 2-3 x week for the past month and they have not changed, same stiffness, soles look brand new, uppers have been trashed on by yours truly and other than being dirty, they are like new.

The only thing I'd say is the y fit big, so order your standard size and a smaller size 1/2-1 size smaller, then keep the one that fits best. The red color is a bit much at first, but with a little mud they start looking real good

[rob1]

thanks ben are they flat on the inside i have flat feet and carnt have any instep on my trainer which sucks

[Biped]

Originally Posted by Tirving

No need to quad tie your shoelaces, I've been wearing these for over a year: http://www.tongueties.net/order.html

Hmmm... interesting.

I've been wearing shoestring replacements that tri-athletes use on my work shoes for several years now. They convert a laced shoe into a laced shoe that you slip on... no more tying knots... and no dangling loops.

http://www.yankz.com/Yankz-Sure-Lace...rence-s/43.htm

I'll probably get a set for my red barons.

[Tirving]

Originally Posted by Biped

Hmmm... interesting.

I've been wearing shoestring replacements that tri-athletes use on my work shoes for several years now. They convert a laced shoe into a laced shoe that you slip on... no more tying knots... and no dangling loops.

http://www.yankz.com/Yankz-Sure-Lace...rence-s/43.htm

I'll probably get a set for my red barons.

I tried the yankz, I like tying my shoes too much
The tongue ties just work..... I bought a couple more to have on each of my uni shoes.

[Nurse Ben]

thanks ben are they flat on the inside i have flat feet and carnt have any instep on my trainer which sucks

Completely flat, you can add as much or as little arch support as you want.

I love the Barons, so nice and roomy, not hot, just enough support without lacking feeling, nice for walking

[Dane M]

Good to know. I have custom made orthotics for my flat feet (flat as a board) and they're made of a hard synthetic (could be carbon fiber). One thing I've noticed from unicycle riding, is that my inserts will actually wear through the wall of the shoe where my shoe occasionally rubs the crank. How thick or durable would you say the inner side-walls are?

[Nurse Ben]

How thick or durable would you say the inner side-walls are?

About the same as a good pair of hiking boots. Maybe you could trim the edges on your orthotics so they aren't as abrasive or wrap the edges so they don't bite into the shoe.

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

About the same as a good pair of hiking boots. Maybe you could trim the edges on your orthotics so they aren't as abrasive or wrap the edges so they don't bite into the shoe.

I really have only noticed it in walking or running shoes, but the issue is that it is the arch where I need the most support, and they barely fit into shoes as it is. Maybe a small piece of leather between them or something though.

[rob1]

my feet are as flat as can be they said i was born with it so inserts would be a wast of time i carnt stand anything under my arch at all good fof swimming though

[Dane M]

Originally Posted by rob1

my feet are as flat as can be they said i was born with it so inserts would be a wast of time i carnt stand anything under my arch at all good fof swimming though

Yeah we have flipper feet! If I am standing bare-foot my feet are completely flat to the ground, which makes anything I do bare-foot painful. Can't even walk on the beach bare-foot anymore, or even sandals! I look like a tourist.

I don't quite understand how inserts would be bad for you? It took me a long time to get used to them, and to know what kind of shoes were good for my feet, but I can do almost anything I want now pain-free because of this.

[rob1]

if i have inserts under my arch its realy painfull like im stood on a stone they said its because its been so long the bones have fused together might have been different if spotted as a child they tried some under my heals to turn my feet in but didnt do anything i found dc trainers very comfy always ware comfy sheos it gets to your knees and lower back when your older your inserts seem to work for you so you might not get it like me flippers crossed

[Biped]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

The Impacts are more like boots, lacking in feel, clunky, which is why I like the Freeriders. The Baron is much more robust that the grey/blck Freeriders, which is my old shoe. I have been riding the Baron 2-3 x week for the past month and they have not changed, same stiffness, soles look brand new, uppers have been trashed on by yours truly and other than being dirty, they are like new.

The only thing I'd say is the y fit big, so order your standard size and a smaller size 1/2-1 size smaller, then keep the one that fits best. The red color is a bit much at first, but with a little mud they start looking real good

Interesting... I normally wear size 8s and bought 8.5s Barons because I saw somewhere that they run small. The 8.5s fit nice... snug... not large at all. I got lucky because I had serious doubts after ordering them.

The laces with these shoes are awesome, as previously pointed out. There's nodules in the lace that prevents it from slipping once tied.

[Chrashing]

I originally ordered size 9.0. but when I got them they seemed slightly small. So I exchanged them for 9.5. Then the toe area seemed too wide and high. I ended up cutting the toe half of a cotton socks off, which I wear under each full sock. That little bit of sock makes the 9.5 fit me perfectly.

The shoes are fine, the sole is ridged so my feet don't get sore, like what happened with the gym shoes.