A versatile shoe with decisively casual styling and top performance.

The Crankbrothers Mallet clip-in shoe is available in three closure versions. A BOA dial, standard lace, or this single-pull Speed Lace version that arrived at our office for testing. Released during the height of the pandemic and understandably slow to arrive in South Africa – I was stoked to try out the new shoe.

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Details

The Crankbrothers Mallet Speed Lace shoe features a synthetic upper with premium materials promising breathability, protection and comfort. Using perforated materials and mesh windows, it’s clear the crew at Crankbrothers wanted to prioritize ventilation and cooling while also allowing for quick drying. For protection, the shoes have a reinforced TPU construction in the toe box.

Other standout features include small silicone heel dots on the inside of the shoe providing heel grip. A padded tongue increases comfort. The cleat box is ramped to facilitate easy entry and mud clearing.

The shoes have a long cleat track that is also positioned closer to the heel allowing for trail-optimized cleat placement. Crankbrothers says a lot of time — like a few years! — was spent on developing proprietary rubber compounds to offer durability and grip underfoot. The tread pattern on the outsole consists of longer toe and heel lugs to improve grip when walking up or down trails.

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Ride Impressions

PEDAL COMPATIBILITY | With a test period that spanned seven months, I can say there’s a lot to like about these shoes. I tested them with XT Trail and Saint pedals and found that the shoes interfaced very well with Shimano pedals. The cleat box is sufficiently deep so you are not walking on the cleat. In wet or dry conditions, cleating — that’s in or out — was never an issue. I appreciate the extra-length cleat tracks which offered more ‘slammability’ than I needed.

FIT, COMFORT & EFFICIENCY | For me, the fit is very snug around the ankle and heel areas whilst the forefoot and toe box is a little more spacious. The lace system does extend quite far down the shoe so if you prefer a tighter fit across the forefoot area, it is possible.

By hand, it is possible to get the sole of the shoe to flex, if only a very little bit. I think it’s this slight bit of flex that makes the shoes incredibly comfortable for all-day rides. They also feel sufficiently stiff to deliver an efficient enough transfer of power. I appreciate that they don’t fold or deform when landing big drops – which is something I have experienced with other shoes. 432 grams is an impressive weight for a shoe with this level of comfort and protection. They are sufficiently light for fit riders who dig 5-hour analog trail bike missions and prioritize comfort with protection.

DURABILITY & PROTECTION | I’ve had my fair share of brushes with trail debris, rocks and bushes with these shoes. Aside from a few tyre scuff marks on the inside of the left heel, there isn’t any damage or wear that would suggest they are not going to last for a few years. The lace and velcro strap system is equally durable and shows no signs of wear or potential failure. If I must nitpick, a slightly burlier slice of protection around the toes might be a good idea, especially due to the rocky nature of the trails I frequent.

SUMMARY | The Crankbrothers Mallet Speed Lace shoes have an excellent closure system, and offer top-notch comfort with pretty dope styling. If you’re looking for a light, stiff and snug shoe for all-day trail missions or gravity runs, these are a great option.

| WORDS: Myles Kelsey | IMAGES: Max Sullivan |

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