Source: Matthew Mallory
In just a couple of short years 5Ten has revolutionized the bike shoe industry. Watch the base of any bike park or popular shuttle area and about 95% of the riders coming down on flat pedals will be rocking the 5Tens. They have become an institution in the biking footwear industry.
I bought my first pair of Impacts a few years ago and was blown away with the grip of the Stealth Rubber, it was almost like being clipped in. When I was working in a shop we actually had a couple of customers come back and try to return the shoe, complaining that they were too grippy!
After three years my Impacts finally wore out. Sure they were still better than most other shoes out there but the shank had softened up and the sole wasn't as sticky as it used to be. Wandering into my local shop I tried on several pairs of different shoes and settled on the 5Ten Karvers. With all the same features of the original Impact plus more I just could not resist.
Karver Features:
-Designed for flat pedal mountain biking
-mid-height ankle w/moderate padding for comfort & control
-Supportive action leather uppers
-Stealth S1 outsoles
-Design input from Chris Kovarik
The 5Ten Karvers have performed flawlessly for me so far, living up to everything I have come to expect from the pre-eminent mountain bike shoe manufacturer. With their patented Stealth Rubber the Karvers stick to a pedal like glue, the grip is so good that I actually have to physical lift my foot off the pedal if I want to shift it's position. The burly construction of the shoe holds your foot in a well supported womb of comfort.
My favourite part of the Karvers is the lace flap. A heavy duty chunk of material that flops over top of the laces and is held in place with some velcro. My only complaint with my old impacts was that the laces would occasionally get caught in the chain/chainring. The Karvers' have solved that issue.
I have found a good use for my worn out Impacts too. With the shank broken down they are very comfortable to walk in and have become my favourite footwear for strolling the side of courses to shoot photos.
