Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe

Review by Erin Trail

I’ve been a long-time wearer of lace-up Five Ten mountain bike shoes for flat pedals.  I’m also a fan of BOA® lacing systems.  So when Five Ten added BOA® to their Freerider line, I was really excited to give them a spin.

Technical Details

The Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoes have the following features:

• Micro-adjustable dial-based BOA® Fit System with Li2 dials
• Abrasion-resistant synthetic upper
• Stealth S1 Phantom DOTTY rubber outsole
• Reinforced toe cap
• EVA midsole
• Women’s specific sizing

My old Five Ten shoes (with shoelaces) had a fabric + leather upper.  The new Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoes have a 100% synthetic upper.

The BOA® Fit System with Li2 dials are multi-directional, meaning you can both tighten and loosen the fit of the lacing system by turning the dial.  This is really nice, as it allows the rider to make quick adjustments to the shoe’s tightness.

Detailed Review

I prefer flat pedals for more technical mountain biking, knowing that I can take my foot off my bike at any time.  I also like them for more adventure rides and also for bikepacking adventures.  During my testing of the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe, I wore them on flowy trails, on some constructed berm + jump trails, and during a technical cross country race.

The fit is similar to my previous versions of Five Ten mountain biking shoes. I ordered my usual size and they fit as expected.  The BOA® lacing system has a single Li2 dial. I was able to get just the right amount of tightness to my shoe with the BOA® dials.  The shoes also felt good across the span of the top of my foot, with no hot spots or places that felt too tight.  The shoes are also easy to get on and off, but you do need take a bit more care when putting them on, compared to shoelace models.  I found myself needing to lift up the tongue of the shoe and the first lacing system connection on the inner arch side of the shoe when putting it on.

The fabric of the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe is stiffer and has a smoother feel to it than my older shoes.  They also look sleeker and more technical and less like a sneaker or skateboard shoe.  I opted for the black colorway, knowing there was zero chance of me keeping a white shoe clean, but the black upper does collect and retain a fair amount of dust.  I think the fabric upper does a better job with ventilation than my older Five Ten shoes.  I could actually feel a cooling effect along the tops of my feet as I rode along during my xc race, likely from the plentiful ventilation holes in the top toe area of the shoes.

There is zero break-in period needed for these shoes. It’s as simple as putting on the shoes, setting the BOA® dials, and hitting the trail.

The Stealth S1 Phantom DOTTY outsole has plenty of grip. I’ve seen complaints from a few years ago about the rubber seeming to be less grippy.  I haven’t observed any issues with grip on this version of the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe. While riding at speed or over technical features, I had a firm and secure grip on the pedals.  I felt like I had good control over my feet and was able to help direct my bike along through contact with the pedals.  I also had an easy time making small adjustments in where my foot landed on the pedals as I rode along.

I really enjoy the EVA midsole on the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe.  As I was riding along at my xc race, I noted how solid and stable my foot felt as I rode.  My older Five Tens felt more like reinforced sneakers, with a fair amount of flex to them, making them feel a bit sloppy when riding. Conversely, my clipless MTB shoes have carbon soles and are VERY stiff and unforgiving.  I felt that this model of the Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe had a really great combination of flex with plenty of support.  Hike-a-bike was fine, with good traction underfoot and just enough flex in the sole.  The Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoes also felt plenty stiff for racing and harder efforts. I could really feel the power transfer from my legs into the pedals.

Closing Thoughts+

The Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe is an updated version of the tried and true Freerider.  Updates include a sleek but durable fabric upper and a BOA® lacing system, making for a more refined look while delivering on technical performance.  The grip of the DOTTY sole was great as was the support provided by the EVA midsole. The Five Ten Freerider Pro BOA Mountain Bike Shoe are a great all-around flat pedal MTB shoe that checks a lot of boxes, offering a comfortable ride that can deliver race-worthy performance for those who prefer flat pedals.

Erin Trail